The College Basketball Post

[ThaxbyChamblis]

Originally Posted by Ricardo Malta

I don't think Nolan should start.

Such a compelling argument Allen

Exactly.

and an interest in playing with Isiah Thomas at UW (from Tacoma as well)
Isiah is the goods.

Him and Abdul would be kinda sick

.. i would write more...if yuku could work

Stop $##$@!#%##@$ and type it in notepad first...

..........................................................
Oh yeah, I'm calling it right now.

Nolan Smith is gonna YAM on somebody real sick like this year....Watch

 

[allen3xis]

He wants to be a Hoya and we share the same name


Kid is good in my book.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

Originally Posted by allen3xis

He wants to be a Hoya

 

[worldbeefreeg]

Yo, can someone please tell me what's good with UMich? I thought Beiline was supposed to jumpstart that program and I haven't heard ##+! about it.

 

[allen3xis]

Originally Posted by worldbeefreeg

Yo, can someone please tell me what's good with UMich? I thought Beiline was supposed to jumpstart that program and I haven't heard ##+! about it.

he can't recruit. So he's gona need some diamonds in the rough again.

DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris should do well this year tho

 

[worldbeefreeg]

Originally Posted by allen3xis

Originally Posted by worldbeefreeg

Yo, can someone please tell me what's good with UMich? I thought Beiline was supposed to jumpstart that program and I haven't heard ##+! about it.

he can't recruit. So he's gona need some diamonds in the rough again.

DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris should do well this year tho

Michigan stay getting coaches who don't do @@!%, first Amaker now Beiline.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

I used to like UMich, when they had my man Dugan Fife.

 

[allen3xis]

Parrish


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[font=Arial, Helvetica]Four of the top five picks in last June's NBA Draft were freshmen.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Year before that, five of the top 10 picks were freshmen.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]So let me be the first -- or actually the 500th -- person to tell you that, no, this season's freshman class willnot be as good as last season's freshman class or the freshman class before that. Greg Oden and Michael Beasley are not walking through that door. But whatyou must understand is that even though this group of freshmen isn't as gifted as those groups of freshmen there are still manyfirst-year players capable of making an immediate impact.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Any by impact, I mean impact.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Ed Davis might be one of the best freshmen in America; he's talented like that. But how much of animpact will the North Carolina forward make this season considering the Tar Heels already have Tyler Hansbrough and Deon Thompson in the frontcourt?Answer: I'm not sure. But what I do know is that Davis probably won't get the same opportunities as many of his classmates who signed elsewhere. Sothat's why Davis isn't on this list, because it's not necessarily a list of the best freshmen but rather a list of the freshmen best-positioned tohave immediate impacts on relevant programs.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]You dig?[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Good.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Now here's the list of freshmen poised to make immediate impacts:[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]1. DeMar DeRozan (SouthernCalifornia)[/font][/h4]
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Why he's here: DeRozan did nothing to lower expectations when he scored 29 points in Sunday's intrasquad scrimmage. The 6-7 wing is adifferent player than O.J. Mayo, but his impact will be similar, if not more significant.[/font]
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[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]2. Jrue Holiday (UCLA)[/font][/h4]
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Why he's here: Holiday does a little bit of everything -- including make predictions. In fact, the 6-3 combo guard didn't hesitatewhen he was asked at UCLA's annual media day for a prediction on the season. "National championship, national championship," Holiday said,according to the Los Angeles Times. "We've gone to the Final Four three years in a row, the history here. What else do I have to say?National championship."[/font]
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[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]3. B.J. Mullens (Ohio State)[/font][/h4]
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Whyhe's here: A lot of these rankings are based on the impressions prospects made on me when I saw them at various times. I tell you that to tell youthat the reason Mullens is so high is because every time I've ever seen him in person he's been awesome, just a jumping and dunking machine who shouldwreak havoc on the Big Ten. Is he Greg Oden? No, not quite. But he's certainly good enough to become the third straight OSU center to leave school afterone season.[/font]
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[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]4. Tyreke Evans (Memphis)[/font][/h4]
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Why he's here: Evans has to be John Calipari's best player if the Tigers are to make a fourth consecutive Elite Eight, and I suspecthe will be. The 6-foot-6 combo guard has reportedly been great in preseason practices on both ends of the court. So the guess here is that Evans picks up alarge portion of the points left behind by Chris Douglas-Roberts and becomes the sixth Memphis player in the past eight seasons to win C-USA Freshman of theYear honors.[/font]
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[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]5. Samardo Samuels (Louisville)[/font][/h4]
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Why he's here: Samuels got 36 points and 16 rebounds in Sunday's Red-White scrimmage while reportedly "overpowering" EarlClark and Terrence Jennings. Assuming that description is true (and that Samuels can dominate the paint) it's safe to pencil the Cardinals in as alegitimate threat to North Carolina, which makes me feel good about ranking Louisville second in the Top 25 (and one).[/font]
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[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]6. Willie Warren (Oklahoma)[/font][/h4]
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Why he's here: Warren will team with Blake Griffin and provide one of the nation's best inside-outside duos. He's great at gettingto the rim and should be one of the more entertaining freshmen given his unique ability to talk the talk and walk the walk.[/font]
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[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]7. Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest)[/font][/h4]
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Why he's here: Aminu is the centerpiece of Wake Forest's stellar recruiting class assembled by the late Skip Prosser and held togetherby his successor Dino Gaudi. When the Demon Deacons make the NCAA tournament this season, this 6-8 forward will be a huge reason.[/font]
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[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]8. Scotty Hopson (Tennessee)[/font][/h4]
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Why he's here: Bruce Pearl has established himself in the SEC by doing more with less. Now he gets to do more with more becauseHopson is a McDonald's All-American who will start from Day 1 and ensure the Vols have the type of talent to advance past the Sweet 16 for the first timein history.[/font]
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[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]9. Greg Monroe (Georgetown)[/font][/h4]
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Whyhe's here: Remember what I wrote about Mullens and how he's ranked so high because every time I've seen him he's been great? Well,that's the same reason Monroe is lower than most would put him, because every time I've seen him he's merely been pretty good. Monroe spent much ofhis prep days as the nation's top-rated player, but I never saw him consistently dominate the way a No. 1 player should. That said, I know Monroe istalented; that's why he made the list. It's just that when watching him I never saw what I'm used to seeing from an elite prospect, but I'mwilling to wait longer.[/font]
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[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]10. JaMychal Green (Alabama)[/font][/h4]
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Why he's here: Alabama would be the easy pick to win the SEC West had Richard Hendrix returned to school. He didn't, and that'stoo bad for Alabama. But the reason Mark Gottfried isn't devastated is because Green is on campus after averaging 11.0 points and 8.4 rebounds in the FIBAAmericas U18 Championship. As Davidson's Bob McKillop said after coaching him, Green is"terrific".[/font]
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[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]The next 10[/font][/h4][table][tr][td]11. Devin Ebanks (West Virginia)[/td] [td]16. Marcus Morris (Kansas)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]12. Delvon Roe (Michigan State)[/td] [td]17. William Buford (Ohio State)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]13. Kemba Walker (Connecticut)[/td] [td]18. Chris Singleton (Florida State)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]14. Luke Babbitt (Nevada)[/td] [td]19. Yancy Gates (Cincinnati)[/td] [/tr][tr][td]15. Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech)[/td] [td]20. Tony Woods (Wake Forest)[/td] [/tr][/table][font=Arial, Helvetica]
...
Greg, Jrue, Kemba, Ebanks, Buford, Shumpert, JaMychal, Warren

[/font]

 

[allen3xis]

per..Paulus/Smith...I just don't see how you can bench a 3 year starter and someone who made significant strides....and wouldn't Nolan be a betterspark off the bench? I just don't get it.


BOSTON COLLEGE

Vermont transfer Joe Trapani had 26 points in an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday and he, along with the improvement and experience that the sophomores madeover the summer, give unanimous all-league player Tyrese Rice optimism.

``Guys got playing time and it's a lot different when you're freshmen," Rice said. "All those guys played big minutes and it's going tohelp us for this year."

Eagles coach Al Skinner said that the focus has been defensively, especially on the perimeter, because now BC doesn't have a big-time shot-blocker that canhelp erase mistakes.

Skinner said he feels as though the Eagles have enough to compete this season.

``You can now point to us and say what you can expect," Skinner said. "Last year, we didn't really have an identity."

CLEMSON

If you question whether Clemson will miss Cliff Hammonds, check out this quote from big man Trevor Booker: ``He's the perfect role model. Cliff Hammonds isthe guy. He's showed us a lot. I really want to be like him."

Booker and K.C. Rivers both said other than Hammonds' departure, not much has changed.

``Nothing, really," Rivers said. ``Everything is the same."

Coach Oliver Purnell didn't argue.

``We want to take advantage of our experience and carry-over," he said. "It's not as if it didn't work."

Purnell said that backup freshman point guard Andre Young is back after sitting out the first five or six days with a strained hamstring.

Purnell said one key to his team can be if sophomore shooting guard Terrence Oglesby can step up and join Rivers, Booker and Demontez Stitt are guys he cancount on.

``Terrence is like a home run hitter who can break open a game," Purnell said.

DUKE

I'll have more from my conversation with Coach K later in the week, but here's an interesting quote on Gerald Henderson - the only player that made thetrip from the Blue Devils.

``If he's healthy, he's one of the best players in the United States and he'll show that," Krzyzewski said. ``He'll respond. He's notafraid of making a mistake or missing a shot."

FLORIDA STATE

- Tony Douglas said that the Seminoles will try and run even more than last season. Florida State was athletic a year ago with Jason Rich, Isaiah Swann, RalphMims and Douglas as a four-headed monster in the backcourt, but the real issue is that none of them were true point guards and make their teammates better.

Leonard Hamilton has added Derwin Kitchen and Luke Loucks - two guys that won't be quite as focused on scoring the ball as Rich, Swann, Mims and Douglas.

``Our system now doesn't have a designated point guard," Douglas said. "It can be me, Luke or Derwin. That's why it's going to be hardfor teams to guard us."

While Hamilton wouldn't come out and say it, you can tell he likes the attitude of this group.

He also said that junior forward Ryan Reid has improved as much as any player he's ever coached in one year.

``Last year he was always hurt," Hamilton said. "Now he's become a leader."

GEORGIA TECH

Lewis Clinch was leading the team in scoring for the first part of the season two years ago before he was suspended due to academics.

Clinch hasn't been the same since he returned.

``It's confidence," Clinch said. "It's having the confidence I'm going to make every shot - and the mental preparation."

In order for the Yellow Jackets to make the NCAA tournament, they will need Clinch to get close to what he was two seasons ago. This is a guy who scored indouble-figures in each of the first 10 games and put up 20-plus in three consecutive games.

MARYLAND

Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez loves the fact that the Terps are already being counted out.

``Ever since I've come to this country, I've been proving people wrong," he said.

Actually, I was somewhat surprised that Maryland finished seventh in the preseason poll. But certainly a valid case can be made for the Terps anywhere from7-10 in the preseason.

Vasquez said he feels the pressure after the Terps have been to a pair of NIT's and have one NCAA appearance in the last three years.

``It's going to be tough for us to get back," Vasquez said. "We need to work hard and come out with intensity every night."

Big man Braxton Dupree has dropped about 25 pounds and is down in the 255-260 range. Can he help immediately?

``I think he can make a difference eventually," Vasquez said. ``But he's going to need some time."

``He's like a new man now," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "Now he's just got to play."

Vasquez and reserve big man Dave Neal both echoed the sentiment that wing Adrian Bowie has made a significant jump since last season.

MIAMI

The Hurricanes top player said the key will be to somehow keep that chip on their shoulder despite the fact that much is expected down in Miami this season.

Two years ago, no one figured Miami was a team that would end up winning an NCAA tournament game. Now the Hurricanes are picked fourth in the ACC and among thetop 25 teams in the nation.

``We can't let last year go to our heads," McClinton said.

Coach Frank Haith admitted that Dwayne Collins and Lance Hurdle are the two most important players on the team this season.

``Lance has to continue to grow and Dwayne has to consistently produce," Haith said.

NORTH CAROLINA

One of the questions that many people - myself included - have with the No. 1 team in the country is whether the three guys who tested the NBA waters anddecided to return will focus on what's important to win a national title.

Here's Wayne Ellington's take: ``The individual stuff you work on in the offseason," he said. "You can use it as you add it to your game, butdon't go out and do things you're not comfortable doing in the offense or it'll affect the team in a negative way."

Ellington was also giving his high school and AAU teammate, Duke's Gerald Henderson, a hard time for shaving his head. ``It's because his hair startedto recede," Ellington laughed.

N.C. STATE

Sidney Lowe said that starting point guard Farnold Degand, still making his way back after a torn ACL midway through last season, looked "OK" in aweekend scrimmage.

``He still has a long way to go," Lowe said. "He's still not 100 percent."

Lowe also said that Brandon Costner, one of the season's biggest disappointments a year ago, has come back in good shape.

``This year he's come in much better shape," Lowe said. "Last year his knee was bothering him in the summer and the doctor told him to stay offit for a month. That's when he picked up weight."

Now he's 228 pounds and Lowe says he can "tell the difference."

``He's definitely close to the old Brandon," said N.C. State big man Ben McCauley. "He's in good shape and is more of a leader. He'svocal and that's what we need from him. He's a great player - one of the best in the conference."

VIRGINIA

Virginia coach Dave Leitao's table was filled with reporters for nearly the entire session. The only coaches who seemed to get more attention were Coach Kand Roy Williams.

So I went over and asked Leitao whether Sean Singletary had another year of eligibility or something.

The Cavaliers are in a rebuilding mode of sorts after losing Singletary. Calvin Baker, who was slated to battle with Sam Zeglinski for the starting point guardduties, may be out for the season with a stress fracture in his foot.

Leitao's Cavs are picked to finish dead last in the league, but he made a good point. We, the media, have been atrocious in trying to look into the crystalball. In Leitao's first season, Virginia was picked to finish last and ended up seventh. Two years ago, the projection was eighth and the Cavaliers tiedfor first. Last season, they finished 10th - five spots lower than they were predicted.

VIRGINIA TECH

Hokies senior AD Vassallo is glad the program is starting to get some respect.

Vassallo broke down the three players that should battle to replace Deron Washington.

He said Dorenzo Hudson is the best shooter of the trio. He's athletic and can defend while Terrell Bell is the top defender of the trio and is long andathletic and J.T. Thompson is a power guy who drives to the basket - and is probably more of a four-man right now.

The word from the players is that the Hokies will be more consistent with the full-court press and should attack more offensively.

 

[dacomeup]

Hopson, Will Buford, Yancey Gates are 3 I expect big things out of .

 

[haiti5]

Ellington was also giving his high school and AAU teammate, Duke's Gerald Henderson, a hard time for shaving his head. ``It's because his hair started to recede," Ellington laughed.


sons hairline was looking like a parabola..good for him

 

[worldbeefreeg]

Originally Posted by haiti5

Ellington was also giving his high school and AAU teammate, Duke's Gerald Henderson, a hard time for shaving his head. ``It's because his hair started to recede," Ellington laughed.

sons hairline was looking like a parabola..good for him

Son was looking like Steven A. Smith JR. for a second.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

per..Paulus/Smith...I just don't see how you can bench a 3 year starter and someone who made significant strides....
That is kinda messed up...But, the thing is.

Greg is still gonna get his minutes. And I bet, come crunch time, he's still gonna be in the game.

I'm sure he'll get starts intermittently during the season...

 

[seymore cake]

I'd also rather have Nolan coming off... the thought of having Jon and Greg in together for large portions of time is scary. There are too many talentedguards in the ACC to do some %#%@ like that

 

[allen3xis]

A-10 PRESEASON POLL

Here's the predicted order of finish from the Atlantic-10 Preseason Poll:

1. Xavier (44)
2. Temple (12)
3. Dayton (3)
4. Saint Joseph's
5. Charlotte (2)
6. UMass
7. Saint Louis
8. Richmond
9. Rhode Island
10. La Salle
11. George Washington
12. Duquesne
13. Fordham
14. St. Bonaventure

Preseason All-Conference Team

Derrick Brown, Xavier
Dionte Christmas, Temple
Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph's
Kevin Lisch, Saint Louis
Chris Lowe, UMass

..
If Umass is 6th in this league with Lowe and Harris...it's gona be a pretty good league again

 

[allen3xis]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Parrish
[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The national unemployment rate is at a five-year high, and you can bet your bottom dollar (assuming you still have abottom dollar) that by April the world of college basketball will do its part to contribute to the mess. In other words, men will lose their jobs. It happensevery year. And if you're curious about the names of those who are entering this season under pressure, never fear, I've got 10 of them righthere.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Here are 10 coaches on the hot seat:[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica](Coaches are listed in alphabetical order)[/font]
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [/tr][/table][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]Bill Carmody (Northwestern)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Why he's here: The fact that Northwestern has never made the NCAA tournament suggests somethingis broken within the program that has little to do with the coach. Still, Carmody hasn't come close to breaking through. He finished 1-17 in the Big Tenlast season, which was his eighth at the school. And at some point you change simply for the sake of change.[/font]
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [/tr][/table][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]Ed DeChellis (Penn State)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Why he's here: The good news for DeChellis is that people don't really concern themselveswith basketball at Penn State, not with Joe Paterno nearing a berth in the BCS Championship Game. So why go through the trouble of changing coaches if nobodycares either way? Perhaps that's true. But the reality is that DeChellis hasn't finished better than seventh in the Big Ten in five seasons on the job,and eventually the school will be forced to ponder why winning should be viewed as impossible at Penn State when it's not at a place like WashingtonState.[/font]
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [/tr][/table][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]Dennis Felton (Georgia)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Why he's here: Things were all warm and fuzzy when Felton made an improbable run to the SECtournament title last season, but don't be fooled. Anything short of that would've led to Georgia removing Felton in favor of VCU's Anthony Grant(sources have said it was as close to a done deal as you can imagine), so don't think for a minute that Felton is safe entering his sixth season. He hasnever had a winning record in the SEC, and if there isn't a sign of improvement this season (and/or a signed letter of intent from top-rated recruitDerrick Favors) there's a chance Georgia could decide to move on.[/font]
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [/tr][/table][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]Bobby Gonzalez (Seton Hall)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Why he's here: It's OK to be fiery and rub people the wrong way when you're winning, BobKnight's long and distinguished career serving as a prime example. But when you're not winning it doesn't go over too well, and that's whyGonzalez could be in trouble in just his third year on the job. Yes, he won 17 games last season. But he also lost 15 and finished 1-10 against opponents whowent on to make the NCAA tournament. And though all this would be fine under normal circumstances, it's not fine given Gonzalez'scircumstances -- one of which has him suspended for the first Big East game this season, another of which features a less-than-ideal relationship with athleticdirector Joe Quinlan.[/font]
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [/tr][/table][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]Mark Gottfried (Alabama)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Why he's here: Gottfried got a pass the last two years (because of the injury that forced RonSteele to play the 2006-07 campaign at about 25 percent and miss the entire 2007-08 season), but patience is wearing thin in Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban can onlydistract the masses for so long before they notice that their basketball program hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2006 or survived the first weekendof the event since 2004, which is why Gottfried is at risk of being removed unless he competes for the SEC West and makes the NCAA tournament.[/font]
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [/tr][/table][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]Leonard Hamilton (FloridaState)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Why he's here: Hamilton is an accomplished recruiter who seems to never stop getting players.Problem is, he also never seems to do much with them, evidence being how he has made zero NCAA tournaments in six seasons in Tallahassee. Hamilton will find itdifficult to survive if that streak is extended.[/font]
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [/tr][/table][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]Ernie Kent (Oregon)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Why he's here: On the surface Kent doesn't belong here because he's made consecutiveNCAA tournaments and just received a contract extension. However, the opinion in basketball circles has long been that Kent is one bad year away from gettingmoved so that Oregon can pursue Gonzaga's Mark Few, who is from Oregon and good friends with athletic director Pat Kilkenny. So what's my point? Mypoint is that you have to wonder if the Arizona vacancy for which Few will be a candidate might make Kilkenny a little quicker to pull the trigger based uponthe idea that he'll never get Few if he doesn't try to do it after this season. If so, that's not good for Kent. And don't pay attention to hiscontract extension. In the grand scheme of things, it means nothing.[/font]
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [/tr][/table][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]Tom Penders (Houston)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Why he's here: Penders has won 81 games in four seasons at Houston, which is great, I guess. Buthe hasn't made an NCAA tournament since replacing Ray McCallum and is 1-11 in the past two seasons against opponents who went on to make the NCAA tourney.Meantime, recruiting is ho-hum and attendance is embarrassing for a place that was once a national power. So if the Cougars finish middle-of-the-pack in C-USAthis season (which is expected), it might be time for athletic director Dave Maggard to consider injecting some young enthusiasm into the program that he sobadly needs to be relevant again.[/font]
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [/tr][/table][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]Norm Roberts (St.John's)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Why he's here: There was a lot of speculation last February that Roberts was on the way out, somuch so that St. John's had to issue a statement claiming he was not. Then the school gave the former Kansas assistant a five-year extension to create aperception of security for the purposes of recruiting, but nobody believes that will prevent St. John's from changing directions if this season goes aspoorly as most believe it will.[/font]
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][tr][td] [/td] [/tr][/table][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]Gary Williams (Maryland)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]Why he's here: In a perfect world a man would win a national title, watch the school build hisstatue and retire whenever he damn-well pleases. But this is not a perfect world, Williams is no longer running a perfect program and that -- combined with thetheory that he and his athletic director aren't best friends -- is why he's in trouble. The Terrapins have missed the NCAA tournament three of the pastfour seasons and will likely do it again. That isn't acceptable at a program with the tradition and natural recruiting base of Maryland. So if Williamsdoesn't overachieve this season it's reasonable to think it might be his last.[/font]

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

What's the word w/ Jordan Crawford?

Is he gonna get that waiver and be able to play this year?

 

[tmukg21]

what's the word on Alex Stepheson at USC? DeRozan gonna need a big man other than P.Miller

 

[juicy j 32]

Originally Posted by allen3xis

Ellington was also giving his high school and AAU teammate, Duke's Gerald Henderson, a hard time for shaving his head. ``It's because his hair started to recede," Ellington laughed.

I also found Coach K's quote on Henderson interesting...

 

[allen3xis]

Durand Scott down to Miami, Pitt and Uconn.

 

[worldbeefreeg]

A-10 will surprise people again this year.

 

[allen3xis]

3 People first team All Conference

NEW YORK - The SienaSaints aren't going to sneak up on anyone this season.

A year after throttling SEC power Vanderbilt by 21 points in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Saints were unanimously chosen by the league'scoaches to win the MAAC again in 2008-09.

Fairfield was picked second, Rider third and Niagara fourth.

The Saints placed three players on the Preseason All-MAAC team, including Preseason Player of the Year Kenny Hasbrouck, who averaged 15.3points and dropped 30 on Vanderbilt. Junior swing Edwin Ubiles and junior forward Alex Franklin joined Hasbrouck on thepreseason team.

With so much talent coming back and expectations sky high for a return to the Big Dance, is there a danger of complacency?

"Sure, a lot of danger," Siena head coach Fran McCaffery said at MAAC Media Day at the ESPNZone in Manhattan. "That'swhy we put this schedule together because if we don't play well early, we will be humbled. And we'll go into the conference hungry. If we play wellagainst those teams, we'll go into the conference confident that we can play well. So obviously I was concerned about that."

Siena has seven national TV games this season, including tilts against Tennessee in the Old Spice Classic (Nov. 27), at Pittsburgh (Dec. 17) and at defending national champion Kansas (Jan. 6).

McCaffery wanted to put together a tough schedule to prepare his team for league play, and ultimately another run to the NCAAs.

"It's a realistic goal [to for farther in the NCAA]," he said. "It might be easier to go farther than it is to get through this league.People forget, we were down 17 against Loyola in the semifinals, so it's very difficult to get through this conference."

McCaffery added that the MAAC is especially loaded this year with a number of players "who are NBA prospects." A year ago, Rider starJason Thompson was chosen No. 12 in the NBA Draft.

"I think Ubiles, Hasbrouck and [Ryan Thompson of Rider] for sure," he said in reference to potential NBA players. "I thinkTyrone Lewis [of Niagara] is special, and I think the next step would be some of these new guys coming into the league who I haven'tseen." McCaffery had in mind Iona's 7-foot transfer from Louisville, Jonathan Huffman, among others.

In order to prepare for life in the brutal MAAC, the Saints traveled to Italy over the summer to gain some bonding and playing time.

"It was a lot of playing time for reserves Clarence Jackson and Ryan Rossiter, I think they did great overthere," Hasbrouck said. "Team bonding, it was just another two weeks we got to spend together away from campus. It was a great experience for us. Wegot to view the world."

Now the Saints are back home and hoping for a return to the Big Dance. But it won't be easy.

"When you have three first-team all-league players, certainly the expectations are that you're to win the conference," Rider coachTommy Dempsey said. "And I think the conference is going to be very competitive. They're still going to have to get up and play everynight, so nobody in this league is going to roll over, so they'll have their work cut out for them."

NOTEBOOK

You think doors have opened up for Rider now that Jason Thompson went to the NBA? Seventeen players showed up for the school's MidnightMadness, including St. Patrick of Elizabeth sophomore Michael Gilchrist. "Recruits view your program a little bit differently now becauseyou have that NBA [guy]," Rider coach Tommy Dempsey said. "Being a lottery selection has enabled some other kids to say, 'Hey,if I can go somewhere and have a big career, it doesn't really matter where I go. If I'm good enough, I'm going to make it to theNBA.'"…Dempsey on Ryan Thompson: "What makes Ryan so special is his versatility. He shot over 40 percent from 3. He can take itin the lane. He's a tremendous passer. Second on our team in assists. Second on our team in rebounding. There's nothing on the basketball court that hecan't do, so that creates a lot of matchup problems.

PRESEASON POLL

1. Siena

2. Fairfield

3. Rider

4. Niagara

5. Loyola

6. Manhattan

7. Iona

8. Canisius

9. Saint Peter's

10. Marist

PRESEASON ALL-MAAC TEAMS

FIRST TEAM

Jonathan Han, Fairfield

Ryan Thompson, Rider

Alex Franklin, Siena

Kenny Hasbrouck, Siena

Edwin Ubiles, Siena

SECOND TEAM

Anthony Johnson, Fairfield

Gary Springer, Iona

Brian Rudolph, Loyola

Antoine Pearson, Manhattan

Tyrone Lewis, Niagara

Harris Mansell, Rider

THIRD TEAM

Frank Turner, Canisius

Marquis Sullivan, Loyola

Devon Austin, Manhattan

David Devezin, Marist

Wesley Jenkins, St. Peter's


..
Little Thompson is a nice player...but he's getting a lot of hype off of his name now.

 

[allen3xis]

Televised games for the start of the year..
Nov 10th
[table][tr][td]TIME (ET)[/td] [td]MATCHUP[/td] [td]TV[/td] [td]PPV[/td] [td]TICKETS[/td] [/tr][tr][td]7:00 PM ET[/td] [td]Presbyterian at Duke[/td] [td] [/td] [td]
[/td] [/tr][/table]
Nov 11th
[table][tr][td]7:00 PM ET[/td] [td]Michigan Tech at Michigan[/td] [td] [/td] [td]
[/td] [/tr][/table]
Nov 12th
[table][tr][td]10:00 PM ET[/td] [td]Prairie View A&M at UCLA[/td] [td] [/td] [td]
[/td] [/tr][/table]

one for Duke fans to watch..

Quinn Cook PG 2011...DC Assault...and now Duke is mentioned with him...you do the math.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

Originally Posted by allen3xis

one for Duke fans to watch..

Quinn Cook PG 2011...DC Assault...and now Duke is mentioned with him...you do the math.

Another JT III/K battle on the horizon ?

 

[allen3xis]

He's a Duke lean...so IDK..

but definitely with other kids..

Duke/UNC/G'town are all on James McAdoo...relation to Bob...which could make UNC tough to beat.

He's a Top 5 overall player for 2011 at this point