SB Nation - Cam Long

Mid-Major Morning Mashups: 2011 NBA Draft Redux

JWhelan — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:02:51 -0000

Jimmer Fredette will be a Sacramento King - Ball Don't Lie
Jimmer Mania is off to the Pacific Northwest!

Report: Spurs trade George Hill for Kawhi Leonard - CBSSports.com
Leonard must have felt somewhat disappointed when he slipped out of the top ten, but the Spurs willingness to trade a young talent like Hill to acquire him says something.

NBA Draft 2011: Kenneth Faried goes to Denver Nuggets, pleasing Newark crowd | NJ.com
If Faried being drafted in his hometown doesn't make you smile, few things will.

Miami Heat trades up in NBA Draft, picks Norris Cole - MiamiHerald.com
The Heat made a surprise move, trading into the first round for the 28th overall pick, Norris Cole.

2011 NBA Draft Grades: Round 1 - NBA - CBSSports.com Basketball
Jimmer and Kawhi Leonard get A's but Norris Cole gets an F (though I don't think this one was seen all the way through to the Miami trade).

2011 NBA Draft Grades: Round 2 - NBA - CBSSports.com Basketball
More solid grades for non-BCS stars as Justin Harper lands an A as does Andrew Goudelock. Charles Jenkins and Shelvin Mack earn B's.

More after the jump.

2011 NBA Draft: Philadelphia Sixers Select Lavoy Allen - Liberty Ballers
The Sixers selected local big man Lavoy Allen with the 50th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He was a poor pick according to SB Nation's Sixers blog.

Oakland center Benson drafted by Atlanta to add front-line power, help Horford - The Washington Post

Benson makes history for Oakland and the Hawks add depth to their frontcourt.

Atlanta Hawks: NBA draft live blog (Update: Hawks select Oakland U. center Keith Benson) | Atlanta Hawks
A couple of questions with Benson following his selection.

Lakers select Andrew Goudelock with the 46th pick - ESPN Los Angeles
The Charleston scoring machine lands with a contender and in a position where he can learn from a slew of veterans.

2011 NBA draft: Hofstra's Charles Jenkins picked by Golden State Warriors, new coach Mark Jackson
It's been 11 years since Hofstra had a player selected in the NBA Draft, but last night Charles Jenkins ended the 11-year drought for the Pride when Jenkins was plucked by the Golden State Warriors with the 44th overall pick.

Wizards draft Jan Vesely, Chris Singleton, Shelvin Mack - The Washington Post
Washington makes a solid pick landing Mack in the second round to serve as a possible back-up for John Wall.

Cowbell Kingdom.com - Jimmer-mania Comes To Sacramento
Yup, it's happening people.

Freedom graduate Cam Long prepares for NBA Draft | InsideNova
No, George Mason's Cam Long wasn't drafted last night, but this feature is still worth a read.

Roundball Mining Company " Nuggets select Faried, my life is now complete
Denver had a very, very good draft - Kenneth Faried is a big reason why.

Heat Find Keeper In Norris Cole | Hot Hot Hoops
We saw a handful of different faces try to run Miami's offense this season - the Cleveland State star is next.

Orlando Magic Acquire Justin Harper's Draft Rights - Orlando Pinstriped Post
Does the mean Ryan Anderson's days in Orlando are numbered?

Cavaliers pick Harper in 2nd round then trade him to Magic | Richmond Times-Dispatch
More on Harper.

Mid-Major Morning Mashups: Jimmer vs Kemba Is On

JWhelan — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:51 -0000

Fredette, Walker expected to face off for Jazz during NBA draft workout | The Salt Lake Tribune
Former BYU guard Jimmer Fredette and ex-Connecticut guard Kemba Walker are scheduled to work out June 15 for the Jazz, a league source said Monday. Fans everywhere can rejoice.

NBA mock draft No. 2: Irving vs. Williams - Yahoo! Sports
Jonathan Givony releases his second mock draft over at Yahoo. Some notables include Kawhi Leonard to the Kings, Jimmer Fredette to the Pacers and Charles Jenkins cracking the first round with Chicago.

Blazers get closer look at rebound machine: Portland Tribune
Kerry Eggers with a nice write-up on the good things Blazers team officials had to say about Kenneth Faried's workout yesterday.

Kawhi Leonard is working out for the Washington Wizards today.

Julyan Stone, Jamie Skeen not hyped, but could fit: San Francisco Chronicle
The prospects who worked out for the Warriors on Sunday don't have a lot of hype surrounding them right now, but they've created enough intrigue at this point that Rusty Simmons could see one or both landing on the roster as a free agent.

George Mason Basketball: Cam Long talks about his workout with the Golden State Warriors
Cam Long was also at the Warriors workout - GMB has the video interview.

Mocking the draft: Hoops writers style
Over at the National Hoops Report some of the best college basketball bloggers in the game get together for their own mock draft - four non-BCS stars crack the first round.

George Mason Hires Paul Hewitt

JWhelan — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 18:36:54 -0000

Multiple outlets are reporting that George Mason has hired former Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt to replace Jim Larranaga. He is expected to be formerly announced at a press conference tomorrow afternoon.

Hewitt was fired earlier this year by the Yellow Jackets after producing a 190-162 record in 11 seasons, including a national runner-up finish in 2004. The veteran coach is known as an excellent recruiter, having lured a bevy of NBA talent to Georgia Tech during his tenure, but his career in the ACC is overwhelmingly marred by underachieving teams, despite a wealth of ability on the roster. He does have experience at the mid-major level having coaches Siena from 1997 to 2000, winning back-to-back MAAC regular season championships in 1999 and 2000 and a conference tournament championship in 1999.

In George Mason, Hewitt walks into a promising situation that will be ripe with expectations. The Patriots are coming off a 27-win season that included a win over Villanova in the round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament. The bulk of the roster will be back next season save for leading scorer Cam Long, but Mason is still expected to be the early favorite in the Colonial Athletic Association and has already garnered several early nods in early preseason top 25 polls.

Hewitt understands pressure so his first season shouldn't be anything he is unfamiliar with and certainly his recruiting acumen coupled with the Patriots growing national name should only continue to help bring talent to the program. The question now however is can he toss aside the underachieving label and help George Mason to another long stay in March?

Mid-Major Morning Mashups: Portsmouth Invitational Day 1 Edition

JWhelan — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:00:45 -0000

The opening day of the Portsmouth Invitational rarely yields what would be classified as efficient basketball. The combination of tired legs from a long season, nerves from playing in front of representatives of 30 NBA teams and just a lack of familiarity with new teammates, produced basketball that while far from poor, certainly didn't speak to the talent level on the floor.

Only one of the four teams that played last night managed to shoot better than 45% from the floor and there were hardly any head turning performances, though a handful of mid-major prospects managed to produce effectively. Saint Mary's Mickey McConnell was easily the top facilitator of the day, doling out 12 assists in leading Portsmouth Partnership to an 80-75 win over Norfolk Sports Club. In this same contest Rhode Island's Delroy James netted 15 points on a solid 7-of-14 shooting effort, but noted highlight reel staple Randy Culpepper was limited to just 5 points.

In the nightcap Vlad Moldoveanu from American and Old Dominion's Frank Hassell helped pace K&D Rounds Landscaping to an opening 78-74 victory facing Sales System LTD. Moldoveanu scored 13 points, while Hassell had a mixed performance, shooting just 3-of-12 from the floor but pulling down 15 rebounds, the high for the day. George Mason product Cam Long and Nicholls State's Anatoly Bose each reached double figures in scoring for the losing team.

Ed Smith of the Virginian-Pilot: "Randy Culpepper left the Cradock Recreation Center on Wednesday morning a bit less of an NBA prospect than when he walked in an hour earlier. Three inches less. "I think the measuring thing is broke," Culpepper, a point guard from Texas El-Paso, said with a grin. "Because it said I'm like 5-10, and I'm really 6-1." Culpepper stood in his socks, having just finished a battery of physical tests being given to the 64 pro hopefuls in town this week for the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. He had blown through a 25-yard sprint, back-pedaled and slide-stepped through an agility drill and soared high in a test of vertical leaping ability. Then it came time for him to slip off his sneakers and find out how large the gap was between his media guide height and his actual stature. "It's fine," he said. "I'm a small guy, but I'm going to play like I'm 6-6 or 6-7, so you're not going to be able to tell the difference." Measurables, after all, are not everything. But at the PIT they are becoming a bigger part of the evaluation process. For the second year, the tournament is using BAM Testing, a Seattle-based company, to provide state-of-the-art data for that is passed along primarily to NBA teams. It is a way of adding objectivity to the old, subjective eye-ball test."

Melinda Waldrop of the Daily Press: "Frank Hassell had six points and 15 rebounds in his Portsmouth Invitational Tournament debut on Wednesday night, helping his K&D Rounds Landscaping team to a 78-74 win against a Sales System Ltd. squad that featured Richmond's Kevin Anderson and George Mason's Cam Long.
Hassell's assessment of his performance? "Horrible," said Old Dominion's 6-9, 260-pound forward, who averaged 15.1 points and 9.4 rebounds in his senior season as the Monarchs went 27-7. "Defensively I got scored on a lot. (On offense), I got the ball, I just couldn't make the shots like I wanted. I've got to get used to playing (against) length. ... I was getting the shots I wanted, but I was getting them smacked." Hassell, who said he hasn't played much since the Monarchs' season ended with a 60-58 loss to eventual national runner-up Butler in the first round of the NCAA tournament, said he also got a little winded in the first half, then acknowledged: "But I'm my biggest critic."

Ron Chimelis of The Republican: "Anthony Gurley saw this day coming at least a year ago, when he declared for the NBA Draft but knew his pro days were down the road. "It helped me a lot. It gave me an idea of what I had to work on,'' the University of Massachusetts senior said Wednesday after hearing he was a late addition to the Portsmouth Invitational in Portsmouth, Va. The tournament serves as a rookie camp for prospective NBA candidates. Last year, Gurley declared for the draft as a junior. The tactic allowed him to try out for pro teams with the option of re-entering the college game, as long as he did not hire an agent. The Boston Celtics gave a workout to Gurley, a 6-foot-3 guard who played high school ball at Newton North. Then he pulled out of the draft pool and returned to UMass."

Sean Brennan of the New York Daily News: "Manhattan's month-long search for a replacement for Barry Rohrssen appears to be at an end as the Jaspers are expected to announce LIU coach Jim Ferry as their new head man either today or tomorrow. Ferry, who guided the Blackbirds to a 27-6 record this year - including a 16-2 mark in the Northeast Conference - was on campus Tuesday to interview for the job. Neither Ferry nor anyone at Manhattan would return calls seeking comment, but one outside source told The News it's Ferry's job if he wants it, it's just a matter of dotting the i's and crossing the t's before it becomes official. "I didn't get it from the horses mouth, but I got it from the horse in the next stall," the source said. Considering who the Jaspers had interviewed for the job, Ferry makes the most sense. The knock on Rohrssen was that he was not a good game coach having never been a head coach at any level prior to his arrival in Riverdale. But that same thing could be said for all the candidates interviewed at Manhattan - with the exception of Bob Walsh, the head coach at Division III Rhode Island College - in that Louisville assistant Steve Masiello, Rutgers assistant Van Macon and Manhattan assistant coach Scott Padgett all lacked head coaching experience. Ferry, who won the Jim Phelan Award in the NEC this season as Coach of the Year, would bring an exciting up-tempo style of offense to the Jaspers. His LIU team this season averaged 82.7 points a game, which was fourth nationally."

Shannon Ryan of the Chicago Tribune: "Since being hired as Loyola's men's basketball coach, Porter Moser has been hearing about another Horizon League team. "In the last 24 hours, 10 people said we're going to Butler next year," Moser said at his introductory news conference. "I like expectations." Moser, a Naperville native who attended Benet Academy in Lisle, acknowledges it will take time to build Loyola into a contender like Horizon League power Butler, but he said the job was a "no-brainer." New athletic director Grace Calhoun praised Moser's Chicago-area ties and ability to recruit in the area as well as his Jesuit background. Moser served the last four seasons on St. Louis' staff under head coach Rick Majerus and he played at Creighton from 1986-90. He has served seven seasons as a head coach, going 105-101. At Arkansas-Little Rock (2000-03), he inherited a 4-24 team and turned it into an 18-11 squad the next season. He then took the helm at Illinois State, where he was fired in 2007 as the school went through multiple athletic director changes in his tenure."

2011 NCAA Tournament: George Mason Patriots vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Preview

Tyler T. — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 02:42:25 -0000

What: George Mason Patriots vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

When: Sunday, March 20th; 5:15 P.M.

Where: Quicken Loans Arena; Cleveland, Ohio

Television: CBS

Roadrunners' Record: (27-6, 16-2 CAA)

Opposing Site: George Mason Basketball

After easily dispatching UT-San Antonio on Friday, Ohio State moves on to round three of the NCAA Tournament to face the George Mason Patriots in Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday. George Mason advanced into the top-32 by defeating Villanova with a furious comeback in the waning minutes, ultimately taking the lead on a 3-point bucket by forward Luke Hancock with 21 seconds left on the clock. Along with his heroic play in the final moments, Hancock led the Patriots in points (18) and assists (5), shooting 50% from the field and generally tearing apart Villanova's defense. Fellow forward Mike Morrison joined Hancock in the double-digits, scoring ten points on an 83% field goal percentage and notching 11 rebounds in contribution to the victory.

Ohio State has often been compared to the 2007 Buckeye squad that lost the title game to Florida, but they will not be the only team on the court with noteworthy predecessors. Immediately following their second round victory, George Mason began drawing comparisons to the 2006 Patriots-- who also lost to Florida in the Final Four-- an association the current George Mason players have distanced themselves from in favor of a more individual perspective. These Patriots have united behind the slogan, "We are this year's George Mason," a somewhat odd attempt to manufacture motivation from flattering comparisons to the most successful group in school history. Incidentally, if the tactic works for George Mason and they do upset the Buckeyes, it will only deepen the relationship between the two historical Patriot teams.

NCAA Basketball

It doesn't take much to be more of a challenge than UT-San Antonio, but George Mason is a team that can stand on its own merits. They are ranked 24th in RPI, went undefeated at home, and won three of four games against RPI Top 50 opponents. Unlike the Roadrunners from Texas, George Mason deserved a tournament bid and possesses the talent to do something with the opportunity. Head coach Jim Larranaga has a roster overflowing with athleticism. While he doesn't have a true center, he does have five versatile forwards with size who all play meaningful minutes. The aforementioned Hancock and Morris, 6''5 and 6''9 respectively, and 6"6 Ryan Pearson were on the floor for at least 65% of the game against Villanova, and 6''8 Johnny Williams logged 17 minutes off the bench. Larranoga adjusts his lineup, as any coach does, with opponent and context in mind, but clear tendencies have developed over the Patriots' season.

NCAA Basketball

The above chart can be confusing at first, but it visually delivers more information than I can relay in a single story without resorting to formulaic and lengthy explanations. As you can see by hovering over the boxes, Hancock, Pearson, and guard Cam Long account for 55% of the Patriot's points, with Long being particularly effective in pure shooting ability. He has hit 55 3-point shots, 25% of all the 3-point shots made on the team, and has the highest effective field goal percentage of any of their major contributors.

With 3-pointers making up only 27% of George Mason's score distribution, they rely on the long-range shot slightly less than Ohio State and far less than the heaviest 3-point teams in college basketball. Intriguingly, there's evidence that the Patriots should actually be one of the heaviest 3-point teams in the country, as they make them at a much higher rate than many. They rank 13th nationally in 3-point percentage, sinking their shots at a rate just under 40%.

George Mason is one of the most unique teams Ohio State will have faced this season. They shoot extremely well, but they aren't a team full of pure shooters like Michigan who run an offense that incorporates the 3-point shot as an integral facet. They certainly aren't a team that emphasizes offensive rebounding as a strategy. The Patriots only rank 158th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage and 122nd in free throw rate, one of the Four Factors that is often paired with offensive rebounding percentage because of style correlations. Big teams that like to drive to the basket and play physical will generally rack up both a large number of rebounds and fouls.

If there's a team that mirrors George Mason on Ohio State's schedule, it's the Purdue Boilermakers. Like Purdue, George Mason is a forward-heavy roster that shoots well and doesn't turn the ball over.The Patriots are 23rd in the country in effective field goal percentage and 14th in turnover percentage, while Purdue ranks 91st and 7th in the respective categories. It's an imperfect comparison-- George Mason shoots significantly better than the Boilermakers-- but a very apt one stylistically. Even the coaches share an affinity for man-to-man defense and similar use of the bench.

If you accept the comparison, it's a little concerning with Purdue being one of the two teams to defeat the Buckeyes this season. Ohio State will have a veritable home-court advantage with the game in Cleveland, however, and they won't be facing any player as singularly talented as either JaJuan Johnson or E'Twaun Moore. Purdue is a better defensive team than George Mason, as well, ranking 35 places higher in Ken Pomeroy's defensive efficiency measure.

Tip-off is slated for 5:15 on CBS, but that will be contingent on the timely finish of earlier games. The winner of this game will play Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen.

preGame: Villanova vs. George Mason

Chris Lane — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:16:39 -0000

Day 1 of the 2011 NCAA Tournament has come and gone, but things really start for 'Nova Nation and the Villanova Wildcats today at 2:10 p.m. ET when they take on the George Mason Patriots in Cleveland, Ohio in the NCAA opener for both teams. George Mason comes into the contest with a 26-6 record after Jim Larranaga's team blew through the CAA to post a 16-2 record.

Villanova on the other hand, is limping into the tournament after posting 5 consecutive losses to end the regular season. Their record stands at 21-11, and although they've been playing terrible basketball in recent weeks (with the exception of the 1st half against USF), there is reason for optimism.

Jay Wright reports that by tip-off on Friday, there will be no more health issues for the Villanova team, with Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes recovering from tendinitis and hamstring injuries, respectively. Mouphtaou Yarou will also be good to go after a horrific fall in the Big East Tournament.

This will mark the first time in well over a month that the Wildcats can say they are healthy, and it couldn't come at a better time. But will it be enough to get past George Mason?

More after The Jump.

Location: Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio

Time: 2:10 p.m. ET

TV: TNT with Gus Johnson & Len Elmore on the call

Vegas Line: Villanova has moved from a 2-point underdog to a 1-point favorite on most books. The over/under is 135.

Matchup To Watch: Corey Fisher vs. Cam Long

All eyes are going to be on the two star guards for each team. Both had very good seasons, but Fisher struggled mightily down the stretch for 'Nova as he dealt with tendinitis in his right knee. Fisher is reportedly 100% healthy for this game, so we'll see what kind of attitude he brings. He's most dangerous when creating his own shot and getting into the lane, something that got away from him while he was hurt.

Cam Long is a very good shooter, plain and simple. While that's not his entire game, it's the majority of it. Earlier in the season Villanova was one of the best perimeter defense teams in the country. Not so more recently. Fisher and company will have to close out Long and force him to dribble to find a shot.

The Nova Blog's Take

It can't end like this can it? Call us spoiled, but we're accustomed to Sweet 16's on The Main Line these days - and while Ohio State would present our toughest test of the year if we get past George Mason, we at least want the opportunity.

Other than last year, Jay Wright's teams usually perform exceptionally well in the tournament, most times exceeding the expectations set for them. This year appears to be know different. Most of everybody doesn't see the 'Cats making it out of Round 1.

Time to lay some Big East hurt on an unsuspecting foe. Show these guys the wars you've been through all year and take it to them.

Villanova can win this game - we'll see if the seniors step up and lead them to victory and a shot at the #1 team in the nation.

NCAA Tournament: second round picks from the Rumble

Norman aka Pico — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:01:28 -0000

Ricky Keeler and I got together to predict all of the first round - I mean second round games in the NCAA Tournament, with some notes on who we think will com through with the wins. We agree on most games, but there are definitely some toss ups. After you're done reading, feel free to join in with comments of your own!

Ricky is RK below, and PD is Pico Dulce (myself).

Later today, we'll post our brackets for your last-minute pleasure. But for now - all of the first round games, broken up by region - below the fold. And if you enjoy this post, follow Rumble in the Garden on Twitter - or Like on Facebook.

East Region

RK: (1) Ohio State vs. (16) UTSA/Alabama State - Regardless of who comes out of the first Dayton game on Wednesday, I like the Buckeyes in this game. Too much Jared Sullinger who will have a game similar to that 30 point, 20 rebound game he put up early in the season.

PD: I expect Texas San-Antonio to come out of tonight's "First round" a/k/a play-in game, and their game on Friday will just not be competitive. At least Gus Johnson and Len Elmore will be announcing the game. But what's there to get excited about? The fifth nasty Sullinger dunk where he sticks his crotch in a UTSA player's face? That's not compelling television.

RK: (8) George Mason vs. (9) Villanova - The Wildcats struggled to end the season, culminating in the loss to South Florida at the Big East Tournament. The Patriots are the pick here because they hold their opponents to just 61 points per game. Cam Long can win a shooting contest with Corey Fisher and Malik Wayns, plus George Mason uses their bigs more than 'Nova does.

PD: This is the kind of game that a team like George Mason should love - a weakened major conference opponent, a notable scalp to put on the proverbial wall (no one scalps people these days, thankfully). Ryan Pearson is an undersized big but he has some game. And Villanova looks incredibly capable of losing to some high schoolers who challenge the Wildcats to pickup game.

RK: (5) West Virginia vs. (12) UAB/Clemson - The Mountaineers benefit from getting to play a game on Thursday afternoon against a team who just played two nights before. The Moutaineers are not the Final Four team from a year ago, but they have a ton of size in Deniz Killici, John Flowers, and Kevin Jones that can outrebound many teams in the nation. Also, look for Casey Mitchell to heat up from the perimeter if he gets back in the good graces of Bob Huggins.

PD: I don't worry so much about West Virginia's opponent having weakened legs; but I do think the Mountaineers are just a better defensive team. That said, expect Clemson to give them a really good run for their money. I think Clemson could win, but sometimes they struggle to score for long, long periods. Oh gosh. The more I think of it, this could be the ugliest game of the tournament, if not for Penn State/ Temple... Missouri/ Cincy... ugh.

RK: (4) Kentucky vs. (13) Princeton - After Doug Davis hit the big shot against Harvard to clinch the Ivy League for the Tigers, they are running into a bigger predator in this matchup. The Wildcats are red hot off of their SEC Championship win over Florida and Terrence Jones isn't even scoring at a consistent basis. Kentucky wins big, but I am interested to see how the freshman play in their first tournament game and the health of Doron Lamb, who rolled his ankle in the semifinal win over Alabama.

PD: Too much talent on the Wildcats. There's the worry of youth in the Tourney for the first time, and the Princeton offense, and those hurtful "you'll all work for us one day" chants.

RK: (6) Xavier vs. (11) Marquette - Marquette This is my only upset in the first set of games. This Musketeers team is different from the team that nearly went to the Elite Eight a year ago with Jordan Crawford. Tu Holloway is an outstanding point guard, but the Golden Eagles had a good run in New York City. Look for Junior Cadougan to continue to develop as the point guard of this team and for Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom to hit some big shots late. Marquette in the upset.

PD: I go the other way, picking Xavier. I don't believe Marquette can stop anyone with a good point guard. It's been an off year for them, and I don't think Buzz Williams' group has turned a corner yet, and Jamel McLean and Kenny Frease will make plays against the Golden Eagles.

RK: (3) Syracuse vs. (14) Indiana State - The Sycamores won the Missouri Valley tournament, but htey are running into a zone that most non Big East opponents can't stop. The 'Cuse even found out Fab Melo existed last week at the Garden. Look for Rick Jackson to dominate the paint and the inside-out offense to flourish with some threes from Brandon Triche. This will be an Orange crushing of the Sycamores.

PD: I'm surprised to see Indiana State as a 14 seed. They defend well, but they're not very good. They are particularly bad at scoring inside the arc, and they can't win without getting really hot from the outside. It's not going to happen. Fab Melo will get a lot of time in a blowout, announcers will talk about Larry Bird's greatness (though he's not walking through that door), and everyone wil reach for their remotes trying to find where the other channels are.

RK: (7) Washington vs. (10) Georgia - I still don't know how Georgia got in after two straight losses to Alabama. Nevertheless, this is a very inconsistent Bulldogs team that does not use their star big man Trey Thompkins enough. As for Washington, they are red hot coming off that Pac Ten Tournament thriller against Arizona. They also get guard Venoy Overton back off his suspension. This is one of my sleeper teams in the whole NCAA Tournament. Huskies get the W!

PD: Snooooooorrrre. Yawn. This game could be a rough one. The Huskies are a darling of the statistically-minded due to their big wins and close losses - their positive efficiency margin. But this team lost to Washington State twice, Oregon State once, Oregon once, Stanford once... their claim to fame is beating Arizona twice. Good wins, but they're not particularly good. Luckily, they run into the why-are-they-here Georgia Bulldogs, who turn the ball over too much, don't play Thompkins enough (but give him the ball often when he's on the court), and can't shoot from outside. Washington gets the win.

RK: (2) North Carolina vs. (15) Long Island - The Tar Heels had their yips in the final against Duke, but a beatdown of the Blackbirds should help heal those wounds. The Tar Heels will use their talented frontline of Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller, and John Henson to pull away in the first half. The player to watch on the Blackbirds is forward Julian Boyd, who is a near double-double threat night in and night out. Tar Heels get it done in Charlotte.

PD: North Carolina better bring their game. I think Long Island is slightly underseeded and they can bring pressure and speed. But UNC can bring as much speed, more talent, more height... North carolina will get close to 100 points in this game, and Kendall Marshall will put up some eye-popping assist numbers.

West Region

RK: (1) Duke vs. (16) Hampton - Sorry, Pirates fans, there will be no repeat of your cinderella win over Iowa State ten years ago. The Blue Devils found their groove in Greensboro. Expect Kyle Singler to gain some confidence back in this game as the Dukies need his shooting percentage to go up to repeat as national champions.

PD: Maybe Kyrie Irving will get on the court in this one, work out some of the kinks, take some bad shots... Duke should handle this one solidly.

RK: (8) Michigan vs. (9) Tennessee - Tennessee This is the battle of which team will show up and bring their A game? Both teams are very inconsistent in terms of they can beat anybody, but they can also lose to anybody. When the teams are that even, I will take the team with the best player. Tennesee gets the win with a big game from Scotty Hopson. Although, look for Michigan to attack the ball inside with post threat with freshman Jordan Morgan.

PD: Michigan Coin flip game! Actually, I think Michigan has improved in the second half of the season, I think their young players like Tim Hardaway and Jordan Morgan are playing well, and I think it's time for that John Beilein leap - when his guys just "get it" space the floor well, and start winning games. I like this team to make some waves in the Tournament. Or at least, win their first-round game. For spits and giggles, I might have them knock off Duke in a bracket - this is why I don't play for money.

RK: (5) Arizona vs. (12) Memphis - The Tigers were on everyone's bubble until a late 67-66 C-USA title win at UTEP on Saturday. I don't buy into Josh Pastner's young team. Arizona is a team that can bring a ton of pressure at the perimeter. With the Tigers being one of the worst 3 point shooting teams in America, I will take Arizona behind the shooting of Lamont Jones and the post play of Derrick Williams, who will be on everyone's radar by the end of the tournament.

PD: Buy Pastner's team? I don't think you could SELL Pastner's team. They're only interesting to me because I think this is a likely scenario for the all-frosh Red Storm next year - too skinny, inconsistent, with a porous defense. I just hope Memphis takes their beating like men. If Arizona had more competent guard play, I'd like them to make some upsets happen, but Momo Jones is not a trustworthy player - he's the second coming of Louisville's Edgar Sosa.

RK: (4) Texas vs. (13) Oakland - A lot of people like the Golden Grizzlies to pull the upset, but they ran into the wrong matchup. Keith Benson is the driving force behind an offense that averages 85 points per game, but they have a tendency to give up that many points (100 at IUPUI on February 5th). Look for the Longhorns to use freshman Tristan Thompson to get Benson into foul trouble and use Jordan Hamilton to make some good shot selections. Longhorns get a blowout win.

PD: Texas has that defense. And as Ricky points out, the Oakland defense is not the envy of the Big Ten or anything. texas will slow the Golden Grizzlinators down, and former Johnnie Larry Wright will hopefully shoot enough to keep it respectable. I'll be watching him play for sure.

RK: (6) Cincinnati vs. (11) Missouri - Missouri This is another upset pick even though the spread is dead even. The Tigers can score on anyone in the nation, with five players averaging in double figures. Plus, Mike Anderson is a master at implementing the "40 minutes of Hell" Defense. This could frustrate a Bearcats team that has the tendency to live or die by the three if they don't use post man Yancy Gates enough. It doesn't help that Cincy got blow out by 25 against the Irish at the Garden. Tigers get a confidence boosting upset win.

PD: Cincinnati I see why Mizzou could be the pick, but they struggled mightily a) away from home and b) in the last 3 weeks. They're just not defending well enough, despite the turnovers. Now, Cincinnati can lose to anyone - they are sloppy, they have players who mentally check out for long stretches, they sometimes seem more concerned with their swagger than the game at hand. That said, the defense has been something special all year. If they can get Yancy Gates going with some looks for Dion Dixon and Sean Kilpatrick, I like them to win.

RK: (3) Connecticut vs. (14) Bucknell - The Huskies got a bad break by having to play at a Thursday/Saturday site after winning five games in five days. I got to see Kemba Walker's shot against Pittsburgh live at MSG and it was incredible. This is not the Bison team that upset Kansas a few years ago. Although, Mike Muscala can be a huge factor in Bucknell's offense to hang arond this game. Eventually, I think the Huskies will tire out, but I like them to get to the next round.

PD: Kemba Kemba Kemba. Bucknell's going to stop him? I think the Huskies will be fine in terms of their legs, and the worry is that some team can actually defend Kemba as well as St. John's did. That said... the Huskies should have this one, unless the Bison's Darryl Shazier and crew get in Walker's grill and make him only shoot jumpers. Bucknell's mostly played a weak schedule, as well.

RK: (7) Temple vs. (10) Penn State - This game can set the sport back a few years with all the defense that will be played. That being said, I am happy that Talor Battle finally gets a chance to show off his skills on the big stage. Penn State has other talent around Battle in forwards Jeff Brooks and David Jackson. Temple is a solid team, but Fran Dunphy can't seem to get over that first round hump. Look for plenty of turnovers in this game as the Nittany Lions win.

PD: I'd said Penn State in my wife's bracket... I still like them but Temple has as much of a chance in this one. Temple is bigger, more experienced, and Fran Dunphy must really want an NCAA win. And yet I'm picking Penn State, simply for their late season ability to slow the game down to a crawl. Their Big Ten Tournament games, in terms of possessions per game: 55 (Indiana). 44 (Wisconsin), 57 (Michigan State), 61 (Ohio State). Feel free to get snacks during the game, do some work or homework - you won't miss much.

RK: (2) San Diego State vs. (15) Northern Colorado - Yesterday, on Cbssports.com, I heard Norm Roberts likes the Lumberjacks to chop off a giant 2 seed. That is why he is in the booth. I just don't see that happening against an Aztecs team that comes in confident off their win over BYU in Las Vegas. Their frontline is huge with Kawhi Leonhard, Billy White, and Malcolm Thomas dominating the boards. Senior Devon Beitzel will get his points for the other UNC, but Steve Fisher's team will shut down the rest.

PD: Ouch, Ricky! I will say that I don't think San Diego State's actually as good as people think they are; their schedule is almost all mid-major (with California included); their best wins are over St. Mary's, Wichita State, UNLV, and the Brandon Davies-less Brigham Young Cougars. Good teams, but not major conference squads or elite teams. But they'll roll up on Northern Colorado like a strong wave rolls over the rocks.

Southwest Region

RK: (1) Kansas vs. (16) Boston University - In the America East Championship, the Terriers had a great comeback at home to beat Stony Brook led by forward John Holland. Holland now has to handle the Morris Twins. Kansas rolls to a win in this game, but keep an eye on guard Tyshawn Taylor to see if he thrive after his solid performance in the Big 12 title game against Texas.

PD: I openly like Kansas to win the whole tournament. The Jayhawks can beat on the Boston University team, but I think the first half will be competitive.

RK: (8) UNLV vs. (9) Illinois - I know that Illini fans expected a lot more from this team than a nine seed in the preseason. Now, they face a Runnin' Rebels team that plays like a Big Ten defense. They only give up 62.6 points per game and they average eight steals a game. When you can force turnovers in the NCAA Tournament, you are usually successful. Trevon Willis had a solid start to his year and he will have a big game against Dimitri McCamey who seems to be more interested in his NBA Draft stock.

PD: McCamey can pass. He can also miss shots inside, turn the ball over, forget he runs a team. They're talented, but they have no heart. The Illini would normally be a poster-szed reason not to expand the NCAA Tournament, but the bubble had even weaker teams that got in. Make no mistake about it, the Illini are energy-less wonders who take ill-conceived midrange jump shots. UNLV has Pac-10 talent and really defend. I think they can take the Illini to school.

RK: (5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) Richmond - For some reason, Kevin Stallings' teams don't have success in the first round (ex: 2010 to Murray State). Now, they run into another top unknown guard. Kevin Anderson is the web spinner for this Spiders team. They ran into a bad matchup last year with St. Mary's, but Vanderbilt is a team that doesn't rwally have a strong big man other than Festus Ezeli. The X-Factor for the Spiders is forward Justin Harper, who averages seventeen points per game (more than Anderson's 16). Spiders get the traditional 5-12 upset.

PD: I'll pick Richmond as a 12-over-5 with serious reservations. The Commodores are no Brick House of defense, and they won't be on the Night Shift; this is no Easy matchup for them. But they have height. They can score. This will be a close, close game.

RK: (4) Louisville vs. (13) Morehead State - The Eagles have one thing going for them. They have the leaidng rebounder in the history of college basketball in Kenneth Faried. He will get his share of rebounds against a team that gave up a combined 88 rebounds in two games against West Virginia. Morehead State does not have much else other than Faried. When you have a guy who can draw fouls at the basket in Peyton Siva, it can be a long day for Morehead State. Pitino advances.

PD: Morehead State is a great story with a future pro. But they can't handle Louisville's pressure. They ALREADY turn the ball over on over 23% of their possessions, one of the worst marks in the country. Facing the Cardinals? It's going to be a chase scene as Siva and Preston Knowles run the ball into the basket over and over again. It could get ugly.

RK: (6) Georgetown vs. (11) USC/VCU - This is the lone game that I like a First Four team to win. The reason why is the uncertainty of how point guard Chris Wright will perform. The Hoyas have struggled to score and defend without Wright. For USC, I think Nikola Vucevic can beat up a team not known for its frontcourt. As for the Rams, keep an eye on guard Jamie Skeen. He averages fifteen points and seven rebounds per game and contributes in the Rams shooting 36% from beyond the arc. If G'Town got in a perimeter battle with them, this could be another Eric Maynor kind of upset. But, I'll take USC in the first four just for this discussion.

PD: I hope Southern California wins tonight, because I think they take a recovering Georgetown team that had many cases of the yips this season. The Trojans have size, defense, and they've won a game in the last month. OH OKAY, the Hoyas won a game on February 19th against South Florida. Not sure if that counts; they beat Marquette on February 13th, and that's the last notable opponent they beat. Chris Wright injury or not, that's really bad.

RK: (3) Purdue vs. (14) St. Peter's - It's a great story to see John Dunne back in the tournament coaching the Peacocks, but they don't have an answer for Big Ten player of the year JaJuan Johnson. Johnson and guard E'Twaun Moore are a duo that no one is talking about outside of West Lafayette that can make a run to Houston. For you non basketball fans, my favorite name is in this tournament is Ryan Bacon of St. Peter's - he averages ten points and seven rebounds per game. I wonder if his game will be crispy come Friday night.

PD: Purdue should have a solidly easy time with this game. I expect them to crush the Peacocks.

RK: (7) Texas A&M vs. (10) Florida State - This is another game where offense will be at a minimum. But, this is another big unknown: Will Chris Singleton play for the Seminoles? He has been out since February 12th with a fractured foot and is the only offense Florida State has. I think he plays, but not at 100%. This allow the Aggies' star forward Khris Middleton to take over the game in the post while kicking it to sharp shooter B.J Holmes. Mark Turgeon continues his perfect first round record in College Station.

PD: I almost like Florida State in this matchup - their defense is just incredible at affecting opponents shots. They're very tall, and hard to score on. But dang, they just can't get the ball to go through the hoop sometimes. I wouldn't be surprised to see them win, and A&M is far from perfect. The Aggies aren't great ballhandlers, and they sometimes have trouble scoring. And their defense isn't anywhere near the Seminoles' D. Still, I thinkthe Aggies have more talent and get the W.

RK: (2) Notre Dame vs. (15) Akron - The Irish had a compelling case to be a one seed, but they get a nice consolation prize of getting to play their first two games in Chicago. Ben Hansbrough is going to have a nice game against a Zips team that allows opponents to shoot 41% from the floor. A player to keep on for the Zips is forward Nikola Cvetinovic. He is their leading scorer with eleven points per game. He also has seven rebounds per game, but it won't be enough to beat the Irish.

PD: Notre Dame is a pick to be upset every time they play. They need to score and to run their offense to win. I don't know if Akron should be a 15 seed, but they're not all that great. The Irish enjoy a nice Friday in Chicago with a win.

Southeast Region

RK: (1) Pittsburgh vs. (16) ~~Arkansas Little Rock~~/UNC Asheville - Again, another sacrificial lamb for the Panthers in Round One. Ashton Gibbs will go off in terms of points, but I would like to see someone else rival him in scoring like a Brad Wanamaker or a Nasir Robinson in the paint. That would make me more confident about the Panthers' chances to advance all the way to the Final Four.

PD: UNC Asheville is so gritty, so tough... so gonna get beat a lot. Pitt is the kind of #1 seed that one starts to worry about, lacking a truly elite defense, with some road losses down the stretch. What the Panthers have should be more than enough to beat Asheville, but if the Bulldogs can start forcing some turnovers, the game might end up being more interesting than Jamie Dixon would like.

RK: (8) Butler vs. (9) Old Dominion - Butler Two mid-majors who aren't your typical mid-majors. Butler has found its confidence after winning the Horizon League tournament, but they will have their hands full against Monarchs' guard Kent Bazemore. Bazemore can steal it sufficiently on defense and is a very good shooter. For Butler, they have to keep Matt Howard on the floor considering he is their only post presence. Both teams have a ton of senior leadership, and I'll ride the team with Shelvin Mack who was a miracle shot from a title last year.

PD: Old Dominion Butler is well coached. They're pretty good about handling the ball.But their defense hasn't excelled, even in conference play against the Horizon League, where they couldn't gain separation from the pack. The Monarchs of Old Dominion - despite their regal complex - play a down and dirty, physical style, crashing the glass with relentlessness. They pass the ball well and won't mind a slowdown game. I like ODU in this matchup.

RK: (5) Kansas State vs. (12) Utah State - Kansas State The Wildcats are my sleeper team. With the exception of playing Colorado, they are red hot right now. Jacob Pullen is finally living up to his preseason All-American level because he has figured out how to be a good scorer and distributor from the point guard position. The Aggies have talent, but this is the same team that got blown out by A&M last season. I won't buy into the trap. Everyone likes Utah State, but I am taking Pullen, Curtis Kelly, and company in a close game.

PD: Utah State Call me everyone! I can see Kansas State getting to the Elite Eight. But I more see them losing to a disciplined Utah State team. Pullen has struggled in the role of lead guard, and I think Utah State is due to win in the tourney - if they can keep the Wildcats off of the offensive glass. Tai Wesley is very effective.

RK: (4) Wisconsin vs. (13) Belmont - Belmont This is the popular upset pick in all the brackets. I am on the Bruins' bandwagon in this one. The Badgers can be really hot or really cold offensively. We saw this in a 36-33 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Jordan Taylor is a flat out great scorer, leading the Badgers to wins over Ohio State and Purdue this season. If he and Jon Leuer get hot together, it can be enough. However, I'll take Belmont. Rick Byrd's team is top 20 in the NATION in points and assists. It is Ian Clark's time to shine.

PD: Wisconsin I think the Badgers are very good; and I think people are sleeping on how effective they can be. I originally had Belmont, but looking at the weakness of the region as a whole... I'm getting some ideas. I think I'm calling this the Badgers' year. I will probably be wrong. But if the Badgers can slow the Belmont Bruins... what do the Bruins look like at half-speed, anyway?

RK: (6) St. John's vs. (11) Gonzaga - This game in Denver is what you are all waiting for. The Johnnies play their first full game without D.J Kennedy and I think they will survive. Gonzaga has tournament experience, but never seems to do anything with it. Ever since Adam Morrison left, they don't make it past the first weekend. The big three for Mark Few was better this year when Matt Boldin was on the team and Elias Harris lived up to his potential as a scorer. It will be close late, but the eight seniors will rally around Kennedy and Dwight Hardy will hit a big basket late. Johnnies by three.

PD: The Zags have a lot of talent. But they play in the West Coast Conference. Not a terrible conference, but I wonder how they'll do with St. John's physicality. If the referees let the teams play it out, and don't mollycoddle the Bulldogs, I like St. John's to win this one. If it becomes a game of skills and foul shooting... St. John's could be on the wrong side of this matchup.

RK: (3) BYU vs. (14) Wofford - The Terriers could spoil Jimmer's party here in Denver. Wofford is a good team that beat a talented scorer in Andrew Goudelock in the SOCON championship game. They were in the NCAA Tournament last year as well. Big man Noah Dahlman averages twenty points per game and can gain a ton of points with Brandon Davies out for the Coughars. However, there is just too much Fredette in this matchup. Fredette goes for 40 as BYU pulls away late.

PD: Jimmer Fredette doesn't need a team. Just get him across halfcourt. Wofford may have some nice moments and good memories from this game, but I don't think they can win unless they bring the defensive effort of a lifetime, and Jimmer lets everyone else shoot. Those things aren't going to happen.

RK: (7) UCLA vs. (10) Michigan State - Two historic programs take the court in Tampa. The Bruins are a team that is a year away from being a top four seed. Malcolm Lee is a good point guard and forward Reeves Nelson is a double-double threat that shoots 55% from the floor. I want to take the team with the tourney experience and that is the Spartans. Kalin Lucas had a great game in the Big Ten Tournament against Purdue and should bring that momentum into March. They need Durrell Summers to hit the perimeter shot, but I don't want Michigan State in this tournament when everyone is counting out Izzo. Sparty gets the win.

PD: UCLA's guards are strangely terrible. Malcolm Lee is a good defender, and decisive with the ball; but Lazeric Jones and Jerime Anderson and Tyler Lamb are physically talented mediocrities. The Spartans have the bigs to match the Bruins physicality, and Derrick Nix could even muscle up with Joshua Smith. Spartans in this one, despite their lackluster year.

RK: (2) Florida vs. (15) UCSB - The Gauchos are in for a bad, bad night in Tampa. The guy you should watch on UCSB is Orlando Johnson. The junior guard averages 21 points per game and is a 40% 3 point shooter. Expect a lot of threes from both teams in this game, but the Gators shoot the ball lights-out with their guards Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton.

PD: Florida isn't a great 2 seed, but they're enough to defeat the Santa Barbara Gauchos. But they go back to tony Santa Barbara, while the Gators go back to Gainesville. I'd rather be in Santa Barbara.

ATVS Tourney Scoring Game

Poseur — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:51:31 -0000

We are a day away from the best annual American sporting event, not to mention my fairly debauched trip to Vegas. If anyone has a winner, please email me.

I absolutely love the Tourney. It is one of those few events that almost always delivers. There's drama, upsets, and at the end of the day, usually a legitimate champ. Villanova's "perfect game" was a long time ago. I hate these play-in games and wish we'd go back to the magic of 64, but what are you gonna do? Nothing is perfect. Not anymore.

Anyway, it also means it is the return of the annual ATVS Tournament Scoring Game. Instead of picking brackets (how lame!), we chose one player from every seed line. Every point they score, starting Thursday and throughout the tournament, is a point for your team. Whoever scores the most points, wins. As always, the winner will receive one million ATVS bucks, redeemable at RollBamaRoll.*

*No, not really.

Here is my team:

1 - Marcus Morris (Kansas)
2 - Kawhi Leonard (SDSU)
3 - JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)
4 - Brandon Knight (Kentucky)
5 - Derrick Williams (Arizona)
6 - Austin Freeman (Georgetown)
7 - Isaiah Thomas (Washington)
8 - Cam Long (George Mason)
9 - Frank Hassell (ODU)
10 - Kalin Lucas (Michigan St)
11 - Steven Gray (Zags)
12 - Kevin Anderson (Richmond)
13 - Keith Benson (Oakland)
14 - Noah Dahlman (Wofford)
15 - Orlando Johnson (UCSB)
16 - Darrion Pellum (Hampton)

Deadline is Thursday to enter, just enter a team in the comments. Let's have fun out there.

Getting To Know The George Mason Patriots

Chris Lane — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:39:39 -0000

Villanova's first-round matchup (and possibly their last game of the season if things continue to NOT go to plan) will be against the George Mason Patriots in Cleveland, Ohio. As far as I can tell, just about the only good thing so far is that Gus Johnson will be calling the game. I kid.

You'll remember the name George Mason because 'Nova played them last season in the Puerto Rico, nearly losing to them in the 1st round. It took an Isaiah Armwood 3-pointer (yes, I said 3-pointer from Armwood) to claim the victory.

Both teams are obviously quite different this year, with 'Nova losing Scottie Reynolds, Reggie Redding and Taylor King (who played a big role in the last meeting) and George Mason losing Louis Birdsong and Kevin Foster. But for George Mason at least, most of the major threats of last year are back for the rematch.

Mid-Major Morning Mashups: March 7, 2011

JWhelan — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:00:33 -0000

I don't know if yesterday will go down as upset Sunday, but it wouldn't be hard to make an argument for it.

Of the 21 conference tournament games that were played, 10 ended with a lower seed the victor, including Indiana State's win over Missouri State in the Missouri Valley Conference title game. Throw in Bucknell's two-point win over Lehigh in the Patriot League semifinals and the upset seesaw was within a play or two of tilting beyond the halfway mark for the day. We're reaching the point of anarchy ladies and gentlemen. Seven - count 'em - seven number one seeds were abruptly shown the door today. No one is safe anymore, but then again that's the beauty of it all isn't it?

There is no justice at this time of year. The Missouri State's of the world will spend the next seven days agonizing over what could have been while they wait for their fate to be determined by a close door meeting. In Burlington, VT, Catamount fans won't even bother holding a collective breath for their beloved University of Vermont men's basketball team, they already know the NIT is waiting.

It's why we love it. It's why we hate it. It's what makes March, March. On with the show.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "By winning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament Sunday, Indiana State received an expenses-paid trip to the NCAA Tournament. Larry Bird U. is going dancing with the stars. And by losing to Indiana State, the Missouri State Bears have been sent to the corner to wait, worry and wonder if the NCAA Tournament will still have room for them. A mixture of anxiety and anger is MSU's reward for a superb 15-3 league record, a first-place finish and 25 regular-season wins. Unless every bracketologist is completely wrong, the NCAA won't be sending an invitation to Springfield, Mo. Those at-large invitations will go to the also-rans in the power conferences. That's the way it works in the NCAA college-basketball cartel. Too many mediocre teams can hide behind their conference affiliation, which provides shelter and security. This is why Missouri State fans were stone-cold silent at the end of Missouri State's 60-56 loss to the Sycamores. Bears fans have seen this movie before. They know how it will end. The town will not be saved from the monsters of the Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, etc. The power conferences will big-foot their way to most of the NCAA at-large bids."

Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star: "They are cautiously hopeful, and should be, but they are also staring down the disappointment of what will most likely be another NCAA Tournament played without them. There may not be a program in the country that better represents this particular brand of sports heartbreak than Missouri State. The 2006 team still owns the highest RPI (21) to be rejected by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. The 2000 (34) and 2007 (37) teams are also in the top five. Back in 1997, Steve Alford coached his guys to 24 wins and a 42 RPI and settled for the NIT. That's strikingly close to the resume Missouri State has this season, the one that will likely be rejected again: 25-8 and the No. 37 RPI according to CollegeRPI.com entering Sunday."

Steve Porter of The Telegraph: "College basketball is big in the Hoosier State. All you have to do is check the enthusiasm levels at Purdue, Notre Dame, Butler and, of course, Indiana University. Those readings can be off the charts, particularly during the mystical madness of March. Indiana State of Terre Haute created its own kind of Hoosier Hysteria the past weekend at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis. The 20-13 Sycamores defeated top-rated Missouri 60-56 in front of 10,171 fans Sunday at Scottrade Center and snared their first conference tourney title since 2001. "I don't know if it's the biggest thing that has happened in our community for a long time, but it's the best thing now," first-year Sycamores' coach Greg Lansing said. "Our community has rallied around us.'"

Tim Pearrell of the Richmond Times-Dispatch:"The Virginia Commonwealth University team that faded in February has found resurrection in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. Now a team that has elevated its level of play needs to do it one more time to get in the NCAA tournament. VCU whipped top-seeded George Mason University 79-63 Sunday in the CAA semifinals, exacting revenge for a 20-point drubbing at home at the hands of the Patriots three weeks ago and ending Mason's 16-game winning streak...'These teams in the CAA, they're not going to give you anything,' VCU coach Shaka Smart said. 'It's too good of a league. You have to go take it from them. For two consecutive days, we've done that now. But two's not good enough. We've got to make it three.'"

Bob Molinaro of the Virginia-Pilot: "For those who don't recall, ODU was in a hostile environment last season when the Monarchs defeated VCU in the semi-finals before going on to claim the tournament title. And this season, ODU surprised VCU at the Siegel Center, the Rams' on-campus gym, an environment every bit as raucous as the Coliseum will be tonight. In both instances, Taylor's players tuned out the crowd. They say they will again. There's no reason to think they won't. In any case, the so-called crowd hostility will only enhance the moment for a mid-major conference in need of vivid exposure. With the Coliseum rockin' - and ODU fans providing their own fair share of vocal intensity - the final has a better chance of becoming a hardwood happening."

Rich Campbell of the Fredericksburg News: "George Mason had hoped to avoid this specific indignity this weekend at the CAA tournament. The Patriots' regular-season championship, their 16-game winning streak entering yesterday's semifinal against VCU and, perhaps most importantly, their No. 24 ranking in the Ratings Percentage Index make a self-explanatory, strong case for an NCAA tournament at-large bid. However, they weren't enough to prevent a round of uncomfortable questions after VCU dismantled George Mason in a 79-63 victory at Richmond Coliseum. Patriots coach Jim Larranaga and leading scorer Cam Long had to defend their team's NCAA resume after appearing worthy of a lesser reward in a game that was never close in the second half. 'The bubble is a hot-air balloon now,' Larranaga said. 'On TV, [analysts'] bubble goes down to, like, 86 in the RPI. If those teams are on the bubble and our RPI is in the 20s, I think we're sitting in pretty good shape.' The Patriots (26-6), however, could have erased all doubt by winning this tournament."

Sean Brennan of the New York Daily News: "It was Saturday night, and the Iona Gaels were mere hours away from playing in the biggest game of their college careers to date. So, were they watching film? Talking strategy? Getting extra sleep? No. Iona, which was lodged on the same hotel floor as St. Peter's, engaged in a rather unusual pre-game ritual. 'They had a dance-off with St. Peter's in the hallway,' Iona first-year coach Tim Cluess said. 'We had two loose teams there last night.' Now those same two teams will be vying in a different sort of dance-off Monday night, one that will send the winner to the NCAA's Big Dance when the Gaels and Peacocks meet in the MAAC championship game."

Doric Sam of The Statesman: "The bleachers at Chase Family Arena in Hartford rocked as the red horde bounced up and down, screaming at the top of their lungs: "I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win!" Their beliefs were justified, as the #5 Stony Brook Seawolves pulled off an upset of the finest quality, knocking off the regular-season champion Vermont Catamounts, 69-47, Sunday night in the America East semifinals. The result means thatStony Brook will make its first ever appearance in the America East championship game, playing at #2 Boston University at noon on Saturday (ESPN2)."

Kathy Orton of the Washington Post: "After the buzzer sounded on American's 73-71 double-overtime loss to Lafayette in a Patriot League semifinal, the players jogged off the court in stunned disbelief mixed with profound grief. Vlad Moldoveanu, who wanted nothing more than to win a championship, pulled his jersey over his face to hide the tears streaming down his cheeks. "I'm really sorry that this team couldn't bring back the championship to where it belongs," said fellow senior Nick Hendra, who also wept openly after the loss. "I feel personally responsible for that.'"

Jim Meehan of the Spokesman Review: "Gonzaga's Marquise Carter showed why he was voted WCC newcomer of the year and reserve wing Mike Hart showed why head coach Mark Few trusts him in critical defensive situations.
Second-seeded Gonzaga repelled numerous second-half rallies by No. 3 San Francisco as Carter hit seven free throws in the final 43 seconds and the Bulldogs hung on for a 71-67 victory in the WCC men's basketball tournament semifinals Sunday in front of 7,489 at the Orleans Arena. "The coaches make sure we get up a lot of free throws, even when we're tired," said Carter, who finished 10 of 12 at the free-throw line. "Stepping to the line, it seems really relaxing for me." Carter led a balanced GU attack with a team-high 18 points, helping Gonzaga (23-9) advance to the title game for the 14th straight season. Top-seeded Saint Mary's (24-7) defeated No. 4 Santa Clara 73-64. Gonzaga and Saint Mary's shared the WCC regular-season title, splitting two thrillers that came down to the closing seconds.

Elton Alexander of The Plain Dealer: "With Cleveland State's third loss of the season to Butler, Saturday night in Milwaukee, the Vikings are now on the NCAA Tournament bubble with all the other hopefuls around the country.
As of Sunday the RPI still says Cleveland State (No. 43) is one of the top teams in the country; better than No. 46 Michigan State and No. 48 Florida State and No. 55 Clemson and No. 67 Gonzaga. All of those teams are considered on the bubble as well, if not already in. That should warrant the Vikings consideration as a NCAA Tournament at-large team. "I hope they consider us," head coach Gary Waters said after the setback to Butler. "I think this is a tournament team. Norris [Cole], there is still more left in him.'"