SB Nation - Davidson Wildcats

Where is Stephen Curry? Zags face Davidson in BIS

everydayezag — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:51:32 -0000

Rob Sacre should have a field day with the strength and height advantage that he possesses over the Davidson front line.

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When it was first announced that Gonzaga would be facing a Davidson team that was in total rebuilding mode in the Battle in Seattle, I came away a little frustrated. After having great games against teams like UConn, Oklahoma St., and Tennessee, it clearly isn't quite as attractive to face a team like Davidson. However, with the gauntlet of a schedule this Gonzaga team has faced, I am now much more receptive of facing this Wildcats team. As must as Gonzaga fans love having the chip on the shoulder approach of facing any team anywhere, the reality it that no team can face such quality opponents every game like the Zags did prior to Augustana. Another factor that I like about this game is the fact that Davidson has a great coach in Bob McKillop. He will test all of the Zags' weaknesses and in doing so, will almost certainly help this team improve.

Not surprisingly, this is a struggling Davidson team trying to replace the tremendous production of Stephen Curry. The Wildcats are off to a 2-6 start, although this includes tough losses to teams like Butler, USF (South Florida not the Dons), and Penn St. Leading the way for Davidson is the terrific freshman Jake Cohen. Cohen is averaging 13 points and 5.4 boards, and he is a tremendously versatile guy that can score from all over the court. J.P. Kuhlman is another freshman that is having a great impact, scoring 10.4 points and hitting 43% from behind the arc. The only other guy averaging in double-figures is Will Archambault. The senior forward has done a nice job elevating his game, and is averaging 12.5 points per game.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Davidson try to mix in numerous zone defenses in order to try and limit the height difference that Gonzaga will have. As many of our readers have called for all season, I would expect the Zags to play from the inside to the outside, meaning that the offense should run through Elias Harris and Rob Sacre. Both guys will have significant height and strength advantages, and I think both will elevate their games after having some struggles in the past week. If Gonzaga can build a nice early lead, I wouldn't be surprised to see Coach Few and the staff try and get a nice rest for some of the starters, since the huge game against Duke looms in one week.

As harsh as it may sound, I fully expect Gonzaga to win this game by 20+ points if they play and execute at the level that this team is capable of. Davidson doesn't have the athletes to compete with guys like Meech, Manny, and Steven on the perimeter, and doesn't have the height or strength to slow down Elias, Rob, and Kelly in the post. Behind a balanced team effort, the Zags should coast to the 78-55 victory.

Gonzaga routs division three foe Augustana

Zach B — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:22:10 -0000

More photos » by Rajah Bose - AP

Augustana had some nice talent but just couldn't play with the Zags on Wednesday night. (AP Photo/Rajah Bose)

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There's not much we can take from tonight's dominant Gonzaga victory except for the fact that Matt Bouldin was knocked out of the game with an apparent head injury. He banged heads with an Augustana defender early in the game and hit the floor hard and wound up never checking back in. Matt looked fine and stayed on the bench as the game went on but it was definitely scary moment as you never want your star to get hurt in a game where Gonzaga's bench could have started and routed the Vikings of Augustana.

The final score of the game was 79-40 tonight in the McCarthey Athletic Center and it was a pretty underwhelming performance overall. By no means was the game ever in question but the same ugly flaws for Gonzaga came out tonight. The Zags shot 56% from the free throw line (17-30) and only outrebounded the Vikings by four, unofficially. The free throws are an especially hideous stat considering this game was played at home in front of a silent crowd. It was mostly the young guys contributing to these misses with guys like Grant Gibbs and GJ Vilarino missing their fair share but both those guys will probably be pretty solid contributors by years end.

I shouldn't harp on the play of Grant Gibbs tonight as I, once again, thought that he was tremendous for Gonzaga. The guy literally does a little bit of everything and has really started to get into a groove on the floor. Grant had eight points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals tonight. He's obviously filling up the stat sheet in a number of ways and is making his mark on the team. He's never going to give fans the wow factor but when good things happen on the court you can expect #10 to be hanging around.

The best lineup of the night was at the end of the first half when it was (I believe) GJ Vilarino, Steven Gray, Grant Gibbs, Bol Kong, and Kelly Olynyk. This glimpse into the future really extended Gonzaga's lead to the 40-14 halftime mark and produced some great plays. Bol Kong really isn't fond of hitting anything but net on his shots. He made some nice drives to the rack as well and showed how he can really force the issue if he wants. Steven Gray facilitated the evening's actions and looked confident out there. He was 5-8 from the floor, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds. He struggled with stupid turnovers again tonight but at least his offensive game appeared to turn a corner. GJ Vilarino had an off shooting night but drove well to the hoop and Mangisto Arop, who subbed in early and often did what Manny does. He hit the boards, worked hard on D, and took what the D gave him on offense.

We're not really going to overanalyze this game because it is not really deserving of it. Gonzaga playing Augustana at this point in the season is just a tune up for the mid-to-end of December. Next up for Gonzaga is Davidson on Saturday for the Battle in Seattle. The Wildcats have returned back to Earth after Stephen Curry's departure but will still give the Zags a decent test.

Moving on to chapter two of the 2009-10 season

Zach B — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:29:47 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

Portland guard T.J. Campbell has improved greatly since last season. Pretty remarkable when you consider T.J. was the WCC newcomer of the year in 2008-09. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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It's hard to believe that for as long as we've been waiting for the season to get here, it now feels like the first six games have passed in the blink of an eye. As you know, the Zags have begun the year with a bang. A 5-1 record is something Gonzaga fans have taken for granted over the years as Mark Few has always prepared his teams to begin the season well. When you think about everything this team lost from a year ago, it's hard to find another season where Coach Few did a better job coaching up a team. I immediately think of the 2006-07 season when the Zags lost Adam Morrison and J.P. Batista but I'd still give the nod to our current group of Bulldogs.

Depending on what kind of team we have, each year seems to take on a different attitude. Last year, the goals were different because we were picked by many to be a final four team, had a roster with four NBA hopefuls, and played in a conference where it was basically a two-horse race with everyone else lust meddling around. As we look at this year and after our fast start, I think that this team has got to feel like they're sitting on top of the world. I belive that it is very important for Mark Few to bring them back to reality and turn the pages on their fast start and get them ready for the next phase of their season which is the real meat of the schedule. If I had to title this chapter of the season it would have to be "Sustain". If we learned anything from last year, it is to take a college basketball season in stride. Gonzaga got off to a ridiculously quick start and won the Old Spice Classic but got taken to the woodshed in mid-to-late December by the likes of Arizona, Connecticut, Portland State, and Utah. With each of these losses happening in their own special and gut-wrenching ways, I think it is important as fans to realize that these issues can arise with even the most talented of teams.

With that being said, it's important to take a look back on the start of the season and understand just how difficult the rest of the 2009-10 season will be.

Mark Few makes a living off of fast starts

Just looking at the past five seasons in Mark Few's tenure and it is hard not to be impressed with the way his teams start the season. In that span, Mark Few has only lost games to Washington, Connecticut, Butler, Texas Tech, and Michigan State. During the same time he has defeated programs like Michigan State, Maryland (twice), Tennessee, North Carolina, Cincinnati, and Wisconsin. These lists are qualified within the first six games of the season but you get the idea that Mark Few knows what he is doing when he begins a season. Five losses in the past five years' first six games (convoluted, I know) is extremely impressive. When you look across the program and see highly ranked teams consistently lay eggs in early season play, it's easy to understand why this is such an amazing feat. So many times, we see bubble teams in the NCAA Tournament make or break their bid with how they did in their early season nonconference games. In college basketball, it's pretty easy to get buried in the public eye before conference play begins. If you look at a team like Oklahoma that went to Alaska and played back-to-back terrible games in losing efforts to San Diego and Houston, they have their work cut out for them to impress the country because those are two very bad losses when March rolls around.

Our schedule is behaving very oddly

Typically around this time of the year, we write a post or talk about just how horrendous our December schedule is and how awful the West Coast Conference is. This year, the December slate is beginning to look extremely appetizing and seems to get simpler by the day. Next month, Gonzaga will only be making one legitimate road trip to New York City to play the Duke Blue Devils. The great thing is that, during the month, the Zags will be getting Washington State, Wake Forest, and Davidson, and Oklahoma all in the state of Washington. With all due respect to those teams on the schedule that we get in the state, I have no reason to believe why we can't defeat them all judging by the way they have begun the season. Wake Forest is the only one that I really haven't seen play yet but that will all change on December 1st when the play Purdue and then four days later when they visit Spokane. Washington State has been winning but rather ugly and is one of those teams where if you stop one guy (Klay Thompson), you stop WSU. Davidson is obviously down this season after losing Stephen Curry but played well earlier when they took Butler deep into the game. Oklahoma, as I've already mentioned, is REALLY struggling but they could get it together come late December. Their is too much talent on that team to not make a run. Duke is obviously the remaining crown jewel of this schedule. Defeat them, and Gonzaga has their signature win and it'll prove that this team can sustain.

The other side of the coin: the WCC

We all know about the Pac-10's state this season. There are really only two teams worth mentioning this season. Cal is one of them but has been really banged up to start the season. The other one, sadly, is the University of Washington. Other than that, the conference is either really young (the Arizonas and Oregon State) or really bad (the SoCal schools). The WCC has taken advantage of both aspects of this conference and has given this conference some fun early season wins. Portland defeated in-state rival Oregon and then treated UCLA like a D-2 school and beat them 74-47. They've gone on to also beat Minnesota and now have the chance to really stun the country as they match up with West Virginia this evening. As impressive as Gonzaga has been, Portland has the chance to put together an even better start to the year. They've already beaten two Pac-10 teams and a Big-10 team (better than Wisconsin). If they can upset the Mountaineers, they may have a better top 25 argument than our beloved Zags. Saint Mary's has also had a nice start to the year with a dominating win over tourney hopeful San Diego State and a down to the wire loss to Vanderbilt. They have Oregon coming up on the schedule. San Diego defeated a dismal Stanford team in the opening game of their season and is now about to play in the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout after beating Oklahoma and Houston. Brandon Johnson is back and has instantly been reinstated as the most exciting player to watch in the conference along with Keion Bell. The bottom half of the WCC is still a pretty serious work in progress but that didn't stop Loyola Marymount from upsetting USC. That might be the most stunning of all the upsets so far in the conference. I know USC is in turmoil but LMU has defined turmoil the past calendar year. For them to upset a school that has unfathomable resources like USC is just shocking on many levels.

Do we need to worry about the almighty NBA?

This is now a very real and present danger for this Gonzaga team. Elias Harris should be a household name in college basketball fans house after the month of December and Robert Sacre has shown tremendous growth in his post game. When you think about Rob's combination of size and post improvement, you have to wonder if he'll be lured by the professional ranks. He's only a redshirt sophomore so we could have two more years with Rob after this one but I think he'll leave early; not this season, but next. He's still a bit raw on the boards and on defense to make that jump and he has plenty of time for the NBA. Elias Harris is an interesting story. He's already got the size, the versatility, and the energy to make many scouts take a long look at him. Harris has said that attending college in the states has always been a dream of his but I'm sure he also looked at the exposure college basketball gets here and liked that as he considered his future. For the life of me, I have no clue how this kid was buried in the German pro leagues but he has definitely burst on the scene stateside. I don't think he'll be a one and done. Rob and Elias have to know that what they have is remarkable and that next year they could take Gonzaga further than they have every gone before. At least this is my hope.

Tonight's Lines

SFBE.MP — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:42:30 -0000

Are we in midseason form already? Not even close. Sloppy play and teams "finding themselves" has been the staple of the first week in college basketball. Well consider all of those games rubbish compared to the slate of games tonight. It's like all week you ate Taco Bell (while always delicious) and Mickey D's and tonight you'll be served steak and potatoes. We're not saying that the games tonight and this afternoon won't be littered with turnovers but at least the talent pool of all 10 players on the court should be at the highest level of the season thus far.

True degenerate breakfast bonus game:

#21 Dayton (+1.5) vs. #19 Georgia Tech, 11:30 am Puerto Rico Tip Off Classic

One time relevant mid-majors still trying to compete:

George Mason vs. #6 Villanova (-14.5), 2 pm ESPNU. Villanova is flat out good. They can beat you inside or outside, up tempo or in the half court set.
South Florida vs. Davidson (-1), 7 pm Charleston Classic. Davidson sans Curry means back to reality. The fact that they are even favored, albeit by a slim margin, means they are still riding the coat tails of their former star.

2k Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic @ Madison Square Garden:

#24 Syracuse vs. #12 California (Pick 'em) 7pm ESPN2. Madison Square Garden is Syracuse's home away from home. They should have named the Garden's court after Jimmy B since he rarely plays away from the Dome until march, and if he does, it's in "Lebron's MECCA of basketball."
#4 North Carolina (-2) vs. #15 Ohio State, 9 pm ESPN2. Once again UNC reloads. UNC has put up at least 88 points in all three games this year. Will the Buckeye's even get up enough attempts to match that score? Evan Turner (19ppg, 17 rpg) and David Lighty will have to play out of their minds, but Deon Thompson and Ed Davis should be too much down low.

College Hoops Go Round: November 19

Chris Dobbertean — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:31:06 -0000

More photos » by Skip Peterson - AP

Chris Wright's Dayton Flyers will be challenged by star freshman Derrick Favors and Georgia Tech this afternoon in Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)

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With everyone, including myself, worn out from marathon Tuesday, it was a relatively quiet Wednesday night. Here's a quick rundown of what did go down in the headline games of the night.

Florida pulled away from a feisty Georgia Southern squad, winning 69-49.

VCU got smacked by Western Michigan, 83-67.

Florida State dominated Stetson, 80-38.

Toledo was no match for Cincinnati, falling 92-68.

Cornell won another road game against a name opponent, beating UMass by 13.

No. 11 Butler won easily at Northwestern, 67-54.

Nebraska fell by 15 at St. Louis, 69-55.

Utah won at thriller at home against in-state rival Utah State, 68-67.

Western Carolina was no match for Damion James-led No. 3 Texas.

Oral Roberts won at Stanford, 83-81, in an early-round Cancun Challenge game.

UNLV completed a Mountain West sweep over WAC contenders, beating Nevada 88-75.

For another excellent wrap-up of last night's action, visit Searching for Billy Edelin. A preview of today's tournament-heavy schedule is after the jump.

There's a lot of action on tap both today and tonight, with tournaments taking center stage. Preview text is from my Early Season Tournament Preview. All times are p.m. ET unless noted.

CBE Classic Semifinals

In the first game of tonight's doubleheader, Pac-10 co-favorite California faces a Syracuse squad who may have a bit of a homecourt advantage in New York. In game two, defending national champion North Carolina faces the first big challenge of its defense against Evan Turner and Ohio State. The winners and losers will play on Friday evening.

Syracuse vs. No. 13 California (ESPN2, 7)
No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 15 Ohio State (ESPN2, 9:30)

Puerto Rico Tip-Off Quarterfinals

The top half of this field is loaded. Chris Wright and A-10 favorite Dayton will be tested by the Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors-led frontcourt of Georgia Tech. Unfortunately, this matchup of top 25 squads will only be on regional television. Meanwhile, CAA contender George Mason faces Final Four team Villanova in a rematch of a 2007 Old Spice Classic semifinal. In the bottom half, Tom Crean's rebuilding Indiana takes on Andy Kennedy's Mississippi, a team who is a threat in the SEC West, while America East favorite Boston University takes on Denis Clemente and Kansas State.

No. 21 Georgia Tech vs. No. 18 Dayton (CSS/CW Dayton, 11:30 a.m.)
George Mason vs. No. 5 Villanova (ESPNU, 2)
Indiana vs. Ole Miss (ESPN2, 5)
Kansas State vs. Boston University (No TV, 7:30)

Charleston Classic Quarterfinals

In the top half of the bracket, Miami (FL)--with Villanova transfer Malcolm Grant running the point in place of graduated Jack McClinton faces Tulane. while UNC Wilmington, who could rise in the CAA this year, faces NIT Champion Penn State. In the bottom half, Big East cellar dwellar USF faces Stephen Curry-less, but still dangerous Davidson, while John Giannini's La Salle, who hopes to make a statement here before the A-10 season, plays Dominique Archie and Devan Downey-led South Carolina, who should have the crowd behind them.

Tulane vs. Miami (FL) (CSS/CST, 1:30)
UNC Wilmington vs. Penn State (ESPNU, 4)
Davidson vs. USF (No TV, 7)
La Salle vs. South Carolina (ESPNU, 9:30)

There are a few other non-tournament games on TV as well.

Sam Houston State at No. 4 Kentucky (SEC on FSN/Full Court, 7)
Utah Valley at Minnesota (Big Ten, 8)
Northwestern State at Texas Tech (Full Court, 8)
Central Arkansas at No. 1 Kansas (Full Court, 8)
Montana at Denver (FSN Rocky Mountain/FCS Central, 9)
Fresno State at Seattle (FSN Northwest/FCS Pacific, 10)
Rice at Arizona (FS Arizona/FCS Atlantic, 10:30)

For other games that will only be televised locally, visit Matt Sarz' College Sports on TV site.

The Can Ball Report's NCAA Canadian Player Preview

rbala — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:00:34 -0000

The Can Ball Report gives what can only be described as the only NCAA Canadian player preview that matters. Join us for a look at the Canuck ballers that we expect to be making big waves this season.

So it’s is finally here people! All the waiting is over because the NCAA basketball season will officially start in a few days. There are roughly about 75 Canadians on Division 1 men’s basketball rosters this season and it looks like it will be a good one for our boys. We have two bona fide stars headlining what can be said is the most talented set of Canadian players playing at this level, ever. There are upperclassmen that have earned preseason honors; there are two reigning conference rookies of the year; there are a whole host of preseason all conference selections as well as players who will play major roles to their respective teams’ success. Since we are all basketball enthusiasts (I’ll let you gauge the degree of your enthusiasm in silence now for a moment) the Can Ball Report has compiled a list of players that we feel are worthy of early notice. Now some of you may know a few of the names already, if you do then good for you. For those of you who are not so familiar with them we suggest you, to quote Clinton Sparks, get familiar quickly. The players listed below are guys we feel you'll be hearing a lot about on this site, and any other Canadian media outlet for that matter, from the opening tip to the One Shining Moment in March and we want you to get it here first. So here we go people, the first annual Can Ball Report’s NCAA Canadian Player preview.

Most Outstanding Player – Harouna Mutombo, G - Western Carolina

A consensus pre season Southern Conference First Team selection this season after an incredible Rookie of the Year campaign, Mutombo is poised for a big (ger) year. He led the Catamounts in scoring, rebounding and steals on his way to a Second Team All SoCon nod so I wonder what the encore will be this season.

Top Newcomer – Manny Arop, G - Gonzaga

Arop may not have the best shot nor be the best rebounder as a freshman, but he does everything well enough that he will be an impact player for the Zags from day one. The team will be short on frontcourt help this year so he will be given every opportunity to contribute on a small ball lineup. Of all the newbie Canadians playing this year at the D1 level, Arop should be the best of them come March.

Best Shooter – Andy Rautins, G - Syracuse

Do you really need any explanation here? He is the best deep threat on a perennial national power team. Check his stats. He took 279 threes last year with gunner Eric Devendorf on the team and Rautins made an average of 2.8 makes per game. And that’s high quality defense in his face night in, night out. We don’t need to say anymore.

Best Defender – Andrew Nicholson, F/C – St. Bonaventure

After hitting the weight room this summer, the rookie record setting block machine is back to hold down the lane for the Bonnies. A legit Mutombo-like game changer, teams better rethink the attack when he’s they see his shadow looming.

Best Situation – Chretien Lukusa, G - Binghamton

The scandal that rocked Binghamton earlier this school year sent three starters and three supporting players packing, including two conference first teamers. An accomplished defender, Lukusa is the only returning starter so he pretty much should be good to go on both ends from day one.

Worst Situation – Ryan Wright, F - Oklahoma

The much ballyhooed Wright left UCLA for Oklahoma last year. Now with Blake Griffin in the NBA, the pressure is on him to contribute immediately to a team that has no real experienced frontcourt players returning. This may be a sink or swim situation that could turn against Wright in a hurry.

Most Important to Team – Andrew Nicholson, F/C – St. Bonaventure

Not enough can be said about Nicholson’s importance to his team this year so we’ll only use one word: very. He was the difference between a dead last finish and going .500 last season in the perennially tough A-10 Conference. This year, the team’s success will hinge largely on him and his improvements on both ends of the floor.

Super Sleeper – Willie Galick, F – Cal State-Northridge

Galick has been steadily flying under the radar for most of his college career finally breaking out last season as a junior transfer at Cal State-Northridge. Last year he started 25 of 33 games averaging 9.3 points and 5.5 rebounds, both fourth and second respectively on the team. This year, he will get the starting nod at the power forward spot from the beginning of the season for the Matadors and should really shine in the California sun.

Best Down the Road – Manny Arop, G - Gonzaga

Call me crazy but a having great games against the best in the world at your age group should be an indicator of how good you are. Arop showed how good he was in New Zealand at the U19 Worlds this summer. He will have every chance this season to show why he may be the best recruit in the Zags class this year and will only get better with experience.

Due for a Breakout - Rob Sacre, C - Gonzaga

Last season, Rob Sacre was hindered by a foot injury that kept him out of all but five games. After spending the summer working out with the Canadian Senior Men's National Team, the recovered Sacre will be the man in the middle with the departures of Josh Heytvelt and Austin Daye. With Sacre getting the first look at the starting center spot and a lack of real interior players, expect the breakout to come sooner than later.

Redemption Time – Maurice Joseph, G - Vermont

MoJo was another heralded Canadian export from the 2004 high school class along with Wright. He started out at Michigan State and was a big contributor to the team’s Tournament run in ’06 but he decided to transfer to Vermont after his sophmore campaign. Last season amid very high expectations, he began as a starter but finished coming off the bench. This season is the Montreal native’s final year to prove that he was worthy of big expectations when he became a Catamount.

Don’t Call It a Comeback – Olu Ashoalu, G/F – Louisiana Tech

Ashoalu has been on the top end of many school recruiting lists since he was a high school sophomore in Atlanta. He chose to follow the coach that recruited him to Louisiana Tech and got lost in the mix somehow. He was expected to play a big role in the team’s turnaround but red shirted his first year. Last year he showed flashes of what he could do averaging 5.3 ppg and 4.3 rpg playing in all 33 games. This year he will be asked to shoulder more of the load on both ends and should finally begin to play the way many predicted he would at this level.

Remember Me – William Archambault, F - Davidson

If you’re not aware of whom Archambault is you’ll know by the end of this season. With Stephen Curry starting in the NBA and taking with him much of the experienced outside shooting from last year’s team, the sweet shot forward will be the Wildcats’ primary outside gunner. He was the third leading scorer for the team despite starting only nine games and can light it up in a hurry. He is selected as a pre season SoCon All Conference selection, by the coaches no less, so we should all expect a big senior season from Archambault.

Diamond in the Rough - Max Boudreau, F - Buffalo

There seems to be something in the Quebec water that has the province producing seemingly unathletic yet highly efficient basketball players. Max Boudreau can arguably be the most underrated player on any team. He only averaged 13.8 minutes per but quietly put up 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds playing in all 33 contests. He managed to lead the team in scoring four times and rebounding six times last years, with two of those feats coming in the post season. This year may be the year for him to finally play more and potentially be a starter, finally.

Fab Five All Canadian First Team:

Andrew Nicholson, F/C - St Bonaventure

Harouna Mutumbo, G – Western Carolina

Andy Rautins, G - Syracuse

William Archambault, G/F - Davidson

Rob Sacre, C - Gonzaga

Ten Players to Watch:

Alex Johnson, G – Cal State-Bakersfield

Kai Williams, F – South Dakota State

Jon House, G – Belmont

Bol Kong, F – Gonzaga

Devoe Joseph, G – Minnesota

Hernst Laroche, G – New Mexico State

Tyrone Watson, G – New Mexico State

Marc Trasolini, F – Santa Clara

Francis Cedric-Martel, G/F – Richmond

Alwayne Bigby, G/F – Northeastern

Poll

Who will have the best season this year in the NCAA?

Andy Rautins - Syracuse

34 votes

Andrew Nicholson - St. Bonaventure

11 votes

Manny Arop - Gonzaga

144 votes

Harouna Mutombo - Western Carolina

16 votes

Other

12 votes

217 votes | Poll has closed

BtB 2009-10 Southern Conference Preview

Chris Dobbertean — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:25:09 -0000

The Southern Conference, and the nation, got a little taste of what life without Stephen Curry would be like when the College of Charleston knocked off Davidson in last year's conference semifinals. The Cougars then lost to Chattanooga on the Mocs' home floor, extending the Cougars tournament drought to 10 seasons, while simultaneously making UTC the third league team to claim multiple tournament bids during the 00s. The Mocs represented the conference in 2005, former member East Tennessee State won back-to-back crowns in 2003 and 2004, and Davidson first won in 2002 before claiming three straight between 2006 and 2008. The 2008 Elite Eight squad managed the conference's only three NCAA wins in the decade. Seeing as this squad was the only conference champion to escape the bottom four seed lines during the 00s, that's understandable.

Appalachian State and UNC Greensboro were the other two SoCon qualifiers during the decade. They represented the league in the 2000 and 2001 tournaments, respectively.

Even with Curry gone, the Wildcats will challenge for the title, especially with the conference tournament shifting to their backyard (Charlotte) this season. However, look to two of their South Division competitors, Bobby Cremins' Cougars and their crosstown rivals, The Citadel, fresh off their first ever postseason berth. to lead the way. In the North Division, Buzz Peterson is back at Appalachian State, and he has some talent at his disposal, while Western Carolina brings back all five starters from a team that tied for the division crown last time around.

As you can see, there's still plenty to watch in this conference, even after the player who may arguably be its greatest ever has moved on to the NBA. More on all 12 teams after the jump.

Here are my picks for 2009-10, presented in reverse order, starting with the North Division. (Click here to see my College of Charleston preview and my preseason All-SoCon team, as it wouldn't attach to this post.)

North Division

UNC Greensboro (last NCAA: 2001) The Spartans lost one starter from last year's 5 win team, F Damian Eargle (9.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg), a gifted sophomore who departed for personal reasons. The remaining four starters, led by 6-4 Finnish G Mikko Koivisto (12.4 ppg, 2.4 apg) and 6-5 F Ben Stywall (11.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg), will have to improve on both ends of the court to improve their win total. Meanwhile, head coach Mike Dement hopes that two freshmen, 6-8 Brian Cole and 6-7 Taylor Hoffer, can turn into the frontcourt force Eargle threatened to become. UNCG's non-conference schedule is ACC heavy, as they visit Duke and Virginia Tech, and face Maryland, NC State, and Wake Forest at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Elon (last NCAA: None) Former Davidson assistant Matt Matheny is the new head coach of the Phoenix, and his team could struggle in his first season, as last year's two leading scorers F Ola Atoyebi (13.9 ppg) and G Brett James (13.2 ppg) are both gone. The good news is that none of the team's other main performers from last season, led by the guards Josh Bonney (5.4 ppg, 3.1 apg), Devan Carter (7.1 ppg), and reserve Chris Long (7.2 ppg) left after the coaching change. Lots of players, especially an underperforming frontcourt, will have to step up to keep the Phoenix out of the basement, however. The Phoenix will participate in the South region of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Duke, where they'll open with Charlotte.

Chattanooga (last NCAA: 2009) The Mocs, last year's North Division champs, hosted last year's SoCon tourney and claimed the crown. Don't expect a repeat trip, as all five starters from that team are gone. The team's leading returning scorer is 6-6 senior G Ty Patterson, who averaged a little more than 8 points a contest this season. In fact, John Shulman's roster is loaded with reserves from last year's team, but one key newcomer is 6-5 F Troy Cage, a JC transfer who played at UNLV, and should immediately make his presence known. The Mocs schedule includes trips to Missouri and Richmond for the South Padre Island Invitational. They'll face Texas-Pan American, then either Bethune-Cookman or Longwood in the main tournament. In a scheduling coup, Georgia Tech visits McKenzie Arena this season.

Samford (last NCAA: 2000) Jimmy Tillette has four starters back from a team that finished at .500 overall, and just below that mark in the league. He also returns his five leading scorers from a season ago. The Bulldogs' strength is their backcourt, featuring 6-4 junior Josh Davis (10.1 ppg) and 6-4 senior Trey Montgomery (11.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg),the team's leading rebounder from a season ago. That should serve as a warning to a frontcourt that features 6-6 FBryan Friday (12.5 ppg. 3.5 rpg) and 6-8 C Andy King (8.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg), who certainly could put the ball in the basket, but need to increase their sometimes timid rebounding efforts. Two freshmen, 6-10 Levi Barnes and 6-9 Andrew Windler, will push them for minutes. During the non-conference season, Samford will visit Alabama, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech. They'll also take part in a round-robin event at Ohio, which, oddly enough, will feature a game against crosstown rival UAB.

Western Carolina (last NCAA: 1996) The Catamounts finished last season with a mark that was just above .500 both overall and in the SoCon. They should be better this season, as all five starters are back--led by last year's SoCon Freshman of the Year, 6-4 Canadian G Harouna Mutombo (14.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.8 spg), and senior backcourt mates Brandon Giles (13.2 ppg) and Brigham Waginger (8.4 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.6 spg). Head coach Larry Hunter could stand to get a little more production from a frontcourt featuring starters Adrian Gailliard (4.9 ppg. 3.1 rpg), Richie Gordon (6.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg), and reserve Jake Robinson (9.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg), however. If they step up, WCU becomes a serious contender for the overall league crown. This season, the Catamounts visit Clemson, Louisville, and Texas, as part of the CBE Classic. They'll also host one of that event's subregionals, featuring A-10 contender Duquesne, decimated America East champ Binghamton, and D-2 Arkansas-Monticello.

Appalachian State (last NCAA: 2000) Buzz Peterson is back to coach the Mountaineers after nine years away from Boone. He has a chance at immediate success, thanks to the return of five starters from a team that only managed 13 wins in 2008-09. The backcourt is one of the best in the league, as 6-1 junior Donald Sims 13.7 ppg, 2.3 apg) and 6-1 senior Kellen Brand (14.8 ppg) are offensive threats from anywhere on the floor, and senior PG Ryann Abraham (9.8 ppg) returns after a season that featured a suspension. The frontcourt features two strong rebounders--6-6 senior F Josh Hunter (8.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and 6-10 junior C Issac Butts (8.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg)--who could stand to score a little more. Appalachian's schedule features road trips to Arkansas, Dayton, Louisville, and Robert Morris. The games against the Razorbacks and Cardinals are part of the odd Hall of Fame Showcase event.

South Division

Georgia Southern (last NCAA: 1992) (Thanks to Rose Carter in GSU's sports information department for helping me clear this entry up.) GSU alum Charlton Young replaced Jeff Price at the helm after a 8-22 season that featured only 5 league wins. Young lost two starters, though guard Julian Allen, who was one of five Eagles to average more than 9 points a contest last season was suspended for the final third of last season. That means Georgia Southern still has a few guys who can score, especially guards Willie Powers (14.6 ppg before he suffered a knee injury), Antonio Hanson (12 ppg, 2.4 apg), and Ben Drayton III (11.8 ppg, 2.6 apg). Plus, 6-7 senior F Tyler Troupe, really stepped up after Allen's suspension, averaging 13.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg during the last 10 games of the season. So he'll be an effective weapon on the wing an in the 3 spot. However, Young will have to get his players to give a better effort on the defensive end of the court for the win total to increase. The Eagles visit South Carolina and Florida, as part of the Legends Classic. GSU will welcome D-2 Arkansas-Fort Smith, Troy, and Valparaiso to Statesboro for one of that event's "subregionals."

Furman (last NCAA: 1980) The Paladins are the classic "good news/bad news" case this season. For the good, Jeff Jackson has all five starters back. Now, the bad. That team only managed six wins, four in the league. 6-2 guard Jordan Miller was the only Paladin who averaged in double figures last season (13.8 ppg), so it's no wonder this team ranked near the bottom of every offensive statistical category in the SoCon. If the players can build on its experience, and Jackson can get more out of a frontcourt that didn't do nearly enough on the glass, they should improve significantly. Trips to in-state rivals Clemson and South Carolina are on the slate, as is a trip to California for the Golden Bear Classic.

Wofford (last NCAA: None) Mike Young's squad is loaded with experience this season, as all of his starters and key reserves are back from a squad that finished 16-14. However, as there's still a lot of other talent in the South Division, it could be tough for them to leave the middle of the pack, especially as the Terriers struggled on defense last season. 6-6 junior Noah Dahlman (17.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg) anchors the frontcourt, while 6-2 senior Junior Salters(15 ppg) is the leader in the backcourt. 6-5 junior swingman Tim Johnson averaged 10 points a game, while grabbing nearly 9 boards a contest. If Wofford can focus on both ends of the floor this season, they'll surprise. The schedule should prepare them for the rigors of the SoCon slate. They open with a trip to Pitt, while they also visit Georgia, Michigan State, Bradley, and Illinois. The last two games are part of the Las Vegas Invitational, and the Terriers will face Southern and Seattle or Presbyterian in Vegas. Wofford also welcomes South Carolina to Spartanburg.

Davidson (last NCAA: 2008) Not only is Curry gone, but so are F Andrew Lovedale and G Max Paulhus Gosselin. That means the returnees, led by 6-7 F Steve Rossiter and sharpshooters Bryant Barr--a 6-4 G, and William Archambault--a 6-6 swingman, will have to really up their offense production. Curry's nearly 29 points a contest will be hard to replace, and losing Lovedale's 12.5 points and nearly 9 boards a game makes the problem even bigger for Bob McKillop's squad. Expect 6-10 soph Frank Ben-Eze and 6-10 frosh Jake Cohen to battle to replace Lovedale inside. The schedule is typically tough, starting with a BracketBuster rematch with Butler right away. The Wildcats will fill the SoCon's host slot in the Charleston Classic, where they'll face USF in their opener, then La Salle or South Carolina on day two. They also face Gonzaga in Seattle and Cornell, then Hofstra or St. John's in the Holiday Classic.

The Citadel (last NCAA: None) Ed Conroy's team managed 20 wins and the school's first ever postseason bid, a trip to the CollegeInsider tournament, where they lost to Old Dominion by 8 in round one. The Bulldogs should be competitive again, but Conroy needs to replace graduated C Demetrius Nelson (16.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg), the team's leading scorer. Look for 7-0 former Washington backup C Joe Wolfinger--who has a year of eligibility left while he's in grad school--to get the first chance to replace him. The backcourt won't be an issue, thanks to the presence of 6-1 Cameron Wells (15.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and 6-2 Zach Urbanus (10 ppg, 3.3 apg), while swingmen John Brown (5 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Austin Dahn (6.8 ppg) could stand to help them out more offensively. The Bulldogs visit Houston, Texas A&M, and West Virginia, and host Michigan State.

Poll

Who is your pick to win the Southern Conference this season?

Appalachian State

2 votes

Chattanooga

1 votes

The Citadel

1 votes

College of Charleston

2 votes

Davidson

4 votes

Elon

0 votes

Furman

0 votes

Georgia Southern

2 votes

UNC Greensboro

0 votes

Samford

0 votes

Western Carolina

0 votes

Wofford

1 votes

13 votes | Poll has closed

Canadian Content

rbala — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:44:40 -0000

Canadians William Archambault and Harouna Mutombo are among the selections for preseason All Conference picks by the league coaches, not to mention the strong start to the season for Levon Kendall, Vermont's May Kotsopoulos being short listed for a senior award and a whole host of assorted CIS goodies in the late Friday edition of Canadian Content.

Vancouver's Levon Kendall is starting his season off right in Greece. Canada Basketball | KENDALL OFF TO STRONG START IN GREEK LEAGUE

Some news on our Canadian ballers playing in the NCAA. Big shouts to Pickering, ON's Harouna Mutombo and St. Hubert, PQ's Will Archambault for making the Southern Conference's preseason All Conference team.

Western Carolina Men's Basketball Picked to Win SoCon's North Division; Giles & Mutombo Named Preseason All-SoCon - WESTERN CAROLINA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Davidson College Athletics - Davidson Men's Basketball Picked Third in South Division

Also a big shout to Waterloo's May Kotsopoulos for being selected to a very pretigious senior award. Women's Basketball : University of Vermont

Sy, Watson add depth, athleticism to frontcourt - Las Cruces Sun-News

Now some CIS news. Two great profiles on SAIT players Orlandrea Moore and Emmanuel Chiek as well as a look at several teams that should be making noise this season.

dailygleaner.com - Basketball V-Reds work in progress | By BRUCE HALLIHAN - Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada

SAIT Trojans | News Detail

St Francis Xavier

View Article: .. | Lakehead University Athletics

The Sil » Blog Archive » Mac stands tall against NCAA teams

dailygleaner.com - Pressure on hoop Tommies to repeat | By BRUCE HALLIHAN - Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada

Here is a prep story on Laurent Rivard from Crown Magazine. Rivard Finds His Place | Crown Magazine

And lastly a story on a Windsor coach who passed away suddenly very recently. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Jacqueline Moore. Windsor basketball coach Jacqueline Moore dies suddenly

On This Date in Georgia Bulldogs History

T Kyle King — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:00:22 -0000

Today, November 3, is an important date here in Bulldog Nation, as it marks the anniversary of two momentous events in the history of the Georgia football program and a third occurrence which, while lacking the importance of the former two, nevertheless has some small measure of significance in this tiny corner of Red and Black fandom.

Exactly 89 years ago today, on November 3, 1920, the following words from the pen of sportswriter Morgan Blake appeared in The Atlanta Journal:

We now have in the south three teams with the nickname of "Wildcats." They are Kentucky State, Davidson and Georgia. . . . Football teams evidently are stuck on nicknames depicting feline characteristics, for there are many teams with nicknames of "Tigers." In the south we have the Auburn Tigers, the Sewanee Tigers and the Clemson Tigers and maybe some more. I had hoped that Georgia would adopt some original nickname that would stand out. . . . The "Georgia Bulldogs" would sound good, because there is a certain dignity about a bulldog as well as ferocity, and the name is not as common as "Wildcats" and "Tigers." Yale is about the only team I recall right now that has the name.

The following Saturday, Herman Stegeman’s unbeaten Georgia Wildcats tied Virginia in Charlottesville, and Cliff Wheatley referred to the Red and Black eleven as the "Bulldogs" five times in his Atlanta Constitution postgame report. The nickname Blake pinned on the Athenians on this date in 1920 stuck . . . so you Arkansas fans can bite me!

Exactly 64 years ago today, on November 3, 1945, the Georgia Bulldogs, led by returning star Charley Trippi following his discharge from the armed forces after the end of World War II, snapped a two-game losing skid with a 34-7 road win over Chattanooga. The Red and Black followed that up with a 34-0 win over Florida in Jacksonville, a 35-0 win over Auburn in Columbus, and a 33-0 win over Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The victory over Chattanooga on this date in the first postwar season of college football marked the start of a 17-game winning streak, which remains to this day the longest winning streak in the history of Georgia football.

Finally, albeit less significantly, exactly 41 years ago today, on November 3, 1968, I was born.

I want to thank Willie Martinez for his attempt to pay tribute to my birthday last Saturday, when he did his part to allow the Gators to score 41 points on the Bulldogs. I’d like to give our beleaguered defensive coordinator two big thumbs up for that kindhearted gesture, and I hope to return the favor in January, when I send him a going-away gift.

Anyway, I’m taking the day off . . . from blogging, I mean; I’ll be going to work and all. I don’t take my own birthday off from work. It’s not like it’s Herschel’s birthday or anything!

I’ll be back tomorrow to take you around the SEC in the first installment of this week’s "Don’t Bet On It!"

Go ‘Dawgs!

2009-2010 Team Previews: Davidson Wildcats

everydayezag — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:00:38 -0000

More photos » by Chuck Burton - AP

Davidson head coach Bob McKillop will look to help the Wildcats replace the departed Stephen Curry.

Browse more photos »

Am I the only Gonzaga fan that still cringes and gets angry thoughts when thinking about Davidson? Even though last season produced a Sweet 16 appearance for the Zags, I still think about what could have been if the 2007/2008 team could have just held on in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament. Of course, it was that great run to the Elite 8 that helped put Davidson basketball on the map, and turned Stephen Curry from a talented player into a household name. However, when these two teams meet up in the Battle in Seattle, the names will be much different, as will the expectations for both programs. Davidson is in their first year without Curry, and as you might imagine, it will be very difficult to find a replacement for the type of production and leadership that Curry provided for the Wildcats. Gonzaga will also probably have lower expectations heading into the Battle in Seattle, as last year the Bulldogs were ranked in the top 10 and were facing a nationally ranked UConn team. However, this game will provide some insight into whether the Davidson program has the ability to stay on the national scene even with the departure of arguably its greatest superstar.

Last season: As strange as it may sound, I would think that many Davidson fans would consider last season a little bit of a disappointment. Despite winning 27 games, the Wildcats were not able to return to the NCAA Tournament and repeat their terrific performance from the previous season. The main reason that Davidson didn't make the NCAA Tournament was because of the inability to win the key non-conference games. The Wildcats dropped games against Oklahoma, Purdue, Duke, and Butler, with a win over any of those teams likely sending them to the Big Dance. During the years where Gonzaga struggled, the Zags have always been able to take care of business in conference play. This was not the case for Davidson, as the Wildcats lost in the Southern Conference tournament, thus denying them the guaranteed tournament berth. Despite a fantastic season, which saw Curry average over 28 points per game, Davidson was forced to settle for a spot in the NIT. After opening the NIT with a victory over South Carolina, the season came to an end in a great game against St. Mary's.

New Faces: While no one individual can be expected to replace the production of Curry, the Wildcats have a nice set of newcomers who will help ease the scoring burden. The most highly recruited of the group is 6'4 JP Kuhlman. Kuhlman is an excellent scorer, and with his size, can score both inside and outside. He is expected to make an immediate impact for head coach Bob McKillop. Jake Cohen also has a chance to see some early minutes for Davidson. The 6'10 forward has the ability to be a force on the defensive end, as he does any excellent job of using his height to block and disrupt shots. He also shoots the ball well from the outside, which will be a huge asset with his size. Rounding out the group is Nik Cochran. The 6'3 Canadian is an excellent shooter, but it appears that he might be a little farther away from contributing because of his lack of strength and experience against top level competition.

Players to watch: After losing both Stephen Curry and Andrew Lovedale, it is difficult to find where the offense will come from for this team. One guy that will certainly have to boost his production and take on a bigger role is Will Archambault. The 6'6 forward moved into the starting lineup for the Wildcats at the end of last season, and finished the season as the 3rd leading scorer. Archambault is an excellent shooter from beyond the arc, but also has the size to take his defender into the paint and score. It will be interesting to see if Archambault is capable of becoming more of a scorer, or if he is better suited to play as a role type guy for this team. Brendan McKillop may be the son of the head coach, but he is also an excellent player who seems ready to step into a starring role. McKillop averaged only 4.9 points off the bench last season, but he is a heady guard who can shoot the lights out when he is in a rhythm. He should have more of an opportunity to score and run the team with the departure of Curry. A lot will be expected of highly touted sophomore Frank Ben-Eze. Ben-Eze is one of the most decorated recruits to step foot on the Davidson campus. However, as a freshman, Ben-Eze never found consistent playing time for the Wildcats. With the graduation of Lovedale, Ben-Eze will have an excellent opportunity to show his talent and play consistent minutes.

Concerns: It's so difficult to figure out what Gonzaga should be concerned about heading into this game with the uncertainty that surrounds both teams. After thinking about it, it came to me that the greatest concern is in fact the uncertainty surrounding this Davidson team. Over the past couple of years, teams knew that if they could slow down Stephen Curry, they could beat Davidson. However, this year, the Wildcats will return to the systematic and structured offense that Bob McKillop normally uses. With so much screening and motion going on, this is the type of offense that can be nearly impossible to stop when the Wildcats shoot the ball well. As many Gonzaga fans can attest, there have been some teams that certainly have had unbelievable shooting performances against the Zags defense.

What we are watching for: This game should be an excellent opportunity for the entire Gonzaga front court to gain confidence and put together a dominant performance. The Wildcats don't have much depth or experience in the front court, and this is the type of game that could see Rob Sacre, Elias Harris, and Andy Poling have big nights. Harris has more athleticism and ability then anyone Davidson can put on him, while both Sacre and Poling are just bigger and stronger then what the Wildcats can match with. If this front court is going to develop over the season, this would be a big game to boost their confidence and development.

SB Nation - Davidson Wildcats

Where is Stephen Curry? Zags face Davidson in BIS

Gonzaga routs division three foe Augustana

Moving on to chapter two of the 2009-10 season

Tonight's Lines

College Hoops Go Round: November 19

CBE Classic Semifinals

No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 15 Ohio State (ESPN2, 9:30)

Puerto Rico Tip-Off Quarterfinals

Kansas State vs. Boston University (No TV, 7:30)

Charleston Classic Quarterfinals

The Can Ball Report's NCAA Canadian Player Preview

Who will have the best season this year in the NCAA?

Andy Rautins - Syracuse

Andrew Nicholson - St. Bonaventure

Manny Arop - Gonzaga

Harouna Mutombo - Western Carolina

Other

BtB 2009-10 Southern Conference Preview

North Division

South Division

Who is your pick to win the Southern Conference this season?

Appalachian State

Chattanooga

The Citadel

College of Charleston

Davidson

Elon

Furman

Georgia Southern

UNC Greensboro

Samford

Western Carolina

Wofford

Canadian Content

On This Date in Georgia Bulldogs History

2009-2010 Team Previews: Davidson Wildcats