From Way Downtown

Thoughts on the Thanksgiving Tournaments

2007-11-26T23:00:00.001-06:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately for my dedicated reader(s) of the blog, I just started a new job and have not had much free time lately. Now, I have spent said free time watching as much college basketball as I could and have some thoughts on the slate of preseason tournaments that wrapped up last weekend.

CBE Classic:

UCLA gutted out a big win over Michigan State. Once they get Darren Collison back, this team will vie with Memphis for being the best in the land.

Even though they blew a golden opportunity, Michigan State proved they can compete with a quality team on a neutral court. Once freshmen Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen and Durrell Summers mature, they will team with Drew Neitzel and Raymar Morgan to form an athletic unit capable of dominating Big Ten teams.

Maui:

Folks, Duke would be back among the elite teams in the country. Coach K has finally brought in some time big time athletes to Durham like Gerald Henderson and Kyle Singler, and the Blue Devils have the pieces to compete in the ACC and on the national stage.

Despite a thin frontcourt, Marquette looks to be the type of veteran team capable of making major noise in the Big East and the NCAA Tournament. The vast improvement of sophomores Lazar Hayward and David Cubillan combined with the talents of the renowned James, McNeal, and Matthews should lead to big things.

Illinois will compete every night, but trouble will arise whenever a team with multiple athletes on the perimeter pops up on the schedule. Also, their frontcourt of Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt could be in for many games of foul trouble. Look out for Rodney Alexander, a wing athlete that could give many slower Big Ten teams lots of problems.

Arizona State really settled in after the opening blowout loss to Illinois and will surprise some teams in the Pac 10. They would be a middle of the pack team in most major conferences, but the Pac 10's depth will likely have them competing to stay out of the basement.

Despite a roster filled with decorated recruits, Oklahoma State looks to be awful. Freshman wing James Anderson will provide a few glimmers of hope, but this team needs to get some organization fast if they want to avoid a potential train wreck of a season

Preseason NIT:

Boy does Texas A&M look good. Their frontcourt of Josh Carter, Joseph Jones and DeAndre Jordan may be the best in America. If Dominique Kirk, Donald Sloan and Derrick Roland provide solid guard play, this group of Aggies could eclipse last season's accomplishments with Acie Law and Billy Gillispie on board.

Their youth will lead to inconsistency, but I expect Ohio State and Syracuse to be dangerous come March. In most years players like Kosta Koufus and Donte Greene would be freshman of the year contenders. This season, they would be mere members to the most impressive group of freshman to grace the college game in a long time.

Virgin Islands:

I may have been a year early in predicting Baylor's breakout. Wins over potential tourney teams like Notre Dame and Winthrop on a neutral court should catapult Scott Drew's club into serious contention for postseason play and maybe even an at large bid. The backcourt group of Curtis Jerrells, Aaron Bruce, Henry Dugat, Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn could compete with just about anyone and the emergence of players like Penny Thiam and Josh Lomers upfront will help the Bears restore pride to the Waco campus.

Speaking of Notre Dame, losing two key tests on a neutral court to Baylor and Georgia Tech really puts a chink in their hopes for making the NCAA Tournament. Their lack of significant non-conference tests combined with these losses make a standout Big East season a must.

Puerto Rico:

In a field containing quality teams like Providence, Arkansas, VCU and Houston, the Miami Hurricanes emerged victorious and could be this season's Clemson. Frank Haith's club has plenty of experience with Jack McClinton and Brian Asbury in the backcourt and Anthony King upfront. Freshmen Edwin Rios and James Dews provide a spark, and could help lead Miami back to the NCAA Tournament.

Even with the loss to Miami, Providence came away from this tourney successfully considering that Sharaud Curry would be out with a foot injury. A win over a quality Arkansas team on a neutral court would be the type of building block an NCAA Tournament resume could really use.

After knocking off Houston in the first round, VCU failed to get another win in hopes of aiding their at large efforts. While losses to Miami and Arkansas would be far from embarrassing, a team from the Colonial needs a quality non-conference win or two to hang their hats on come March.

Las Vegas Invitational:

Louisville has had some awful luck with the injuries to Juan Palacios and now David Padgett. Suddenly, their season may hinge on the talented yet problematic Derrick Caracter. Caracter and Earl Clark form a very nice starting frontcourt, but the Cards badly need Palacios back to provide a third option capable of playing with either guy upfront (and Caracter to stay in shape and in Rick Pitino's good graces).

I'm really not that impressed with North Carolina. On sheer talent alone they will win many games, but I do not have the championship feel about them that I do with a Memphis or UCLA. Losing Brandan Wright has really hurt their frontcourt, and they could really use another athlete to complement Wayne Ellington on the wing.

BYU should be a handful in March, but their lack of perimeter firepower limits their potential. That said, Trent Plaisted can really play and Lee Cummard would be a very heady wing player.

Old Spice Classic:

Michael Beasley may be a stud, but Kansas State will go nowhere this season unless their guard play gets a whole lot better. Jacob Pullen would be best served playing off the ball and there would be no legitimate perimeter shooter to help take the pressure off of Beasley and Bill Walker.

After a shocking loss to New Orleans, N.C. State got right back on track in winning this tournament with a talented field. Their finals win over Villanova should be a big one come NCAA Tournament time. The frontcourt of Brandon Costner and J.J. Hickson will give ACC teams nightmares.

Speaking of Villanova, a solid win over George Mason in the semis makes this a successful trip for them. As Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes keep getting acclimated to Jay Wright's system, the Cats should develop into a very good team.

George Mason again made noise on the national stage, beating major conference teams in K State and South Carolina. With Folarin Campbell and Will Thomas leading the way after playing on the Final Four team two years ago, the Patriots should return to the NCAA Tournament with the potential for doing some more damage.

Chicago Invitational:

A huge win for Xavier over Indiana, as the Musketeers notch a major win for themselves and the Atlantic 10. Stanley Burrell finally kept the phenomenal freshman Eric Gordon somewhat in check, and Manhattan transfer C.J. Anderson led the potent Xavier offense. This type of win should ensure that the Musketeers will be in line for at large bid if they need one, and could help them climb out of the dreaded 8-9 game in March.

Anaheim Classic:

Over the process of three days, USC developed into a juggernaut that looks to be ready for take off. The presence of athletic forward Davon Jefferson to complement Taj Gibson in the frontcourt and Daniel Hackett leading the way in the backcourt make this team one of the best in the West. If O.J. Mayo can continue to buy into the Trojans system, they have the potential to eclipse last season's Sweet 16 run.

While Southern Illinois got smoked by SC in the finals, the Salukis still had a solid performance in Anaheim with a double digit win over a solid Mississippi State team. They will need either Josh Bone or Brandon Wood to step up and provide scoring from the wing in order to be a dangerous NCAA Tournament team, but Randal Falker and Bryan Mullins should ensure of another excellent regular season.

Also, props go out to Miami-Ohio, who beat Mississippi State in the third place game and gave USC a run for the money in the semis. The Redhawks would be quietly building a nice little resume (that win over Xavier looks mighty impressive now) and could have the ability to earn an at large bid if they can keep this play up.

Conference Previews-Pac 10

2007-11-17T15:00:00.000-06:00

As opposing fans petition for Steve Lavin to return to Westwood, UCLA has resumed their role as the conference's powerhouse. With the combo of speedy guard Darren Collison and skilled big man Kevin Love, the Bruins should reign supreme over a deep group of challengers. I look for this season to set precedents for the Pac 10 in the conference receiving seven NCAA tourney bids and a .500 team in conference getting an at large berth.

Conference Favorite-UCLA: After struggling against bigger teams like Florida the past few seasons, the Bruins bring in superstar freshman Kevin Love to fortify the post. Love brings a myriad of skills to the table, as he can start the fast break with his outlet passes, overpower opponents down low, and step out and hit the perimeter jumper. Love, not O.J. Mayo, will be the freshman who controls the Pac 10 and wins conference player of the year honors. Of course, Love's teammate Darren Collison could have something to say about it. The speedy point guard thrived in taking over for Jordan Farmar and made the Bruins offense more dynamic. While he's noted for his ability to jet to the basket, Collison has an underrated perimeter jumper (he hit 45% of his attempted 3's last season). Wing Josh Shipp nicely complements Collison, as he uses his strength to get to the basket along with hitting the occasional perimeter shot. Speedy combo guard Russell Westbrook, sharpshooter Michael Roll, and freshman wing Chace Stanback round out the Bruins perimeter rotation. The Bruins look for a breakout year from versatile forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who they will play on the wing more this season. Mbah a Moute has improved his perimeter game, and his size and athleticism will give wing players trouble trying to guard him. Joining Love and Mbah a Moute upfront would be defensive specialist Alfred Aboya and hardworking Lorenzo Mata-Real. While the Bruins could ideally use another solid guard to team with Collison and Shipp, they have the players ready to compete for another spot in the Final Four (maybe even a national title) and a defense of their Pac 10 crown.

Breakout Team-Washington: While they may not make a major climb in the Pac 10 standings, the Huskies will be much improved this season and should squeak out an NCAA Tournament bid. After struggling to run the offense last season, Justin Dentmon will be allowed to move off the ball thanks to the presence of freshman Venoy Overton. Dentmon likes taking it to the basket, and can hit the perimeter jumper if given room. Overton would be more of a pure point guard, and his vision will be key in leading the Huskies transition game. Also, Overton's quickness on the defensive end could give guys like Collison and Washington State's Derrick Low major trouble. Versatile guard Joel Smith returns from a medical redshirt, and will team with Overton and Dentmon in the backcourt. Quality depth would be provided by sophomore Adrian Oliver and Stanford transfer Tim Morris, and sharpshooter Ryan Appelby will be a nice bench weapon when he returns from a broken thumb. Down low, undersized warrior Jon Brockman returns. While he's just 6-7, Brockman competes with much taller players in the post and overpowers out a lot of them with his strength and continuing motor. Athletic forward Quincy Pondexter teams with Brockman on the frontline, and they both fit nicely in the Huskies up tempo attack. Freshmen Justin Holliday and Matthew Bryan-Amaning, and sophomore Joe Wolfinger will provide solid minutes off the bench as Lorenzo Romar likes to play a deep rotation. While the arrival of NBA big man Spencer Hawes created high hopes last season, this year's Huskies squad may be better suited for Romar's run and gun style that won many games in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Team on the Decline-The Pac 10 would be the one conference I previewed where every program would be on the upswing, with only Oregon State outmatched from night to night. However, the Beavers decline started well before 2007.

Projected Standings (bold equals NCAA Tournament team, italics NIT team):
1. UCLA
2. Washington State
3. Stanford
4. Arizona
5. Oregon
6. USC
7. Washington
8. California
9. Arizona State
10. Oregon State

All-Conference Team:
G Darren Collison, UCLA
G Derrick Low, Washington State
G Bryce Taylor, Oregon
F Chase Budinger, Arizona
F Taj Gibson, USC
C Kevin Love, UCLA

Player of the Year: Love

Newcomer of the Year: Love

Conference Previews-Missouri Valley

2007-11-17T14:15:00.000-06:00

After 2006's incredible season with the league earning four bids, 2007 saw Southern Illinois defend their way to a Sweet 16 run and a close loss to Kansas. While the Salukis lost starting guards Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young, they return a strong frontline in Randal Falker and Matt Shaw along with super efficient guard Bryan Mullins. Also, despite their lack of experience, I expect Creighton and Dana Altman to surprise people and get back to the NCAA Tournament.

Favorite-Southern Illinois: After taking the reigns from Bruce Weber and Matt Painter, Chris Lowery has brought the Salukis to an even higher level and established them as a consistent top 25 team. Even with the losses of Tatum and Young, the Salukis will continue their winning ways and give some team hell in March. Randal Falker uses his athleticism to block shots on defense and get past slower opponents in the post. Matt Shaw nicely complements him with his face up skills and ability to hit the outside shot. Point guard Bryan Mullins locks down opposing defenders and does an excellent job of running the offense. Look for Mullins to score more this season as he has an excellent touch from the perimeter. Wesley Clemmons should fill Young's role of defending the opponent's top wing player, and Joshua Bone will assume Tatum's scoring load. Freshmen Carlton Fay and Brandon Wood will provide offense of the bench, and both guys have the potential to be future leaders of the Salukis program. For even more good news, the Salukis have an awesome 2008 recruiting class on the way with top 100 forward Anthony Booker and strong guards Kevin Dillard and Torres Roundtree on the way.

Breakout Team-Bradley: After losing talented big man Patrick O'Bryant, the Braves took a step back from 2006's Sweet 16 run, finishing fourth in the conference and missing the NCAA Tournament. Led by senior guards Daniel Ruffin and Jeremy Crouch, I think that Bradley competes for an NCAA Tournament berth and finishes strong in the MVC. Ruffin really stepped up as a junior, leading the Braves in assists and finishing tied with Crouch for second in scoring. Crouch shot 50% from three last season, and opponents cannot give him an inch from the perimeter. If the Braves can have guys like Theron Wilson, Sam Singh and Andrew Warren step up to complement Ruffin and Crouch, they should make a return trip to the Big Dance.

Team on the Decline-Wichita State: Former Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall has his work cut out from him in trying to rebuild a Shockers program that fell apart the second half of last season. Talented forward Kyle Wilson graduated and starting guard Sean Ogirri transfered to Wyoming, so Marshall will be searching for players to team with senior wing P.J. Couisnard. Sophomore guard Gal Mekel came with a lot of hype from Israel, but failed to make much of an impact as a freshman. Former coach Mark Turgeon took heralded big man recruit Denzel Bowles with him to Texas A&M. Senior guard Matt Braeuer and forward Phillip Thomasson would be better served as role players complementing more talented playmakers. Unless someone surprisingly becomes an impact player, the Shockers will be destined for a second division MVC finish in Marshall's first season in Wichita.

Projected Standings (Bold equals NCAA Tournament team, italics NIT team):
1. Southern Illinois
2. Creighton
3. Bradley
4. Northern Iowa
5. Missouri State
6. Illinois State
7. Wichita State
8. Indiana State
9. Drake
10. Evansville

All-Conference Team:
G Daniel Ruffin, Bradley
G Jeremy Crouch, Bradley
F Randal Falker, Southern Illinois
F Eric Coleman, Northern Iowa
F Dane Watts, Creighton

Player of the Year: Falker

Newcomer of the Year: P'Allen Stinnett, Creighton

Hoops From Warmer Climates

2007-11-17T13:51:00.000-06:00

Action would be underway in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, with the Maui Invitational starting on Monday. Providence, without leading scorer Sharaud Curry, has made the finals of the Puerto Rico Classic and will face a surprising Miami Hurricanes squad. Canes guard Jack McClinton has the potential to light up the Friars zone defense, while PC wing Geoff McDermott could give a smaller Miami line-up fits.

In the Virgin Islands, you have an intriguing semi-final game with Baylor and Notre Dame. This would be a big opportunity for Scott Drew and his Bears to get a program defining win they need to put Baylor hoops on the map (for positive reasons).

Chris Lofton's surprising struggles in the Pan-Am tryouts have seeped into the regular season. Through three games against weaker competition, Lofton has hit just 6 of his 28 shots from the field, 3 of his 17 three pointers. I would expect Lofton to turn things around quickly, but every so often you will see a heralded player like him shocking fall off the map.

Memphis passed a nice test in defeating a feisty UConn squad last night. Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts can get to the basket whenever they want to, and the Tigers could be unstoppable if Doneal Mack and Willie Kemp hit perimeter jumpers. A major positive for UConn fans would be that A.J. Price has finally resembled the heavily hyped player he entered the program as before health and legal troubles.

Continuing the theme of awesome freshman, Syracuse's Donte Greene had 25 points and 9 rebounds in a win over Fordham last night. NC State's J.J. Hickson had 31 points (on a perfect 12-12 from the field) and 7 rebounds in his Wolfpack debut Thursday night. This class of freshmen would be the deepest group of impact newcomers to come into college basketball in a long time.

Teams You Don't Want to See in March: Davidson

2007-11-15T17:24:00.000-06:00

Like Winthrop last season, teams will not exactly be lining up to play Davidson in the NCAA Tournament. While Stephen Curry receives a ton of hype, having experienced players like Jason Richards, Thomas Sander and Boris Meno will give younger teams fits and help Davidson win a game or two in the Big Dance.

While I'm not sure if either team will do much this season, Washington and Utah played an extremely entertaining game last night. Watch out for Washington freshman point guard Venoy Overton, as he should develop into a really good college player in Seattle. Also, I think we can crown Jon Brockman the hardest working player in America.

In an early morning game today, VCU picked up a big win over Houston. Both teams should be in serious contention for an at large bid, and winning a game over a similar team on a neutral court could pay dividends in a few months.

Big Win for Syracuse

2007-11-13T23:16:00.000-06:00

After struggling to pick a quality out of conference win last season (a main reason why they got shafted from last year's NCAA Tournament), the Orange won a key game over St. Joseph's tonight. Jim Boeheim's young bunch held on late to win 72-69 over a very good Hawks squad. After scoring 28 points in his Syracuse debut, Jonny Flynn made his only field goal count tonight, hitting the game winning three with less than ten seconds left.

The other game of note of the night saw Miami-Ohio beat Xavier 59-57. A big win for the Redhawks in the hopes of a MAC team building an at-large profile (the conference has received an at large bid since 1999).

Victorious top 25 teams tonight included UCLA, Washington State, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Texas A&M and Arizona.

Conference Previews-Big 12

2007-11-13T15:10:00.000-06:00

The conference lost its two best players in Kevin Durant and Acie Law IV, but still returns some noted talent. Much of that talent would reside in Lawrence, Kansas, where Bill Self has built another strong team. Even with the losses of Durant and Law, Texas and Texas A&M should battle Kansas for the top spot in the Big 12 and be solid NCAA Tournament teams. Thanks to the presence of Michael Beasley, Kansas State should join the Texas schools and Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. After these four teams, there would be a steep drop off as the Big 12 will likely receive only four tourney bids this season.

Favorite-Kansas: With Brandon Rush recovering from reconstructive knee surgery in May and Sherron Collins recently having foot surgery, the Jayhawks may need time to gel before they develop into the team everyone expects them to. As long as Collins and Rush come back healthy, this will be an extremely dangerous team in March. Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers should hold down the fort in the backcourt while Rush and Collins rehab their injuries. They both play excellent defense, with the two of them leading the Big 12 steals in last season. Robinson does a good job of running the team at the point, while Chalmers brings a nice mix of perimeter shooting and driving ability to the table. Look for freshman sharpshooter Tyrel Reed and wing Rodrick Stewart (a USC transfer) to receive more minutes because of Collins's foot injury. Upfront, the trio of Darrell Arthur, Sasha Kaun and Darnell Jackson gives Kansas a strong rebounding team capable of quality scoring from the post. Arthur replaces Julian Wright, and would be a more traditional post player at the power forward. Jackson and Kaun have been solid producers for three years and quietly go about their business in efficiently producing down low. Freshman Cole Aldrich provides quality frontcourt depth and should be a strong starter in time.

Breakthrough Team-Kansas State: To be perfectly honest, this team has two strong factors going against it: the lack of a quality point guard and an inexperienced head coach in Frank Martin. However, the dominating performances of Michael Beasley make up for these ills and make Kansas State a tough opponent for Big 12 teams. A strong force in the paint who can step out and hit the perimeter jump shot, Beasley would be a match-up nightmare for teams. If he can remain motivated and keep playing at an incredibly high level, Kansas State should win upwards of 25 games. Likewise, if wing Bill Walker can stay healthy and play within team concepts, he will be another strong offensive option who teams will struggle to successfully defend. The Wildcats hope that talented wing Dominique Sutton will be with team for the second semester to provide another solid scoring option. Senior wing David Hoskins should also be a solid contributor once he recovers from nagging injuries. Even with this talent on the wing, the Wildcats will need guards Clent Stewart, Blake Young and Jacob Pullen to play smart basketball and get the ball to their talented frontcourt players. This team could finish anywhere from second to seventh in the conference, but I think they find a way to finish strong and solidly make the NCAA Tournament.

Team on the Decline-Iowa State: Two years ago, the Cyclones won an NCAA Tournament game. This season, they may be lucky to hit double digit victories, as Greg McDermott tries to rebuild the mess that Wayne Morgan left him. McDermott dismissed last season's leading scorer Mike Taylor in the offseason, and will look for touted freshman Craig Brackins and Diante Garrett to help rebuild this once proud program. Brackins should develop into a versatile post player capable of playing on the perimeter and in the post. Garrett could become a nice point guard, and has the size at 6-4 to play multiple backcourt spots. Along with Brackins and Garrett, sophomore forward Wesley Johnson will be an excellent building block. Johnson averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds per game as a freshman and should get plenty of opportunities to put up big numbers this season. However, the talent really slides off after these three players and will have Iowa State battling with Nebraska and Colorado to stay out of the Big 12 basement. If McDermott can keep bringing in players like Garrett and Brackins, Iowa State could turn things around. Unfortunately for Cyclone fans, this will not happen overnight.

Projected Standings (Bold equals NCAA Tournament team, italics NIT team)
1. Kansas
2. Texas A&M
3. Texas
4. Kansas State
5. Oklahoma
6. Missouri
7. Oklahoma State
8. Baylor
9. Texas Tech
10. Iowa State
11. Nebraska
12. Colorado

All-Conference Team:
G Mario Chalmers, Kansas
G D.J. Augustin, Texas
F Darrell Arthur, Kansas
F Michael Beasley, Kansas State
F Joseph Jones, Texas A&M

Player of the Year: Augustin

Newcomer of the Year: Beasley

Fabulous Freshmen

2007-11-12T23:00:00.001-06:00

With Greg Oden and Kevin Durant now in the NBA, a new era of impact freshmen have entered the college basketball world ready to make a major impact.

Michael Beasley has a mere 62 points and 38 rebounds in his first two college games. Kevin Love had 22 points and 13 rebounds in college debut, and currently has 12 points and 4 rebounds at halftime tonight.

In the backcourt, Derrick Rose has already assumed the leadership mantle on a loaded Memphis team, scoring 40 points in leading the Tigers to the Coaches Vs. Cancer semifinals. Eric Gordon had 33 points and 6 rebounds in Indiana's opening game. Fellow guard Jonny Flynn had 28 points and 9 assists in Syracuse's win over Siena tonight.

All in all, this would be an extremely deep and talented class that will make an impact in March. Along with the aforementioned players, guys like Kosta Koufus of Ohio State, Donte Greene of Syracuse, Chris Wright of Dayton and Corey Fisher of Villanova should be key players in helping lead their to teams to a hopeful spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Some bad news for Gonzaga, as big man Josh Heytvelt will miss the next 4-6 weeks after ankle surgery. The pressure will be on another freshman, the athletic 6-10 Austin Daye, tohave more efforts like his 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Zags opener.

Weekend Wrap Up

2007-11-12T14:36:00.000-06:00

Not a strong debut for O.J. Mayo, as USC lost their opening game to Mercer 96-81. Mayo scored 32 points, but shot just 12-27 from the field and committed eight turnovers. USC did not have the services of likely starters Daniel Hackett and Davon Jefferson, so it would be early to totally write off the Trojans. However, a very disappointing loss for a team with high expectations in 2008.

Other than USC, no other major upsets this weekend. Michael Beasley scored another 30 points in Kansas State's win Sunday, Rick Majerus raves about Pitt freshman DeJuan Blair after his St. Louis Billikens lost to the Panthers 69-58, and Stanford continues to roll without Brook Lopez.

A freshman to watch outside the "Big Six" conferences would be Dayton's Chris Wright. The athletic wing had 22 points and 13 points in his Flyers debut, a 78-74 win over East Tennessee State.

Finally, my conference previews for the Big 12, Missouri Valley, Pac 10, and SEC will be coming later this week, along with teams to watch outside these conferences.

Friday Night Recap

2007-11-09T22:14:00.000-06:00

Once again, it looks like DePaul's season will be a roller coaster ride thanks to an undisciplined, yet very talented squad. They ran off to a 25-8 start tonight against Creighton before slowly melting down and losing 74-62. Remember the name P'Allen Stinett, as the Bluejays freshman guard scored 23 second half points in leading Creighton to a runaway victory. The lack of a point guard will haunt DePaul, as they committed 22 turnovers against Creighton's press and jacked up many bad shots in the second half.

A couple of big wins for mid-majors tonights. Belmont came into Cincinnati and UNC-Greensboro traveled to Georgia Tech victoriously, gaining key wins for their conferences in the hopes that they can earn an at large bid. (especially UNC-Greensboro coming out of the Southern conference, home to top mid-major Davidson and Stephen Curry).

A couple of intriguing scores to look at in March would be New Mexico State losing to Ohio and New Mexico getting a road win in Colorado. With the WAC likely being down this season, New Mexico State will not have much margin for error if they want to receive an at large bid. Meanwhile, a road win against a Big 12 team would be a nice little feather in UNM's cap, even if Colorado will likely finish at the bottom of the conference.

All the top 25 teams cruised tonight, with the highlight performance coming from Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley. A special talent who occasionally struggled with motivation in high school, Beasley looks to have really focused on becoming the dominant player that he's capable of being, with 32 points and 24 rebounds in his college debut.

Opening Night

2007-11-09T14:46:00.000-06:00

The Coaches vs. Cancer Classic tournament would already be under way (just ask Kentucky fans), but tonight features ten top 25 teams in action, along with Oklahoma likely advancing to play Memphis in the C vs. C semis at the Garden.

The Sooners knocked a solid San Francisco team 71-55 last night, getting 18 points and 13 rebounds from touted freshman big man Blake Griffin. The Sooners should get by Denver (who struggled to beat Division 2 East Central) before a good looking match-up against Memphis.

In the other side of the C vs. C bracket, UConn destroyed Buffalo 82-57. After struggling with Morgan State the night before, the Huskies cruised thanks to 24 points from A.J. Price. The importance of that cannot be overstated, as they need Price to lead the way from the point in order to compete in the Big East. Sophomore forward Stanley Robinson also had an excellent game with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocks.

Conference Previews-Big Ten

2007-11-08T17:27:00.000-06:00

So far, two of my projected top three teams (Michigan State, Ohio State) have lost exhibition games, with the Spartans also going down to the wire in a close win against Michigan Tech last night. That being said, I will always predict for talent to rise to the top, and my Big Ten projections would be unaffected by these outcomes.

Favorite-Michigan State: Yes, they will be hearing taunts of Grand Valley State at road arenas this season. However, they still have the deepest team in the conference and should be extremely tough to beat once coach Tom Izzo gets them to gel. Drew Neitzel will not have to be a one man show this year, as a trio of freshman perimeter players in Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen and Durrell Summers help with the scoring and play making load. Lucas reminds me a lot of Marquette's star guard Dominic James, and Allen really impressed me against excellent competition at last year's Roundball Classic. In the frontcourt, athletic sophomore Raymar Morgan teams with a bevy of big men who bring an interesting set of skills to the table. Marquise Gray does a good job of rebounding and altering shots, and can really run the floor. Goran Suton would be an offensively gifted big man capable of scoring from the post and hitting the mid range jumper. Idong Ibok and redshirt freshman Tom Herzog will block lots of shots, and Drew Naymick can bang against stronger big men. After basically playing seven guys last season, Izzo has the depth to allow the Spartans to play their trademark relentless defense and beat slower Big Ten teams in transition.

Breakout Team-Indiana: After an up and down first season under Kelvin Sampson (Can you hear me now, good), the Hoosiers should be much more potent this year thanks to the return of D.J. White and the arrival of Eric Gordon. White would be one of the best post players in the country, a big man who can score down low and block shots on the other end. Gordon may already be the best offensive player in the Big Ten. A powerful guard with a sweet shooting stroke, Gordon should challenge for conference player of the year and All-American honors in what will likely be his only season in college. A solid supporting cast in guards Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis, and big men Mike White and Eli Holman should have the Hoosiers competing with Michigan State for the Big Ten title.

Team on the Decline-Iowa: Steve Alford left the cupboard bare as he escaped town, taking the New Mexico head job in the offseason. Former Butler coach Todd Lickliter could have the Hawkeyes competing for an upper division finish in time, but they will take it on the chin this season. The graduation of leading scorer Adam Haluska and the transfer of talented wing Tyler Smith to Tennessee leaves the Hawkeyes severely lacking scoring and play making ability. The loss of starting guard Tony Freeman for a month or more to a foot injury further complicates things. Lickliter would be wise to get freshman guards Jeff Peterson and Jake Kelly and forward Jarryd Cole experience as the Hawkeyes try to build for the future. Good news would be that local guard Matt Gatens, a 2008 top 100 prospect, would be on the way next season to provide much needed help.

Projected Standings (Bold equals NCAA Tournament team, italics NIT team):
1. Michigan State
2. Indiana
3. Ohio State
4. Wisconsin
5. Purdue
6. Illinois
7. Michigan
8. Penn State
9. Minnesota
10. Northwestern
11. Iowa

All-Conference Team:
G Drew Neitzel, Michigan State
G Eric Gordon, Indiana
G Jamar Butler, Ohio State
F Geary Claxton, Penn State
F D.J. White, Indiana

Player of the Year: Gordon

Newcomer of the Year: Gordon

Down Goes Gillispie

2007-11-07T22:19:00.000-06:00

After a tremendous opener in Lexington, Kentucky officially laid an egg tonight in a 84-68 loss to Gardner Webb. To add insult to injury, Sporting News predicted Gardner Webb to finish 10th in the powerhouse Atlantic Sun conference. Kentucky shot an awful 35% from the field, and hit just 37% of their two point shots. I would advise getting Billy Gillispie a designated driver tonight, because this loss has to sting just two games into his Kentucky career.

UConn almost made it two awful losses, squeaking out a 69-65 win over Morgan State. Look for the Huskies to again struggle this season with their lack of a true point guard. By the time he makes it to Storrs, top Huskies point guard recruit Kemba Walker will be nicknamed the Savior.

In a quick recruiting note, North Carolina won the Tyler Zeller sweepstakes. A consensus top 20 prospect, Zeller chose the Tar Heels over Purdue and Indiana. Despite having some noted recruiting losses this season (Delvon Roe, Samardo Samuels, Al-Farouq Aminu, Iman Shumpert), North Carolina still has an excellent class coming in with Zeller, fellow top 20 prospect Ed Davis and top 100 guard Larry Drew.

Early Season Update

2007-11-06T22:28:00.000-06:00

Folks, Derrick Rose can play some basketball. In his first collegiate game for Memphis, Rose had 17 points (on 8-16 shooting), 6 rebounds and 5 assists. He followed that up by scoring 21 points (on just 6-8 shooting) in tonight's victory over Richmond. Rose would be the best guard to come into the college game in a long time, and will be the difference in helping Memphis take that next step to the Final Four this season.

Meanwhile, Kentucky cruised over Scottie Pippen's alma mater Central Arkansas 67-40 in coach Billy Gillispie's Wildcats debut. Gillispie already has the Wildcats playing his patented lock down defense, and look for the Cats to start really coming along as guys like Joe Crawford, Jodie Meeks, Ramel Bradley and Patrick Patterson adjust to Gillispie's system.

In some off the court news, Lute Olsen would be taking an indefinite leave of absence as Arizona's head coach. Assistant coach Kevin O'Neill, formerly the head man at Marquette and many other places, will run the Cats in Olsen's absence.

Speaking of Marquette, the team suffered a tough blow when freshman forward Trevor Mbakwe had to undergo knee surgery. Mbakwe will now redshirt this season, leaving a void in the Marquette frontcourt. Assuming a healthy recovery, Mbakwe will be the athletic presence that Marquette has needed upfront the past few seasons.

UCLA point guard Darren Collison sprained his knee in the Bruins preseason tilt against Azuza Pacific and could miss a week or two. The more serious for the injury for the Bruins comes from sharpshooter Michael Roll's ruptured foot ligament. From the sounds of it, Roll appeared to have won a starting job alongside Collison and junior Josh Shipp in the backcourt.

Conference Previews-Big East

2007-11-05T00:33:00.000-06:00

After taking a look at the ACC, the Big East would be next in line in my series of conference previews.

Co-Favorites: Louisville and Georgetown

The Cardinals and Hoyas each return talented, deep teams capable of making serious runs to the Final Four.

After struggling at the start of the season, Louisville really came together on their way towards an impressive 12-4 record in the Big East. They have post scoring from David Padgett and Derrick Caracter, athletic playmakers in Terrence Williams and Earl Clark, and a solid backcourt of Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith. If Juan Palacios can return from his preseason knee injury, the Cards would have another versatile forward who can hit the perimeter shot and compete inside.

The Hoyas should cruise right along despite the loss of excellent forward Jeff Green. Roy Hibbert will be a dominating presence in the post, and Dajuan Summers gives the Hoyas a forward who can consistently hit the perimeter shot. Patrick Ewing Jr. and Vernon Macklin provide quality frontcourt options off the bench. Talented freshman Austin Freeman joins the experienced backcourt of Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp. When another super freshman, Chris Wright, returns from a preseason foot injury, the Hoyas will have a backcourt dimension that last year's Final Four team lacked.

Both teams have legitimate chances to make it to the Final Four, and Louisville could be a solid pick to win the national title.

Breakout Team: Villanova

Normally the losses of solid contributors like Curtis Sumpter, Mike Nardi, and Will Sheridan set a program back. However, a dynamite freshman class led by Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes and the return of Scottie Reynolds makes Nova a dangerous sleeper in the Big East. Fisher and Reynolds will be tough to keep in front of them, and Stokes can really shoot it from the perimeter. Another freshman, Malcolm Grant, can fill in for either Fisher and Reynolds and even play next to them in three and four guard sets. Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham make up an underrated frontcourt, and redshirt freshman Antonio Pena could be a nice contributor off the bench. Look for this season's Villanova squad to resemble the exciting unit that emerged in 2005 and 2006 and surpass their preseason selection of seventh in the Big East.

Team on the Decline: St. John's

Norm Roberts has not been able to revive the Red Storm program, and this season could feature a return to the Big East basement. The loss of athletic forward Qaa'raan Calhoun would be the latest blow to a program that has been really unlucky the last few seasons. Anthony Mason Jr. and freshman Justin Burrell will be a solid pair of forwards, but they do not have a lot of experience and talent around them. Freshmen guards Malik Boothe and D.J. Kennedy should be nice players in time, but will not be impact players right away. Fellow freshman big man Dele Coker could develop into a strong force in the post, but will need to gain experience against the conference's tough frontcourts. Eugene Lawrence would be a solid guard off the bench on good teams, but the fact that he will be a three year starter tells you why St. John's has been a second division team the last few years. While the Johnnies will struggle this season, I think a dynamic young coach could turn this program around in time. However, Roberts does not look to be said coach.

Projected Standings (Bold equals NCAA Tournament team, italics equals NIT team):

1. Louisville
2. Georgetown
3. Marquette
4. Villanova
5. Syracuse
6. UConn
7. Pittsburgh
8. Notre Dame
9. Providence
10. DePaul
11. Seton Hall
12. West Virginia
13. Cincinnati
14. Rutgers
15. St. John's
16. South Florida

All-Conference Team
G Dominic James, Marquette
G Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
G Jerel McNeal, Marquette
G Eugene Harvey, Seton Hall
G Sharaud Curry, Providence
F Terrence Williams, Louisville
F Paul Harris, Syracuse
F Jeff Adrien, UConn
C Kentrell Gransberry, South Florida
C Roy Hibbert, Georgetown

Player of the Year: Hibbert

Newcomer of the Year: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse

Halloween Treats for Kansas and Duke

2007-10-31T22:36:00.000-05:00

One of the top players available, Elliot Williams, has committed to Duke tonight. Williams, a versatile 6-4 guard from Tennessee, chose Duke over the home state Vols, hometown Memphis Tigers and Virginia.

Meanwhile, skilled twin forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris have committed to Kansas, choosing the Jayhawks over Villanova. Marcus projects to play the wing in college, Markieff the power forward spot. The Morris twins join athletic power forward Quintrell Thomas, JuCo wing Mario Little, and talented guard Travis Releford in the Jayhawks five man recruiting class. Kansas would like to sign another guard, with Canadian combo Devoe Joseph and talented but troubled Willie Warren as possible options.

Oregon State landed a major commitment from four star guard Eshaunte Jones. Jones, one of the best shooters in the 2008 class, joins underrated Illinois wing Ryan Hare in a class that could help elevate the Beavers out of the Pac 10's bottom division.

Finally, top 60 big man Xavier Gibson has committed to Florida State. Gibson, an athletic 6-9 post player, chose the Seminoles over Alabama and West Virginia.

Strong Rebound

2007-10-29T22:47:00.000-05:00

After the tough loss of Iman Shumpert to Georgia Tech, Marquette has rebounded very nicely by landing the services of St. Anthony's point guard Tyshawn Taylor. One of the best point guard prospects still uncommitted, Taylor chose Marquette over interest from Kansas, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and a late push from North Carolina.

Also, despite the Kelvin Sampson phone scandal, Indiana has picked up a commitment from Ohio point guard Terrell Holloway. Holloway takes the place of talented former Hoosiers 2008 guard commit Bud Mackey, arrested for cocaine trafficking.

Conference Previews-ACC

2007-10-29T18:41:00.000-05:00

The college basketball season would be less than two weeks away, and it would time to take a look at the major conferences. I'll start with Dick Vitale's personal favorite, the ACC. North Carolina looks to be a step above everyone else, with a group of 3-4 teams fighting it out for second place.

Favorite-North Carolina:
Losing Brandan Wright and Reyshawn Terry will not pose much of a problem, at least during the regular season. Super sophomores Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington lead the Tar Heels back court, with the returning All-American Tyler Hansbrough anchoring the front court. Lawson's speed opens up the post for Hansbrough and emerging sophomore Deon Thompson, and the perimeter for Ellington. Marcus Ginyard provides excellent defense on the wing and Danny Green gives the offense a heady wing player. If junior guard Bobby Frasor can provide perimeter shooting from the bench, the Tar Heels will have all the elements necessary to win the national title. They should dominate the ACC in a manner rarely seen because of their strong talent edge over the rest of the conference.

Breakout Team-N.C. State:
The Wolfpack can match the Tar Heels strong front court. However, they will need improved guard play to make the major step forward everyone expects them to. Versatile forward Brandon Costner provides a match up nightmare for a lot of bigger four men, and Ben McCauley has quietly developed into one of the conference's best post players. Freshman J.J. Hickson gives N.C. State another strong, athletic front court player. Another freshman, Tracy Smith, will provide the front court with quality depth. Talented wing Gavin Grant rounds out a front court that can match up with just about anybody. The back court will need one of their three newcomers to step up and lead the offense from the point guard spot. Iowa State transfer Farnold Degand will get the first chance to lead the offense, with freshman Javier Gonzalez and Tennessee transfer Marques Johnson (eligible in December) also expected to receive significant minutes. Wing Courtney Fells has shown considerable potential, but shot just 33% from the perimeter last season. The Wolfpack should be an NCAA Tournament team, but could finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th in the ACC

Team on the Decline-Boston College:
Coach Al Skinner's teams have consistently rebounded despite significant personnel losses in the past. However, the Eagles would be long overdue for a rebuilding season and 2008 looks to be that campaign. Talented lead guard Tyrese Rice returns, and he will have to shoulder even more of the scoring load this season. A very quick guard who can drive by opponents and has an improved perimeter shot, Rice should contend for All-ACC honors. However, the rest of the Eagles would be unproven and will likely need a season or two before they can compete in the ACC. Sophomore Shamari Spears has the potential to be a very effective undersized post player, but may have some struggles in his first season starting. Freshmen Rakim Sanders, Corey Raji, and Josh Southern should become very good ACC players in time, but they will also need time to develop against more mature competition. Skinner has seemingly pulled a rabbit of his hat many times before, but this year the Eagles will likely take some lumps as the young core of players get accustomed to the ACC.

Projected Standings (Bold equals NCAA Tournament team, italics equals NIT team):
1. North Carolina
2. Duke
3. NC State
4. Clemson
5. Virginia
6. Florida State
7. Maryland
8. Georgia Tech
9. Boston College
10. Wake Forest
11. Miami
12. Virginia Tech

All-ACC Team:
G Sean Singletary, Virginia
G Ty Lawson, North Carolina
G Lewis Clinch, Georgia Tech
F Kyle Singler, Duke
F Brandon Costner, N.C. State
F Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina

Player of the Year: Hansbrough

Newcomer of the Year: Singler

It Hits the Fan

2007-10-29T14:45:00.000-05:00

The recent phone call scandal for Kelvin Sampson at Indiana has now caused Hoosiers assistant Rob Senderoff to resign. However, the real story may be the strong rumor circulating that Indiana's top 2008 recruit, Devin Ebanks, will be forced to withdraw his commitment to Indiana. Ranked among the top ten players in the 2008 class, Ebanks also considered Rutgers and Miami (FL) before verballing to Indiana. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that UConn could make a run here at Ebanks, as this type of recruitment would be right in Jim Calhoun's wheelhouse.

In other recruiting news, top 100 post player Ralph Sampson III (son of former Virginia star Ralph Sampson) committed to Minnesota. The younger Sampson joins rising big man Colton Iverson in giving Tubby Smith and the Gophers a strong front line to build around.

Herb Sendek continues the process of rebuilding Arizona State, receiving a verbal commitment from touted 2009 guard Jared Cunningham. The California combo guard had interest from most of the Pac 10, San Diego State and Gonzaga before making the early commitment to the Sun Devils. Cunningham currently ranks as Scout's eighth best 2009 point guard in what looks to be a strong guard class.

Athletic forward Quintrell Thomas has committed to Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks. A top 100 prospect according to Scout, Thomas will give the Jayhawks a hard working power forward who plays strong in the post and competes against bigger opponents.

Media Day Recaps

2007-10-27T17:55:00.000-05:00

With college basketball season on the horizon, the major conferences have held their media day gatherings presenting the projected standing and conference player of the years. I will post a re-cap here of reports from each of these conferences, with the top for projected teams and preseason player of the year in each league.

Big East:

Top 4 teams
T1 Louisville
T1 Georgetown
3. Marquette
4. Pittsburgh

Player of the Year:
C Roy Hibbert, Georgetown

ACC:

Top 4 teams
1. North Carolina
2. Duke
3. NC State
4. Clemson

Co Players of the Year:
F Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina and G Sean Singletary, Virginia

SEC:

East
1. Tennessee
2. Kentucky

West
1. Arkansas
2. Mississippi State

Player of the Year:
G Chris Lofton, Tennessee

Big 12:

1. Kansas
2. Texas
3. Texas A&M
4. Kansas State

Player of the Year:
G D.J. Augustin, Texas

I will give an update with the Pac 10 and Big Ten media days sometime next week, along with the top major conferences like the A-10 and Missouri Valley.

The Best Players in College Basketball

2007-10-24T19:16:00.000-05:00

College Hoops Net recently published a list of their top 100 college players. Overall, I would rate this a solid list with a few exceptions.

My biggest one would be Michael Beasley at 5. Forget the Kevin Durant comparisons, as he does not possess Durant's determination to take over games and lead his team to wins. I think he will be another Derrick Coleman, an immensely talented player who never puts it all together (Beasley already has a major rep for playing when he wants to). I like Jeff Adrien's game, but not sure that he impacts the game enough to be rated the 26th best player. He's a great rebounder and a solid face up four man, but probably belongs in the second half of the top 100. Well down the list at 88, I am not a huge fan of Joe Crawford. Despite coming into college with a vaunted reputation, I think he may not be the best wing player on his own team (I prefer Jodie Meeks myself).

The most glaring omission would be Oregon wing Bryce Taylor. The Ducks most efficient player, Taylor would be far more valuable to the team than the more hyped Tajuan Porter. Also, while they may not deserve the hype just yet, look for big men Deon Thompson (North Carolina) and Marreese Speights (Florida) to make major impacts in their increased roles this season).

Nuggets and Tidbits

2007-10-23T18:59:00.000-05:00

Here's a recap of some of the interesting stories currently around the college basketball world:

Wisconsin guard Michael Flowers has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the basketball program due to medical issues. One of the best defensive players in the Big Ten, the loss of Flowers would be a big one for a Badgers team that already lacked backcourt depth. If Flowers does not return before the season begins, the Badgers would be left with just two scholarship guards on their roster, sophomores Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon.

Stanford big man Brook Lopez has now been indefinitely suspended for a violation of team rules. Already academically ineligible for the first semester, I think Lopez may want to reconsider that decision of passing up on entering last season's NBA Draft (where he would have been a likely lottery pick).

Purdue forward Gordon Watt has been dismissed from the program followed a DWI arrest. The junior forward started for Purdue last season, and would have been expected to a key part of the Boilermakers rotation again this year.

Pepperdine's leading returning scorer, Kingsley Costain, has been dismissed from the school for a violation of university policy. The 5-7 guard averaged 11.5 points per game last season and would rank fifth among Pepperdine's all time leading three point shooters with 146 threes.

Finally, Kelvin Sampson got caught making impermissible phone calls again. Color me shocked, because as the saying goes a leopard never changes his spots.

Recruiting Round-Up 10/22

2007-10-22T15:01:00.000-05:00

The commitments continue to pour in, with Maryland highlighting this group with a huge interior pick-up.

After losing out on Terrence Jennings, the Terps have rebounded by gaining the services of athletic big man Gus Gilchrist. One of the top post-grad players available, Gilchrist chose the Terps after initially signing with Virginia Tech in 2007. Following the tragedies at VT last spring, Gilchrist opted out and has now landed at an ACC rival.

Sharpshooting wing Jared Swopshire committed to Louisville this weekend. A top 100 prospect according to Scout, Swopshire chose the Cardinals over strong interest from Marquette and Clemson. Swopshire joins wings Melquan Bolding and Kyle Kuric and big men Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings in what should be a top five class for the Cardinals.

Ohio State received another early commitment from 2010 guard Trae Golden. One of the top prospects in the sophomore class, Golden joins Jared Sullinger and Cameron Wright as an already strong core for the Buckeyes future recruiting efforts.

New York wing Patrick Jackson has committed to Rutgers. A versatile player with a solid perimeter shot, Jackson joins touted combo guard Mike Rosario and big man Christian Morris in a second straight strong class for the Scarlet Knights.

Recruiting Round-Up Part Deux

2007-10-18T23:11:00.001-05:00

While the loss of Shumpert stings, Marquette did receive a verbalcommitment from wing Joseph Fulce tonight. Fulce, a Texas product who has a strong relationship with Marquette assistant Buzz Williams, initially signed with Texas A&M out of high school when Williams assisted then A&M head man Billy Gillispie. After spending a year in prep school, Fulce signed with New Orleans (despite interest from major programs like Illinois and Cincinnati) after Williams took the Privateers head coaching job. When Williams left New Orleans, Fulce headed to a Texas junior college before re-committing to Williams at Marquette.

Also, Kansas State has received from two very solid 2009 prospects, both hailing from Washington D.C. and the AAU program D.C. Assault. Top 40 Combo forward Wally Judge chose the Wildcats despite interest from programs like Georgetown, Kansas and Maryland. Wing Rodney Magruder selected the Wildcats after early interest from Clemson, N.C. State, and Pittsburgh.

Georgia Tech wins Shumpert sweepstakes

2007-10-18T22:45:00.000-05:00

The Yellow Jackets have won the hard fought race for touted combo guard Iman Shumpert, beating out Marquette and North Carolina. Shumpert, a 6-4 guard who hopes to play the point in college, will attend the school where former Yellow Jacket Javaris Crittenton made a similar transition before entering the 2007 NBA Draft. With only one guard surely on Tech's roster next season, Shumpert should have the opportunity to play significant minutes and be a go-to-guy immediately.

In other recruiting news, talented combo forward Renaldo Woolridge has committed to Tennessee. The son of former Notre Dame star Orlando Woolridge should fit nicely into Tennessee's system playing both forward spots.

2009 Minnesota guard Trent Lockett has made an early pledge to Arizona State. The 6-5 product of Minnesota prep power Hopkins chose the Sun Devils after receiving early interest from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Marquette.

Finally, bruising Illinois big man Josh Crittle has committed to Oregon. The AAU teammate of Ducks pledges Michael Dunigan and Matthew Humphrey, Crittle will give the Ducks a bigger body to use against the Pac 10's post players.

Real Interesting Prediction

2007-10-16T01:01:00.000-05:00

While looking over the new Basketball Prospectus website, I found Ken Pomeroy's Pac 10 prediction to be real interesting with a real eye opener at the bottom.

            2007 Pythag    % Returning       2008
Team            Wins         Minutes      Prediction
UCLA            14.4           81.4          14-4
Stanford        10.3           82.0          12-6
Washington St.  12.9           80.5          11-7
Arizona         11.4           48.9          10-8
USC             11.3           48.4           9-9
Washington       7.9           71.1           9-9
California       5.7           79.5           8-10
Oregon           9.5           77.4           8-10
Arizona State    4.4           78.8           6-12
Oregon State     2.8           46.2           3-13

Many people would be surprised with Oregon finishing 8-10 in conference and tied for seventh place, but I think the loss of Aaron Brooks could hurt far more than people realize. In my initial summer predictions, I had Oregon ranked 14th in the country. They certainly have that kind of talent, but I may be underestimating the potential problem of having Porter (incredibly inefficient in distributing the ball) replace Brooks at the point. Freshman point guard Kamryon Brown may need to be placed into the starting line-up sooner than expected, allowing the 5-6 Porter to slide over to his more comfortable position off the ball. Bryce Taylor and Malik Hairston effectively played the 3 and 4 spots last season, and may need to play out of position again in order for Ducks to use their most effective group. While Oregon has the talent to come close to matching their tremendous 2007, they could easily fall back to the middle of the Pac 10 and potentially be on the outside looking in come Selection Sunday.

Long Train Runnin'

2007-10-15T16:38:00.000-05:00

With signing day quickly approaching, another group of quality prospects have given commitments to their future schools.

After finally starting to create some recruiting momentum, Bruce Weber has now landed the services of athletic Chicago big man Stan Simpson. Simpson has not been able to put together consistently strong efforts on the AAU circuit, but has the potential to well outperform his ranking and a be key part of Illinois's resurgence.

Virginia has won its second major recruiting battle of this season after landing a commitment from coveted big man John Brandenburg. A talented and smart kid who also strongly considered Stanford, Brandenburg joins talented New York wing Sylven Landesberg in a strong haul for Dave Leitao's Cavaliers.

Colorado picked up a second very solid prospect in North Dakota forward Austin Dufault. Dufault emerged as a strong prospect this summer, and will join Georgia combo forward Toby Veal in helping Jeff Bzdelik attempt to turn around Colorado.

Finally, Arkansas received a commitment from athletic forward Brandon Moore. After visiting Arkansas for their opening of practice this weekend, Moore selected the Razorbacks over a host of interested schools including Marquette.

Commitment Madness

2007-10-14T19:20:00.000-05:00

With the opening night madness celebrations occurring throughout the country, a bunch of quality prospects have made commitments following these celebrations:

It has already been mentioned here on FWD, but the importance of Greg Monroe committing to Georgetown cannot be overstated. A perfect fit for the Hoyas version of the Princeton offense, he should compete for Big East player of the year honors ala former Hoya Jeff Green.However, that would be far from the only bow struck by the Big East this weekend.

Former Maryland commit Terrence Jennings has now pledged to Rick Pitino and the Louisville Cardinals. An athletic post player, Jennings should nicely complement bruising big man Samardo Samuels in the Cardinals recruiting class.

Jennings would not be the only commitment Louisville garnered this weekend. Sharpshooting wing Kyle Kuric has chosen the Cardinals over Southern Illinois. Kuric joins Jennings, Samuels, and New York wing Melquan Bolding in a very solid recruiting class for the Cardinals, who would like to land the services of touted guard Tyreke Evans to round out the class.

Meanwhile, talented wing Mookie Jones has all but officially committed to Syracuse. The versatile New York wing had visited Marquette and DePaul the last two weekends, but has been a strong Syracuse lean for awhile. While Mookie has not made anything official just yet, it will likely take a miracle for either Rutgers or St. John's to sway him.

Maryland has tapped into the prep school ranks to land wing Jin Soo Kim. A talented shooter originally from Korea, Kim currently plays his high school ball for prep power South Kent in Connecticut.

Finally, after an impressive Madness event that featured former star Dwyane Wade, Marquette has landed an early commitment from talented 2009 wing Erik Williams. The Texas wing Williams came to Marquette for the big event, and left after committing to Tom Crean and company ( a big assist should be given to new assistant Buzz Williams and his strong Texas ties).

Latest Rough Break

2007-10-13T19:41:00.000-05:00

Talented but perenially injured Louisville forward Juan Palacios severely sprained his knee in practice and could be redshirted this season. The crafty forward who also possesses excellent athleticism when healthy, Palacios has had to deal with a myriad of injuries after an outstanding freshman season. The Cardinals have strong depth at the forward spot, with wing Terrence Williams, combo forward Earl Clark, and freshman sharpshooter George Goode. Still, Palacios would have likely started at power forward, and this continues a trend with a Louisville team that has been mired with personnel issues the last two seasons.

Georgetown Gets it Done

2007-10-13T16:34:00.000-05:00

The race to land Scout's top player in the 2008 class has abruptly ended. In what would be the final confirmation that Georgetown would be back among the elite programs, the Hoyas have landed the services of Greg Monroe. A multi dimensional forward in the realm of former Hoya star Jeff Green, the Louisiana native Monroe will spend his college years in the Big East. With a class that already featured excellent prospects in versatile guard Jason Clark, powerful post man Chris Braswell and athletic post player Henry Sims, Monroe gives the Hoyas an elite player to headline this tremendous haul.

Credit where Credit is Due

2007-10-11T19:29:00.000-05:00

It looks like Illinois has finally started to get momentum going on the recruiting trail, receiving verbal commitments from 2009 in state guards D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul. After a strong summer of play, Richardson had interest from many big time schools and looks to be the best guard Illinois has landed in a long time (not a big fan of current freshman Demetri McCamey after seeing him at the Roundball Classic festivities). Paul looks to be an under the radar type recruit, but major programs had started to check him out before his early verbal. It looks like the hiring of new assistant coach Jerrance Howard has brought some much needed life to the Illini basketball program.

Update:
Another touted 2009 guard, Joseph Bertrand, has just verbally committed to Illinois. A talented wing player, Bertrand would currently be most touted of three commits, ranking in the top 100 for both Scout and Rivals.

In other recruiting news, talented big man Frank Ben-Eze has eschewed interest from major programs like Marquette and Virginia Tech to play his basketball at Harvard. An excellent student, Ben-Eze looks to be the rare player who decides to pursue his academic dreams in favor of a professional basketball future (as good of a academic school as Harvard is, Tommy Amaker would be equally as bad of a talent developer).

Three Key Georgia Players Suspended

2007-10-11T17:43:00.000-05:00

A real tough blow for Georgia, as head coach Dennis Felton has suspended Mike Mercer, Takais Brown and Albert Jackson for failing to meet Georgia's new academic policy. Mercer, the team's most valuable player and last season's second leading scorer, will miss the first 15 games. Brown, the teams leading scorer a force down low, will miss nine games. Jackson, a back up post player with the potential to be a key player at some point, will miss the first six games.

Providence's Curry Breaks Foot

2007-10-11T00:11:00.000-05:00

Providence point guard Sharaud Curry will miss the start of the upcoming season after breaking his foot in a preseason workout. A tough blow for the Friars, as Curry led the team in scoring and assists last season. Sophomore Dwain Williams and Manhattan transfer Jeff Xavier will likely fill in for the Friars at the point.

Excellent New Website

2007-10-10T19:19:00.000-05:00

The great people at Baseball Prospectus have now published a new, free site statistically evaluating the world of college basketball, Basketball Prospectus. Ken Pomeroy (author of the famous KenPom ratings) and John Gasaway (aka the Big Ten Wonk) would be the contributors to the site, and I would be a big fan of each of their works in the past. From reading the introductory article and the ACC preview, I would already highly recommend this site to all fans of college hoops.

Excellent News for Butler

2007-10-08T16:48:00.000-05:00

After reading Luke Winn's excellent piece (with really cool photo gallery accompanying it) on the college top backcourts, I discovered that Butler swing man Julian Betko will be back after being granted a sixth year of eligibility. Betko, who missed the 2004-2005 season due to a knee injury, started his career at Clemson before becoming a key player for the Bulldogs. While Betko may not make a huge statistical impact, his size on the wing and defensive ability makes him a major part of a Bulldogs team capable of repeating last season's run to the Sweet 16.

The Neverending Story

2007-10-08T16:00:00.000-05:00

While this horse has been seemingly cremated, Illinois has lost out on another pair of solid prospects.

Top 100 guard Mark McLaughlin chose Nevada over the Illini and Oregon. Initially committing to Washington State, McLaughlin changed his mind this summer and joins a Wolfpack recruiting class already featuring big time prospect Luke Babbitt.

Mranwhile, strong JuCo wing prospect Mario Little has chosen Kansas over the Illini and Kansas State. Playing for JuCo power Chipola (Fla.), Little comes from a program that has produced many Division 1 prospects, including heralded Indiana newcomer JaMarcus Ellis.

Illinois has yet to receive a commitment from a 2008 prospect, and currently has two scholarship guards on their active roster with Quinton Watkins failing to qualify and Jamar Smith being forced to red-shirt due to the DUI crash severely injuring teammate Brian Carlwell.

In other recruiting news, a couple more solid prospects would now be off the board:

Speedy guard Courtney Fortson has committed to Arkansas despite strong interest from Kentucky. Fortson would be a speedy lead guard in mold of Dee Brown.

Combo forward Toby Veal committed to Colorado. A solid prospect who had interest from other high major programs like Auburn and Florida State, Veal could be a nice prospect for Jeff Bzdelik to build around in trying to make Colorado competitive in the Big 12.

Brook Lopez academically ineligible for first semester

2007-10-05T23:32:00.000-05:00

While many of the usual suspects (I'm looking at the fine state of Tennessee with Vols and Memphis) have made their typical off season news, there would be breaking news in the things you don't see everyday department. Stanford's star big man, Brook Lopez, will miss the first nine games due to being academically ineligible. One of the top NBA prospects in the college games, Lopez averaged 12.6 points, 6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks as a freshman despite missing the start of the season with a back injury.

Recruiting Round-Up 10/1

2007-10-01T22:48:00.000-05:00

The commitments continue to pour in here, with three more solid prospects now off the board.

Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy continues to get it done, landing athletic forward Terrance Henry. Henry, a top 60 prospect according to Scout, joins heralded prep prospect Malcolm White in headlining a very solid class for the Rebels. An extremely enthusiastic and hard working coach, I expect Andy Kennedy to lead Ole Miss to the top of the SEC and potentially be a desirable candidate for a top flight college job or even NBA position down the line.

Combo forward Lance Goulbourne chose Vanderbilt over Virginia and Marquette. An athletic 6-7 forward who rose into Scout's Top 100 after a strong summer AAU performance, Goulbourne should fit nicely replacing excellent wing Shan Foster for the Commodores. Goulbourne and Nigerian forward Steve Tchiengang would give Vandebilt an excellent foundation for their 2008 class.

He has flown under the radar a bit, but I think Washington State may have landed a real strong prospect in California wing Klay Thompson. The son of former L.A. Laker Mychal Thompson, Klay Thompson will give the Cougars a strong player who has a nice blend of skill and athleticism. Also strongly pursued by Notre Dame, Thompson joins combo guard Michael Harthun in leading a strong 2008 pull by Tony Bennett.

Tough Blow for Trojans

2007-09-30T20:00:00.000-05:00

USC sophomore guard Daniel Hackett, a likely starter in the back court alongside O.J. Mayo, will miss the start of the season due to a broken jaw suffered in practice. A very solid defensive player who can hit the perimeter jumper and has solid ball handling skills, Hackett would have nicely complemented the flash of the phenom freshman Mayo.

Tough Blow for Impact Freshman

2007-09-28T18:53:00.000-05:00

Georgetown freshman guard Chris Wright, a heralded local recruit, will miss the early part of the upcoming season because of a broken foot suffered in a pick-up game. Wright, a combo guard who could play either the one or two, will eventually be part of the Georgetown guard rotation featuring fellow freshman Austin Freeman and the underrated returning duo on Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp.

Inside the Crazy World of Recruiting

2007-09-27T13:35:00.000-05:00

Dave Telep, the best recruiting analyst in the business IMO, has an excellent story up on Scout today about the crazy world of recruiting. Telep lets readers into his world with the breaking commitments of three high profile prospects: Sylven Landesberg, Eloy Vargas and Olek Czyz.

Speaking of these prospects, Landesberg will select Virginia later today over St. John's and Georgia Tech.

Czyz selected Duke over Louisville. The athletic Polish power forward will join the most famous Polish-American in college basketball, Coach K, and start his development in becoming a leader among men.

Meanwhile, Vargas chose Florida over a host of schools including Louisville and Pittsburgh. A Scout Top 30 prospect, Vargas joins heralded big men Kenny Kadji and Allan Chaney, wing Ray Shipman, and speedy combo guard Erving Walker in another outstanding class for the Gators.

Rough News on Rocky Top

2007-09-26T23:13:00.000-05:00

Talented sophomore forward Duke Crews has been indefinitely suspended from Tennessee's basketball team for violating team rules. While nothing definitive has been determined on the severity of this ruling, losing Crews would be a big blow to a Vols team that has a legitimate chance to compete for a national championship. The Vols most susceptible area would be interior play, and Crews would be the team's best rounder and most physical player.

Big Blows to Big East Teams

2007-09-26T22:36:00.000-05:00

In some breaking news, Dick "Hoops" Weiss has the scoop of touted New York City prospect Sylvan Landesberg committing to Virginia. Landesberg, a versatile wing player who can also play some point guard, would be a tremendous pick-up for head coach Dave Leitao and the Cavaliers. A top 40 player and the #9 small forward according to Scout, Landesberg selected the Cavs over hometown school St. John's and Georgia Tech. This would be an especially tough loss for the Red Storm, who targeted Landesberg as their top 2008 prospect.

Meanwhile, versatile forward Steve Tchiengang has verbally committed to Vanderbilt. The 6-8 forward ranked in Scout's Top 100, Tchiengang had been the top recruiting target of Mike Brey and Notre Dame.

On the other end of the spectrum, DePaul received some good news when 6-9 New York forward Devin Hill committed to the Blue Demons. Playing for the AAU power New York Gauchos, Hill had a solid summer and received interest from Big East programs like Seton Hall before choosing DePaul over Bradley.

Recruiting Round-Up 9/25

2007-09-25T15:09:00.000-05:00

Talented big man Terrence Jennings has de-committed from Maryland. Jennings would still be considering the Terps, but schools like Louisville, Kentucky and Memphis would now be hard after the athletic, well traveled post player.

Athletic forward Delwan Graham has committed to LSU. Graham, a Scout Top 100 prospect who could play either the three or four spot, would be an excellent pick-up for coach John Brady. Brady can really enjoy the good news after a rough 2007 and another tough season likely looming.

Emerging South Dakota big man Colton Iverson has committed to Minnesota and new head coach Tubby Smith. Teams like Florida and Marquette had expressed an interest in Iverson following an excellent summer, but he has decided to stay close to home and play for the Gophers.

Finally, a significant early commitment as 2010 point guard Kendall Marshall has verbally committed to North Carolina and Roy Williams. Marshall, who will likely rank among the top players in his class, flourished this summer playing against much older competition and would be an excellent long term prospect for the Heels to follow.

Steele to miss 2007-2008 season

2007-09-18T00:35:00.000-05:00

Alabama's starting point guard, Ronald Steele, will take a medical redshirt and sit out the 2007-2008 season. Before struggling with knee injuries, Steele looked to be a big time NBA prospect because of his excellent size and feel for the position. Hopefully Steele can finally overcome these knee problems and exhibit the form that made him one of the best collegiate point guards. A real interesting factor in this development would be that Steele will now have an opportunity to play with his little brother Andrew. The younger Steele, a 6'3 combo guard, would be a consensus top 100 prospect and a part of Alabama's excellent 2008 recruiting class.

Meanwhile, I would not totally write off the Tide for this upcoming season. They have two highly regarded freshman guards in Rico Pickett and Senario Hillman coming in, along with excellent wing Alonzo Gee and bruising big man Richard Hendrix. They would no longer be a preseason top 25 team, but they could still sneak into the NCAA Tournament, especially in the weak SEC West.

Levance Fields Joins the Parade of Arrested Athletes

2007-09-17T17:15:00.000-05:00

Pitt point guard Levance Fields had an early Sunday morning visit to the pokey after trying to disarm an off-duty police officer. Fields, the only true point guard on the Panthers roster, would be a significant loss should head coach Jamie Dixon lay down the hammer and kick him off the team. Fields arrest comes on the heels of the Labor Day weekend antics that saw the arrest of five UAB players and Memphis's Shawn Taggart and Jeff Robinson.

Recruiting Round Up 9/17

2007-09-17T16:40:00.000-05:00

We have a bunch of significant commitments since my last update here.

Guards Philip McDonald and Nathen Garth have committed to the New Mexico Lobos and Steve Alford. McDonald, a Scout top 100 prospect and one of the better shooters in the 2008 class, had interest from Kansas and other big time schools. Garth, a talented combo guard, initially committed to Minnesota before changing his mind and verballing to the Lobos. These two join other noted prospects in Isiah Rusher and Will Brown in giving Alford a huge first recruiting class at New Mexico. The common tie with McDonald, Brown, and Garth coming to New Mexico despite significant interest from major programs: current Lobo assistant Chris Walker, former coach of the Houston AAU program T-Mac All Stars.

Highly rated forward David Loubeau has committed to Mark Turgeon and the Texas A&M Aggies. Loubeau, initially a four star class of 2009 prospect, will re-classify to 2008 and sign with the Aggies this fall.

Clemson has picked up another excellent prospect in Tanner Smith. Smith, a four star wing prospect according to Scout, joins highly regarded point guard Andre Young and big time post prospect Catalin Baciu. After years of struggling in the ACC, Clemson looks to be positioning themselves to vie for top of the conference finishes.

Recruiting Round-Up 9/10

2007-09-10T15:32:00.001-05:00

In the competition for craziest recruitment in the 2008 class, the Morris twins have vaulted to the top of the pack. Initially part of the 2007 class, the Morris twins committed to Memphis before failing to qualify. Re-classified as members of the 2008 class, they have been on and off in keeping in their initial commitment to Memphis. Now, they would be permanently looking for a new college home, as the final straw in ending their relationship with Memphis would be the verbal commitment of Angel Garcia. Garcia, a big forward with perimeter skills, possess a similar game as the Morris twins, who felt threatened about not getting the immediate playing they sought. Marcus, a 6'8 wing forward, and Markieff, a 6'9 post player, would be both be very highly ranked prospects. Therefore, a major program (Kansas looks to be a potential suitor) will take a chance of the Morris twins not causing a headache should they make it to campus.

Baylor keeps it getting done on the recruiting trail, getting a commitment from coveted combo forward Anthony Jones. Jones, ranked as a four star prospect and the #14 small forward prospect by Scout, joins athletic forward Storm Warren in helping to give Baylor a strong frontline to compliment their talented backcourt.

Speaking of recruiting momentum, Dayton looks to be on their way to the back of the top of the Atlantic 10. Sharpshooting forward Luke Fabrizius has just committed to the Flyers, joining touted Detroit guard Paul Williams in another very solid Dayton recruiting class (incoming freshman Chris Wright will be a future A-10 player of the year IMO). Fabrizius initially had interest from Big East schools like DePaul and Marquette before considering Northwestern and Dayton as his final two schools.

Another One Bites The Dust

2007-09-07T15:39:00.000-05:00

The last of Illinois's six top targets in 2008, Darius Miler, has committed to Kentucky. Miller, a touted 6'6 wing player rated as the #7 small forward by Scout, gives Kentucky a coveted in-state product to join the versatile DeAndre Liggins in their 2008 recruiting. The Kentucky fan base would be ecstatic landing a prized local boy, while Illinois fans commiserate the latest recruiting failure under Bruce Weber. After former Illinois assistant Tracy Webster left Illinois to take the final assistant position at Kentucky, Miller, who developed a strong relationship with Webster while being recruited by Illinois, quickly made his move after Webster come on board Billy Gillispie's staff.

In other recruiting news, talented post prospect Gus Gilchrist has officially been released from Virginia Tech and will look to join a team mid-season. Gilchrist decided against attending the Blacksburg campus following the awful tragedy this past spring.

Finally, top 100 guard Reggie Jackson and his Colorado Select AAU teammate Dallas Elmore have committed to Boston College. BC coach Al Skinner has quietly started to rebuild the Eagles with strong 2007 prospects Josh Southern and Rakim Sanders to join this duo.

Foreshadowing the Future

2007-09-05T00:16:00.000-05:00

Illinois fans, it may be time to work on developing selective amnesia. During their Labor Day tour of Canada, the Illini lost to the Canadian power Concordia Stingers. Two of their other three games on this hoops tour went to overtime, including the Double OT tilt against a McGill team that went 9-23 last season.

Current Over/Under on Illinois wins this season: 15
Wins in Big Ten play: 6

Take That Memphis

2007-09-04T15:13:00.000-05:00

While the Tigers had a pair of basketball players arrested this weekend, UAB decided that their starting five would get intimate with the behind bars setting. Keenan Ellis, the Blazers top 2007 recruit, joined transfers Robert Vaden (Indiana), Walter Sharpe (Mississippi State), and Channing Toney (Georgia) in causing a disturbance at a Birmingham club. While UAB will lose to Memphis on the court, they're destroying the Tigers on the police blotter. Looks like Mike Davis's influence has fully entrenched itself in Birmingham.

Good News from the County Jail

2007-09-03T17:40:00.000-05:00

While bailing out Tigers players Jeff Robinson and Shawn Taggart, Memphis coach John Calipari received excellent news. Skilled forward Angel Garcia has committed to the Tigers, turning down offers from Indiana and a host of other major schools. Garcia, rated as a top 50 player by Scout and the #11 power forward, should compliment Memphis's athletic wings with his perimeter skills and outside shot.

Meanwhile, Miami has received a huge commitment from athletic wing DeQuan Jones. The 6'5 Jones has a chance to be an instant starter for The U and gives Frank Haith an important building block after missing out on top recruits Devin Ebanks and Eloy Vargas.

Jailhouse Rock

2007-09-02T18:54:00.000-05:00

Out late celebrating the Appalachian State victory over Michigan, Memphis basketball players Jeff Robinson and Shawn Taggart were arrested in a downtown Memphis night club. Robinson, a 6'5 freshman wing from New Jersey, committed to Memphis after an excellent career at prep power St. Patrick's. Taggart, an athletic 6'10 post player, transferred to Memphis following the dismissal of former coach Iowa State coach Wayne Morgan.

Bigtime Baylor Pick-Ups

2007-08-29T18:04:00.001-05:00

Scott Drew continues his renaissance of the Baylor program, garnering significant verbal commitments from athletic forward Storm Warren and 2009 post player Cory Jefferson. Warren, ranked as the #30 power forward in 2008 and just outside Scout's Top 100, committed to Baylor following a visit to the Waco campus this weekend. Jefferson currently ranks as a four star center and the #70 player in 2009 by Scout.

In other recruiting news, Clemson landed their second their second top 100 recruit in 2008 with speedy guard Andre Young. Young, the 9th ranked point guard according to Scout, vaulted up the rankings following a tremendous July and has received interest from ACC schools before verballing to Clemson.

In a follow-up on the Quinton Watkins situation, the California guard failed to receive clearance from the NCAA and will not enroll at Illinois for the fall semester. With the likelihood that Watkins will miss this upcoming season, Illinois will only have two guards on scholarship, junior Chester Frazier and incoming freshman Demetri McCamey.

Recruiting Round-Up 8/24

2007-08-24T11:53:00.000-05:00

Rising forward Allan Chaney has committed to the defending national champion Florida Gators. Chaney's strong July vaulted him into many top 100 lists and elevated his recruitment to where he had his choice of top-flight schools. Chaney joins guard Erwing Walker, wing Ray Shipman and big man Kenny Kadji in a very solid 2008 class for the Gators.

Top 2009 guard Abdul Gaddy has made an early commitment to the Arizona Wildcats. Currently rated as the #4 point guard by Scout, Gaddy would be an excellent foundation for the Cats 2009 class.

More News and Notes

2007-08-23T22:08:00.000-05:00

Marquette signee Damian Saunders, an athletic 6'8 forward from Notre Dame Prep in Massachussets, has been denied admission into the school due primarily to academic reasons. Saunders did get arrested for marijuana possession in late June, but Marquette head coach Tom Crean stated that his failure to meet Marquette's academic expectations, and not the arrest, have caused Saunders to have to look elsewhere (likely Duquesne) for his college home. Meanwhile, Marquette's top recruit in 2007 class, Trevor Mbakwe, has yet to be cleared by the NCAA, but Crean expects the athletic 6'7 power forward to receive the heads up soon.

The news for Illinois keeps getting worse, as shooting guard Quinton Watkins has to be cleared by the NCAA himself. An athletic 6'3 guard rated by some services as a top 100 prospect, Watkins would likely compete for a starting spot if he gets into school. After losing Jamar Smith yesterday, Illinois badly needs Watkins in Champaign to have any semblance of a quality backcourt.

Roll Tide

2007-08-23T22:06:00.000-05:00

Alabama has landed their third outstanding prospect in the class of 2008 with the commitment of Top 20 forward JaMychal Green. An athletic 6'8 four man who loves to compete on the interior, Green headlines a successful recruiting haul which should make Bama one of the SEC's best the next few years. The other members of the Tide's class include athletic wing Tony Mitchell, a consensus top 40 prospect, and crafty combo guard Andrew Steele, another top 100 player.

In other recruiting news, shooter deluxe Matt Roth has committed to the Indiana Hoosiers. The 6'3 shooting guard from Peoria always dreamed of playing for Illinois, but never received an offer from the Illini despite the lack of perimeter shooters currently on Illinois's roster. While Roth may not project as a star at the Big Ten level, he should definitely be a valuable contributor that most winning teams seem to have on their roster.

News and Notes from the College Basketball World

2007-08-22T23:22:00.000-05:00

The bad luck continues for Alabama point guard Ronald Steele. Steele will need to undergo another knee surgery. Alabama coach Mark Gottfried hopes to have Steele back in time for the 2007-2008 season, but this latest setback may make that an unrealistic goal. Steele came into the 2006-2007 season as a preseason All-American and likely first round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, but knee problems caused him and Alabama to have a disappointing season that ended with an NIT berth. If Steele cannot make a healthy return, the Tide would have to rely on freshman guards Rico Pickett and Senario Hillman to play significant minutes from the get go.

Meanwhile, Illinois guard Jamar Smith will be forced to redshirt for the upcoming season as the final fallout of his nasty DUI crash that severely injured teammate Brian Carlwell. Things could get really ugly for the Illini this season, as Smith would be the only accomplished perimeter shooter on Illinois's roster and will now be unavailable for the 2007-2008 campaign. At this point, Illinois AD Ron Guenther has to be really regretting extending Weber's contract following the 2006 season.

Calhoun transferring

2007-08-20T23:05:00.000-05:00

Talented combo forward Qa'rraan Calhoun would be transferring from St. John's. The athletic 6'8 Calhoun averaged six points and four rebounds per game as a freshman, and looked to be one of the promising players on a St. John's team that has really struggled the last few seasons. Calhoun started for St. John's during the last part of the 2006-2007 season, and would have likely started next to Anthony Mason Jr. on the Red Storm frontline this upcoming season. St. John's has a very talented power forward, Justin Burrell, coming into the program, but losing an athletic frontline player like Calhoun still sets the program back. In just four years at St. John's, head coach Norm Roberts has lost seven players he brought into the program to transfers/academic issues.

In the Dark Clark

2007-08-18T15:06:00.000-05:00

Credit to Kansas's Phog.net board for unearthing this gem:

"Take this for what it's worth. Hoopscooponline.com listed their Top 100 players who have already committed, and also predicted the following about the players who are currently uncommitted:

"And among those players who are still on the board, we think 6'4 Tyreke Evans from Aston (American Christian) PA will go to Louisville, 6'4 Willie Warren from Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA and 6'0 Rotnei Clarke from Claremore (Verdigris) OK will both end up at Oklahoma, 6'9 Greg Monroe from Gretna (Helen Cox) LA will stay home and attend LSU, 6'4 Iman Shumpert from Oak Park (River Forest) IL will do likewise and pick Illinois...

As the late, great Gorilla Monsoon would say, Clark Francis would be a fountain of misinformation. Shumpert will be deciding between Georgia Tech, Marquette and North Carolina and never seriously considered Illinois.

Recruiting Round-Up 8/17

2007-08-17T21:41:00.000-05:00

Andrew Steele, younger brother of Alabama point guard Ronald Steele, has committed to the Crimson Tide. The younger Steele, an athletic 6'3 combo guard rated in Scout's Top 100, joins heralded wing Tony Mitchell in what looks to be a dynamite 2008 class for the Tide. Look for Steele's decision to spark a verbal commitment to Bama from close friend and AAU teammate JaMychal Green, a top 20 power forward.

Another combo guard, Cashmere Wright, committed to Mick Cronin's Cincinnati Bearcats. A strong prospect who has spent time in Scout's Top 100, Wright will spend his college years in the Big East after initially verballing to Clemson.

Finally, new Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon has gotten a verbal from a strong point guard in Dashan Harris. Harris, a 6'0 lead guard from Florida, received consideration from powers like Kentucky and Indiana before landing in College Station.

Another Recruiting Failure

2007-08-15T15:43:00.000-05:00

Bruce Weber must be a big fan of the movie Groundhog Day. His latest recruiting failure would be childhood Illinois fan Scott Suggs, who happens be a top 50 player in Scout's 2008 rankings. Suggs chose Washington over Missouri and the Illini. A talented 6'5 wing who should be an excellent college scorer, Suggs would have given Weber the badly needed perimeter scoring option Illinois has lacked since their magical 2005 run. After missing out on the top four in state players, landing Suggs could have alleviated the growing fear that Weber would be driving the Illinois program into the ground. Instead, chalk up another significant loss for what may be the worst recruiter currently running a BCS program.

However, Weber recently landed another under the radar recruit (his specialty) in Maryland combo forward Mike Davis, beating out noted powers Auburn, Clemson, College of Charleston and South Florida for Davis's services.

In non-Illinois recruiting news, Maryland just got a verbal commitment from highly touted shooting guard Sean Mosley. Mosley, rated as the #9 overall shooting guard by Scout, chose the Terps over Syracuse and Florida State.

One Recruiting Class

2007-08-14T01:02:00.000-05:00

While naming top assistant Dino Gaudio as Wake Forest's new head coach makes sense from an emotional standpoint, his track record as a head coach indicates that he does not deserve the job from a practical perspective. However, promoting Gaudio will keep Wake Forest's top recruiting class intact and in turn keep their strong recruiting momentum going. Many people believe that losing one recruiting class is worth the small sacrifice in order to make the best move for the future. However, Ohio State's ridiculous recruiting success following the arrival of the Oden-Conley-Cook-Lighty class shows that one class can really turn the momentum of a school around. Not to discount the effort of Thad Matta, but the snowballing of momentum from Oden's class should keep Ohio State among the nation's elite for as long as Matta stays at Ohio State.

Now, recruiting success alone does not ensure victories. However, the most talented teams generally find a way to the top of polls and conference standings (Bill Self's teams have regularly proven that talent can overcome mediocre coaching). Therefore, I agree with Wake's decision to promote Gaudio from a practical as well as the obvious personal perspective. I think the win one for Skip mantra will work very well with the recruits, especially if Al-Farouq Aminu and company can make the successful jump to the NBA.

New Wake Forest Coach

2007-08-11T01:37:00.000-05:00

Wake Forest assistant Dino Gaudio has been named the new Deamon Deacons head coach. Gaudio replaces the late Skip Prosser. It looks like Gaudio will be able to keep Prosser's touted final recruiting of Al-Farouq Aminu, Ty Walker and Tony Woods.

Recruiting Round Up 8-11

2007-08-11T01:06:00.000-05:00

Not a lot of major recruiting news as far as commitments go, but some noted prospects have trimmed their lists to their final group.

Touted combo guard Iman Shumpert has narrowed his list to Georgia Tech, Marquette and North Carolina. Shumpert took his second unofficial visit to Marquette this past Tuesday, and plans on making a visit to North Carolina sometime in August.

Tyler Zeller, the younger brother of Notre Dame's Luke Zeller, has the Fighting Irish, Indiana, North Carolina and Purdue as the final four teams on his list. Zeller, a skilled 6'11 forward, had an outstanding AAU season that has him ranked among the top 20 prospects in the nation. Look for him to choose between the home state Boilermakers and national power Tar Heels.

JaMychal Green and Andrew Steele, the top two prospects from Alabama, has narrowed their choices to the Crimson Tide and Andy Kennedy's Ole Miss Rebels. Steele would be the younger brother of current Tide senior point guard Ronald Steele. I expect both prospects to eventually commit to Bama.

Speaking of the Boilermakers, they have secured a pair of solid verbals from sharpshooter Ryne Smith and speedy point guard Lewis Jackson.

Finally, Santa Clara may have picked up a big time sleeper in 6'7 combo forward Paul George. George, rated as the #3 small forward in the West by Scout's Greg Hicks, gives Broncos coach Kerry Keating a strong foundation for their 2008 recruiting class.

Best area for producing basketball players

2007-08-05T00:37:00.000-05:00

After finding this East coast site that claims they have the best players, I will look into this claim and come up with a group of teams from different areas of the country to theoretically challenge the impressive East Coast All-Stars.

The South:

While this area has been primarily known for football, the basketball here would be becoming extremely good also. This roster would definitely be a difficult one to beat.

Big Men:
Ty Walker, Greg Monroe, Kenny Kadji, JaMychal Green

Forwards:
Al-Farouq Aminu, Trey Thompkins, Chris Singleton

Wings:
Scotty Hopson, Darius Miller

Guards:
Elliot Williams, Andrew Steele, Bud Mackey

The Beltway:

Just ask John Thompson III how much talent this area of the country has produced. While it may not be the biggest area, they would definitely field an extremely competitive squad.

Big Men:
Henry Sims, Frank Ben-Eze, Maurice Sutton

Forwards:
Ed Davis, Chris Braswell

Wings:
Kris Joseph, Jarrett Mann, Max Kenyi

Guards:
Jason Clark, Sean Mosley, Dee Bost, Andre Jones

The Midwest:

With Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Ohio, you have a large region of players to represent the heartland. Along with the West Coast, this group would probably be considered the favorites.

Big Men:
B.J. Mullens, Michael Dunigan, Tyler Zeller, Kenny Frease

Forwards:
Delvon Roe, Angel Garcia

Wings:
DeAndre Liggins, Matt Humphrey, Scott Suggs

Guards:
William Buford, Iman Shumpert, Korie Lucious

The Bible Belt:

Also known as Big 12 country, this team would be tough to handle, especially if they can avoid having Bill Self coach the team.

Big Men:
J'Mison Morgan, Ian Markolf, Dwight Miller

Forwards:
Anthony Jones, Olu Ashaolu

Wings:
Travis Releford, Nate Miles, Philip McDonald

Guards:
Willie Warren, Rotnei Clarke, Matt Gatens, J'Covan Brown

West Coast:

California alone would field an extremely competitive team, but encompassing this entire area creates a formidable squad.

Big Men:
Drew Gordon, Jeff Withey

Forwards:
Luke Babbitt, Olek Czyz, Tyreese Breshers

Wings:
Demar DeRozan, D.J. Seeley

Guards:
Jrue Holliday, Brandon Jennings, Malcolm Lee, Jerime Anderon, Larry Drew

This would definitely be a cool event to produce, and could be a bigtime holiday round robin tournament. It would definitely solve the barstool arguments over this subject that take place around the country.

Question About Survival

2007-08-05T00:11:00.000-05:00

In lieu of my recent post about coaches on the rise, it got me to thinking about how programs like UConn, Syracuse, and Arizona will survive the retirement of legends like Boeheim, Calhoun and Lute Olsen. While their fans assume that the successor will be able to keep these noted programs at a high level, history proves that this will not happen for all of them.

In Syracuse's case, it has been reported that long time Boeheim assistant Mike Hopkins will take over. Personally, I think this would be a major mistake, as promoting from within has not been a recipe for success in the past. Marquette under Hank Raymonds, DePaul under Joey Meyer, North Carolina under Bill Guthridge and Georgetown under Craig Esherick all took significant steps back from where their legendary predecessors had these programs. While the pressure in succeeding a legendary coach can be overwhelming, hiring a rising star from outside the program seems to be the best way to go.

Arizona was nothing before Lute Olsen came to Tuscon, so their future would definitely be up in the air. With the Pac 10 featuring strong programs like UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon, Washington State emerging under Tony Bennett and Cal generally being competitive under Ben Braun, the future looks even murkier. The location will always be attractive to recruits, so you cannot write the Wildcats off when Lute finally hangs it up. However, it would not surprise me for Arizona to slide pack to the middle of the Pac 10 pack.

I am actually optimistic for UConn's future for two reasons. First, if last season was any indication, Calhoun may be started to gradually lose control of the program. This may allow fans to embrace his replacement and not constantly compare him to Calhoun's lofty standards. The other primary reason would be that the likely successor to Calhoun would be Dave Leitao. Leitao did an excellent job at resuscitating DePaul following the abomination known as the Pat Kennedy era, and has revived the Virginia program after the ugly end to the Pete Gillen era. Having spent time as Calhoun's top assistant, Leitao knows the UConn program well and should be prepared to seamlessly take over for Calhoun.

This should be a fun thing for college basketball fans to follow over the next few seasons. As with everything else in life, changes happen, and these well known programs will have to deal with the difficulty in replacing legendary coaches who have built these programs.

Five Names to Watch

2007-08-01T23:20:00.000-05:00

With some of college basketball's most familiar names like Jim Boeheim, Jim Calhoun, and Mike Krzyzewski starting to approach the end of the careers, a new generation of coaches will step up and take their places among the game's greats. Billy Donovan, Thad Matta, Jay Wright, and Ben Howland have already established themselves as the leaders of this next generation. The following group of coaches appear poised to join them in the next few years.

Tom Crean-I'll admit this to be a homer pick, but I firmly believe that Crean has Marquette poised to take a major step forward in the next few years. Coming into the 2007-2008 season as a top ten team nationally and a serious contender in the Big East, and sitting very well with elite recruits like Iman Shumpert and Jamil Wilson, Crean looks to have Marquette ready to take the long awaited leap to join college basketball's top programs following the 2003 Final Four run.

Anthony Grant-Another pick that hardly surprises people who know me, but Grant is a major star on the horizon. In his first season at VCU, Grant took a team predicted to finish behind George Mason and Hofstra to 28 wins, 16 in league play, in the very tough Colonial Athletic Association. Grant almost landed the Florida job during Billy Donovan's flirtation with the Orlando Magic, and should be in line for another major opening in the next year or two.

John Groce-Currently an assistant at Ohio State, Groce has played a major part in Ohio State becoming a recruiting powerhouse. Rivals named Groce the 2006 Recruiter of the Year, and mid-major and major schools alike would be wise to contact Groce for their openings next offseason.

Chris Lowery-Following the departures of Bruce Weber and Matt Painter to major programs, Lowery has established Southern Illinois as the top mid-major program in the Midwest. A tireless recruiter who gets his team to play stifling defense, Lowery has consistently led the Salukis to the NCAA Tournament and made them a very tough team to beat in March. Having recently signed a seven year contract extension to remain in Carbondale, Lowery appears to be following in Mark Few's footsteps in establishing a mid-major program as an annual major contender.

Kerry Keating-Keating, the new Santa Clara coach following the retirement of longtime Broncos head man Dick Davey, made his mark as one of college basketball's top assistants at UCLA. With a reputation as an excellent recruiter, Keating will help Santa Clara challenge Gonzaga at the top of the West Coast Conference. I think Keating's stay at Santa Clara may be a short one, as he ascends the coaching ladder that will take him to a major opening sometime down the road.

Recruiting Round-Up 8/1

2007-08-01T22:43:00.000-05:00

The crazy saga of Olu Ashaolu makes a final stop in Ruston, Louisiana. The 6'7 combo forward gives Louisiana Tech their third major pick-up in the last few months.

Meanwhile, another bigtime talent will be plying his trade outside the BCS conferences. Paul Williams, a 6'3 shooting guard from Detroit, committed to Brian Gregory and the Dayton Flyers. Williams, who Rivals Hoops described as a player who just wins games, joins 2007 top prospect Chris Wright in helping to get Dayton back on track as one of the top A-10 programs.

Also, Polish sensation Olek Czyz has narrowed his list to Duke, Florida, and Louisville. The athletic 6'7 power forward burst onto the scene during the spring AAU and now has his choice among three of college basketball's heavyweight programs.

Finally, reports have recently broke that athletic big man Terrence Jennings has committed to Maryland. The 6'10 Jennings had been closely followed by Kentucky recently, but chose to stick with the Terps, who had strogly recruited Jennings throughout the process.

Excellent News

2007-08-01T13:40:00.000-05:00

According to Luke Winn from Sports Illustrated, the tremedous frontcourt trio of Al-Farouq Aminu, Ty Walker and Tony Woods plan on keeping their verbal commitments to Wake Forest following the tragic death of Skip Prosser.

A Couple of Excellent Rememberances of Skip Prosser

2007-07-29T18:59:00.000-05:00

Prosser clearly touched tons of people during his time spent in the coaching profession, and here are a few testimonials about the excellent person and representative for college basketball Prosser truly was.

Mike DeCourcy

Dan Wetzel

Deacon Sports, Wake Forest's Scout.com site

Another American Disappointment

2007-07-27T21:51:00.000-05:00

Well, chalk up another international basketball event where the Americans got their rears handed to them. In back-to-back days, the team representing the U.S.A. in the Pan-Am games lost to powerhouses Uruguay and the host Panama. The Panamian team did feature solid American college players in George Washington's Danilo "J.R." Pinnock, Wake Forest's Jamaal Levy and LSU's Jaime Lloreda. However, none of them possessed the credentials their American counterparts took into this competition. And Uruguay, come again, this was basketball, not soccer.

Honestly, these results did not surprise me. The composition of the American roster terribly failed to take into account how certain players would fit into the international game. An already baffling list of 14 finalists then left out arguably the two best shooters left among the finalists in last final two cuts: Texas A&M's Josh Carter and Oregon's Bryce Taylor. This would be after the shocking cut of Tennessee's Chris Lofton, the best shooter currently in college basketball. Lofton did struggle during tryouts, but three years of excellent work in the SEC should have outweighed three poor days of tryouts. In fact, as Mike DeCourcy strongly argues, the tryout process really does more harm than good. After watching these guys play countless games throught the season, I have enough faith in a committee to determine the top 12 players who would best represent the U.S. in the international game. One thing is for sure, nothing would be any worse than where the current process has gotten the U.S., eliminated before the final game of pool play.

RIP Skip Prosser

2007-07-26T18:38:00.000-05:00

Today has been an extremely sad day in the college basketball world, as Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser died today after suffering a sudden heart attack while jogging. From all reports, Prosser was truly one of the good guys in the profession. My condolences go out to Skip's family and the Wake Forest community.

After experiencing some youthful struggles the last two seasons, the Deacons looked poised to return to the top of the ACC with an excellent group of talent led by Ishmael Smith, Anthony Gurley, L.D. Williams, Jamie Skeen and incoming freshmen Jeff Teague and James Johnson. Prosser also had a top rated recruiting class on its way for 2008, led by top 5 prospect Al-Farouq Aminu.

Recruiting Round Up 7/24

2007-07-24T17:33:00.000-05:00

In what has developed into a bizarre recruitment, talented combo forward Olu Ashaolu would now be leaning towards Louisiana Tech. The former Rutgers commit has interest from some major players in Marquette and Georgetown, but it looks like former LSU assistant Nikita Johnson may be reeling in another big fish for the Bulldogs.

Rumors recently broke that talented Milwaukee combo guard Kwamain Mitchell opted out of his commitment to St. Louis and Rick Majerus. However, according to Wishooops.net editor Mark Miller, Mitchell remains committed to the Billikens. I believe that Mitchell would be vastly underrated nationally, and along with Illinois post player Brett Thompson, forms a strong foundation for Majerus's first class at SLU.

Speaking of underrated players, Rutgers has themselves a star in New Jersey combo guard Mike Rosario. While he would be currently be ranked #81 by the RSCI consensus index, Rosario has played like a McDonald's All-American in Vegas. His string of excellent performances would be highlighted by a 30 point game with 7 threes against the AAU power Pump N Run.

Quickly Off the Canvas

2007-07-18T17:18:00.000-05:00

After losing noted recruiting battles with Delvon Roe, Samardo Samuels and Al-Farouq Aminu, Roy Williams and North Carolina have bounced back in a big way. 6'8 Power forward Ed Davis, the #2 rated overall player by Scout, has committed to the Tar Heels. A versatile lefty with a game very comparable to former Heels star Brandan Wright, Davis should instantly step into the Tar Heels frontcourt rotation. Davis could start from day one should Tyler Hansbrough or Deon Thompson go pro after this season.

Meanwhile, here's an update on a couple of other key commitments:

Undersized but powerful forward Tyreese Breshers has changed his mind and committed to Lorenzo Romar and the Washington Huskies. Initially pledging to Miami (FL), the 6'6 California power forward has decided to play his college ball closer to home. A top 100 prospect accoring to Scout, Breshers should be the heir apparent to Jon Brockman in Seattle.

Iowa combo guard Grant Gibbs has committed to Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Gibbs, rated the #12 point guard by Scout, gives the Zags another versatile, big guard for their backcourt. The 6'5 Gibbs comes from the same high school program that produced Wisconsin sophomore sharpshooter Jason Bohannon.

SEC Player to Watch: Marreese Speights

2007-07-18T17:06:00.000-05:00

With Florida losing Al Horford, Joakim Noah, and key reserve Chris Richard on the frontline, Marreese Speights will have to take a major step forward. Fortunately for Gators fans, Speights appears ready to bust out in his sophomore season. A strong 6'10 post player who could be an impact player on both ends of the floor, NBA scouts have already taken a strong look towards Speights despite the fact he has yet to play significant minutes in college. Noah made a gigantic leap from deep reserve to future lottery pick in one season, and Speights could realistically take a similar huge step. While the young Gators will take their early season lumps, Speights will help the Gators position themselves for another run in March.

Other SEC players to watch:
G Ramar Smith, Tennessee
G Ben Hansbrough, Mississippi State
G Jodie Meeks, Kentucky
G/F Sonny Weems, Arkansas

Dunigan and Humphrey Verbal to Oregon

2007-07-16T16:14:00.000-05:00

Two of the top prep prospects in Illinois, Matt Humphrey and Michael Dunigan, have verbally committed to Oregon and Ernie Kent. The duo, teammates for the Meanstreets AAU program, continually expressed that they wanted to play college ball together and have chosen to do so for the Ducks. Dunigan, a dominating 6'9 post player ranked as the #4 center by Scout, has really emerged as a bigtime prospect this spring. Humphrey, a 6'5 wing with a solid perimeter shot, should take over Bryce Taylor's spot as the Ducks perimeter marksman in the backcourt.

This has been a surprising and sudden career revival for Kent, who appeared to be on the verge of having a one-way ticket to Unemploymentville at this time last year. Following their run to the Elite 8 last season, Kent has capitalized on the momentum by picking up two bigtime Chicago prospects. Meanwhile, this marks yet another recruiting loss for Bruce Weber and Illinois. During his time as the head man at Illinois, Weber has only signed 1 of the 10 consensus top 50 prospects who have come out of the state of Illinois. It will likely become 1 for 11 with Iman Shumpert (he's strongly considering Marquette, Georgia Tech and North Carolina). It may now be time for Weber to update his resume and hope to avoid the fate that almost befell Kent.

Pac 10 Player to Watch: Jordan Hill

2007-07-16T14:59:00.000-05:00

After starting his freshman season on the fringe of the rotation, Jordan Hill worked his way into Arizona's starting line-up and showed signs of being a major impact player. An athletic 6'9 post player, Hill excels in Arizona's open court style, outrunning slower bigs down the court and finishing on the break. Hill also showed a developing back to the basket game, where he could use his quick moves to give himself easy looks. On the defensive end, he has the potential to develop into an outstanding shot blocker because of his athleticism and leaping ability. This season, Hill should lead the way for an Arizona frontcourt that needs to step up in order for the Cats to reclaim their spot at the top of the Pac 10.

Other Players to Watch:
G Jerome Randle, Cal
F Devan Harmeling, Washington State
G Russell Westbrook, UCLA
G Daniel Hackett, USC

A Few New Sites Added

2007-07-16T14:41:00.000-05:00

As you may have noticed, I have added some new links to showcase some more excellent college basketball sites. I will give a brief rundown here of the additions.

CSTV Hoops-This would be homepage of CSTV's men's basketball coverage. They have an excellent running blog during the season and covering major off-season events, including a running log on the Pan-Am Trials.

Hoops Weiss's Blog: Legendary college basketball writer Dick "Hoops" Weiss has an outstanding blog about college basketball and recruiting. Weiss has fantastic contacts throught the basketball world, and his straightforward approach is a site for sore eyes in today's over the top journalistic world.

Kentucky Sports Radio-This site has excellent updates on Kentucky and national recruiting. With the way Billy Gillispie is going at UK, they will be in on most of the prominent recruits and this site will have timely and accurate updates on all of them.

Zags Blog-New Jersey sportswriter Adam Zagoria does an excellent job covering east coast hoops, with a heavy focus on the Big East.

Final Pan-Am Games Roster

2007-07-15T19:21:00.000-05:00

Here's the final 14 guys for the U.S. Pan An Games men's basketball team.

Frankly, not a huge fan of this roster composition. The team lacks versatile players, with four point guards and four back to the basket players chosen. It seems like the team set-up fits the American style and not the international game. A versatile forward like Brandon Costner, who could play both the 3 and 4, would be a much better fit than D.J. White or Joey Dorsey, who both rely on playing down low. Also, even if he struggled during the trials, I can't imagine how they decided to leave Chris Lofton off the roster. He's the best pure shooter in college basketball today, and has the range to seamlessly adjust to the international 3 point line. I would have also found a spot for Mario Chalmers on the roster, as he would be a nice spark plug off the bench at either the 1 or 2. He's an excellent defensive player, and can hit the perimeter jumper.

Frankly, unless Hibbert can carry this team on his back and dominate inside, I think the American group will struggle. The team could have really used Dominic James and Sean Singletary, who had to pull out of the trials due to a paperwork problem, to run things at the point. I'm not a huge fan of the point guards the U.S. will be running out there, especially on the defensive end. This team could really struggle to guard the perimeter. For the future, U.S.A. Basketball needs to find guys like Mike D'Antoni or Del Harris, who are familiar with the international style, to assist the selection committee in helping show how guys would fit into the different game.

Update on New Mexico State

2007-07-14T17:33:00.000-05:00

The Aggies named former Louisville assistant Marvin Menzies their new head coach, replacing Reggie Theus, who left to take the Sacramento Kings head coaching gig. Menzies should be an excellent hire for the Aggies.
A well known recruiter among the coaching circuit, Menzies has kept the Aggies excellent recruiting class, led by the nationally heralded Herb Pope, intact.

Big 12 Player to Watch: Damion James

2007-07-13T14:35:00.000-05:00

Overshadowed playing next to Kevin Durant on Texas's frontline last season, Damion James should be Texas's main option upfront this year. The athletic 6'7 forward did most of the grunt work last season as Durant led the Longhorns in his one season in Austin. This season, look for James to have some of the offensive freedom Durant had, taking the ball to the basket and hitting the occassional perimeter jumper. With recent news about top recruit Gary Johnson likely missing the upcoming season due to a heart condition, James will have to be a major presence upfront for the Longhorns if they want to make noise in the Big 12 and return to the NCAA Tournament.

Other players to watch:
G Sherron Collins, Kansas
G Donald Sloan, Texas A&M
G Demond "Tweety" Carter, Baylor
C Jason Bennett, Kansas State

Spirit of Chris Paul and Tim Duncan

2007-07-12T17:22:00.000-05:00

In what may have saved Skip Prosser's job, highly touted 2008 recruits Al-Farouq Aminu and Tony Woods just committed to Wake Forest. Aminu, a 6'8 combo forward rated as the #3 overall player in 2008 by Scout, chose the Deacons over Georgia Tech and North Carolina even though his brother Alade is currently a junior at Tech. Woods, an athletic 6'10 post player, chose Wake over Florida and Georgia. These two join athletic 7'0 footer Ty Walker, rated the #14 overall prospect by Scout, in a shockingly good recruiting class that instantly provides Wake Forest with a potential starting frontline.

Big Ten Player to Watch: David Lighty

2007-07-12T17:09:00.000-05:00

While three members of the Thad Five may now be plying their trade in the NBA, an integral member of Ohio State's famed 2006 recruiting class remains and should step up as a key guy this season. David Lighty, an athletic and versatile 6'6 wing player, had strong games in NCAA Tournament wins over Tennessee and Memphis. An excellent defensive player, Lighty should have a chance to showcase his offensive game with Mike Conley, Greg Oden and Ron Lewis gone. His jump shot still needs work, but Lighty loves to take the ball to the basket and can finish with contact. With a talented young core around him, Lighty will be part of a Buckeyes team that can potentially compete for a Big Ten title and another long run in the NCAA Tournament.

Other Big Ten players to watch:
F DeShawn Sims, Michigan
F Raymar Morgan, Michigan State
G Chris Kramer, Purdue
G Armon Bassett, Indiana

Recruiting Round-Up 7/11

2007-07-11T23:42:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot of exciting news breaking throughout the various prep classes as the July camp season would be underway.

Highly touted combo guard Dee Bost, re-classified as a member of the class of 2008, gave Mississippi State their third major verbal commitment. A member of the Scout's final 2007 Top 100 rankings, Bost could be part of the Bulldogs revival after a couple of up and down seasons.

However, there continues to be rumblings that the gem of Mississippi State's 2008 class, Kentucky wing Scotty Hopson, may now be considering the home state Wildcats following the hire of Billy Gillispie. Currently ranked #28 in Scout's 2008 top 100, Hopson will likely to jump into the top 20 following an awesome AAU season. The loss of him to an SEC rival could be a devastating blow for the Mississippi State program.

Speaking of de-commitments, athletic Canadian forward Olu Ashaolu has reneged on his verbal pledge to Rutgers. A top 100 forward, Ashaolu wants to play on the wing in college despite being recruited as a power forward by Rutgers and most other schools. After looking to be on a recruiting roll in 2008, Rutgers will have to go back to the drawing board and work on replacing Ashaolu or hope that he has a change of heart and signs with the Scarlet Knight.

Finally, two members of Scout's 2008 Top 100 have re-classified and will be going to campus a year early. Darnell Wilks, a 6'8 combo forward rated as the final member of the 2008 Top 100, will be coming to Cincinnati this fall. Wilks joins three other touted newcomers, 7'0 center Anthony McClain, 6'6 wing Jason Henry and 6'8 Texas transfer Mike Williams, in a recruiting class that gives a much needed talent infusion for Mick Cronin and the Bearcats.

Meanwhile, 6'6 power forward J.T. Thompson, rated #66 in Scout's 2008 Top 100, will be enrolling at Virginia Tech this fall. Thompson will help fill the void left by the de-commitment of heralded big man Gus Gilchrist, who opted out following the horrible tragedies at the Blacksburg campus.

Big East Player to Watch: Paul Harris

2007-07-11T12:54:00.000-05:00

Syracuse sophomore wing Paul Harris looks poised for a breakout season as he steps into Demetris Nichols spot in the starting line-up. An athletic, jack of all trades player, Harris really came on towards the end of his freshman season. The double-double Harris had against Notre Dame in the Big East Tournament last season could be a regular occurence this year, as the 6'4 forward may be the best pound-for-pound rebounder in the conference. As his offensive game develops, Harris could be a prime candidate to test the NBA waters after the season. Meanwhile, his versatility should be a major asset for a young, super talented Syracuse team that will be better than many people predict.

Other players to watch:
F Lazar Hayward, Marquette
F Dante Cunningham, Villanova
G/F Anthony Mason Jr., St. John's
F Stanley Robinson, UConn
G Weyinmi Efejuku, Providence

ACC Player to Watch: Brandon Costner

2007-07-09T13:08:00.000-05:00

In the next few days here at FWD, we'll take a look at breakout players from each of the major conferences. The first installment will feature the ACC, with the headline guy being Brandon Costner of N.C. State.

Costner, a 6'8 combo forward from New Jersey, had an excellent freshman for the Wolfpack. Coming back from a medical red-shirt following a broken leg suffered during the 2005-2006 campaign, Costner led the Pack in scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg). A versatile inside-out player, Costner hit 61 threes last year and causes match-up nightmares for opposing big men. As a sophomore, Costner may gravitate to the small forward spot at times with the arrival of heralded big men J.J. Hickson and Tracy Smith. While Tyler Hansbrough and Sean Singletary will receive the majority of the preseason ACC player of the year talk, Costner could find himself in the thick of the race next March.

Other potential breakout players:
F Deon Thompson, North Carolina
G/F Gerald Henderson, Duke
F Deron Washington, Virginia Tech
F/C Trevor Booker, Clemson

Other Teams to Watch Out For

2007-07-06T22:31:00.000-05:00

In conjunction with my Summer Top 25 Preview, here are a few other teams capable of making some major noise this season.

USC:
I'm guessing the wish that Gabe Pruitt returned to school could now be considered mutual after Pruitt failed to get drafted in the first round of this year's NBA Draft. Had Pruitt returned, USC would have likely been a preseason top 15 team. The Trojans still have a solid group of talent, led by the presence of O.J. Mayo. Even in an excellent league like the Pac 10, Mayo and UCLA freshman Kevin Love could be 1-2 next season in the Pac 10 player of the year voting. If Mayo can play within the flow of the USC offense, the Trojans should be a potent offensive attack. Taj Gibson gives USC a legitimate inside presence, as the 6'8 sophomore forward competes strongly down low despite being a bit undersized. Athletic 6'8 freshman forward Davon Jefferson should be nice complement to Gibson. The major question surrounding USC will be if the Trojans can get effective point guard play. Mayo would be much better served playing off the ball. Sophomore Daniel Hackett proved to be much more effective on the wing during his freshman campaign. The Trojans hope to have the services of Angelo Johnson, who has tried to move up to the class of 2007 following Pruitt's departure to the NBA. While Johnson can be considered a true point guard, having to rely on a freshman playing such a critical role could be tenuous. If Johnson can play major minutes right away or Mayo surprisingly adapts to being a floor general, USC could potentially repeat last season's Sweet 16 run. However, the question mark at the point guard keeps them out of my top 25.

Pittsburgh:
While everyone looks to the loss of Aaron Gray, I think the Panthers will badly miss the presence of Antonio Graves. Graves, a lockdown wing defender, embodied the toughness that Pitt has become known for. With him gone, the Panthers could really struggle to defend athletic backcourts. After a promising freshman season, junior Levance Fields had an up and down sophomore season as the Panthers starting point guard. Fields got very shot happy and started chucking away without looking to get the ball to Gray down low. He will need to work on getting his teammates involved and doing a better job of running the offense this season. Senior wing Mike Cook will have to become the Panthers go-to-guy. Cook enjoys taking the ball to the rim, and his strong frame allows him to finish with contact and get to the line. Philly freshman Brad Wanamaker could compete for a starting spot on the wing with senior guard Keith Benjamin and sharpshooting 6'1 combo guard Ronald Ramon. Another freshman, DeJuan Blair, could step right into Gray's starting spot down low. A 6'7 banger, Blair has been described as a fierce competitor down low despite being undersized for a post player. Athletic 6'6 forward Sam Young will have a chance to blossom as a starter this season. Young battled with knee problems last season, but could take a major leap if healthy as a junior. Fellow junior Tyrell Biggs, a solid shooter with a strong 6'8 frame, should also compete for a starting spot. If Fields can improve his play and the youngsters Wanamaker and Blair step into prominent roles, the Panthers could exceed my expectations.

Arkansas:
After the hasty departure of Dana Altman following his initial acceptance of the Razorbacks head coaching position, rumors swirled abound of supposed problems with team members that may have caused Altman's double-take. As of now, no news of official suspensions/ineligible players has come to light. However, school officials have admitted that two players failed drug tests and another was under academic suspension in the spring. Also, starting power forward Charles Thomas was arrested in April for domesic battery. Now, if all of the key players are at Arkansas and eligible next year, they would be a preseason top 25 team. The backcourt of Gary Ervin and Patrick Beverley continued to play better as last season went on. Ervin, a Mississippi State transfer, has developed into more of a pure point guard at Arkansas, looking to set up his teammates instead of always creating his own shot. Beverley, a Chicago combo guard, made a major impact as a freshman by leading the Hogs in scoring. JuCo transfer Sonny Weems gave the Hogs a dynamic wing player. In his senior season, Weems will be a key player in helping Arkansas take a major step up. Sophomore Stefan Welsh and incoming freshman Nate Rakestraw provide depth on the perimeter. Thomas and fellow senior Steven Hill form a very strong starting frontcourt. Thomas can score from the perimeter and down low, while Hill may be the top defensive big man in the SEC. Another senior, Darian Townes, gives the Razorbacks a rare big man of the bench who can score. Sophomore Michael Washington and incoming freshman Michael Sanchez could earn spots in the rotation. If this roster comes into the 2007-2008 season intact, they will be serious contenders to win the SEC West and could be a top 10-15 team. However, looming question marks keeps them out of my rankings for now.

Wisconsin:
While the Badgers may not be the most exciting team to watch, Bo Ryan's system has proven to be consistently effective. The Badgers have to replace All-American senior Alando Tucker and Chris Rock's long lost brother, scoring guard Kammron Taylor. However, they should have enough pieces returning to finish in the upper part of the Big Ten and return to the NCAA Tournament. The onus will be on Brian Butch to finally make a major impact in his senior season. A prep All-American, Butch has only been a role player his first three years in Madison. He can hit the outside jumper, but at times will coast away from the basket and not play aggressive down low. When he does compete on the interior, he's capable of big games like the one against Pittsburgh last December. Versatile forward Marcus Landry should start next to Butch upfront. An athletic 6'7 forward, Landry can take bigger and slower forwards away from the basket and blow by them. He has also developed a solid perimeter jump shot. Defensive presence Greg Steimsma should be the first big guy off the bench, with freshman Keaton Nankivil and Jon Leuer hoping to earn minutes right away. Nankivil is a traditional back to the basket post player, while Leuer can really shoot it from the perimeter. The question for the Badgers will be can they effectively replace Tucker and Taylor on the perimeter. Michael Flowers, a very good defensive player, should occupy one of the starting spots. While he's more comfortable off of the ball, Flowers will have to play some point this season. Sophomores Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon will get a chance to play significant minutes this season. Hughes would be the only true point guard on the Badgers roster, while Bohannon is a gifted perimeter shooter. Versatile junior wing Joe Krabbenhoft will step into Tucker's role and be a catalyst for the Badgers offense. While they may not resemble Jerry Tarkanian's Running Rebels, Wisconsin's style has made them a consistent winner. Also, the Badgers get bonus points for having the head coach that most resembles the team mascot.

Georgia:
Dennis Felton has quietly built a burgeoning power in Athens after cleaning up the mess left by Jim Harrick. If star guard Mike Mercer can come back from his late season knee injury, the Bulldogs should return to the NCAA Tournament and compete for a top spot in the SEC East. A big guard at 6'4, Mercer can play either backcourt spot and will the Bulldogs go-to-guy if healthy. Senior Sundaita Gaines returns at the point, and the versatile guard gets it done on both ends of the floor. The 6'1 Gaines has led the Bulldogs in steals, rebounds and assists the last two seasons, and would love to make a big splash in his final season in Athens. Sharpshooting 6'2 guard Billy Humphrey rounds out the starting backcourt. Versatile 6'7 wing Terrance Woodbury is an excellent sixth man, as he can play three spots on the floor. Along with Humphrey, he gives the Bulldogs a legitimate perimter shooting threat. Junior college transfer Takais Brown made a major impact in his first season for the Bulldogs, leading the team in scoring. The strong 6'8 forward gives Georgia a strong inside presence to complement the quality guard play. Highly touted freshman Jeremy Price has a chance to start right away next to Brown upfront. The 6'9 Price, a consensus top 100 prospect, has a strong frame ready to compete down low. Senior 6'10 big man Dave Bliss, 7'0 junior Rashad Singleton, 6'10 sophomore Albert Jackson and a 6'7 freshman Jeremy Jacob will compete for the remaining minutes on the interior. Before Mercer got injured in February, the Bulldogs looked to be poised for an NCAA Tournament berth. With him hopefully coming back healthy, that elusive tourney berth should come this season.

Continued Resurgence of the Pac 10

2007-07-05T01:47:00.000-05:00

With UCLA poised for a third straight run to the Final Four, Arizona getting some needed new life with the return of Kevin O'Neill, and the formation of strong programs at USC and Washington State, the Pac 10 looks to be here to stay in talks of the best basketball conference in the country.

Ben Howland looks to finally be UCLA's worthy successor to John Wooden. Helped by the momentum of consecutive Final Four trips, UCLA would be building the top recruiting class of 2008. The recent commitment of dynamite guard Jrue Holliday, who West Coast evaluator Greg Hicks believes to be the California best guard prospect since Baron Davis, gives the Bruins three top 30 guards according to Scout.com. Add in top 30 big man Drew Gordon, and you have the foundation ready to come in and replace the Bruins upperclassmen.

Meanwhile, Tony Bennett would be establishing a power in Pullman. Guard Mark McLaughlin, rated the #76 player by Scout, would be the second 2008 top 100 prospect to commit to the Cougars, joining combo guard Michael Harthun. Frankly, I can't remember two top 100 prospects ever committing to Washington State in the past, let alone two in the same year.

USA Men's U19 World Championship Roster

2007-07-02T23:21:00.000-05:00

U.S. Basketball recently released the roster of players for the 2007 Under 19 World Championships. Coached by DePaul's Jerry Wainwright (IMO a real odd choice), here would be the roster competing for the Red, White and Blue:

Darrell Arthur (Kansas / Dallas, Texas); Michael Beasley (Notre Dame Prep, Mass./ Frederick, Md.); Patrick Beverley (Arkansas / Chicago, Ill.): Matt Bouldin (Gonzaga / Highlands Ranch, Colo.); Stephen Curry (Davidson / Charlotte, N.C.); Jonny Flynn (Niagara Falls H.S. / Niagara Falls, N.Y.); Donte’ Greene (Towson Catholic H.S. / Baltimore, Md.); DeAndre Jordan (Bellaire Episcopal H.S. / Humble, Texas); David Lighty (Ohio State / Cleveland, Ohio); Raymar Morgan (Michigan State / Canton, Ohio); Tajuan Porter (Oregon / Detroit, Mich.); and Deon Thompson (North Carolina / Torrance, Calif.).

I would have found a spot for J.J. Hickson and Corey Stokes. Hickson would be a beast down low, a nightmare match-up for the less physical international teams. Stokes is a tremendous perimeter shooter on the wing who has excellent size at 6'6 and 210 pounds. You could have left either Patrick Beverley or Tajuan Porter off the roster, as both of them would be smaller combo guards ideally suited to play off the ball. Also, while he's unquestionably a super talent, I'm not a huge fan of Michael Beasley because of his inconsistent effort. With fellow power forward Donte Greene having a very similar perimeter oriented game tailor made for international competition, you probably did not need to have Beasley on the team. Here is the initial roster of players invited to try out.

Also, here's the roster of college players trying out for the Pan Am Games. Marquette point guard Dominic James would also be among the invitees, but would not be listed due to him still being in the 2007 Draft at the time of originial publication of the USA list. James later pulled out of the draft and returned to school.

Top 100 Rankings

2007-07-02T22:19:00.000-05:00

For close followers of recruiting like myself, Eric Bossi has always been one of the best prep talent evaluators. Bossi writes for the Kansas and North Carolina Scout sites, as well as the Prepstars Handbook along with Rob Harrington and Brick Oettinger. Here would be Bossi's top 100 rankings for the 2008 class going into the huge July evaluation period.

A few commits of note for Big East schools:
6. Samardo Samuels, 6'8, PF/C: committed to Louisville
24. Kemba Walker, 6'1, PG: committed to UConn
26. Yancy Gates, 6'9, PF/C: committed to Cincinnati
33. Nate Miles, 6'6, SG: committed to UConn
49. Chris Braswell, 6'8, PF: committed to Georgetown
50. Henry Sims, 6'10, C: committed to Georgetown
63. Darnell Wilks, 6'8, SF/PF: committed to Cincinnati
83. Mike Rosario, 6'2, PG/SG: committed to Rutgers
84. Jordan Theodore, 5'11, PG: committed to Seton Hall
97. Jason Clark, 6'3, SG: committed to Georgetown
99. Nick Williams, 6'4, SG: committed to Marquette

Recruiting Round-Up 7/1

2007-07-01T19:31:00.000-05:00

Prospects of all size and ages seem to be verbally committing schools these days, as a flurry of notable commitments have occurred here at the end of June.

Another week, another big pick-up for Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators. Talented 6'10 big man Kenny Kadji recently pledged to the Gators. Rated the #5 center in 2008 by Scout, Kadji will hope to follow in the footsteps of top ten picks and two time national champions Al Horford and Joakim Noah.

Talented 2008 wing Tony Mitchell committed to Mark Gottfried and Alabama. The 6'6 Mitchell has had a strong summer, and currently sits as the #67 overall player for Scout and quickly rising.

2009 point guard Maalik Wayns has given an early pledge to hometown Villanova and Jay Wright. The highly touted 5'11 Wayns hopes to follow in the recent tradition of strong Villanova guard play.

Kentucky already has secured their second verbal from the class of 2010. Texas point guard Ross "K.C." Miller joins local product Dakotah Euton as future Wildcats who have committed to the Cats two summers before they can sign letters of intent.

Another 2010 prospect, Noah Cottrill, gives Bob Huggins a long-term commit to follow. Cottrill, a 5'11 in-state point guard, will be a second-generation Mountaineer, as his dad played football in Morgantown.

Twisted Irony

2007-06-29T22:46:00.000-05:00

Former Indiana verbal, shooting guard Eshaunte Jones, has de-committed and would be considering Illinois among his new list of schools. Of course, everyone remembers the Eric Gordon fiasco where the super-talented Indiana guard reneged on his Illinois verbal right before the fall signing period and committed to the Hoosiers. While Jones may not quite have the talent of Gordon, he does rank as a consensus top 100 prospect who would now be recruited by power schools like UCLA and Tennessee.

After being spurned by Gordon, Bruce Weber deserves a good bit of luck. Landing Jones would be a major recruiting coup. Unfortunately for Illinois fans, recruiting coups have been few and far between for the basketball program recently.

Major Recruiting News

2007-06-27T16:28:00.000-05:00

For anyone still wondering, Kentucky would be back among the elite college basketball programs. DeAndre Liggins, a 6'6 guard who can play the point or the wing, has just committed to theWildcats. A consensus top 20 prospect, Liggins would be the latest major get for Billy Gillispie during his short time as Kentucky head coach. Meanwhile, the trend of top players leaving the state of Illinois continues.

Another nice recruiting pick-up for a Big East school, as Seton Hall secured a commitment from 2008 point guard Jordan Theodore. A quality local prospect, Theodore gives Bobby Gonzalez a nice start in revitalizing area recruiting.

An Absolute Shocker

2007-06-25T14:15:00.000-05:00

Jeff Withey, recently profiled at FWD after his de-commitment from Louisville, has now verballed to Arizona. Translating recruit-speak, wanting to be closer to his family means that his trainer, Trent Suzuki, and Arizona assistant Josh Pastner have a very close relationship.

Excellent News for Tennessee Fans

2007-06-23T18:53:00.000-05:00

Iowa transfer Tyler Smith, one of the most productive freshman in the country last season, has been granted a waiver and ruled immediately eligible to play for the Vols. Smith, a versatile 6'7 forward, averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds per game during his one season in Iowa City. Despite the departure of former Hawkeyes coach Steve Alford after last season, the primary reason for Smith's transfer would be to come home tobe with his ailing father, who's currently battling lung cancer.

For once, the NCAA actually acted compassionately and made a ruling beneficial to the student-athlete. This decision must have met their one genuinely beneficial move per year quota.

Whoops

2007-06-23T00:37:00.000-05:00

For any Michigan State Spartans fans reading the blog, I apologize for initially omitting them from my summer rankings. They have been inserted, as the #8 team overall, and should be Big Ten favorites. On a related note, after watching him at the Roundball Classic, I really love the game of Chris Allen and think he will be a star in East Lansing.

Summer Top 25 Preview-Top Five Teams

2007-06-22T14:15:00.000-05:00

Next season's heavyweights will be featured in my final installment of the summer top 25 preview. I would be very surprised if next the 2008 National Champions does not come from this group.

1. Memphis: An Elite 8 team last season, the Tigers return their starting five from a year ago and have one of the best point guard prospects in years coming in. Derrick Rose, the athletic 6'3 floor general from the Windy City, will lead the way for Memphis. A pure point guard with excellent size and a capable perimeter shooter, Rose has a very good chance of winning a national championship during his brief stay in college. A myriad of talented wing players join Rose on the perimeter. Chris Douglas-Roberts, a complete scorer who always finds a way to get open, should lead the Tigers in scoring again this season. Antonio Anderson gives the Tigers an adept ball handler and distributor from the wing, as well as another player who can take it to the basket. The super athletic Doneal Mack will provide instant offense of the bench, as he averaged 7 points per game in just 14 minutes of action. Another freshman, Jeff Robinson, should provide an offensive spark off the bench. A 6'5 wing from prep power St. Patrick's (NJ), Robinson can really shoot the ball and like most Memphis players, enjoys attacking the rim. To round the backcourt, last season's starter at the point, sophomore Willie Kemp, will back-up Rose and can also play next to him on occasion. Joey Dorsey and Robert Dozier return to anchor the Tigers frontcourt. Dorsey, an athletic 6'9 bull, does a great job of rebounding and altering shots. He struggles with getting into foul trouble, but always makes a big impact when out on the court. Dozier, an athletic 6'9 forward, enjoys getting to the rim and can hit the mid-range jumper. On defense, he uses his length to block and alter shots. Massive 6'8 sophomore Pierre Niles gives the Tigers a true back to the basket scorer when he comes into the game. If the 285 pound Niles can get into better shape, he will earn significant minutes this season, especially when the Tigers get caught up in a half-court game. With a balanced roster and a proven coach in John Calipari, Memphis has the chance to make history this season as the first non-BCS national champion in almost two decades.

Projected Starters:
G Derrick Rose, 6'3, Fr.
G Chris Douglas-Roberts, 6'5, Jr.
G Antonio Anderson, 6'5, Jr.
F Robert Dozier, 6'9, Jr.
F Joey Dorsey, 6'9, Sr.

Key Reserves:
G Doneal Mack, 6'5, So.
G/F Jeff Robinson, 6'5, Fr.
F Pierre Niles, 6'8, So.
G Willie Kemp, 6'2, So.
G Andre Allen, 5'10, Sr.

2. North Carolina: The Tar Heels, with the majority of their key parts returning, look to avenge last season's heartbreaking loss to Georgetown in the Elite 8. The hardest working player in America, Tyler Hansbrough, will once again lead the way. The 6'9 junior forward has been a scoring and rebounding machine during his two seasons in Chapel Hill, and should be the heavy favorite for ACC player of the year. Joining in him in the frontcourt will be a pair of talented sophomores, Deon Thompson and Alex Stepheson. Thompson, a well built power forward with excellent post moves, proved be a key player off the bench last season. During his one chance to start, he had a huge game replacing the sick Brandan Wright in their drubbing of Arizona. Stepheson, an athletic 6'9 forward, should be the first big off the bench this year and will be a nice option when Hansbrough or Thompson needs a rest. Super quick point guard Ty Lawson returns to lead the Tar Heels offense. The 5'11 Lawson has an extremely quick first step, and cannot be left open from the perimeter. Starting for the majority of his freshman season, Lawson generally played like an experienced floor general. Another sophomore, Wayne Ellington, joins Lawson in the backcourt. A very smooth player with an excellent perimeter shot, Ellington looks to be poised for a big sophomore campaign. At the other perimeter spot, Roy Williams will have an interesting choice between lockdown defender Marcus Ginyard and skilled wing Danny Green. After starting as a freshman, Ginyard adjusted nicely to coming off the bench last season and blends in nicely with this group of stars and future pros. Green, a crafty player from New York, could be a nice option as Carolina's sixth man. Guards Bobby Frasor and Quention Thomas give the Tar Heels two other very players off the bench, and redshirt forward William Graves will fight to earn minutes. While the Tar Heels lost two quality players in Brandan Wright and Reyshawn Terry, they still have a very talented, deep group capable of winning it all and ready to dominate the ACC.

Projected Starters:
G Ty Lawson, 5'11, So.
G Wayne Ellington, 6'4, So.
G Marcus Ginyard, 6'5, Jr.
F Deon Thompson, 6'8, So.
F Tyler Hansbrough, 6'9, Jr.

Key Reserves:
G/F Danny Green, 6'5, Jr.
F Alex Stepheson, 6'9, So.
G Bobby Frasor, 6'3, Jr.
G Quentin Thomas, 6'3, Sr.
F William Graves, 6'6, Fr.

3. UCLA: The Bruins, coming off back-to-back Final Four appearances, look to be poised to make it three consecutive trips for Ben Howland. The return of super point guard Darren Collison and the arrival of awesome freshman Kevin Love gives the Bruins a dynamic pair to build around. Collison made the loss of Jordan Farmar to the NBA a non-issue last season. A very quick player with the knack for hitting big shots, Collison passed on the pros for a chance to help the Bruins take that elusive final step and bring the national championship back to Westwood. An excellent leader at the point guard spot, Collison will again look to set up his talented group of teammates. Joining him in the backcourt will be junior wing Josh Shipp. Despite struggling with injuries during his college career, Shipp has managed to be a consistent scoring threat and tough defender when he's on the court. Going through another hip surgery this offseason, Shipp hopes to finally comes back 100 percent for the 2008 season. The other perimeter starting spot will be competed for by Russell Westbrook, Michael Roll and incoming freshman Chace Stanback. Westbrook, a combo guard who can play off the ball or run the offense when Collison needs a blow, would probably be considered the favorite. Roll, a perimeter marksman, will need to work on the other elements of his game in order to get starter's minutes. The most talented of this group would be Stanback, but he may be better off playing Shipp's spot on the wing. An athletic 6'7 wing player who can get to the basket, Stanback should be a future stalwart for the Bruins program. The Bruins have lacked a guy who can score from the post, but Love will make that a non-issue this season. A complete forward who can hit the perimeter jumper and enjoys competing down low, I think Love will have the biggest freshman impact of anyone in the country. As a boon to the speedy Collison, Love may be the best outlet passer I have ever seen. After a disappointing sophomore season where he battled with injuries, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will be back and ready to make a major impact. As a freshman, Mbah a Moute always managed to get his hands on the ball. However, that quickness and tenacity were quelled by nagging leg injuries and he looked like a shell of his former self towards the end of last season. Before injuries hit, Mbah a Moute showed flashes of developing a complete game that could prepel him back into the serious NBA discussion after this upcoming campaign. All-effort guy Lorenzo Mata will be back and should provide a willing defender and banger down low. Defensive minded Alfred Aboya and perimeter threat James Keefe round out what will be a much improved frontcourt thanks to the presence of Love. Like Kansas, UCLA could see their roster decimated after next season. However, they have all the parts to make 2008 a season to remember.

Projected Starters:
G Darren Collison, 6'0, Jr.
G Russell Westbrook, 6'3, So.
G/F Josh Shipp, 6'5, Jr.
F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, 6'7, Jr.
F Kevin Love, 6'9, Fr.

Key Reserves:
G/F Chace Stanback, 6'7, Fr.
F Lorenzo Mata, 6'8, Sr.
G Michael Roll, 6'5, Jr.
F Alfred Aboya, 6'8, Jr.
F James Keefe, 6'8, So.

4. Tennessee: The Vols let Ohio State off the mat in last season's NCAA Tournament, but return all but one of their key guys from a Sweet 16 team. Chris Lofton, the best shooter in America, returns for his senior season to make a run at the Final Four. The 6'2 guard, lightly recruited by homestate Kentucky and Louisville, has developed into a college star. Along with his perimeter marksmanship, Lofton has become an adept penetrator who can burn opponents that guard him too closely. He will again have plenty of help in the backcourt. Sophomore Ramar Smith had a very nice freshman season as the Vols floor general. A lead guard who can set up his teammates and also create his own shot, Smith enjoys playing in Bruce Pearl's up-tempo system. JaJuan Smith has quietly developed into an outstanding college scorer. A dangerous perimeter shooter not afraid to chuck it, Smith has taken a step up during each season of his career and could be poised to join Lofton as an All-SEC performer this season. Senior Jordan Howell gives Pearl a true, pass first point guard. Sophomore Josh Tabb, an excellent defensive player, can play all three guard spots in Pearl's system. Incoming freshman wing Cameron Tatum could be a nice scoring option off the bench. Upfront, sophomore duo Duke Crews and Wayne Chism lead the way. Crews, a hard working post player who can really run the floor, fits nicely as the interior option for Pearl. Chism, a 6'9 big man who can hit the perimeter jumper, did a nice job competing down low with more physical players as a freshman. A lot of the time, Pearl keeps one of these guys on the bench in case other gets into foul trouble and to keep them both fresh. Because of this, emerging junior big man Ryan Childress will probably start at one of the forward spots. Like Chism, Childress can hit the perimeter jumper and gives Pearl the option to play a line-up full of guys who hit the three. With an experienced roster used to playing in Pearl's swarming attack, the Vols should be SEC favorites and a team you will dread to face in March. Given the right draw, they could be the last team standing.

Projected Starters:
G Ramar Smith, 6'2, So.
G Chris Lofton, 6'2, Sr.
G JaJuan Smith, 6'2, Sr.
F Ryan Childress, 6'9, Jr.
F Wayne Chism, 6'9, So.

Key Reserves:
F Duke Crews, 6'7, So.
G Josh Tabb, 6'4, So.
G Jordan Howell, 6'3, Sr.
G Cameron Tatum, 6'5, Fr.

5. Louisville: After getting healthy and on the same page, the Cardinals may have been the best team in America the last month of the 2007 season. The Cardinals frontcourt may be the most complete unit in the country. Senior David Padgett, a crafty post player who has successfully overcome a myriad of knee injuries, leads this embattled group. While Padgett has lost some of his athleticism, his knowledge of the game and ability to outsmart opponents still makes him a very tough player to guard. Also, fouling him does not work, as he hits better than 80% of his free throws. Juan Palacios, another player who has had to overcome a bunch of injuries, hopes to have a healthy and productive senior season. An athletic forward who can hit the perimeter jumper, Palacios looked to be a future star after playing a key role in Louisville's 2005 Final Four season. Since then, serious ankle and knee injuries have caused him to spend lots of time next to Rick Pitino on the bench and kept him from playing to his vast potential. Super sopohmore Derrick Caracter could be ready to step into the starting line-up. A strong 6'9 post player, Caracter played extremely well after initially clashing with Pitino. If he plays 25 minutes a game, Caracter could easily be a double-double guy. The athletic Earl Clark really emerged after stepping into Palacios's starting spot. While coming to Louisville as a wing player, Clark successfully mixed it up inside and gives the Cardinals a versatile guy who can really bother bigger, slower players. Freshman George Goode, a dangerous perimeter shooter, gives Pitino another versatile frontcourt player to utilize. In the backcourt, sophomore Edgar Sosa leads the way. The New York City guard loves taking it to the basket, and became a better distributor as last season wore on. Sosa had a huge game in their close second round loss to Texas A&M, and could position himself as one of the best guards in the Big East by the end of next season. Jerry Smith had an excellent freshman season, highlighted by a 30 foot game-winning shot to steal a critical win at Marquette. A talented perimeter shooter and lockdown defender, Smith has fit comfortably in Pitino's system despite rumblings that he was looking to transfer. Athletic wing Terrence Williams rounds out the Cardinals starting line-up. A talented player who can be really tough to handle when he focuses on getting to the basket, Williams led the Cardinals in scoring, rebounding and assists last season. However, Williams can be a hinderence when he worries too much about jacking perimeter shots. Still, he's a very tough match-up for opposing teams and the guy who makes the Cardinals go. Junior Andre McGee, a capable back-up point guard, will allow Rick Pitino to play Sosa off the ball while he runs the offense. If they can stay healthy and on the same page, Louisville has a chance to capture the Big East crown and make another run to the Final Four. After a forgettable start to their Big East career, the Cardinals have quickly vaulted their way to the conference's elite.

Projected Starters:
G Edgar Sosa, 6'2, So.
G Jerry Smith, 6'1, So.
F Terrence Williams, 6'6, Jr.
F Juan Palacios, 6'8, Sr.
F/C David Padgett, 6'11, Sr.

Key Reserves:
F Derrick Caracter, 6'9, So.
F Earl Clark, 6'8, So.
G Andre McGee, 5'11, Jr.
F George Goode, 6'8, Fr.

Recruiting Update 6/21

2007-06-21T19:41:00.000-05:00

Hot off the wire, a big commitment for Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators. 2008 prospect Ray Shipman, the #65 rated player overall by Scout and #12 SF, will be playing his college basketball in Gainesville. An excellent start to the new chapter for Donovan at Florida, as he works to firmly re-establish himself following the Orlando Magic fling.

No surprise, as Kansas City shooting guard Travis Releford stays home and commits to the Kansas Jayhawks. Releford, the #25 overall prospect according to the Scout, gives Bill Self an excellent start to their key 2008 clas. The possibility looms that the Jayhawks top seven players will graduate/go pro after this season.

Meanwhile, another top recruit would be back on the board. Troy Gillenwater, a top 75 prospect, has de-committed from Oklahoma State and will be looking to remain closer to his Boston home.

Summer Top 25 Preview-Teams 6 to 10

2007-06-21T13:42:00.000-05:00

In this installment, we start seeing next season's heavyweights, teams capable of making Final Four runs and potentially cutting the nets down the first Monday in April if everything goes right.

6. Georgetown: Losing Jeff Green will certainly hurt, but don't feel too sorry for John Thopmson III and the Hoyas. With the continually improving Roy Hibbert back to lead the way, Georgetown should have a good chance to defend their Big East crown and make a return trip to the Final Four. The 7'2 Hibbert has already developed a very nice post game and cat hit the mid range jumper. Where he needs to improve is on the defensive end, using his size to intimidate other teams and block more shots. Still, Hibbert enters this season as one of the favorites for Big East Player of the Year and a preseason All-American. The versatile Dajuan Summers joins Hibbert in the frontcourt. A 6'8 forward capable of hitting the perimeter jump shot, Summers fits perfectly in Georgetown's version of the Princeton offense. I look for him to slide into Jeff Green's spot at the four, as the Hoyas play more of a three guard attack. The versatile Patrick Ewing Jr. and Vernon Macklin should round out the Hoyas frontcourt rotation. In the backcourt, unheralded but very effective point Jonathan Wallace returns to lead the offense. An adept three point shooter who rarely makes mistakes, Wallace will enjoy having incoming playmakers Chris Wright and Austin Freeman to alleviate some of the pressure of being the go-to-guy when things break down. Wright, a quality shooter who can take it to the basket, can play alongside Wallace or run things from the point when Wallace takes a breather. Freeman, an extremely talented wing player, should step right into the starting line-up and give the Hoyas a perimeter scoring option to match Summers and Hibbert upfront. Jessie Sapp, a strong defender who started to emerge as more of scoring threat last season, will also play significant minutes in the backcourt. Last season, the Hoyas advanced to the Final Four on the backs of their super frontcourt play. This season, with Wright and Freeman coming in, they will have the backcourt firepower to match.

Projected Starters:
G Jonathan Wallace, 6'1, Sr.
G Chris Wright, 6'0, Fr.
G Austin Freeman, 6'5, Fr.
F Dajuan Summers, 6'8, So.
C Roy Hibbert, 7'2, Sr.

Key Reserves:
G Jessie Sapp, 6'3, Jr.
F Patrick Ewing Jr., 6'10, Sr.
F Vernon Macklin, 6'9, So.

7. Kansas: Should Brandon Rush come back healthy, the Jayhawks will have a chance to at least match last season's Elite 8 run and possibly go farther. Gritty senior point guard Russell Robinson returns to lead the Kansas attack. A dynamite defender who does not force things on offense, the New York city kid has been the backbone for the Jayhawks the last two seasons. Capable of hitting an open perimeter shot and getting to the basket, Robinson fits perfectly as the unselfish point guard who willingly sets up and defers to a talented group of teammates. Joining in the backcourt will be combo guard Mario Chalmers. A very good perimeter shooter who also can create his own shot, Chalmers has thrived as a scoring option who can play off the ball. Alongside Robinson, he helps form what may be the best defensive backcourt in America. Spark plug Sherron Collins will return, and should capably step into the starting line-up until Rush comes back. A jet quick 5'11 scoring lead guard, Collins really provided energy and scoring as the sixth man last season. Collins compares favorably to fellow Chicago product Dee Brown, but may be a better shooter and is more proficient at utilizing his speed and moves in getting to the basket. Rush, a very talented player at both ends of the court, will hopefully be able to come back healthy and play at his usual high level. A First Team All Big 12 player during his first two seasons in Lawrence, the 6'6 Rush gives Kansas a long perimeter player they lack without him. Sharpshooting freshman Tyrel Reed should have a chance to provide scoring off the bench, especially while Rush recovers. Upfront, the Jayhawks will have to replace the versatile Julian Wright. Sophomore Darrell "Slim Shady" Arthur will take Wright's starting spot at the four. A versatile offensive player who can play with his back to the basket and hit the mid-range jumper, Arthur would a more traditional post player than Wright. Sasha Kaun should start again at center. Like Arthur, Kaun possesses a very solid offensive game. Kaun has also developed into a very solid shot blocker, protecting the lane for the Jayhakws. Hradworking senior Darnell Jackson, a very tough rebounder, will back up both post spots. Freshman post player Cole Aldrich will need time to develop, but should play spot minutes this season and give the Jayhawks another shot blocker and rebounder. The pressure would be on Bill Self this season, as this will likely be his best chance to reach that elusive Final Four for awhile. The Jayhawks could lose their top seven players after this season, and judging by his track record, Self may be looking around for a happy new home.

Projected Starters:
G Russell Robinson, 6'1, Sr.
G Mario Chalmers, 6'1, Jr.
G Sherron Collins, 5'11, So./G Brandon Rush, 6'6, Jr.
F Darrell Arthur, 6'9, So.
C Sasha Kaun, 6'11, Sr.

Key Reserves:
F Darnell Jackson, 6'9, Sr.
G Tyrel Reed, 6'2, Fr.
C Cole Aldrich, 6'11, Fr.
G Rodrick Stewart, 6'4, Sr.

8. Michigan State: While Drew Neitzel played like Superman for much of last season, the Spartans will not have depend on him nearly as much next year. Like his protege Tom Crean in 2005, Spartans head coach Tom Izzo has brought in his own trio of talented perimeter players. Kalin Lucas, a very quick 5'11 point guard who plays a lot like Marquette's Dominic James, could step right in and start away. Chris Allen, an athletic 6'4 guard from Atlanta, may be the most underrated recruit nationally. While ranked as a consensus top 50 player, Allen is a complete guard who can score in a variety ways and guard multiple positions. I think he will take Travis Walton's starting spot in the backcourt and force sophomore Raymar Morgan to move to the four. Durrell Summers, an athletic 6'5 wing player, should be a key player in the Spartans rotation. Walton, a lockdown defender who can occasionally provide offense, should accept moving to the bench as he has been a team-first guy for Izzo during his career in East Lansing. Morgan, a versatile forward capable of playing multiple positions, could be utilized more in the frontcourt this season. An athletic 6'7 slasher who can handle his own on the boards, Morgan really came on as an impact player at the end of last season. Izzo will have a number of options to start next to Morgan upfront. 6'10 center Drew Naymick has the frame and willingness to play physically needed in the Big Ten. 6'10 forward Goran Suton has developed into a talented offensive player. 6'8 forward Marquise Gray would be the most athletic player of the bunch. 6'11 center Idong Ibok has extremely long arms and is an excellent shot blocker. 7'0 redshirt freshman Tom Herzog may have to be patient and wait his turn, as he has four experienced options ahead of him. However, Herzog has a ton of potential and could became a star in East Lansing. One thing is for sure, Izzo will love the ardent competition that practice should foster. If the young backcourt players can acclimate themselves, look for Michigan State to return to their throne atop the Big Ten and make a long run in March.

Projected Starters:
G Kalin Lucas, 5'11, Fr.
G Drew Neitzel, 6'0, Sr.
G Chris Allen, 6'4, Fr.
F Raymar Morgan, 6'7, So.
F Goran Suton, 6'10, Sr.

Key Reserves:
F Marquise Gray, 6'8, Jr.
G/F Durrell Summers, 6'5, Fr.
G Travis Walton, 6'3, Jr.
C Drew Naymick, 6'10, Sr.
C Idong Ibok, 6'11, Jr.
C Tom Herzog, 7'0, Fr.

9. Marquette: The return of point guard Dominic James gives Marquette an opportunity to make their first run at a Big East title and the chance to make a long NCAA Tournament run. James, a super athletic 5'11 point guard, comes back to atone for a very disappoitning end of last season. A very good penetrator and strong defender, James needs to work on setting up his teammates and running Marquette's offense. On the wings, a pair of James's classmates, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews, return and will help lead the Marquette attack with James. McNeal, a versatile 6'3 guard who loves to put pressure on the opponents, stepped up last season as a go-to-guy before a thumb injury sidelined him in March. McNeal loves taking the ball to the basket, and has really improved his perimeter shot and decision making ability. On defense, he makes things miserable for Big East guards, and was voted Big East defensive player of the year as a sophomore. Matthews, a 6'5 wing player, started to show his great potential last season and could be the team's leading scorer as a junior. Like McNeal, Matthews loves taking the ball to the basket. He has become a very solid mid-range shooter, and can hit the three when left open. Another trio of backcourt players will contend for significant minutes. Freshman combo guard Scott Christopheron will provide offense and shooting off the bench. Sophomore David Cubillan is a tenacious defender who can hit the perimeter shot. Ball State transfer Maurice Acker will be a nice change of pace guy who can really bug opposing players. Upfront, the greatly improved Ousmane Barro leads the way. A 6'10 post player who can really run the floor, Barro showed great flashes of improvement during his junior season before fading late. Sopohomore Lazar Hayward emerged during the second half of last season, and fits nicely in Marquette's four out, one in offense as an undersized power forward. Lazar loves to mix things up down low, and has a very nice perimeter shot that he should hit more consistently this season. Perimeter marksman Dan Fitzgerald will be a nice outlet on the wing for the drive and dish ability of the Marquette guards. Athletic 6'8 incoming freshman Trevor Mbakwe will give Marquette a more traditional option at the power forward spot. Junior Dwight Burke will compete with incoming freshman Damian Saunders and Patrick Hazel for minutes upfront. One member of that group will likely play somewhat significant minutes. Returning the top eight players from a 24 win team, Marquette should build on last season's success and could have a real chance of making it back to the Final Four.

Projected Starters:
G Dominic James, 5'11, Jr.
G Jerel McNeal, 6'3, Jr.
G Wesley Matthews, 6'5, Jr.
F Lazar Hayward, 6'6, So.
F Ousmane Barro, 6'10, Sr.

Key Reserves:
F Dan Fitzgerald, 6'9, Sr.
G David Cubillan, 6'0, So.
F Trevor Mbakwe, 6'8, Fr.
G Scott Christopherson, 6'1, Fr.
G Maurice Acker, 5'8, So.
F Dwight Burke, 6'8, Jr.

10. Washington State: A major surprise last season, the Cougars return all but one of their key players from last year's Pac 10 runner-up. The backcourt should again be very strong with return of Taylor Rochestie, Derrick Low, and Kyle Weaver. Rochestie, a Tulane transfer, can really shoot the ball from deep and runs the offense along with Low. Low, an adept scorer who can play both on and off the ball, really blossomed during his junior season. Weaver gives the backcourt an athletic wing player who loves taking the ball to the basket. Mac Hopson should capably back-up the Cougars talented starting backcort. In the frontcourt, hardworking Robbie Cowgill returns to lead the way. A tough big man who can play with his back to the basket or hit the open jumper, Cowgill should be a focal point down low for the Cougars again this season. Last season's sixth man, Daven Harmeling, should step into to the starting line-up. A very good outside shooter, the 6'7 Harmeling fits perfectly in the Cougars perimeter attack. Rugged junior Aron Baynes should be a nice big man off the bench. After surprising America last season, the Cougars will have to adjust to being the hunted team this season. However, I expect Tony Bennett to have his crew ready to go and be serious Pac 10 contenders once again.

Projected Starters:
G Taylor Rochestie, 6'1, Jr.
G Derrick Low, 6'1, Sr.
G Kyle Weaver, 6'5, Sr.
F Devan Harmelling, 6'7, Jr.
C Robbie Cowgill, 6'10, Sr.

Key Reserves:
C Aron Baynes, 6'10, Jr.
G Mac Hopson, 6'2, Jr.
G Nikola Koprivica, 6'6, So.