Rotnei Clarke is the best shooter in the country. After the 6'0" University of Arkansas guard hit 13 three pointers and scored 51 points against Alcorn State last Friday night, people were a little surprised. They must not have realized that prior to the Razorbacks season opener, Clarke spent an evening in an empty gym with his father and a shooting coach, converting 556 out of 600 three point shots. So yeah, the boy can shoot. The half a hundred he put up against the same Alcorn State team that put Ohio State's Evan Turner on the map after his own outstanding performance a few days earlier is an individual season high for scoring thus far. Needless to say, when news began to spread, basketball fans all over the place tuned into watch his squad play Louisville last night. His encore performance was limited, however, as he only scored 16 points. Don't think 51 was a fluke, though, he played well and converted a couple of long range bombs. True hoopheads know that shooters shoot, and making 13 threes isn't an accident. Keep in mind that after two games, Rotnei Clarke is actually leading the country in scoring with an average of 33.5 points per game. With seven players suspended from a team that won only two conference games last year, a perfect storm has been created for Clarke to put up some big numbers.
Georgetown is in for a long season. It's been a pretty safe bet for a lot of years now that when Georgetown plays Temple it's going to be a low scoring, physical affair. Still, there's no excuse for yesterday's snooze fest at the Verizon Center. Yesterday afternoon, they barely beat the Owls on a last second layup from their best player, Greg Monroe. At halftime the score was 19-13 and there were more fouls commited than baskets scored. The Hoyas trailed most of the second half until Monroe's basket at the buzzer whch gave them a 46-45 win. Not much more can be said of the game, and it's definitely not one that should have been listened to while operating heavy machinery.. After making it to the Final Four two seasons ago, Georgetown went 16-15 overall last season, failing to live up to expectations and playing a brand of basketball that was tedious to watch. Very few teams can take the famed Pete Carrill Princeton offense and make it look boring, but Georgetown seems to excel at doing just that. This year, although they are 2-0 with an easy win over Tulane last week, it looks like we'll see more of the same. It will be hard for them to win basketball games in the Big East Conference, especially if they have more offensive performances that see them on the wrong side of the 50 point mark. The Hoyas stand at #19 nationally, but don't be surprised if they fall out of the rankings very quickly.
Gonzaga is the best unranked team in the country. If you watched them play at Michigan State last night, you heard the announcers say it over and over again. Although they lost by four, they led most of the night and played impressive, mature basketball. After losing their three top players last season, (Josh Heytvelt, Austin Daye and Jeremy Pargo) most analysts thought this year would be a rebuilding year for veteran Coach Mark Few. With the exception of senior guard Matt Bouldin, this is the youngest Zags team that Few has had during his tenure. Bouldin displayed moments of brilliance last night and looked like a solid All-American candidate witth a couple of great passes and his ability to create scoring opportunities for himself. He finished with 15 points and 4 assists in the losing effort. Why the Zags are unranked this season is a mystery, considering that at this point they should be considered a major college program. They have all the pieces they need to make a run deep into March. They have a 7'5" (not a typo) center in Will Foster to go along with another seven-footer named Robert Sacre, who finishes strong time after time when the guards can get him the ball. He had 17 last night and hands down has the best sky hook since Lew Alcindor owned the paint at UCLA in the late 1960s. A loss is never a good thing for a team, no matter the circumstances, but the Zags have to be happy with their performance on the road against the second best team in the country. They will win a lot of ball games this year and will crack the top 25 early on.
Tennessee is the best team in the country right now. Tennessee slaughtered UNC-Asheville 124 to 49 last night. Yep, they won by 75 points. The Volunteers put up the most points ever scored by a Tennessee team in only their second game of this season, which is nothing but a good sign for head Coach Bruce Pearl. Pearl, who won his 100th game last night, saw six players scored in double figures for the Volunteers behind Scotty Hopson's career high 25. Tennessee isn't necessarily under the radar because they're consistently pretty good, but it seems like they aren't getting as much respect as they deserve yet. Their opponent last night was sub-par, but they were still picked to finish second in their league. Either way after the first media timeout, Tennessee was up 18-0, and during one point, led 61-10. UNCA didn't score their first field goal of the game until there were three minutes left in the first half. By the end of the half, one more field goal had been scored by the Vols' opponents. Although UNCA didn't help themselves, Tennesee's offensive output can't be overlooked. What also can't be overlooked is that Tennessee didn't lost a single player to graduation or the NBA last year, so they're a veteran squad who will continue to produce and play well together all season. If they can continue to thrive under Bruce Pearl's system, they have a chance of making it to the last game of college basketball season in a few months.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
24 Hours of basketball?!
It's hard to focus today if you're a hardcore hoophead. ESPN's family of networks is kicking off college basketball right, showing 24 straight hours of hoops. If you're like me, you've been checking in all day on the action. There are tons of games to choose from, and if you can't find what you're looking for on tv, check out ESPN360. Ten ranked teams play today, so if you don't get your fix, you're probably not a fan.
So far, the first legit day of college basketball has seen UCLA brick their way to a double overtime "upset" at the hands Cal State Fullerton. Other than that, all of the games have ended as to be expected. Tonight, fans get to see Kansas, Michigan State, Duke, Georgetown, Memphis, Tennessee, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Louisville and Illinois. Stay tuned for thoughts and analysis.
Also, in keeping with the Beltway Basketball theme, here's some info from USA Today on some high school standouts in the area. Now, stop reading and start watching...
So far, the first legit day of college basketball has seen UCLA brick their way to a double overtime "upset" at the hands Cal State Fullerton. Other than that, all of the games have ended as to be expected. Tonight, fans get to see Kansas, Michigan State, Duke, Georgetown, Memphis, Tennessee, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Louisville and Illinois. Stay tuned for thoughts and analysis.
Also, in keeping with the Beltway Basketball theme, here's some info from USA Today on some high school standouts in the area. Now, stop reading and start watching...
Monday, November 16, 2009
Inconsistency rules the day...
Imagine you’re on an NCAA committee designated to dole out punishments for infractions committed by incoming college basketball players. You’re presented with three files, each containing a case involving a different player from a different program in a different part of the country. Each player (for the purposes of this blog: Player A, Player B, Player C) commits a separate offence as follows:
Player A is an incoming college freshman who has signed to play at a program that is on the upswing and predicted to do very big things this year. He is from a European country and the high school that he went to did not have a sports program, so he could not play competitively at that level. As a result, he started playing with a club team in his native country. The roster of his club team included a player that had once played professionally and who was still considered a professional athlete, and therefore, Player A was in violation of the Amateurism Rule put forth by the NCAA.
Player B is a transfer who has decided to continue his career at a smaller mid-major school. He is from South America and spent last season playing for a community college in the Midwest. Prior to coming to the United States, Player B played three games as an actual professional basketball player in his native country. Playing professional basketball clearly is in violation of the Amateurism Rule put forth by the NCAA.
Player C is an incoming college freshman who last year was considered to be the best high school basketball player in the country. He is now playing for one of college basketball’s all-time winningest programs and a team favored to finish near the top this season. Prior to enrolling at this school, Player C played on a basketball team coached by an agent with the ability to see money change hands in order to benefit said player. On top of that, said agent provided Player C with cash to visit schools prior to signing with his current one. In playing for and accepting money from an agent, Player C violated (you guessed it) college basketball’s Amateurism Rule.
All three of the above cases are real and all three players have been handed down punishments by the NCAA. Although the players each broke the same rule by varying degrees, it remains that they all broke the same rule. As such, each player should be given the same treatment and punished the same way, or at least you would think…
Last week, the NCAA suspended Douglas Kurtz for six games because he played in a professional league as a professional basketball player (therefore stripping him of his amateur status) in his native Brazil prior to coming to the states. Kurtz, the 7’0” center who is playing for the University of Hawaii this season, played three games professionally in 2007 before finding himself in Iowa where he played at Marshalltown Community College last year. He will be eligible to play for the Rainbow Warriors at the beginning of December.
The Kurtz ruling that was handed down was just one of three that have recently taken place that are all over the map. The most severe punishment handed down was seemingly for the least offensive crime. In October, West Virginia freshman Deniz Kilicli, a 6’9” forward from Istanbul was suspended for twenty games by the NCAA because of his affiliation with a club team in his native country. Kilicli, who didn’t have the opportunity to play high school basketball because his high school didn’t have a team, played (with amateur status in tact) on a team with a player who had a professional status.
While Kurtz’s offence seems a little more serious than Kilicli’s, both pale in comparison to infractions commited by Kentucky superstar freshman John Wall. Wall, who was considered by many to be the best high school player in the country last year, played for AAU coach Brian Clifton. Clifton was a registered agent between 2007 and 2008 and accompanied Wall on several recruiting trips, including two to Kentucky. It has since come out that Clifton helped pay for Wall’s trips to various schools, which is also considered a no-no by the NCAA. Wall was provided over $800.00 by Clifton. The NCAA rules state that if a player receives more than $101.00, he must repay the money and is subject to at least a ten percent suspension of his respective team’s regular season games. While the NCAA remained true to the monetary punishment (Wall has been ordered to pay back the $800.00) he was suspended for only one regular season game for the Wildcats this season.
Needless to say, inconsistency seems to be running rampant in the NCAA. If all three players broke the same rule, each player should be subjected to the same punishment. Either one game, six games or 20 games, and not punishments that seem like they've been pulled out of a hat. If one is to compare all three cases, Kurtz’s might be the most malicious. As a professional player, he was probably aware of his professional status. In the other two cases, neither Wall or Kilicli gained any kind of advantage in their situation and probably were not honestly aware of their crimes.
On paper, Wall looks like he could have benefitted the most. After all, agents have access to professional teams, lucrative contracts and act as a gateway between the player and the money. He had much more of a chance to gain monetarily than did Kilicli, who simply associated with a guy who was a professional ball player. Had he even know, the most Kilicli could have gained was more ability and experience with the opportunity to play against a professional athlete.
The rule that affects Kilicli is a controversial one. The NCAA last year penalized 490 athletes (in all sports) for amateurism violations and 434 of those were foreign students. In many instances, amateurs can be playing on a foreign team that includes professionals and not know it at all, simply because what constitutes professional in Europe and the United States are often far different things. Since that's the case, it's hard to determine whether he deserves the most harsh punishment of the three recently handed down by the NCAA.
Clearly John Wall will play in the NBA and will more than likely be a superstar while Kilicli and Kurtz will play out their careers as role players before slipping into obscurity. From a business aspect, one can certainly understand that college basketball will benefit much more from having Wall on the floor than on the sidelines, but it's creating a slippery slope that may not be able to be reversed without some major reform. For a governing body that preaches fairness and sportsmanship, the NCAA has dropped the ball on this one.
Player A is an incoming college freshman who has signed to play at a program that is on the upswing and predicted to do very big things this year. He is from a European country and the high school that he went to did not have a sports program, so he could not play competitively at that level. As a result, he started playing with a club team in his native country. The roster of his club team included a player that had once played professionally and who was still considered a professional athlete, and therefore, Player A was in violation of the Amateurism Rule put forth by the NCAA.
Player B is a transfer who has decided to continue his career at a smaller mid-major school. He is from South America and spent last season playing for a community college in the Midwest. Prior to coming to the United States, Player B played three games as an actual professional basketball player in his native country. Playing professional basketball clearly is in violation of the Amateurism Rule put forth by the NCAA.
Player C is an incoming college freshman who last year was considered to be the best high school basketball player in the country. He is now playing for one of college basketball’s all-time winningest programs and a team favored to finish near the top this season. Prior to enrolling at this school, Player C played on a basketball team coached by an agent with the ability to see money change hands in order to benefit said player. On top of that, said agent provided Player C with cash to visit schools prior to signing with his current one. In playing for and accepting money from an agent, Player C violated (you guessed it) college basketball’s Amateurism Rule.
All three of the above cases are real and all three players have been handed down punishments by the NCAA. Although the players each broke the same rule by varying degrees, it remains that they all broke the same rule. As such, each player should be given the same treatment and punished the same way, or at least you would think…
Last week, the NCAA suspended Douglas Kurtz for six games because he played in a professional league as a professional basketball player (therefore stripping him of his amateur status) in his native Brazil prior to coming to the states. Kurtz, the 7’0” center who is playing for the University of Hawaii this season, played three games professionally in 2007 before finding himself in Iowa where he played at Marshalltown Community College last year. He will be eligible to play for the Rainbow Warriors at the beginning of December.
The Kurtz ruling that was handed down was just one of three that have recently taken place that are all over the map. The most severe punishment handed down was seemingly for the least offensive crime. In October, West Virginia freshman Deniz Kilicli, a 6’9” forward from Istanbul was suspended for twenty games by the NCAA because of his affiliation with a club team in his native country. Kilicli, who didn’t have the opportunity to play high school basketball because his high school didn’t have a team, played (with amateur status in tact) on a team with a player who had a professional status.
While Kurtz’s offence seems a little more serious than Kilicli’s, both pale in comparison to infractions commited by Kentucky superstar freshman John Wall. Wall, who was considered by many to be the best high school player in the country last year, played for AAU coach Brian Clifton. Clifton was a registered agent between 2007 and 2008 and accompanied Wall on several recruiting trips, including two to Kentucky. It has since come out that Clifton helped pay for Wall’s trips to various schools, which is also considered a no-no by the NCAA. Wall was provided over $800.00 by Clifton. The NCAA rules state that if a player receives more than $101.00, he must repay the money and is subject to at least a ten percent suspension of his respective team’s regular season games. While the NCAA remained true to the monetary punishment (Wall has been ordered to pay back the $800.00) he was suspended for only one regular season game for the Wildcats this season.
Needless to say, inconsistency seems to be running rampant in the NCAA. If all three players broke the same rule, each player should be subjected to the same punishment. Either one game, six games or 20 games, and not punishments that seem like they've been pulled out of a hat. If one is to compare all three cases, Kurtz’s might be the most malicious. As a professional player, he was probably aware of his professional status. In the other two cases, neither Wall or Kilicli gained any kind of advantage in their situation and probably were not honestly aware of their crimes.
On paper, Wall looks like he could have benefitted the most. After all, agents have access to professional teams, lucrative contracts and act as a gateway between the player and the money. He had much more of a chance to gain monetarily than did Kilicli, who simply associated with a guy who was a professional ball player. Had he even know, the most Kilicli could have gained was more ability and experience with the opportunity to play against a professional athlete.
The rule that affects Kilicli is a controversial one. The NCAA last year penalized 490 athletes (in all sports) for amateurism violations and 434 of those were foreign students. In many instances, amateurs can be playing on a foreign team that includes professionals and not know it at all, simply because what constitutes professional in Europe and the United States are often far different things. Since that's the case, it's hard to determine whether he deserves the most harsh punishment of the three recently handed down by the NCAA.
Clearly John Wall will play in the NBA and will more than likely be a superstar while Kilicli and Kurtz will play out their careers as role players before slipping into obscurity. From a business aspect, one can certainly understand that college basketball will benefit much more from having Wall on the floor than on the sidelines, but it's creating a slippery slope that may not be able to be reversed without some major reform. For a governing body that preaches fairness and sportsmanship, the NCAA has dropped the ball on this one.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Finally...
Unless you’ve got a big time Basketball Jones, you may not have even realized that college basketball season officially kicked off last night. Seth Davis has a great article on why the start of college basketball season tends to fly under the radar here. My own take is much less complex. Basically, as long as top 25 programs play “gimme” games at the beginning of the season against inferior opponents, nobody’s going to pay attention. Until teams get into the meat and potatoes of their schedules, early season basketball can be tedious for fans who are watching only for entertainment value.
That being said, a few things were established last night that will set the tone for certain teams early this season:
1. North Carolina is not good enough to repeat… this year. Last night, they played NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas’ Florida International University team and mopped the floor with them 88-72. Senior forward Deon Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Tar Heels to lead all scorers. UNC placed three others in double figures including Player of the Year candidate Ed Davis, who had 13 and 11. Obviously, it’s very early, but North Carolina is not a National Championship team this year. Although the Heels are a strong defensive team, they don’t have an offensive weapon like they have in the past. They have no three point threats which will allow teams to play zone defense and pack the lane, making it tough for their big men to score. Also, a mediocre-at-best FIU forced them to turn the ball over 25 times. They’re long and athletic, but in the ACC they’ll need to bring more to the table.
2. Evan Turner is one of the most underrated players in the country. His Ohio State team blasted a not-so-good Alcorn State 100-60 last night behind Turner’s triple-double. Turner had 14 points, 10 assists, and most impressively 17 rebounds. A rebounding point guard gives the Buckeyes a gigantic advantage when it comes to scoring on the break. Normally a team utilizes their big men to rebound and throw an outlet pass to their guard who will then start the break. A guard who can rebound eliminates the middleman and allows for quicker breaks and easier transition scoring. The technical stuff aside, Turner is really good. At halftime, he was two assists away from the triple-double he finished with and provided some excitement to what would otherwise have been a snooze-fest. To put his feat in perspective, in the over 100 years Ohio State has been playing basketball, there’s only been one other player in the program’s history to record a triple double.
3. Ohio State will beat North Carolina next Thursday. The Tar Heels face the Buckeyes in the Syracuse region of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. With Turner running the show and his teammate David Lighty back in the lineup after an injury that kept him sidelined most of last season, Ohio State will be a team to be reckoned with in the Big 10. At 6’5, Lighty is a guard/forward combo who will likely play power forward this season. At the forward position, he’ll be two inches shorter than the team’s point guard, which will create major mismatches on defense for OSU’s opponents all season. Although he missed most of his junior season with a broken foot, he had a promising sophomore campaign. North Carolina has bigger bodies, but Ohio State has more speed. North Carolina is favored, but an Ohio State victory would hardly be an upset.
4. California is overrated. They enter this season ranked #13 after an outing last year that ended with a trip to the NCAA tournament. They have a great coach in second year man Mike Montgomery, and some pretty good players in Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle, but their depth ends there. Last year, those guys were able to produce because they were under the radar, but this year, with a top 15 ranking, opposing teams know who they are and will work on containing them. Last night, they barely pulled off a victory against Murray State in a contest that saw both guys struggle. Christopher showed some promise, scoring six points during a vital stretch which helped the Bears hold on to the lead, but neither player stood out. More telling is that as a team, California was outrebounded by the smaller Murray State squad – a troubling sign for a team looking to make an impact on the national scene this season.
5. Jim Boeheim is a pretty good coach with a pretty good team. Unless you live under a rock, you know by now that Coach Boeheim and his Syracuse Orange beat Albany handily last night. In most cases, this wouldn’t be big news, but it is for two reasons. First, last week at this time, the #25 ranked Orange had just given up 50 points in the second half in a losing effort to Division II Le Moyne, causing people to question their high ranking before the season even started. Secondly and more importantly, Coach Boeheim joined an impressive list and became a member of the 800 win club. If that sounds impressive, there’s a good reason. The only other members on the Division 1 level are Bobby Knight, Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Phelan (right down the road at Mount St. Mary’s), Jim Calhoun and Eddie Sutton. Legendary coach aside, the Orange are just plain good this year. Their best shooter, Andy Rautins, didn’t even score and Syracuse still won by 30. With the help of Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson and local product Arinze Onuaku, Syracuse will make some noise in the Big East.
That being said, a few things were established last night that will set the tone for certain teams early this season:
1. North Carolina is not good enough to repeat… this year. Last night, they played NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas’ Florida International University team and mopped the floor with them 88-72. Senior forward Deon Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Tar Heels to lead all scorers. UNC placed three others in double figures including Player of the Year candidate Ed Davis, who had 13 and 11. Obviously, it’s very early, but North Carolina is not a National Championship team this year. Although the Heels are a strong defensive team, they don’t have an offensive weapon like they have in the past. They have no three point threats which will allow teams to play zone defense and pack the lane, making it tough for their big men to score. Also, a mediocre-at-best FIU forced them to turn the ball over 25 times. They’re long and athletic, but in the ACC they’ll need to bring more to the table.
2. Evan Turner is one of the most underrated players in the country. His Ohio State team blasted a not-so-good Alcorn State 100-60 last night behind Turner’s triple-double. Turner had 14 points, 10 assists, and most impressively 17 rebounds. A rebounding point guard gives the Buckeyes a gigantic advantage when it comes to scoring on the break. Normally a team utilizes their big men to rebound and throw an outlet pass to their guard who will then start the break. A guard who can rebound eliminates the middleman and allows for quicker breaks and easier transition scoring. The technical stuff aside, Turner is really good. At halftime, he was two assists away from the triple-double he finished with and provided some excitement to what would otherwise have been a snooze-fest. To put his feat in perspective, in the over 100 years Ohio State has been playing basketball, there’s only been one other player in the program’s history to record a triple double.
3. Ohio State will beat North Carolina next Thursday. The Tar Heels face the Buckeyes in the Syracuse region of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. With Turner running the show and his teammate David Lighty back in the lineup after an injury that kept him sidelined most of last season, Ohio State will be a team to be reckoned with in the Big 10. At 6’5, Lighty is a guard/forward combo who will likely play power forward this season. At the forward position, he’ll be two inches shorter than the team’s point guard, which will create major mismatches on defense for OSU’s opponents all season. Although he missed most of his junior season with a broken foot, he had a promising sophomore campaign. North Carolina has bigger bodies, but Ohio State has more speed. North Carolina is favored, but an Ohio State victory would hardly be an upset.
4. California is overrated. They enter this season ranked #13 after an outing last year that ended with a trip to the NCAA tournament. They have a great coach in second year man Mike Montgomery, and some pretty good players in Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle, but their depth ends there. Last year, those guys were able to produce because they were under the radar, but this year, with a top 15 ranking, opposing teams know who they are and will work on containing them. Last night, they barely pulled off a victory against Murray State in a contest that saw both guys struggle. Christopher showed some promise, scoring six points during a vital stretch which helped the Bears hold on to the lead, but neither player stood out. More telling is that as a team, California was outrebounded by the smaller Murray State squad – a troubling sign for a team looking to make an impact on the national scene this season.
5. Jim Boeheim is a pretty good coach with a pretty good team. Unless you live under a rock, you know by now that Coach Boeheim and his Syracuse Orange beat Albany handily last night. In most cases, this wouldn’t be big news, but it is for two reasons. First, last week at this time, the #25 ranked Orange had just given up 50 points in the second half in a losing effort to Division II Le Moyne, causing people to question their high ranking before the season even started. Secondly and more importantly, Coach Boeheim joined an impressive list and became a member of the 800 win club. If that sounds impressive, there’s a good reason. The only other members on the Division 1 level are Bobby Knight, Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Phelan (right down the road at Mount St. Mary’s), Jim Calhoun and Eddie Sutton. Legendary coach aside, the Orange are just plain good this year. Their best shooter, Andy Rautins, didn’t even score and Syracuse still won by 30. With the help of Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson and local product Arinze Onuaku, Syracuse will make some noise in the Big East.
Monday, November 9, 2009
College Basketball Preview - University of The District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia - Independent
(11-16 Overall)
The most impressive thing written about the University of the District of Columbia's basketball program in recent years has nothing to do with the team's performance on the floor. Last year, an official NCAA committee report following an investigation into the program’s disbursal of financial aid and into academic eligibility irregularities stated that UDC exhibited “the single most egregious lack of institutional control ever seen by the committee." UDC is no stranger to this type of negative attention. They received similar reviews in the early 1990s, and in 2004, the NCAA cancelled UDC's men's and women's seasons altogether. In the NCAA's history, no other athletic season has been cancelled due to rule infractions. Currently, the program remains on probation and is banned from all post-season play until October 2013. Sounds hopeless, right?
Not to new head coach Jeff Ruland. (Yes, that Jeff Ruland.) Coach Ruland, who played for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano at Iona College, was on the 1981-82 NBA All-Rookie Team and was an NBA All-Star in 1984, took over the UDC Program in August, signing a five year $190,000.00 contract. If only the 6’11” former superstar known as “McNasty” could suit up, UDC wouldn't have to worry about using questionable recruiting practices to attract players.
Frontcourt:
Ruland inherits only four returning players on a team that had a less-than-stellar outing last season. Sophomore forward Chris Leach (6’6”) averaged only 3.3 points per game while junior Gani Cole (6’6”) added 2.7 per contest. Some new additions who remain unproven this season are sophomore forward Purvis Rollins (6’4”) who played locally at Albert Einstein High School, junior Omar Blair (6’7”), and freshman Dyrek Jones (6’7”). While not impressive, rest assured that Ruland will work hard this season instilling his style of aggressive, hard-nosed play into his group of unseasoned big men.
Backcourt:
Coach Ruland hired former University of Maryland standout Terrell Stokes as his assistant soon after his arrival on campus. Ruland and Stokes, who has done a majority of the recruiting, were able to land former DeMatha High School star Nigel Munson (6’0”) who averaged 17 points and 8 assists per contest his senior year. Munson played at Virginia Tech for a season before he left for personal reasons and many thought that he would resurface at George Washington University. He brings some big time college basketball experience to a team that needs it and has already been named team captain. He will join UDC’s top returning scorer from last season, 6’5” Junior guard Tim Ellison. Ellison averaged 15.5 points per game. Sophomore Justin Smith (5’7”), who will probably play backup this season to Munson, also saw some action a season ago, averaging 3.4 points and 3.5 assists.
Who To Watch:
It will be interesting to watch Coach Ruland in action. He is not shy about letting people know that he wants to bring UDC back to national prominence. In 1982, when Ruland was starring for the Washington Bullets, the team he's now coaching won the Division II National Championship. With the University’s support and a President who wants to move the school’s athletic programs up a division to compete on the Division I level, the sky is the limit for the Firebirds. Coach Ruland is said to be the coaching incarnate of Jim Valvano and there’s no question that his personality will bring some excitement that has long been missing from the campus of UDC. Hopefully, Nigel Munson will be as exciting to watch as he was in high school. As a senior at DeMatha, he broke the career assist record and led his team to a 34-1 record and a #4 ranking nationally.
Final Projections:
Since UDC doesn’t belong to a conference, they are able to play competitive teams throughout the east coast. This year’s schedule is as tough as their probationary status will allow. They play teams throught Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York. With a new coach, a superstar point guard and an administration that’s fully supportive, this team could end up winning some games and garnering some much needed positive attention from the media. Coach Ruland knows how to win on the college level. Following his professional playing career, he returned to Iona where he successfully lead his team to three conference championships and three NCAA tournaments. Just last season, he was an assistant with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, before getting fired after Eddie Jordan took up head coaching responsibilities. UDC can't compete in the post-season, but that won't stop them from competing during the regular season. The Firebirds will likely experience some growing pains this season, but that won't stop Coach Ruland from putting a strong foundation in place for what proves to be a refreshing few years.
(11-16 Overall)
The most impressive thing written about the University of the District of Columbia's basketball program in recent years has nothing to do with the team's performance on the floor. Last year, an official NCAA committee report following an investigation into the program’s disbursal of financial aid and into academic eligibility irregularities stated that UDC exhibited “the single most egregious lack of institutional control ever seen by the committee." UDC is no stranger to this type of negative attention. They received similar reviews in the early 1990s, and in 2004, the NCAA cancelled UDC's men's and women's seasons altogether. In the NCAA's history, no other athletic season has been cancelled due to rule infractions. Currently, the program remains on probation and is banned from all post-season play until October 2013. Sounds hopeless, right?
Not to new head coach Jeff Ruland. (Yes, that Jeff Ruland.) Coach Ruland, who played for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano at Iona College, was on the 1981-82 NBA All-Rookie Team and was an NBA All-Star in 1984, took over the UDC Program in August, signing a five year $190,000.00 contract. If only the 6’11” former superstar known as “McNasty” could suit up, UDC wouldn't have to worry about using questionable recruiting practices to attract players.
Frontcourt:
Ruland inherits only four returning players on a team that had a less-than-stellar outing last season. Sophomore forward Chris Leach (6’6”) averaged only 3.3 points per game while junior Gani Cole (6’6”) added 2.7 per contest. Some new additions who remain unproven this season are sophomore forward Purvis Rollins (6’4”) who played locally at Albert Einstein High School, junior Omar Blair (6’7”), and freshman Dyrek Jones (6’7”). While not impressive, rest assured that Ruland will work hard this season instilling his style of aggressive, hard-nosed play into his group of unseasoned big men.
Backcourt:
Coach Ruland hired former University of Maryland standout Terrell Stokes as his assistant soon after his arrival on campus. Ruland and Stokes, who has done a majority of the recruiting, were able to land former DeMatha High School star Nigel Munson (6’0”) who averaged 17 points and 8 assists per contest his senior year. Munson played at Virginia Tech for a season before he left for personal reasons and many thought that he would resurface at George Washington University. He brings some big time college basketball experience to a team that needs it and has already been named team captain. He will join UDC’s top returning scorer from last season, 6’5” Junior guard Tim Ellison. Ellison averaged 15.5 points per game. Sophomore Justin Smith (5’7”), who will probably play backup this season to Munson, also saw some action a season ago, averaging 3.4 points and 3.5 assists.
Who To Watch:
It will be interesting to watch Coach Ruland in action. He is not shy about letting people know that he wants to bring UDC back to national prominence. In 1982, when Ruland was starring for the Washington Bullets, the team he's now coaching won the Division II National Championship. With the University’s support and a President who wants to move the school’s athletic programs up a division to compete on the Division I level, the sky is the limit for the Firebirds. Coach Ruland is said to be the coaching incarnate of Jim Valvano and there’s no question that his personality will bring some excitement that has long been missing from the campus of UDC. Hopefully, Nigel Munson will be as exciting to watch as he was in high school. As a senior at DeMatha, he broke the career assist record and led his team to a 34-1 record and a #4 ranking nationally.
Final Projections:
Since UDC doesn’t belong to a conference, they are able to play competitive teams throughout the east coast. This year’s schedule is as tough as their probationary status will allow. They play teams throught Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York. With a new coach, a superstar point guard and an administration that’s fully supportive, this team could end up winning some games and garnering some much needed positive attention from the media. Coach Ruland knows how to win on the college level. Following his professional playing career, he returned to Iona where he successfully lead his team to three conference championships and three NCAA tournaments. Just last season, he was an assistant with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, before getting fired after Eddie Jordan took up head coaching responsibilities. UDC can't compete in the post-season, but that won't stop them from competing during the regular season. The Firebirds will likely experience some growing pains this season, but that won't stop Coach Ruland from putting a strong foundation in place for what proves to be a refreshing few years.
Friday, November 6, 2009
High School Top 5
High school basketball practice “officially” kicks off in mid-November, but that hasn’t stopped the area’s top prospects from working hard on their game in the offseason. The metro area has some big time talent and some guys that you’ll want to check out this winter. Here are my top 5 players to watch this season.
Josh Hairston - Montrose Christian
6'9" Power Forward - Duke University
Remember the name Josh Hairston. Hairston, who transferred to perennial powerhouse Montrose Christian Academy in Rockville, Maryland for his senior year led his Courtland High School (Virginia) squad to a 28-2 record and a Virginia AA Divison 4 State Championship a season ago. In the process he averaged up 23 points and 10 rebounds a game, earning Virginia State Player of the Year Honors.
Ranked #27 on ESPNU’s Top 100 list, Hairston will be one of the most dominant players in the country this season. He’s a high post forward who has range and won’t hesitate to take mid-range jumpers and even an occasional three pointer. He’ll also create problems for opposing coaches who try to match up because of his quickness and ball-handling ability. He’s long and can lock it up on defense, making it difficult for teams score inside. Hairston isn’t perfect, but with a little work his future will be a bright one. He’s young and is easily frustrated when he makes mistakes. He’ll also have to bulk up if he plans on making an immediate impact with the Blue Devils next season.
His motivation to leave Courtland wasn’t anything personal. He simply ran out of competition and knew that he had to challenge himself in order to be successful at the next level. Montrose Christian enters the 2009-2010 season ranked #5 nationally in ESPN’s Rise Top 50 poll and will play the top teams in the country. With exposure like that, nobody can blame him for making the switch.
Terrence Ross - Montrose Christian
6'5" Small Forward - University of Maryland
With a front court like Hairston and Terrence Ross, it’s no wonder that people have high expectations of Montrose Christian. If scouts aren’t regarding Ross as highly as some of the other players around, it’s because while they were playing in AAU tournaments and showcasing their skills at camps, he opted to focus on academics and individual instruction. Don’t let that fool you though; Ross is a prolific scorer who will surprise a lot of people this season.
Purple prose aside, Ross can flat out shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor. He’s been called the “perfect wing player” and his arsenal is full when it comes to finding ways to create shots for himself. He effectively drives the lane because his ability to shoot keeps defenders hanging close, allowing him to fake and go around. Fundamentally, he utilizes a variety of fakes that look like they’ve been pulled straight form the pages of a how-to manual. He has the potential to be the best player in the area, and maybe one of the best scorers in the country. Although Ross is rail thin, he can finish strong in the lane and get to the line. Coach Gary Williams will make sure he packs on some weight so he can compete in the ACC next season.
If Ross can adapt to new teammate Hairston and Montrose Christian can cohesively mesh they may very well end up being the best high school team in the country at the end of the season.
Josh Selby - Lake Clifton High School (Baltimore)
6'3" Point Guard - Undecided
College coaches are scrambling for Josh Selby’s attention after the star guard rescinded his verbal commitment to play basketball at the University of Tennessee next year. Although, he’s still undecided and has visited several schools since early summer, most analysts think he’ll head to Lawrence next season to play for Kansas Coach Bill Self. There are some lingering concerns though, as the point guard left DeMatha Catholic before the end of last season amid questions about his conduct.
Personal issues aside, his stock rose big time in the off-season on the independent circuit. This season, he will lead a Lake Clifton High School team that went undefeated last year and won the Maryland 3-A State Championship. Selby is a tenacious defender who can easily score in transition because of his outstanding speed. He displays explosive athleticism and quickness and he’s the kind of player other point guards dread going up against. He can also shoot the ball, but he is known more for penetrating and creating opportunities for himself in the lane.
There’s no question about his talent. ESPNU ranks him number 8 nationally. If Selby can get his act together off the court, he will do big things this year. While Kansas is at the top of his list, Syracuse, Kentucky and Indiana are also gunning for his attention. It will be interesting to see if his ability will outshine his flaky reputation.
Markel Starks - Georgetown Prep
6'2" Point Guard - Georgetown University
Chances are you haven’t heard a lot about Markel Starks. Although he’s been a local star, he’s just now starting to grab some national attention. As a junior last year, he averaged 22 points and 8 assists and was named second team All-Met. He’s the consummate team player who is more concerned with team success than individual accolades. He’ll have no problem fitting into Coach John Thompson’s program next year just down the road at Georgetown University. He’ll have to get in the weight room if he plans on competing in the Big East which is known for it’s physical play and big bodies, but skill wise his potential is infinite.
With a serious demeanor, Starks is capable of wowing fans with his ball handling ability and his court vision. His handle is ridiculous and it sometimes appears that the ball is just an extension of his hand. He’s a scoring point guard with three point range and the ability to get inside and score easy baskets as well. He has an excellent basketball IQ but sometimes tries to do too much, which is a common mistake for good players. If he can learn to let the game come to him and play within the framework of the offense, he’ll continue to garner national attention.
Starks is a true leader on the floor and will be Georgetown Prep’s floor general this season as he leads a group of young but much improved players.
Tyler Thornton - Gonzaga Prep
6'2" Point Guard - Duke University
Like Josh Hairston, Tyler Thornton will be heading south to Tobacco Road next year to play for Coach K’s Blue Devils. That’s where the similarities end. While Hairston is dominant and eager to exert his scoring presence, Thornton is happy just being a playmaker and running the show at point. He’s a creative passer and can score when he needs to, although he is more comfortable getting the ball to his open teammates. Scouts have mentioned is passivity in during off-season camps and leagues, but when running the show at Gonzaga, he’s much more assertive.
Thornton, who will likely run the show at Duke once Nolan Smith is gone, is an aggressive dribble-drive type player who is capable of penetrating the lane and dishing to the open man with a variety of crowd-pleasing passes. Thornton is one of the best guards in the area and will undoubtedly find himself in an immediate helping role at Duke University. First though, he’ll focus on leading his high school team without the pressure of picking where he’s taking his show next.
Josh Hairston - Montrose Christian
6'9" Power Forward - Duke University
Remember the name Josh Hairston. Hairston, who transferred to perennial powerhouse Montrose Christian Academy in Rockville, Maryland for his senior year led his Courtland High School (Virginia) squad to a 28-2 record and a Virginia AA Divison 4 State Championship a season ago. In the process he averaged up 23 points and 10 rebounds a game, earning Virginia State Player of the Year Honors.
Ranked #27 on ESPNU’s Top 100 list, Hairston will be one of the most dominant players in the country this season. He’s a high post forward who has range and won’t hesitate to take mid-range jumpers and even an occasional three pointer. He’ll also create problems for opposing coaches who try to match up because of his quickness and ball-handling ability. He’s long and can lock it up on defense, making it difficult for teams score inside. Hairston isn’t perfect, but with a little work his future will be a bright one. He’s young and is easily frustrated when he makes mistakes. He’ll also have to bulk up if he plans on making an immediate impact with the Blue Devils next season.
His motivation to leave Courtland wasn’t anything personal. He simply ran out of competition and knew that he had to challenge himself in order to be successful at the next level. Montrose Christian enters the 2009-2010 season ranked #5 nationally in ESPN’s Rise Top 50 poll and will play the top teams in the country. With exposure like that, nobody can blame him for making the switch.
Terrence Ross - Montrose Christian
6'5" Small Forward - University of Maryland
With a front court like Hairston and Terrence Ross, it’s no wonder that people have high expectations of Montrose Christian. If scouts aren’t regarding Ross as highly as some of the other players around, it’s because while they were playing in AAU tournaments and showcasing their skills at camps, he opted to focus on academics and individual instruction. Don’t let that fool you though; Ross is a prolific scorer who will surprise a lot of people this season.
Purple prose aside, Ross can flat out shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor. He’s been called the “perfect wing player” and his arsenal is full when it comes to finding ways to create shots for himself. He effectively drives the lane because his ability to shoot keeps defenders hanging close, allowing him to fake and go around. Fundamentally, he utilizes a variety of fakes that look like they’ve been pulled straight form the pages of a how-to manual. He has the potential to be the best player in the area, and maybe one of the best scorers in the country. Although Ross is rail thin, he can finish strong in the lane and get to the line. Coach Gary Williams will make sure he packs on some weight so he can compete in the ACC next season.
If Ross can adapt to new teammate Hairston and Montrose Christian can cohesively mesh they may very well end up being the best high school team in the country at the end of the season.
Josh Selby - Lake Clifton High School (Baltimore)
6'3" Point Guard - Undecided
College coaches are scrambling for Josh Selby’s attention after the star guard rescinded his verbal commitment to play basketball at the University of Tennessee next year. Although, he’s still undecided and has visited several schools since early summer, most analysts think he’ll head to Lawrence next season to play for Kansas Coach Bill Self. There are some lingering concerns though, as the point guard left DeMatha Catholic before the end of last season amid questions about his conduct.
Personal issues aside, his stock rose big time in the off-season on the independent circuit. This season, he will lead a Lake Clifton High School team that went undefeated last year and won the Maryland 3-A State Championship. Selby is a tenacious defender who can easily score in transition because of his outstanding speed. He displays explosive athleticism and quickness and he’s the kind of player other point guards dread going up against. He can also shoot the ball, but he is known more for penetrating and creating opportunities for himself in the lane.
There’s no question about his talent. ESPNU ranks him number 8 nationally. If Selby can get his act together off the court, he will do big things this year. While Kansas is at the top of his list, Syracuse, Kentucky and Indiana are also gunning for his attention. It will be interesting to see if his ability will outshine his flaky reputation.
Markel Starks - Georgetown Prep
6'2" Point Guard - Georgetown University
Chances are you haven’t heard a lot about Markel Starks. Although he’s been a local star, he’s just now starting to grab some national attention. As a junior last year, he averaged 22 points and 8 assists and was named second team All-Met. He’s the consummate team player who is more concerned with team success than individual accolades. He’ll have no problem fitting into Coach John Thompson’s program next year just down the road at Georgetown University. He’ll have to get in the weight room if he plans on competing in the Big East which is known for it’s physical play and big bodies, but skill wise his potential is infinite.
With a serious demeanor, Starks is capable of wowing fans with his ball handling ability and his court vision. His handle is ridiculous and it sometimes appears that the ball is just an extension of his hand. He’s a scoring point guard with three point range and the ability to get inside and score easy baskets as well. He has an excellent basketball IQ but sometimes tries to do too much, which is a common mistake for good players. If he can learn to let the game come to him and play within the framework of the offense, he’ll continue to garner national attention.
Starks is a true leader on the floor and will be Georgetown Prep’s floor general this season as he leads a group of young but much improved players.
Tyler Thornton - Gonzaga Prep
6'2" Point Guard - Duke University
Like Josh Hairston, Tyler Thornton will be heading south to Tobacco Road next year to play for Coach K’s Blue Devils. That’s where the similarities end. While Hairston is dominant and eager to exert his scoring presence, Thornton is happy just being a playmaker and running the show at point. He’s a creative passer and can score when he needs to, although he is more comfortable getting the ball to his open teammates. Scouts have mentioned is passivity in during off-season camps and leagues, but when running the show at Gonzaga, he’s much more assertive.
Thornton, who will likely run the show at Duke once Nolan Smith is gone, is an aggressive dribble-drive type player who is capable of penetrating the lane and dishing to the open man with a variety of crowd-pleasing passes. Thornton is one of the best guards in the area and will undoubtedly find himself in an immediate helping role at Duke University. First though, he’ll focus on leading his high school team without the pressure of picking where he’s taking his show next.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
American University vs. Randolph-Macon College
American University Coach Jeff Jones maintained his poise following the loss of his squad's first exhibition contest of the season last night at home against the Randolph-Macon College Yellow Jackets.
“It’s early in the season and we know we have a lot of work to do,” Jones said of the young Eagle team who lost despite a thirteen and a half minute scoreless stretch by their opponents in the first half. At the break, American went into the locker room with an 18-12 advantage.
The second half saw more offensive production, but proved just as sloppy as the first. Both teams traded baskets before American took a six point lead early on. Macon would respond pulling ahead by one halfway through the second. Afterwards, neither team trailed by more than two points. In the final ten minutes of the contest, there were nine lead changes. With a minute remaining, American Sophomore Stephen Lumpkins scored and was fouled, converting on the free throw attempt and putting the Eagles up by two. On the next possession, Randolph-Macon's Danny Jones was fouled and sank both shots to tie the game. American once again answered with a Nick Hendra layup that was countered by a short jumper by Macon's David Carlson to knot the game at 47.
With 33 seconds left, Coach Jones called a timeout to set up a final play for last year's leading scorer Nick Hendra. The play, designed to get Hendra open for a jumper in the corner was contested by a Macon defender and fell well short of the basket. Randolph-Macon's Eric Pugh grabbed Hendra's miss and raced coast-to-coast making a layup as time expired, putting the Yellow Jackets up 49-47.
Although it was an ugly contest on both sides, there were some bright spots for AU. Sophomore Stephen Lumpkins stepped up and showed Coach Jones who his go-to guy would be this season. Lumpkins led all scorers with 18 points and converted seven of 11 field goals. Although he was unable to convert the game winning field goal, Junior Nick Hendra also contributed, scoring 12 and pulling down seven rebounds. Big man Riley Grafft pulled down seven boards as well, but he looked weak against Macon's post players.
It is evident that American will experience some major growing pains as they face much tougher opponents than their Division III foes last night. If Coach Jones can get the rest of his squad to mesh with Lumpkins and Hendra and cut down on their youthful mistakes, there might be hope yet for the Eagles.
"Hopefully we can build on the good stuff, recognize it, and learn from the mistakes we made to become a better basketball team," Jones said.
“It’s early in the season and we know we have a lot of work to do,” Jones said of the young Eagle team who lost despite a thirteen and a half minute scoreless stretch by their opponents in the first half. At the break, American went into the locker room with an 18-12 advantage.
The second half saw more offensive production, but proved just as sloppy as the first. Both teams traded baskets before American took a six point lead early on. Macon would respond pulling ahead by one halfway through the second. Afterwards, neither team trailed by more than two points. In the final ten minutes of the contest, there were nine lead changes. With a minute remaining, American Sophomore Stephen Lumpkins scored and was fouled, converting on the free throw attempt and putting the Eagles up by two. On the next possession, Randolph-Macon's Danny Jones was fouled and sank both shots to tie the game. American once again answered with a Nick Hendra layup that was countered by a short jumper by Macon's David Carlson to knot the game at 47.
With 33 seconds left, Coach Jones called a timeout to set up a final play for last year's leading scorer Nick Hendra. The play, designed to get Hendra open for a jumper in the corner was contested by a Macon defender and fell well short of the basket. Randolph-Macon's Eric Pugh grabbed Hendra's miss and raced coast-to-coast making a layup as time expired, putting the Yellow Jackets up 49-47.
Although it was an ugly contest on both sides, there were some bright spots for AU. Sophomore Stephen Lumpkins stepped up and showed Coach Jones who his go-to guy would be this season. Lumpkins led all scorers with 18 points and converted seven of 11 field goals. Although he was unable to convert the game winning field goal, Junior Nick Hendra also contributed, scoring 12 and pulling down seven rebounds. Big man Riley Grafft pulled down seven boards as well, but he looked weak against Macon's post players.
It is evident that American will experience some major growing pains as they face much tougher opponents than their Division III foes last night. If Coach Jones can get the rest of his squad to mesh with Lumpkins and Hendra and cut down on their youthful mistakes, there might be hope yet for the Eagles.
"Hopefully we can build on the good stuff, recognize it, and learn from the mistakes we made to become a better basketball team," Jones said.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
College Basketball's best...
Last week, the Atlanta Tipoff Club revealed its annual watch list of the top college basketball players in the country. The players, who are voted on by a panel of college basketball coaches, administrators and journalists across the country, are on the list because they are finalists for the James Naismith Award. The Naismith Award is basketball’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy and is presented at the end of each season to the player on this list who excels as college basketball’s best. Although fifty names appear on the pre-season list, I’ve picked the five players and two honorable mention players who will deserve the award the most at season’s end.
Patrick Patterson – 6’9” Junior Forward
Kentucky Wildcats
Big expectations were placed on Patrick Patterson’s shoulders when he arrived on campus at Kentucky. Patterson and teammate OJ Mayo led Huntington High School (Huntington, West Virginia) to one of the best high school basketball seasons in West Virginia history during Patterson’s senior season. He became one of college basketball’s hottest prospects and was recruited by former Wildcat head man Tubby Smith to be the program’s savior. Kentucky could never quite get the momentum going, and while he has had two successful seasons, Kentucky has gone a mediocre 40-27. A season ago, under ex-Kentucky Coach Billy Gillespie, Patterson averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest.
This year, Patterson returns with National Championship Coach John Calipari and his famed dribble-drive offense. More importantly, he returns with a group of extremely talented freshman to help his cause. With the pressure off to produce all the offense, and a big man to help him in the post, look for Patterson to have a giant year.
Cole Aldrich - 6’11” Junior Center
Kansas Jayhawks
Coach Bill Self may have the best college basketball team in the land this season. Three of his starters made this year’s watch list, but Aldrich might end up being the standout. With a wing span of 88 inches, Coach Self recently called Aldrich “the best true big man Kansas has had since Wilt [Chamberlain]”. If a statement like that doesn’t stir excitement, not much will. (Wilt scored 52 points and had 31 rebounds in his Varsity debut at KU.) Last year, Aldrich averaged 15.1 and 10.6 and relished in his role behind the leadership of teammate Sherron Collins, a fellow candidate for player of the year. This year, Coach Self looks for both players to take on a co-leadership role and lead a talented team overwhelmingly voted number 1 in the polls.
In a game filled with power forwards, small forwards and everything in between, Aldrich is a true center. While other guys focus on becoming hybrids, often neglecting the best parts of their game, Aldrich is fully focused on riding the horse that got him here.
Luke Harangody – 6’8” Senior Forward
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last year, Luke Harangody had a bittersweet season. Individually, Harangody put up big time numbers, but his team continually proved disappointing. Harangody, the quintessential college basketball player, averaged 23.2 points and 11.8 rebounds on a team that was picked early on to do big things. Unfortunately, despite his individual accolades, Coach Mike Brey couldn’t figure out a way to get his team to win. It was no fault of Luke Harangody’s, who consistently put up huge performances despite being less athletic than most of his Big East opponents.
This year, if Harangody continues to be persistent, he has opportunities to set both Big East scoring and rebounding records. It might be hard for him to win top honors on a team that doesn’t find itself in the pre-season top 25, but he is the first player since Patrick Ewing in 1984 and 1985 to be named the pre-season All-Big East Player of The Year. Even if he doesn’t win a Naismith Award, he won’t be in bad company.
Ed Davis – 6’10” Sophomore Forward
North Carolina Tar Heels
There might not be a more exciting prospect in college basketball this year than UNC’s Ed Davis. As a freshman, he averaged just 6.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest, but don’t let those stats fool you; he was one of the best sixth men in college basketball. This year Davis will establish himself as a dominant force on a team fresh off a National Championship season. If guard Larry Drew and Davis click, North Carolina may very well end up putting on an encore performance.
Davis, who had just two career starts last year, is destined for big things if he lives up to all his hype. At times last year, he looked explosive and with Coach Roy Williams allowing him a more primary role this season, his only competition will be himself. If he can play with poise and confidence, he will be a lottery pick after this season and may very well walk away with the title of top basketball player in the land.
Kyle Singer - 6'8" Junior Small Forward
Duke Blue Devils
Kyle Singler may be the most versatile player on my list and the most fun to watch for the amateur basketball fan. At 6’8” he plays a similar game to Dirk Nowitzki of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. He can dribble, dish and shoot and has a natural IQ for the game. This year, he’s surrounded by a Duke team loaded with talent that is a true national contender for the first time in several seasons. He scored 21 to lead all scorers in Duke’s first scrimmage a couple of weeks ago against Pfeiffer College in a 58 point rout.
Coach K’s squad starts the season with an 8th ranking, but will likely end up being a top three team early on. Singler (16.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg) has gotten stronger and will lead a balanced attack that looks to wreak havoc on the ACC. If Duke makes a run deep into March, rest assured Kyle Singler will be taking home individual honors as well.
Honorable Mention
DeSean Butler – 6’7” Senior Forward
West Virginia Mountaineers
DeSean Butler may be the best college basketball player you’ve never heard of. Coach Bobby Huggins has this year’s Mountaineer squad back in the national spotlight and has brought a swagger to Morgantown that previous Coach John Beilein wasn’t able to find. For fans that haven’t gotten to see the Mountaineers play, this season will be a treat as their schedule is filled with big time contests. Last year, Butler scored 17 points a contest and pulled down six boards in the Big East, a league full of great players. This year, he’s a pre-season All-American and a candidate for the Big East Player of the Year Award.
At times last year, Butler looked like he was putting on a clinic. Coach Huggins who stresses physique over finesse and defense over offense, has caused the Mountaineers to adopt a new look that will surely help their cause in March. With the team’s success, DeSean Butler will become a familiar name in the lexicon of basketball fans everywhere.
Sherron Collins - 5'11" Point Guard
Kansas Jayhawks
Although Sherron Collins will adapt quickly to his role of co-leader with teammate Cole Aldrich, don’t look for him to roll over completely. Last year, as Bill Self’s coach on the floor, Collins averaged 19 points and 5 assists a contest. This year, he is a main reason the Jayhawks are so highly regarded in the polls. With another year of experience and expectations far outshining those of the 2008 National Championship team, a Naismith Award isn’t out of reach for the swingman
Patrick Patterson – 6’9” Junior Forward
Kentucky Wildcats
Big expectations were placed on Patrick Patterson’s shoulders when he arrived on campus at Kentucky. Patterson and teammate OJ Mayo led Huntington High School (Huntington, West Virginia) to one of the best high school basketball seasons in West Virginia history during Patterson’s senior season. He became one of college basketball’s hottest prospects and was recruited by former Wildcat head man Tubby Smith to be the program’s savior. Kentucky could never quite get the momentum going, and while he has had two successful seasons, Kentucky has gone a mediocre 40-27. A season ago, under ex-Kentucky Coach Billy Gillespie, Patterson averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest.
This year, Patterson returns with National Championship Coach John Calipari and his famed dribble-drive offense. More importantly, he returns with a group of extremely talented freshman to help his cause. With the pressure off to produce all the offense, and a big man to help him in the post, look for Patterson to have a giant year.
Cole Aldrich - 6’11” Junior Center
Kansas Jayhawks
Coach Bill Self may have the best college basketball team in the land this season. Three of his starters made this year’s watch list, but Aldrich might end up being the standout. With a wing span of 88 inches, Coach Self recently called Aldrich “the best true big man Kansas has had since Wilt [Chamberlain]”. If a statement like that doesn’t stir excitement, not much will. (Wilt scored 52 points and had 31 rebounds in his Varsity debut at KU.) Last year, Aldrich averaged 15.1 and 10.6 and relished in his role behind the leadership of teammate Sherron Collins, a fellow candidate for player of the year. This year, Coach Self looks for both players to take on a co-leadership role and lead a talented team overwhelmingly voted number 1 in the polls.
In a game filled with power forwards, small forwards and everything in between, Aldrich is a true center. While other guys focus on becoming hybrids, often neglecting the best parts of their game, Aldrich is fully focused on riding the horse that got him here.
Luke Harangody – 6’8” Senior Forward
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last year, Luke Harangody had a bittersweet season. Individually, Harangody put up big time numbers, but his team continually proved disappointing. Harangody, the quintessential college basketball player, averaged 23.2 points and 11.8 rebounds on a team that was picked early on to do big things. Unfortunately, despite his individual accolades, Coach Mike Brey couldn’t figure out a way to get his team to win. It was no fault of Luke Harangody’s, who consistently put up huge performances despite being less athletic than most of his Big East opponents.
This year, if Harangody continues to be persistent, he has opportunities to set both Big East scoring and rebounding records. It might be hard for him to win top honors on a team that doesn’t find itself in the pre-season top 25, but he is the first player since Patrick Ewing in 1984 and 1985 to be named the pre-season All-Big East Player of The Year. Even if he doesn’t win a Naismith Award, he won’t be in bad company.
Ed Davis – 6’10” Sophomore Forward
North Carolina Tar Heels
There might not be a more exciting prospect in college basketball this year than UNC’s Ed Davis. As a freshman, he averaged just 6.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest, but don’t let those stats fool you; he was one of the best sixth men in college basketball. This year Davis will establish himself as a dominant force on a team fresh off a National Championship season. If guard Larry Drew and Davis click, North Carolina may very well end up putting on an encore performance.
Davis, who had just two career starts last year, is destined for big things if he lives up to all his hype. At times last year, he looked explosive and with Coach Roy Williams allowing him a more primary role this season, his only competition will be himself. If he can play with poise and confidence, he will be a lottery pick after this season and may very well walk away with the title of top basketball player in the land.
Kyle Singer - 6'8" Junior Small Forward
Duke Blue Devils
Kyle Singler may be the most versatile player on my list and the most fun to watch for the amateur basketball fan. At 6’8” he plays a similar game to Dirk Nowitzki of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. He can dribble, dish and shoot and has a natural IQ for the game. This year, he’s surrounded by a Duke team loaded with talent that is a true national contender for the first time in several seasons. He scored 21 to lead all scorers in Duke’s first scrimmage a couple of weeks ago against Pfeiffer College in a 58 point rout.
Coach K’s squad starts the season with an 8th ranking, but will likely end up being a top three team early on. Singler (16.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg) has gotten stronger and will lead a balanced attack that looks to wreak havoc on the ACC. If Duke makes a run deep into March, rest assured Kyle Singler will be taking home individual honors as well.
Honorable Mention
DeSean Butler – 6’7” Senior Forward
West Virginia Mountaineers
DeSean Butler may be the best college basketball player you’ve never heard of. Coach Bobby Huggins has this year’s Mountaineer squad back in the national spotlight and has brought a swagger to Morgantown that previous Coach John Beilein wasn’t able to find. For fans that haven’t gotten to see the Mountaineers play, this season will be a treat as their schedule is filled with big time contests. Last year, Butler scored 17 points a contest and pulled down six boards in the Big East, a league full of great players. This year, he’s a pre-season All-American and a candidate for the Big East Player of the Year Award.
At times last year, Butler looked like he was putting on a clinic. Coach Huggins who stresses physique over finesse and defense over offense, has caused the Mountaineers to adopt a new look that will surely help their cause in March. With the team’s success, DeSean Butler will become a familiar name in the lexicon of basketball fans everywhere.
Sherron Collins - 5'11" Point Guard
Kansas Jayhawks
Although Sherron Collins will adapt quickly to his role of co-leader with teammate Cole Aldrich, don’t look for him to roll over completely. Last year, as Bill Self’s coach on the floor, Collins averaged 19 points and 5 assists a contest. This year, he is a main reason the Jayhawks are so highly regarded in the polls. With another year of experience and expectations far outshining those of the 2008 National Championship team, a Naismith Award isn’t out of reach for the swingman
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