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Post by uwmdenver on Oct 25, 2005 16:05:16 GMT -6
Hello Krazies ~
Can someone who has ESPN Insider access, email the text of the article, for those of us who can only read the first two paragraphs.
That would be awesome, I am curious to see what ESPN think of UWM this season.
Thanks,
taylor p
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Post by pnthr97 on Oct 25, 2005 16:25:19 GMT -6
UWM COACH AND PROGRAM Go back to that Horizon League Tournament championship game last March. If a free throw or two falls the other way in the final tense seconds, who knows how different things might be today. If Detroit's Ryvon Covile hits either of his free throws with 38 seconds to play, or if Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Adrian Tigert misses the one he hit with 4.2 second on the clock, the Titans win the game and snatch the league's automatic NCAA Tournament bid out from under the Panthers. If that's the case, Milwaukee's Cinderella run to the Sweet 16 likely never happens. In turn, one wonders if Bruce Pearl gets the Tennessee job without the headline-grabbing wins over Alabama and Boston College. But the facts are that the Panthers prevailed, 59-58, over Detroit in the winner-take-all tournament final before 10,783 screaming (mostly) UWM fans at US Cellular Arena in Milwaukee. And the rest is history. Pearl is gone to revive Tennessee, the high-major job he says he's worked for all his life. And Rob Jeter makes the drive over on I-94 from UW-Madison to take over at Milwaukee. Make that Jeter "returns" to Milwaukee. The son of former Green Bay Packer star Bob Jeter is Wisconsin through-and-through. He played at Wisconsin-Plattville, captaining coach Bo Ryan's Division III squad to a national title. He was an assistant to Ryan at Plattville, then joined Mike Deane's staff at Marquette. Then he rejoined Ryan at UW-Milwaukee for two years (1999-2001) and subsequently followed Ryan to Madison, where he spent the last four seasons. He comes back to take over a program that Pearl elevated to one of the best mid-major jobs in the country by averaging 23.3 wins the last three years and going to two NCAA Tournaments. "I think this is a good fit for me,'' Jeter said, "because I've spent a lot of time here in the state and I recruited some of the young men who are in the program now. "As an assistant you pay your dues, put your head down and work and eventually, you hope a good opportunity will come.'' Taking over the Panthers at this juncture definitely qualifies as a good opportunity. Yes, Horizon League Player of the Year Ed McCants is gone, but virtually everyone else returns from a 26-6 team that won the league with a 14-2 mark. Jeter won't be rebuilding a downtrodden program. He'll be trying to keep it from resting on its laurels. He can't help but notice the evolution of the program since he left four years ago. The Panthers now play all their home games downtown in the US Cellular Arena. Their on-campus facility, the Klotsche Center, has been expanded with new offices and training rooms. "The community involvement and fan support has really changed,'' Jeter said. "When we came in here six years ago, we were trying to drum up interest, but there was talent here. A lot of those season-ticket holders came over and stayed. They liked watching those guys grow and develop. The belief now is that Milwaukee can and should win. That's the biggest thing you need, that belief that we can do this.'' While Jeter inherits a talented, veteran roster, he will be making subtle changes in strategy. Pearl experienced success pressing 94 feet and putting up quick shots in transition. Jeter, a Ryan disciple, isn't exactly going to work the shot clock, but he might rein in the tempo a bit. "There's a lot of different ways to win,'' he said. "Our approach is slightly different, just a tad more structured, but at the same time, they're going to be free to play. We're going to play to our strengths and we inherit a team that can get up and down the floor, play fast and take some chances defensively. Bruce Pearl and coach Ryan have the same mentor in Tom Davis, which is what some people don't understand.'' The Panthers will still employ the 1-2-1-1 press. And when they run in transition, Jeter will like to see a look inside before a quick three-pointer goes up. He'll add some half-court sets to the ones Pearl installed. "My thing is I really want to get to the free-throw line,'' Jeter said. "I think you can really hurt teams there. You get a steal on the press, it hurts a team more to attack the rim and get fouled and get a three-point play that way. It takes the heart out of a team more than a three-pointer. I don't want guys to lose sight of the free-throw line, so the ball will come inside a tad more. When the ball comes back out, if you've got a shot, let it go.'' PLAYERS While the Panthers have lost one league player of the year in McCants (17.4 ppg), they have a leading candidate for another in 6-5 senior wing forward Joah Tucker (16.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg). The Horizon League knew all about Tucker but the nation learned his name after he averaged 25.1 points in three NCAA Tournament games -- wins over Alabama and Boston College and a loss to Illinois. Tucker shot 47.2 percent from the field, was a fair threat (29 percent) from three-point range and was devastating getting to the line (115-of-159 free throws). "The reason why he was successful last year was he was aggressive attacking the basket,'' Jeter said, "rather than settling for outside shots. With his size and athleticism, he's a difficult guy to guard.'' Tucker has played alongside Dylan Page and McCants. Now, it's truly his time. He has worked hard on hitting his jumper more consistently, but his bread and butter is using his strength to get to the basket. Boo Davis (10.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg) is a 6-3 senior guard who is a likely candidate to boost his scoring in the wake of McCants' departure. McCants attempted 285 three-point shots last winter. Davis will pick up some of those attempts after finishing strong last year to get to 34.6 percent from three-point range. Sensing a senior season of increasing opportunity, Davis put in a good summer of work. Chris Hill (7.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg) returns as the playmaker. Hill improved his shooting percentage last season (37.5 beyond the arc) and handed out 103 assists. The fourth returning starter is big man Tigert (9.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg). The 6-7 senior doesn't aggressively look for his shot, but when defenders dare him to take it, he can burn them. He hit 28-of-71 three-pointers (39.4 percent) and made 57.1 percent of all field-goal attempts. He's also one of the leading returning rebounders in the league. The question of how to fill McCants' starting vacancy finds Jeter with some options. A newcomer who could fill the bill is 6-4 Tyrone Young, a Kansas City-area prep star who spent the past two years in the junior-college ranks at Vincennes University. Young is a mature and versatile scorer who averaged 19.5 points last year at Vincennes. Young was considered a top-15 juco prospect by several publications. As for the returning veterans, Mark Pancratz (2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) has the experience factor going for him. The 6-3 senior averaged 12.7 minutes last year. However, Pancratz is a blue-collar, hustle guy and not much of a scoring threat. Derrick Wimmer (0.8 ppg, 0.1 rpg) is a 6-4 junior who will get a look. Wimmer averaged 10 points at Chicago State two years ago before transferring, but he never got much of an opportunity to play last year, mainly because of Milwaukee's talent and depth. His strength is supposed to be long-range shooting so he could earn a niche if he shows some consistency. Allan Hanson (1.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg), a 6-0 sophomore, returns to reprise his role as backup point guard to Hill. Nick Hansen (1.1 ppg, 0.9 rpg), a 6-5 junior, will scrap to get in the rotation. Myles McKay is a 6-3 red-shirt freshman who had a good summer but will have to wait another year to get in the rotation. If Jeter wants to go with a bigger lineup, Derrick Ford (3.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg) is available. The 6-10, 240-pound senior averaged 10.2 minutes off the bench last winter. He blocked 33 shots and has the potential to improve his offensive output. Jason McCoy (3.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg) averaged 11 minutes a game last year, mainly contributing on defense. A thin 6-9, McCoy is limited offensively but can pick up a garbage basket or two off the glass. Michael Bendall is a 6-7 sophomore hoping to impress the new staff. Steve Hoelzel is a 6-9 red-shirt sophomore who sat out last year after transferring from Michigan Tech. As for newcomers, Jeter had to recruit late to replace two November signees who bailed out after Pearl left. One, Ryan Childress, ended up following Pearl to Tennessee. Kevin Massiah is a 6-5 wing forward who comes from Canada by way of Schoolcraft Community College in Michigan. He played two years ago at Western Kentucky. Massiah doesn't shoot a ton of treys but can attack the basket. His maturity should be a plus for a newcomer. "Super athletic is how I would describe him,'' Jeter said. "He's just been banged up and hasn't had a chance to show what he can do.'' Another Canadian, Kaylan Anderson, is a 6-3 guard who averaged 19.7 points last year as a senior. Avery Smith, a 6-3 guard from Milwaukee via Garden City (Kansas) Community College, was a late addition. Smith, who has three years to play, averaged 12.4 points at Garden City and hit 36 percent of his three-pointers. Ricky Franklin, a 6-1 freshman, was another last-minute addition. Franklin had a great senior year in which he was chosen Milwaukee's city player of the year while averaging 20 points at Riverside High School. Paige Paulsen is a 6-7 transfer from Northern Illinois who has to sit out this year. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: B+ BENCH/DEPTH: B FRONTCOURT: A INTANGIBLES: A- In Tucker and Tigert, Wisconsin-Milwaukee has a really nice combination that will be productive in and around the paint. Hill is a solid point guard and Davis looks to have a big senior year scoring. Jeter arrives in an ideal situation. He inherits a talented team that has grown accustomed to winning and, though Jeter is replacing Pearl, he is not exactly a stranger. The Panthers have two basic questions to answer: who replaces McCants' firepower and how much adjustment will there be switching from Pearl's system to Jeter's? The answer is that there is ample talent and experience to deal with both issues in what should be a smooth transition. Don't bet against the Panthers winning it all again. For the most comprehensive previews on all 326 Division I teams, order the 384-page "Bible" of college basketball, Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, at www.blueribbonyearbook.com.
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Post by mcdadenets50 on Oct 25, 2005 16:42:29 GMT -6
The Panthers will still employ the 1-2-1-1 press. Nice. Thanks for the article pnthr97
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Post by uwmdenver on Oct 25, 2005 16:45:59 GMT -6
Awesome!
Thanks so much dude! Great to read all the perspectives on UWM this season. I am sure it has been said over and over but since I havent posted in awhile, Ill say that compared to last year, and not in relation to the Preseason NIT, I think the schedule is a little weak, but all the more reason for the team to have great numbers. I cannot wait for the year to start and hopefully the NIT game is on ESPN out on the West Coast.
Cheers,
tay.p.
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Post by germanathens on Oct 25, 2005 17:03:09 GMT -6
OUTSTANDING! Best article on the panthers I have read for 2005-2006.
What does he say about some of the other HL teams? I assume we are the favorites to win the conference.
Thanks 97. -UWMfreak
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Post by Pantherholic on Oct 25, 2005 18:23:31 GMT -6
We're going to play to our strengths Whew that's a relief!
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Post by pnthr97 on Oct 25, 2005 20:05:35 GMT -6
This is going to get pretty long, pretty fast, but here are the articles for each team in the HL. I hope at least some of you find it informative...
UIC
COACH AND PROGRAM Transition is the word at Illinois-Chicago this winter and we're not just talking about converting a turnover into a dunk.
Out with the old, in with the newnewcomers, that is. The Flames won a lot of games and scaled a lot of heights during the reign of Cedric Banks, Martell Bailey, Aaron Carr and Armond Williams. Bailey and Carr left at the end of the 2003-04 season and now, a year later, the prolific Banks and workhorse Williams are also gone.
As evidenced by last year's slip from 24 wins to 15 and only a .500 record in the conference, UIC missed Bailey's playmaking and leadership. Now it must replace Banks (18.7 ppg) as the go-to scorer and locker room leader.
However, if you're thinking veteran coach Jimmy Collins is suffering from depression, you're wrong. Quite the contrary, in fact. "We've got a whole bunch of new guys,'' Collins said, "a bunch of 'em, and that ain't a bad thing. ... Sometimes it's good to wipe the slate relatively clean and get some new attitude.''
The attitude of last year's team is a slate that needed wiping, Collins said. "I should have got coach of the year for going 15-14. Not because of the guys who had experience, but the overall attitude of that team was not conducive to winning. People had some agendas that did not fit the team concept. We won 15 games where we could have easily only won 11 with the attitude problems we had on that team.
"I'm going to fall short of saying we're going to have a great year this year but I'll tell you one thingwin, lose or draw this is going to be a fun year for our coaching staff.''
PLAYERS UIC welcomes as many as nine newcomers this year, although freshman forward Lance Young and Bowling Green transfer center Scott VanderMeer will have to red-shirt.
Gone are starters Banks and Williams (10.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg), both members of the Horizon League All-Defensive team. Two other players who opened the season with the Flames left during the course of the year -- center Josip Petrusic and guard Marceatteaus McGee. Banks, who signed a pro contract with a French team, leaves big shoes to fill. He attempted 221 three-pointers last year and was unquestionably the go-to man. "You not only lose a go-to guy who can deliver 95 percent of the time he's called on,'' Collins said, "but also a statesman for the team. He wasn't an outgoing ambassador with the media but the team loved Ced. Even though he shot a lot of the time, I can vouch for the fact that Cedric was not a selfish ballplayer. He took charges and rebounded and in the locker room, he was a positive leader.''
UIC returns five players who averaged at least 15 minutes a game. The one who has earned the most respect from Collins with his attitude and summer work ethic is forward Jovan Stefanov (8.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg). The 6-9 junior from Belgrade, Yugoslavia has a nice all-around game and figures to look for more shots now that Banks is gone. "I can't say enough positive about him,'' Collins said. "I'm not going to lie to you, I'm partial to Jovan. And I certainly think he could have put up larger numbers in the past, but he is very unselfish. He believes in the chain of command. He believes Cedric was supposed to shoot, which a lot of us believed. He also believed Armond was supposed to shoot, which not all of us believed.''
Stefanov will become more of a focal point of the offense, which he should be able to handle. He was UIC's leading scorer with 15 points in a loss to Duke last year. His game is versatile and he doesn't take many bad shots.
Another guy who figures to boost his scoring is sophomore guard Karl White (5.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg). The 6-2 Nebraskan was a role player as a freshman but ended up starting at the end of the year. A natural off-guard, White played some point last year because Banks' presence meant there weren't a lot of minutes at the two-guard spot. White, more than anyone, steps up into Banks' void. "Playing some at the point last year helped him see the floor to understand offense,'' Collins said, "and that helped him. This year, he'll play the two exclusively. He won't have to worry about getting everybody else involved. And more important than scoring, he can be a tremendous defensive player.''
Although Collins is reluctant to consider anybody a lock for a starting job, Elliott Poole joins White and Stefanov as being at least penciled in. The 6-7 Poole (9.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg) is a key to UIC's season if he fits into the scheme of things. "He has all the ability and potential,'' Collins said, "but potential just means it's there. You have to bring it out. The last two years he never really got into tip-top shape until going down the stretch. If he does that now, by the time we get to the end of the conference, we're going to have a monster. He can beat you to death if his head is on right, or he can hurt you to death if it's not.'' It wouldn't be unreasonable to see Poole average a double-double if he maxes his ability. He's crafty using all the angles on the glass to score in the paint.
Who joins Poole in the paint? Two newcomers Collins is excited about are Othyus Jeffers, a 6-5 Chicago native from a California junior college, and Daniel Zoric, a Serbian from a Texas JUCO. Jeffers practically grew up on campus. His cousin, Mark Miller, was a UIC great who had his jersey hung in the rafters. The Flames will take it down, though, so Jeffers can also wear No. 12 to honor Miller's legacy. Jeffers played one year of junior college ball then sat out last year. He was at UIC last season but didn't get to practice. He has three years to play. "He's put in the time and he's bursting with enthusiasm,'' Collins said. "He will pass, rebound and he's willing to get down and dirty. That's the kind of player we've been noted for through the years. He's been coming to our gym since he was eight years old. He's been a part of our family. It's always good to be in a program where you don't have to recruit a player but that player recruits you.'' Jeffers can play three positions, much like the departed Williams, but is more skilled offensively than Williams. Zoric is a 6-9 wide body who averaged 19.3 points and 8.0 rebounds at Collin County Community College in Texas. He has a strong work ethic and is a quick study. Collins is counting on him to shore up the post game this winter.
Jovan Ignjatovic is a 6-9 freshman who came from Serbia to Chicago's Whitney Young High School. "Iggy" is a red-shirt candidate only because he has such a promising upside Collins doesn't want to waste a year of eligibility having him sit behind some veterans.
Justin Bowen is one of those veterans. The 6-7 Bowen (7.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) started 17 games last year and averaged 24 minutes. If Stefanov takes over the three spot, Bowen could slide down to the four where he is most productive (he has no outside shot). What Bowen brings is energy and a willingness to attack the glass. He's the best leaper on the team.
Luther Boyd (1.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg) is a 6-7 senior forward who will fight for spot minutes. Kevin Hill, a red-shirt sophomore, is 6-8 and raw. If he is able to contribute this year, it will be defense and rebounding. Kevin Bond (1.7 ppg, 0.7 rpg) is a 6-5 sophomore who averaged five minutes last season but is capable of more. Robert Bush (1.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg) is a 6-4 sophomore guard with similar stats to Bond.
One of the most interesting roster battles will be at point guard. Rocky Collum (8.7 ppg), a 5-10 senior, is the incumbent, but Collins says the job is wide open. Collum had the tough task last year of replacing Bailey as the distributor and the chemistry wasn't always ideal. Collum is the best three-point shooter on the team but didn't' endear himself to Collins over the summer by not getting in the gym often enough. Thus, newcomers D.J. Smedley and Josh Mayo are very much in the running to start.
Californian Smedley is only 5-10, but the junior proved at Saddleback Junior College he has a high basketball IQ. He doesn't look to score much but has a true set-up man's mentality. "He's put in the time over the summer,'' Collins said. "Rocky has experience but he has not put in the time. That doesn't mean he won't rise back up, but his spot is not a given.''
Mayo, a 5-10 freshman, comes from Merrillville, Ind., and is an offensive-minded point guard in the mold of Dee Brown at Illinois. "He can play the game,'' Collins said. "I like it when you bring in new guys because they want to please you. They want to play.''
One more newcomer in the backcourt is junior Greg Zimny, a 6-1 transfer from Samford. His strong suit is stretching a defense with his shooting.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: B BENCH/DEPTH: B+ FRONTCOURT: B INTANGIBLES: C
This will be a new-look season at UIC. The Flames have said farewell to some familiar (and important) faces over the last two years. It remains to be seen if an influx of newcomers can elevate the program back to its accustomed role of Horizon League title contender.
One thing is for sure, Collins welcomes the challenge and looks for an improved team-oriented attitude to re-energize the Flames. The three key returnees are Stefanov, Poole and White, all of whom must elevate their scoring to make up for the loss of Cedric Banks. Look for White to make the biggest jump.
The key newcomer is forward Jeffers, who should be a valuable contributor by conference season. Among holdover Collum and newcomers Smedley and Mayo, Collins should be able to find a competent point guard. In a best-case scenario, UIC could sneak back into contention.
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Post by pnthr97 on Oct 25, 2005 20:06:47 GMT -6
Butler
COACH AND PROGRAM
OK, so the 16-14 "off year" Butler had in 2003-04 wasn't a one-year hiccup.
The Bulldogs dropped to 13-15 last winter. That's 29 victories in two years -- after coach Todd Lickliter averaged 26.5 wins a year his first two seasons at Butler. The good news is that Lickliter will open the 2005-06 season with continuity on his side.
For the first time in his Butler tenure, Lickliter returns the entire starting lineup that finished the season for the Bulldogs last winter. Unlike last year, he'll also enjoy the leadership from three seniors. The Bulldogs had no seniors last year, and maybe that had something to do with the fact that Butler lost eight games by six or fewer points and led seven of those eight in the second half. The Bulldogs even led four of them with two minutes to play.
The close losses piled up, though, and the Bulldogs saw a streak of 11 years of winning records come to an end. Ironically, Butler finished 7-9 in the Horizon League despite having the conference's leader in field-goal percentage, three-point field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage. The Bulldogs couldn't seem to find a rhythm as Lickliter experimented with different lineups. He finally found one that clicked and the result was more cohesive play down the stretch.
PLAYERS The roster that returns for 2005-06 is a case that less may turn out to be more. Four veterans decided to transfer in the off-season: former starting center Jamie Smalligan; forward Nick Brooks; freshman guard Gary Patterson; forward Jeff James, who was red-shirting last year.
Now, on to the Bulldogs who stuck around. Brandon Polk (13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg) was an impact transfer from junior college last year and should be even more productive as a senior. The 6-6 forward made the HL all-newcomer team and led the league in field-goal shooting at 58.9 percent. And he did it despite wearing a shoulder harness. Off-season surgery has eliminated the shoulder problem and Polk is a threat to garner first-team all-conference honors this year. The slasher finished with a rush last year, averaging 23.5 points and 7.3 rebounds over his last four games. He's extremely quick around the basket and skilled with either hand.
Because Butler doesn't have a true post player, Polk will be the go-to man in the paint. He rarely ventures out to the three-point line (one-of-four last season). He'll be joined in the paint by Brandon Crone (7.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), a 6-6 junior who has distinguished himself best with a blue-collar mentality. Crone is a hard-nosed defender and keeps the patrons on the front row paying attention lest he dive in their laps after a loose ball. Unlike Polk, Crone will step out and shoot the trey (38.6 percent).
With two 6-6 guys in the post, Butler has obvious issues on the rebounding front. The Bulldogs were out-rebounded last year by an average of 31.2 to 26.1 per game, a deficit that ranked them at the bottom of the league in that category. Getting beat on the boards figured prominently in some of last season's defeats. There's not much help on the bench, either. Brian Ligon (1.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg) is a 6-7 junior who averaged 11 minutes last year. Once a starter early in his career, Ligon has had two knee surgeries in two years. Going into the season, he says he feels better than at any time in his career, but anybody coming off two knee surgeries is a question mark. Any defense and rebounding he could provide--if healthy--would be big for the Bulldogs.
Speaking of knees, Julian Betko, a 6-5 junior wing player, is eager to get his Butler career started. The transfer from Clemson had to sit out last year to strengthen his surgically repaired knee. His maturity and toughness will be welcome assets.
Drew Streicher (0.6 ppg, 0.6 rpg) is a 6-7 sophomore swing man who has worked hard in the weight room to get in position to help. His basketball IQ is high, but he needs to improve on the physical front. Peter Campbell is a 6-7 forward, but he'll have to wait another year to contribute. Campbell averaged 11.1 points at IUPU-Fort Wayne but will have to sit a year, with two to play.
Whatever its shortcomings inside, Butler is ever dangerous on the perimeter. Bruce Horan, Avery Sheets and A.J. Graves formed a solid three-guard offensive attack down the stretch last year. Horan (9.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg) led the league in three-point accuracy at 41.7 percent. That barely nipped Graves' 41.4 and Sheets' 41.3. Horan was 84-of-205 beyond the arc. He had only 88 total field goals, leading to the obvious conclusion that the 6-3 senior is a one-dimensional threat. Still, it's a strong dimension.
Sheets (9.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg) is a 6-footer and the third senior in the starting lineup. Obviously a three-point threat, Sheets also showed a sure-handedness running the offense last year, totaling 112 assists and only 48 turnovers.
In addition to stroking the trey unusually well for a freshman, Graves (11.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg) upheld the family tradition by leading the league in free-throw accuracy at 91.9 percent. There must be some fantastic free-throw shooting contests when the Graves brothers get together back in Switz City, Ind. Andrew led the league once when playing for Butler and Matthew, now an assistant coach, did it twice.
A.J. got his career off to such an impressive start, Patterson, another touted signee last year, decided to transfer. Graves also logged 77 assists and a team-high 35 steals.
As a team Butler led the league by making 8.4 three-pointers per game. With Horan, Sheets, Graves and Crone all a threat, the Bulldogs can stretch a defense to the breaking point. Unlike Horan, however, Sheets and Graves can also take defenders off the dribble.
Marcus Nellems, a 6-4 wing player from Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College, will be in the mix. He wasn't a big scorer in junior college but could earn his minutes by bringing defense to the table. The Bulldogs could use a strong perimeter defender to match up with some of the bigger wing guards in the league.
Mike Green, a transfer from Towson State, is a 6-footer who will have to wait in the wings for a year. Green started 56 games in two years for Towson. The Philadelphia area product will have two years to play when he gets eligible.
As usual, Butler doesn't back down from the big boys when it comes to scheduling. In November, the Bulldogs make a road trip nobody would envy, visiting Michigan and Ohio State in the same week. Butler also takes on a third Big Ten foe in Indiana at Conseco Fieldhouse.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: B+ BENCH/DEPTH: C- FRONTCOURT: C INTANGIBLES: B
The Bulldogs and their fans are used to not only winning, but winning big.
A two-year slide isn't easy to swallow at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The question is whether it will extend to three?
In Graves, Sheets and Horan, Butler has a potent perimeter shooting triumvirate. Few schools anywhere have three starting guards that hit 41 percent of their treys. On the other hand, the Bulldogs are on the small side, both inside and out, which can create problems on the defensive end and on the glass.
The addition of wings Betko and Nellems should help defensively. Inside, Polk should have a big year at forward, but he needs help in the paint and it's not apparent where it's coming from.
The Bulldogs might be wielding a short stick again this year when it comes to rebounding. And the bench isn't deep considering several players transferred and only one of three newcomers is immediately eligible. Look for Butler to start a new winning streak, but not a new 20-win streak.
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Post by pnthr97 on Oct 25, 2005 20:08:10 GMT -6
Cleveland State
COACH AND PROGRAM
The transformation at Cleveland State continues this winter with coach Mike Garland welcoming what he considers a promising recruiting class.
Prediction: the starting five at the end of the year will be different from the starting five in November once the newcomers get their feet under them. This will be year three for Garland, the former Michigan State assistant coach. The Vikings came so close to breaking into double digit wins last year for the first time since 2001-02. Nine victories was an advancement from six the previous year, but the bigger gain was in Horizon League play, where the Vikings improved from 0-16 to 6-10.
"Of course I wanted to win more games,'' Garland said, "but what I'm glad about is that we're making strides in the right direction. We didn't win any conference games the year before and last year we were able to get in the mix. We had a little run there where we were playing to get in the upper half of the conference. With a little more experience we might have been able to go ahead and take that step.'' Now, it's upward and onward. At least Garland hopes so.
"I feel that unlike any other year in the past,'' Garland said, "we've done more (in the off-season) to make ourselves better.''
PLAYERS Seven new players will be eligible this fall as Cleveland State refurbishes itself to replace three lost starters -- all-league forward Omari Westley and guards Walt Chavis and Mike Redell. Westley's 17.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game will be the biggest hole to fill, but the Vikings got a head start on that task at the end of last season. Westley was dismissed the final three games for a violation of team rules as the Vikings limped to the finish line.
The top returning scorer is junior guard Raheem Moss (12.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), who hit the ground running in his debut season after transferring from Bowling Green. Moss can and should increase his scoring this year with Westley removed as the focal point of the offense. At 6-4, Moss has the size to score over smaller perimeter defenders, but the best thing he does is stroke the long ball. He can go on a streak and throw in a handful of three-pointers before the other guys know what hit them. He was shooting more than 45 percent from behind the arc during one stretch of the season before an ankle injury threw him for a loop. He finished the season at a solid 39.9 percent (63-of-158).
"We're expecting more leadership and a little more scoring out of him,'' Garland said. "He won't have to score a ton more points. We have a lot of guys that can get you 20 points on any given night. We have incredible balance.''
The players Garland was alluding to are guards Victor Morris (5.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg) and Steve Gansey (5.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg). Morris is a 6-0 junior who can play either the point or off the ball. He has started 33 games over his first two years and had off-season knee surgery to clean up a nagging injury.
Gansey is a 6-3 sophomore whose brother Mike plays at West Virginia. He showed flashes of promise last year, like when he scored 17 points against Central Michigan. Like Moss, he's a streaky shooter who finished the season at 36.7 percent (33-of-90) beyond the arc.
The new guard in the mix is junior college transfer Carlos English. Only 5-9, English is obviously a true point guard and if he can get comfortable quickly, the job could be his sooner rather than later. Morris can play the point but isn't as much of a threat as an outside shooter as he is on the drive. English averaged 8.7 points last year at Mott Community College in Michigan. Former Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves gave English a recommendation to Garland and the Vikings think he's a good pick-up. He's quick with the ball and should be able to push the tempo without making a lot of turnovers.
A late-summer recruiting addition, Bahaad Russell, could also get in the mix at point guard. The nephew of former Michigan great Campy Russell, Bahaad is 6-3 and was a big scorer at Maine Central Institute. "He's smooth, heady and has that great Russell bloodline,'' Garland said. "They're basketball players. He could use some strength and conditioning and I look for him to be a contributor, but it's hard to say when right now.''
The Vikings have more depth in the frontcourt than at any time in Garland's tenure. One returning starter is 6-6 forward Patrick Tatham (8.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg). "The great thing about Patrick,'' Garland said, "is that if he's not the best defensive player in the league, he's one of them. The thing that makes him special is he can win games for you without scoring a point. He does so many things to disrupt an opponent and he'll put pressure on their big guys by making them run with him.'' Tatham also needs to put pressure on opponents by improving his 49.1-percent free-throw shooting. He has played out of position at center at times, but that won't be the case this year.
When the second semester starts, Purdue transfer Ije Nwankwo becomes eligible. The 6-7, 270-pound Nwankwo is a baby bull who will be a load for opposing defenses. He didn't score much at Purdue, where he may have been a little undersized for the Big 10, but he could well thrive for the next two years in the Horizon League. "He's six-foot-seven with a seven-foot-six reach,'' Garland said. "His athleticism and strength are incredible. When he gets the ball he's going to score or you're going to have to foul to stop him. He can step out on the floor and he's a very good traffic rebounder.''
Joining the mix is 6-6 Frashon McGee (5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg), who started 11 games last year at forward. A broken hand limited his effectiveness last year, but he could be a guy capable of scoring in double figures on any given night.
Luke Murphy is a 6-9 red-shirt freshman who is more of a Euro-version of a center. He likes to face the basket and take the outside shot rather than trade elbows around the basket. He has grown two inches and put on weight during his red-shirt year.
Terry Walker is a 6-9 freshman from Grand Rapids, Mich., who will contribute on the defensive end before his offense catches up. To be a factor this year he'll have to fight past senior Justin Henderson (4.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg), a 6-8, 260-pound wide body who is a true-back-to-the-basket post guy.
Two more newcomers will have a chance to help. J'Nathan Bullock a 6-4 freshman forward from Flint, Mich., has a big upside. "He's a tough, hard-nosed kid and being from Flint, he's played against some of the best high school competition you could play against,'' Garland said. "He can score in transition or if need be, you can post him up.'' The Vikings consider Bullock almost a steal. He was getting a lot of recruiting looks from Division I-A football schools until he made it clear he wanted to play basketball. If he were a couple of inches taller, a Big Ten school would have signed him in hoops. At 6-4, he should find the Horizon League to his liking.
Renard Fields, a 6-7 freshman, didn't put up big numbers at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy, but like Bullock, he played against strong competition even in practice. "He went to war with some high-major guys day in and day out,'' Garland said. "Throwing him into the fire won't scare him a bit.''
That's the cast, and it's the deepest Garland has had to work with. The biggest point of emphasis will be shoring up the league's most generous defense. The Vikings allowed 72 points a game last winter, most in the Horizon League, and also allowed opponents to shoot a hefty 46.8 percent from the field. "Scoring will be the least of our worries,'' Garland said. "The big thing is can we defend? We're in a guard-dominated conference where everyone has great perimeter players. At the mid-major level, that's what you win with. When you can defend your opponents' strength, you can be pretty good.'' The other pressing issue is how the point guard scenario plays out. Will English take over, or will Morris prevail?
"We're a transition team,'' Garland said, "and we need our guards to push the ball. That's what both of those guys can do. If English wins the job, we can swing Vic over to scoring guard. He's got a ton of experience.''
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: C BENCH/DEPTH: B+ FRONTCOURT: B- INTANGIBLES: C
There is some good news. Mike Garland has more depth than he has had in his previous two years at Cleveland State and there is optimism that newcomers will upgrade the talent level and become more of a factor by February.
Furthermore, the Vikings will play 16 home games, the most since the 1983-84 season.
The bad news is that departed All-Horizon League forward Westley leaves some serious numbers to replace. Nwankwo will account for some of those numbers when he becomes eligible in the second semester. In Moss, Cleveland State has a potent perimeter scorer, but he needs Morris, Gansey and McGee to step up and help him.
More important, the Vikings need to play defense like Tatham. A .500 mark in league play would be a nice step for Cleveland State.
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Post by pnthr97 on Oct 25, 2005 20:09:13 GMT -6
Detroit
COACH AND PROGRAM
Losing season for the Detroit Titans? That happens about as often as the Tigers win the pennant or the Lions make it to the Super Bowl.
OK, slight exaggeration, but the point is that basketball season is a time for the University of Detroit to shine. Last winter's 14-16 record was an aberration and Horizon League observers are expecting the Titans to bounce back strong in 2005-06.
Four starters are back this season, a stark contrast to this time a year ago when Perry Watson, dean of the Horizon League coaching fraternity, was having to figure out how to replace four starters. "We did a lot of teaching last year and had to show a lot of patience,'' Watson said. "We're hoping this year to reap the benefits.''
Count on it. Look for Detroit to get back on the winning side of the ledger and even challenge for the conference title. Under Watson, the Titans had strung together nine consecutive winning seasons, the last five of which included at least 18 victories. A slow start (1-6) last year killed the streak, even though Detroit got better as the season played out and finished 9-7 in the conference. In fact, the Titans barely missed out on going to the NCAA Tournament when they lost a 59-58 heartbreaker to Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Horizon League Tournament title game.
PLAYERS This time around Watson has his two favorite elements: depth and experience. Five seniors and three juniors figure in the rotation and no freshmen will be relied upon. "Veteran teams are the teams that do well in the Horizon League,'' Watson said. "All my teams that have achieved well have been those veteran teams."I'm probably two deep at every position and I like my depth because it's experienced depth.''
Just because four starters return doesn't mean those four names are carved in stone. In reality, only guard Brandon Cotton (18.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and center Ryvon Covile (7.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg) can claim that distinction.
Cotton, a 6-0 junior, transferred from Michigan State and became eligible the second semester. He went on to become the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year and was denied the scoring title only because he was one game short of the minimum requirement. Cotton led the Titans in scoring 20 of the 22 games he played. He brought the unique resume of McDonald's All-American to the league and backed it up.
"Obviously we knew we were bringing in a real talented player,'' Watson said. "Now the key to a good team is how all those talents mesh. We knew he was a prolific scorer, but this being basically his first year of college basketball, he had to learn how to blend those talents and maybe not dominate the ball. It was an ongoing process. What makes some young players great is having supreme confidence in themselves. It's easier to say, 'I'll do it myself,' but that's not the way we play team basketball.''
Detroit played its first eight games without Cotton and, quite frankly, struggled. "All of a sudden, here comes Brandon,'' Watson said, "and we've got to tweak the schemes to take advantage of what Brandon can do. It wasn't a problem. It was more of an education.''
Cotton isn't a great outside shooter, hitting only 30.6 percent from three-point range. Where he excels is getting into the paint and exploiting his quickness. He gave Detroit its best penetration threat (to score or pass) since the days of Rashad Phillips.
The departure of starting point guard James Thues (10.2 ppg) raises the possibility of Cotton having the ball in his hands more often. Watson, however, said it will be a gradual process. "We're going to work Brandon toward that,'' Watson said, "because when a kid's got a chance to play at the next level you take them toward that. Brandon will probably get some reps on the practice floor. But in his evolution, we still want to simplify and let him do the things he does well instead of putting too much on his plate.''
The job of running the offense will be a battle between 5-10 sophomore Jon Goode (3.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg) and 5-11 sophomore Brandon Bell, a transfer from Marquette. Goode will get a head start because Bell can't play until second semester. Both candidates have good genes. Bell is the younger brother of former Michigan State star Charlie Bell. Goode is the son of former Michigan player Eric Turner. Goode averaged 12.6 minutes as a freshman and isn't afraid to look for the outside shot.
"He's really a talented kid,'' Watson said." He's got great genes. He sees things and makes passes that I say, 'We didn't teach him that. That was his genes.' I think he has the ability to score a little more than Bell and defensively, he has a lot of James Thues in him. He has great feet from years of playing soccer and can really pressure the basketball.''
Bell is more of a traditional floor general. Pass first, shoot second. He was a quarterback on his high school football team and leadership comes naturally. Sitting on the bench in street clothes last year, he wasn't shy about making vocal contributions. The only newcomer in the rotation should be a contributor in the second semester.
"The guys who replace James Thues are different type of players than James,'' Watson said, "so they don't have the pressure on them to try to do the things James did. He was a very good scorer at the point and he could be disruptive on the offensive end and defensive end so we had to give him the freedom to do that. These guys are more standard point-guard typesget the offense going, get people in their spots.''
The Titans need to get more offense going than last year. Aside from Cotton, they struggled, shooting only 43.6 percent from the field, 30.1 percent behind the arc and 65.4 percent at the free-throw line. Watson is encouraged because of the experience factor. More mature players lead to a more mature understanding of maximizing possessions by finding the good shot.
Increased production in the paint is one goal. Covile, a 6-9 senior, had a disappointing junior season. A formidable defender (and two-time member of the HL All-Defense team) Covile's offensive numbers slipped slightly in a season in which he was expected to evolve into one of the league's top big men. Part of the hang-up was the adjustment to Cotton becoming the go-to scorer.
"He had a disappointing year,'' Watson said, "because he had been used to playing with experienced guards. Brandon Cotton wasn't going to throw it in the post as much and Ryvon probably didn't get as many touches. He was kind of in a funk, but I'd be shocked if he's not the best big man in the league this year.'' The power forward spot is a battle between returning starter Torvoris Baker (7.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Chuck Bailey (5.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Both are seniors. The 6-7 Baker was selected the team's most improved player while Bailey is a good bet to win that honor this year.
"That will be a tremendous battle,'' Watson said. "Baker is one of those guys that gives you all that good blue-collar stuff. I'd be shocked if Chuck doesn't take his numbers up.''
The 6-5 Bailey transferred from Michigan and sitting out a year took its toll. A chronic knee problem never got fixed in his days in Ann Arbor and the surgery he had before his red-shirt year at Detroit kept him off the practice floor for an extended period of time. "He didn't practice much (in 2003-04),'' Watson said, "and to be honest, he probably underestimated our league coming down a level from Michigan. He told me we get after it down here a lot more than they did up there and he didn't realize a lot of four men in our league are really a guard in disguise. He ran up against some of those guys and realized it's doggone tough. It was a wake-up. I think all his numbers will be up.'' (Presumably Bailey's free-throw accuracy will be up from 50.9 percent.)
The wing guard spot ended up in the hands of 6-4 junior Muhammad Abdur-Rahim (2.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg) most of last year. However, 6-4 senior Ben Green (4.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg) figures to present a stiff challenge. Scoring-wise Green only treaded water from his previous season but Watson still holds out hope that he will realize his potential. "Abdur-Rahim has a great understanding of our system,'' Watson said. "Ben Green has more talent. Last year, being a young team we were looking for stability and Abdur-Rahim gave us more of that. Now that we have some stability, he's going to be in a battle to hold off Ben Green as a starter.''
Jonathan Kelly (2.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg), a 6-1 junior, will battle for minutes at the wing. He had the distinction last winter of sitting out because of chicken pox, a malady that won't disrupt his momentum this winter. Like Abdur-Rahim, Kelly has bought in to Watson's defense-first philosophy.
Zach Everingham (2.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg) is a 6-4 sophomore guard who could increase his minutes if his three-point shot stabilizes. Everingham hit a modest 31 percent from three-point range as a rookie, but the staff likes his stroke and figures he's a potential zone-buster.
In the paint, 6-8 senior Ethan Shaw (3.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg) will back Covile. He is willing to do the dirty work (21 blocked shots) and will be a valuable depth man. In Covile, Baker and Shaw, Detroit has a defensive presence that will alter as many shots as it blocks. It's no fluke that the Titans led the HL last year in field-goal percentage defense.
Justin Sample, a 6-8 freshman from Detroit's Cass Tech is a likely red-shirt candidate.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: B BENCH/DEPTH: B+ FRONTCOURT: B INTANGIBLES: B
Experience and depth are strong suits once again for Detroit, and the Titans will challenge for the conference title. In guard Cotton and Covile, Detroit has a pair of Horizon League first-teamers. The key is achieving optimal chemistry so that both maximize their potential. Translation: Covile needs to be more involved in the offense.
Chuck Bailey should show significant improvement now that he has a year in the league behind him, and that translates into some needed scoring. Only one starter needs to be replaced and, between them, Brandon Bell and Jon Goode appear up to the task.
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Post by pnthr97 on Oct 25, 2005 20:10:16 GMT -6
Loyola
COACH AND PROGRAM As the Jim Whitesell Era moves to year two at Loyola-Chicago, the comfort zone for the coaching staff and the players has widened considerably. "Last year we took over late,'' Whitesell said. "We were kind of starting from scratch and didn't have a clue about it. We hadn't seen the guys play, hadn't had a chance to work anybody out. We didn't even know what position everybody played.''
Taking over a new program that lost four starters, Whitesell's first gig in Division I was a learn-as-you-go process. The coach and the Ramblers got it figured out. By February, nobody wanted to play Loyola. The Ramblers won seven of their final nine games and the two losses were to league champion Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
"We had a nice stretch that helped us build for this year in terms of attitude and work ethic,'' Whitesell said. "Now we feel more comfortable. You at least know some of the kids in the program, you've had a year to recruit and a year to play in the league, and you understand the road trips.''
PLAYERS And, not to be overlooked, he now understands Blake Schilb's best position. The 6-7 junior from Rantoul, Ill., had led the team in assists as a freshman in 2003-04, but to look at Schilb (17.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) you wouldn't think point guard. Schilb started the year as the off-guard with DaJuan Gouard as the point. But an injury that kept Gouard out of the lineup for eight games changed everything.
Schilb moved to the point, and over time Whitesell saw the light. When Gouard returned to the lineup, it was to the off-guard spot. With two big scorers (Gouard averaged 16.0 ppg), the Ramblers took off for their big finish. "We found that Blake's natural position is point guard,'' Whitesell said. "When DaJuan did come back, we started winning some of those games we'd been losing. Confidence kept building and where you had been finding a way to lose, now you're finding a way to win.''
Gouard is gone and replacing his scoring punch as a complement to Schilb is one of the Ramblers' missions this winter. The other departed starter is 6-11 center Tyrelle Blair (5.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
Schilb, meanwhile, is a preseason Horizon League Player-of-the-Year candidate, along with Joah Tucker of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Last year was Schilb's coming out season. He doubled his scoring average and again led the team in assists with 120. He also recorded 52 steals and 16 blocked shots. Schilb finished at 50.3 percent from the field and 36.8 percent beyond the arc. Don't foul him -- he's an 82-percent man at the line.
"Versatility is the thing,'' Whitesell said. "We can play him on the perimeter or post him up. He rebounds pretty well for a guard and with that size he can see over people. And he shoots it pretty good outside. There was a stretch where he was shooting over 50 percent from three-point range.'' Over the summer Schilb added 10 pounds of muscle and worked on his shot. "He's starting to learn what it's like to be a leader,'' Whitesell said. "That's the biggest difference he has to make. "The thing we're asking him now is to be a better defensive player, to do more of the dirty work. Last year we protected him defensively. Now I want him to assert himself and use his length defensively. He's really bright, he knows how to read things.''
The other aspect of Schilb's game that needs work is his ball security. His 120 assists last year were counter-balanced by 122 turnovers. Part of it was over passing. Part of it was fending off quicker defenders. "When we put the ball in his hands last year it was kind of like putting a rookie in at quarterback,'' Whitesell said. "He's going to throw five interceptions in one day, but if you get that worked out, it's good for the future.''
A 6-7 point guard wasn't the only odd thing about Loyola's winning combination in February. Chris Logan (2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg) has to stretch to measure six feet, but he moved into the lineup at off-guard. You'd think a guy that size who doesn't play the point must be a deadeye marksman, but not Logan. He hit only 15.8 percent from three-point range and 50 percent at the free-throw line. But the Ramblers were 7-2 with him as a starter. Logan and Schilb flip-flopped at the defensive end, with Logan guarding the point guard and Schilb the shooting guard. "What Chris gave us,'' said Whitesell, "is a guy willing to guard people, take charges and run down the long rebound. That and good decision-making.''
The likely candidate to move into Gouard's role is 6-5 junior Majak Kou (10.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg). Kou averaged 24.2 minutes and relished a sixth-man role last year. Long and thin, Kou was the team's best perimeter defender (42 steals) and had games where he was a key offensive weapon as well. He finished up at 37.5 percent from three-point range. Kou spent his summer helping Canada win a bronze medal at the FIBA World Under-21 championships. "He got consistent toward the end of the year and that's the thing we've got to get out of him this year,'' Whitesell said. "He's not on a roller coaster any more. If we're going to make the next jump, he's got to do that.''
A couple of holdovers hope to get in the perimeter rotation. Dave Telander (4.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg), a 6-1 sophomore, started out his freshman season like he was going to be the Horizon newcomer of the year. The shooting guard notched double figures four times in the first nine games, including 19 against Illinois State. But once Horizon play began, Telander hit the wall. He averaged only 2.3 points the final 18 games. "What happened was he just dropped in confidence,'' Whitesell said, "and when Gouard came back, that cut his time. But he had a great summer and he looks good. He's an excellent three-point shooter.''
Pierre Parker (3.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) is a 6-3 sophomore who also got thrown in the fire, especially when Gouard was injured. He isn't a long-range threat but can be a good defender with a wingspan that can't be ignored.
Whitesell also counts on freshman J.R. Blount of Milwaukee to have an impact in the backcourt. The 6-1 Blount comes from a strong prep program at Whitefish Bay Dominican and was a candidate for Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin. Blount can play either guard position and has the ability to get to the basket. He figures to push Logan and Kou for playing time, especially if Logan is slow to recover from a broken foot that happened late in the summer.
Now, to the not-so-good news. The only returnee with significant experience in the paint is 6-8 sophomore Tom Levin (5.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg). Levin was a pleasant surprise as a rookie, but that was out of necessity. He had originally signed with Whitesell at Lewis University in suburban Chicago. But Lewis gave him a release to follow Whitesell to Loyola. He not only started but averaged 30 minutes a game. "We didn't have much in the front line,'' Whitesell said. "He surprised us a lot. Thirty minutes is probably too much, but he got thrown in there. He's a great character kid and he's very good about knowing what we want offensively and defensively.''
Levin is going to need help. If Whitesell's first recruiting effort pans out, the cavalry is on the way. Kye Patrick is a 6-9, 250-pound junior from Australia. Freshman Leon Young is an undersized (6-6, 235) but physical power forward from California and junior Brandon Woods is a 6-8 junior college transfer with some offensive punch.
Young comes from Lakewood, Calif., where he recorded prodigious numbers, averaging 21.4 points and 15.5 rebounds as a senior. He pulled down 30 boards in one game and, Whitesell says, played in a league with strong competition. Appropriately for his size, Young's idol is Charles Barkley. "We beat some good people to get him,'' Whitesell said. "Once he adjusts to the college level, he'll help."
Patrick is a wide body who also got international experience in the FIBA Under-21 world championships playing for the Aussies. He's a banger, which is a weapon the Ramblers lacked last year.
Woods comes from Eastern Arizona Community College, where he averaged 19.2 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 60.8 percent from the field. He runs the floor well, which fits in with the style Whitesell hopes to play.
Also hoping to get some minutes in the paint are 6-8, 240-pound red-shirt freshman Darrin Williams and 6-7 sophomore Tracy Robinson. Williams sat out last year while recovering from two ACL injuries to the same knee. He got in only minimal practice. Although he's healthy, the Ramblers will have to keep their fingers crossed Williams' knee holds up enough to allow some spot minutes.
Robinson (1.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg) started off making a decent contribution last year but fizzled out as his freshman season wore on. If his confidence improves, so might his playing time.
The tallest Rambler is 6-11 Matt Adler, an invited walk-on from Cleveland. He played at St. Ignatius High School, where he finished his career as the program's all-time leader in blocked shots (135). He averaged 6.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.0 blocks last season.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: A BENCH/DEPTH: B- FRONTCOURT: C INTANGIBLES: B-
The Ramblers finished strong last year and that should bode well for the team's mindset starting a second year under coach Jim Whitesell. Nobody wanted to play Loyola in February and an 8-8 league mark is an indication that the Ramblers will be competitive just about every night this winter.
In Schilb, Loyola might have a potential Horizon League MVP. If he cuts down on his turnovers, the 6-7 Schilb will be a dangerous match-up at point guard because of his ability to score inside and out and also set up his teammates. Another key this year is whether Kou can go from sixth-man role to being a consistent scorer as a starter.
Also look for Blount to help in the backcourt rotation. But what will drag the Ramblers down is the inside game, unless Levin makes a nice jump and newcomers Patrick, Wood and Young have a significant impact. Rambler fans were justifiably excited about what Whitesell accomplished his first year. For the program to move forward again, the big men have to carry their weight.
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Post by pnthr97 on Oct 25, 2005 20:11:25 GMT -6
UWGB COACH AND PROGRAM Tod Kowalczyk has coached Wisconsin-Green Bay to two strong seasons back to back. He followed a 17-11 season with another 17-11 season and the Phoenix are 21-11 in the Horizon League those two years, finishing third in 2003-04 and second last winter. Long story short, he's doing something right in the league's northernmost outpost. So, even though his club loses four starters and five of its top six scorers, when Kowalczyk says he's going to have his most talented team yet, don't discount it. "I'm excited,'' Kowalczyk says. "I think we've got an opportunity to be better than people perceive us to be. We've got a lot of ability coming in.'' PLAYERS As for perceptions, on paper at least, the Phoenix looks poised to free-fall down the standings. Three senior starters departed: guards Brandon Morris (10.6 ppg), Matt Rohde (11.5 ppg) and Javier Mendiburo (11.5 ppg). Another, forward Tyler Koenig (4.0 ppg), decided to transfer. To make matters worse, sixth-man Benito Flores -- the team's leading scorer (13.4 ppg) -- lost an appeal for an extra year of eligibility. Talk about transitions, Green Bay even has to break in a new radio play-by-play man after veteran John Maino decided to step down. So who's left? Junior forward Josh Lawrence (10.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) is the only starter returning. Only three other lettermen return, to be joined by a host of newcomers. The bottom line though, Kowalczyk says, is that the talent level is rising. Green Bay's recruiting class was considered one of the tops in the nation among mid-majors. "I've been a part of teams that lost a lot of people'' Kowalczyk said. "It all depends on other guys stepping up and getting better and then bringing in new guys with talent. I think we've done all that. We just need to jell it together. "From a coaching point of view, these are the most fun teams to coach. Young, talented teams are so much more eager. I know I'm going to have to be patient. I understand they are freshmen and they're going to make mistakes. But I am going to throw four of those guys into the fire.'' One of the four is actually a red-shirt freshman. Terry Evans (2.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg) averaged 15 minutes over the first six games of the season last year but a knee injury shut him down and forced a medical red-shirt. It was an old high-school injury that had kept the 6-5 Evans from being recruited harder by high-major schools. Green Bay was tickled to death to sign him and hopes the knee came around sooner rather than later. As it turned out, that didn't happen but Evans is now healthy and ready to go. "He's one of the better athletes in this league,'' said Kowalczyk. "His role on our team will be a defensive stopper and rebounder and we need consistent scoring. He's going to have a chance to have a tremendous career here. He's maybe the most talented guy on our roster.'' The jewel of the incoming signing class is 6-8 freshman Ryan Tillema of Randolph, Wis. The rangy Tillema is a strong shooter who will play small forward or even shooting guard. The Wisconsin Badgers hoped to lure Tillema to Madison on an earn-a-scholarship basis, but he picked Green Bay, where he was the priority recruit. It's a big jump from a small high school (where he won four state titles) to Division I, but a strong AAU background should help Tillema handle the transition. "At 6-8, he can pass and see over the top of the defense,'' Kowalczyk said. "He's a very skilled, finesse kind of a player. "He has a chance to be one of the best players in the history of UW-Green Bay basketball.'' Mike Schachtner is another homegrown freshman from Somerset who will have a chance to play immediately. The 6-9 center/forward is skilled with his back to the basket and can step out and shoot the three. "He's the perfect recruit for how we play,'' Kowalczyk said. "He is a skilled forward that is multidimensional.'' The fourth freshman headed directly into the fire is 6-3 point guard Simon Farine from Canada. Point guard play was a strength for the Phoenix last year, but the slate is clean this year. Kowalczyk isn't crazy about handing the ball to a rookie straight out of high school, but Farine has some assets to offset those fears. "The two areas I'm really concerned about with a freshman point guard typically is, defensively, can they guard at our level?" Kowalczyk said. And secondly, will they not turn it over? Those are two of Simon's strengths. He's strong and he's a good defender. He's physically ready to play right now.'' Another member of the signing class was junior college point guard Ontario McKee. However, he fell short of being admitted to school. That means junior Ryan Evanochko (6.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg) will draw some point-guard duty. How much depends on Farine's success rate. Evanochko averaged 24 minutes a game last year and is the team's best free-throw shooter at 79.7 percent. "He's probably our most improved player,'' Kowalczyk said. "Looking back at last year, he played a lot and probably should have played more. When he was in the game good things happened. He can play the point but I think he's more valuable playing off the ball. He's an aggressive offensive player who can score off the dribble.'' The other returning perimeter veteran is 6-2 sophomore Ryan Werch (0.6 ppg, 0.3 rpg), although calling Werch a veteran is something of a stretch. A transfer from Utah, Werch was expected to contribute but ended up playing a total of 62 minutes in his Green Bay rookie season. Expected to be a dangerous three-point specialist, he was only two-of-nine from three-point range. However, Kowalczyk hasn't soured on Werch's future with the Phoenix. "What happened last year wasn't so much Ryan Werch as it was the other guys,'' Kowalczyk said. "He was more caught up in a numbers game and wasn't given the opportunity. This year he has the opportunity for significant playing time. He can really shoot it. He's done a good job of simplifying his game. He gets into trouble by trying to do too much.'' Losing the bulk of its three-point arsenal from last year (the Phoenix led the league at 37.3 percent), Green Bay could certainly use Werch to stretch defenses this winter. The one proven scorer is Lawrence, a 6-7 junior who has played a lot of minutes his first two years. He hit 38.5 percent from beyond the arc last year and developed a sneaky inside game to become more of a complete offensive threat. As the only returning starter, Lawrence has to be ready to take on the role of go-to guy on offense. "He had a very good year but didn't finish the season the way we hoped,'' Kowalczyk said. "Down the stretch he got banged up, but he's ready to go. Last year, he was a guy who didn't do it every game. This year he's got to have the consistency that we can call on him every night to get 12 to 15 points.'' The other returning letterman is center Tevah Morris (2.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg). At 6-9, 250, Morris offers size and bulk that many Horizon League teams don't have a physical match for. His challenge is to become more confident on the offensive end at the same time his minutes are increasing. "He's something our league doesn't have a lot of,'' Kowalczyk said, "a big guy who is athletic and can run the floor. I think he can get you eight- to 11 points and six rebounds if he plays as well as he's capable of.''
Offering depth is Aswan Minatee, a 6-5, 230-pound junior college transfer. He's a rugged but undersized post player with good instincts around the basket. If he can cobble together a rotation out of the above parties, two of his freshmen might be best served with a red-shirt year.
Randy Berry is a 6-9 post from Plover, Wis., and Cordero Barkley is a 6-5 wing from Racine. Barkley is a strong defender who could eventually develop into a big point guard.
Eventually all of the new recruits should help Green Bay be a contender. "I think this class was a culmination of three years of us improving this program,'' Kowalczyk said. "My concern is just that this is a very young team. They're just building confidence and establishing roles, but ability-wise, this is probably the most high I've been on any team I've coached. I'm just going to have to be patient and as the season progresses, we're going to become much better.''
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: C BENCH/DEPTH: C FRONTCOURT: C INTANGIBLES: C
Is Green Bay a straight Cs team? If so, only because of inexperience. Green Bay was 12-1 last year in games decided by single digits. That feat will be difficult to match with a young lineup that must replace four starters and five of the top six scorers. The good news is that the talent level is improving since Kowalczyk arrived three years ago and the guy has proven he can coach.
So the future is bright if a touted recruiting class lives up to its billing. However, for now Green Bay is long on youth and short on experience. That makes it unlikely the Phoenix can hang on to a top-three finish in the league again this year, given the veteran nature of teams like UW-Milwaukee, Detroit and Wright State.
Still, this team could surprise by February if Lawrence indeed becomes a consistent go-to-scorer and newcomers like Evans and Tillema are able to have an impact. A lot is riding on freshman point guard Farine.
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Post by pnthr97 on Oct 25, 2005 20:12:31 GMT -6
Wright State
COACH AND PROGRAM That bugle being heard around Dayton over the off-season was a signal: The cavalry has arrived at Wright State.
Playing with a short bench was a hindrance last winter for coach Paul Biancardi. The Raiders basically used a seven-man rotation. Besides the five starters, when Biancardi looked to his bench, he had only two options. He could send in Jaron Taylor to give somebody a break on the perimeter or freshman Jordan Plieman in the frontcourt.
Those days are over, and none too soon. "We're getting some depth,'' said Biancardi, beginning his third season at Wright State. "For the first time since I've been here we'll have an eight-man or even a nine-man rotation. The first two years we had a seven-man rotation.''
During those first two years Biancardi has at least kept his head above water. His record is 29-29 in his first head coaching job. With depth and a more mature club, he should swing into the positive side of the chart in year three. Biancardi was voted Horizon League Coach of the Year in his debut season, 2003-04. Last winter he had to replace two stars, Vernard Hollings and Seth Doliboa. A roster of mostly freshmen and sophomores didn't make it any easier.
"Our record didn't indicate our growth,'' Biancardi said. "We lost two fifth-year seniors and the league was really good, as Milwaukee proved (with NCAA Tournament upsets of Alabama and Boston College). But I think it's been a nice growing process.''
PLAYERS This year the bench grows. The only veteran to be replaced is center Zach Williams, who averaged 10.4 points and 6.0 boards in his only season at Wright State after transferring from Ohio State.
There are five newcomers in the program, plus two guys who practiced but didn't play last season. The bottom line is a nice net gain. "We'll have depth in terms of numbers,'' Biancardi said, "but we won't know who's ready to play until practice starts. The way I like to play is push the ball on makes and misses and we'll be able to do that more this year. "I like to pick up the defense in the backcourt more, but with only seven guys in the rotation last year, I didn't want to wear our guys down. We played right at the three-point line and tried to be very good about that. We'll extend the defense and exert more pressure in the backcourt if certain guys are ready to contribute.''
Not many people in the Horizon League contribute more than junior point guard DaShaun Wood (15.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg). Wood averaged 37.5 minutes a game last year, tops in the league. He nearly doubled his scoring from his freshman year and still handed out 111 assists. If you think 5.1 rebounds a game for a point guard isn't bad, keep in mind Wood is listed at only 5-11. "Those are all defensive rebounds,'' Biancardi said. "He's very physical and is a mentally tough young man. He'll always do what's necessary to help the team win. It's not a coincidence that he's our hardest worker.''
Wood is a decent shooter (37.3 percent from three-point range) and quick enough to blow by defenders. Biancardi is optimistic about his point guard's development in terms of handling the shoot-versus-pass mentality. "We've been working on that,'' Biancardi said. "That's the fine art of being a point guard. You have to know when to get the other guys involved. He's got a nice mental approach. He knows sometimes passing comes first and shooting comes second and he also knows when to score first and pass second. "Most kids don't think the game through. He's thinking it and playing it at the same time now and he's very effective.''
When Wood looks to pass, one target on the wing is 6-5 junior Zakee Boyd (11.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg). Boyd is no mystery. He's a shooter first and second. He lit up Arizona for five treys and 24 points in an early-season game last year. He can blow hot and cold, but his overall three-point mark of 37.8 percent isn't bad. Boyd's challenge is to avoid being one dimensional.
The other returning starter on the perimeter is 6-6 sophomore Everett Spencer (5.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Spencer moved into the starting lineup as a freshman and stayed there. He plays good defense, passes the ball well and had 12 rebounds in one game. Look for his scoring to increase this time out. "He can get to the basket,'' Biancardi said. "What he needs to work on is outside shooting. That and he was painfully thin as a freshman, but he has some good instincts.''
Jaron Taylor (4.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg), a 6-2 senior, was the main perimeter sub last year. A JC transfer, he proved he could do a little of everythingmake a trey, pass (he handed out 74 assists), body up on defense. He's an able backup for Wood at the point or for one of the shooters.
The rotation gets deeper with the addition of William Graham and Reinaldo Smith. Graham is a 6-3 red-shirt freshman who sat out last year to rehab from knee surgery. The Raiders are optimistic he'll contribute. "He practiced all last year,'' Biancardi said, "but by the time he was 100 percent, the season was already in mid-stream. We did the right thing to let him sit. He's hungry to play. He's an all-purpose guard who can defend, handle it a little bit and is a mid-range shooter. He's the son of a coach, so he has a very good IQ for the game.'' Smith is a transfer from Findlay, a small-college power in Ohio. A decent shooter, Smith has two years to play at Wright State and should be in the mix.
Tyrone Scott and Robert Eldridge are two newcomers on the perimeter. Scott, a 6-3 transfer from Schoolcraft Community College in Detroit, can score in a variety of ways. As for the 6-1 Eldridge, he's a freshman, but he showed toughness as a football player in high school. He's a slasher, but will have to fight past some older players to get in the rotation.
The returning starter in the paint is Drew Burleson (11.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg). Burleson has played a lot of minutes in his first two seasons and the 6-7 junior is poised for a strong campaign. He has a very nice touch from the 10-to-12 foot range and as he gets stronger, should become more of a factor closer to the basket. Biancardi has challenged Burleson to get more rebounds this year with Williams missing under the basket.
A lot of Willliams' minutes should go to sophomore Jordan Pleiman (5.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg), one of two freshmen (joining Spencer) who played a lot last winter. At 6-8, Pleiman is blessed with good footwork and decent hands that helped him record several double-doubles last year. A local favorite, he isn't afraid to mix it up and has a knack for getting to the free-throw line. "He had a terrific first year for us,'' Biancardi said. "Now we've got to work on his weaknesses. We're working on his rebounding and getting better with his left hand. This will be a pivotal year for him. I don't think teams paid any attention to him last year, but now they know who he is.''
Sophomore Parysh Monroe (0.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg), 6-7 and 230 pounds, is a big body, but he got little meaningful time as a rookie and needs to have more consistent work habits. Walt Chancellor is another good-sized option (6-6, 265) arriving from Wabash Valley Community College. Rebounding and taking up space will be his main roles. Freshman James Craft is, at 6-11, the tallest guy on the roster, but he'll have to toughen up to earn playing time. "It's up to him,'' Biancardi said. "He has the tools. He shoots the 15-footer well for a big guy and has a nice wingspan.''
Another new body in the mix is Scottie Wilson, a 6-7 forward who sat out after beginning his career at Cincinnati State Community College. Wilson is athletic and has three years to play for the Raiders.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: B BENCH/DEPTH: C FRONTCOURT: C+ INTANGIBLES: B-
Wood elevated his game to all-conference level last year and should be even more of a complete guard this time around. Burleson and Boyd give the Raiders two other offensive options. A big key will be how much progress Spencer and Pleiman can make from their first year to their second.
The Raiders should score well after leading the league in field-goal percentage last year. If improved depth allows the defense to apply more pressure, Wright State will be above the .500 mark in conference play.
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Post by pnthr97 on Oct 25, 2005 20:14:20 GMT -6
Youngstown State
C'mon, do you really need to read about Yuck State? At least ten high school teams in SE Wisconsin could beat them. If you're really that hard up for "insider" information about them, let me know and I'll PM it to you. But all you really need to know is that they are awful and don't deserve to be in the conference, let alone D-1.
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Kingsbury
Junior
Sadly, no longer in the "Fear 42" Fan Club!!!
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Post by Kingsbury on Oct 25, 2005 20:41:50 GMT -6
True, nobody wants to read about YSU, but I heard they have Humphries back on the team this year and for some reason that guy always goes off when he plays UWM.
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