2011 NCAA Tournament Projection Number 1

Since the conference schedules have gotten underway and the RPI no longer looks like a jacked-up collection of overrated mid-majors it's time to start projecting who will make the NCAA Tournament and who won't. These projections will appear every Friday.

With the boilerplate out of the way I can now get down to the ranting and raving portion of the program. Whoever decided that expanding the tournament to 68 teams was a good idea needs to be forced to explain why Terrell Pryor gets to play in a bowl game while Enes Kanter continues to languish in limbo. Seriously, I can't see 37 teams that deserve an at-large bid to this field. Ever since someone came up with the bright idea of awarding participation trophies and ribbons we seem to reward mediocrity. But the NCAA has made it so which means more work for guys like me who clearly have too much time on their hands.

Number 1 Seeds: Duke, Syracuse, Ohio State and Kansas. This was pretty obvious as they're all undefeated, highly ranked and have top 10 RPIs except for Ohio State.

Last Four In: New Mexico, Butler, Washington State and Georgia. Obviously we have a veritable murderers row here. New Mexico got their butts handed to them by Cal and has no quality wins to speak of but has an RPI of 50. Butler is reeling from the loss of Gordon Hayward, comes off a 24-point loss to Wisconsin-Milwaukee but has an RPI of 30 (they have played a tough schedule). Washington State got off the conference schneid and had a nice run in December (though their win over Baylor isn't looking as strong at the moment). Georgia has a decent overall record but only beat Mississippi Valley by two, Mercer by three and was taken to overtime by Eastern Kentucky. My kingdom for tournament retraction!!

First Four Out: Portland, George Mason, Ole Miss and Missouri State. Portland will be counted in if bracketologists consider them to be the West Coast winner if the tournament started today. I counted St. Mary's and threw a bone to Gonzaga over Portland for the second West Coast bid (they will not get three teams in at this juncture). George Mason has a decent RPI for some reason even though they have lost to Wofford, North Carolina State and Hofstra. Ole Miss looks like the class of the SEC West, which makes them the Farmer Ted (Sixteen Candles reference) of Division I. Missouri State can feel confident that the Missouri Valley commissioner will piss and moan on television during the first week of March Madness that only one of their teams made it to the Dance. I'm sure this will give them great comfort while they play in the NIT.

As the bracket projections continue I will highlight teams that are making a move up and those teams that are begging the committee to tear up their bids into neat little bits of confetti.

Hopefully the at-large teams will be a little more deserving as the season progresses but somehow I did it.

 

East Region

1 Duke v. 16 Long Beach/Jackson State

2 Purdue v. 15 Florida Atlantic

3 Notre Dame v. 14 Furman

4 Vanderbilt v. 13 Vermont

5 Missouri v. 12 Princeton

6 Temple v. 11 Gonzaga

7 UNLV v. 10 Arizona

8 Minnesota v. 9 Cincinnati

 

Southeast Region

 

1 Ohio State v. 16 St. Francis(NY)

2 San Diego State v. 15 American

3 Connecticut v. 14 Hampton

4 Texas v. 13 Harvard

5 Florida v. 12 Butler/Washington State

6 Kansas State v. 11 Utah State

7 Wisconsin v. 10 Dayton

8 St. John's v. 9 Miami (Fla.)

 

Southwest Region

 

1 Syracuse v. 16 Fairfield

2 Kentucky v. 15 Coastal Carolina

3 Georgetown v. 14 Buffalo

4 Central Florida v. 13 Belmont

5 Texas A&M v. 12 New Mexico/Georgia

6 Michigan State v. 11 Oklahoma State

7 North Carolina v. 10 Louisville

8 Old Dominion v. 9 Cleveland State

 

West Region

 

1 Kansas v. 16 Austin Peay/Stephen F. Austin

2 Pittsburgh v. 15 Montana

3 BYU v. 14 IPFW

4 Villanova v. 13 Wichita State

5 Illinois v. 12 Xavier

6 Washington v. 11 Memphis

7 Tennessee v. 10 Boston College

8 St. Mary's v. 9 West Virginia

UCF Knights Steadily Improving

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Since joining the Division I one ranks, the UCF Knights, (14-0) before the season, only received a total of two votes from national polls. (No type, only two votes.)

This season, the Knights are off to their best start since the 1979-80 season, when the team started the year off with 15 straight victories.

This seasons UCF squad hasn't matched the historic start, yet, but is the first team to be ranked inside both national polls and has continued to do its share of re-writing the history book.

UCF's 14-game winning streak is the longest in school history since moving to Division I action in 1984.

While riding the streak, the Knights have reached as high as the No. 18 ranking in the USA Today/ESPN poll, and is currently ranked before formidable programs such as Michigan State, Illinois, and Conference USA foe Memphis.

The Knights bread and butter has come on the defensive side of the ball under coach Donnie Jones. "Our defense has been our staple all year long," said coach Jones. "Everybody thinks we're an offensive team, but the thing we preach the most is defense."

The Knights defense holds teams to a dismal 56.7 points per game, while holding their opponents to 35 percent shooting from the field, and 28 percent from deep.

UCF defense is better described as swarming. The Knights are extremely athletic and coach Jones has utilized each player to perfection.

He has a few human erasers inside, as well as great guards that can defend one-on-one on the perimeter.

Sophomore Keith Clanton has improved tremendously this season, and it has shown on the basketball court. Clanton not only averages 15.9 points per game, but pulls down 8.8 rebounds, and blocks 2.2 shots per game.

Clanton has become a great talent to commend rising star Marcus Jordan. Jordan has been the most consistent player for the Knights this year leading UCF to victory in nearly every game this season.

Jordan, the leading scorer for UCF with 16.7, has tallied two back-to-back 20-point efforts to pull the Knights over Princeton and Marshall.

"Every time I go to the paint I want to put the decision on the referee to either call a foul or a charge," Jordan said. "That's what I'm looking to do."

Jordan loves to penetrate the lane, and does convert when he gets to the line. Jordan is a 79 percent free-throw shooter and nails a team-high 4.4 free-throws per game.

Clanton and Jordan have developed into a wonderful duo, but the two aren't the only thing UCF has to lean on. Talented transfer Tom Herzog doesn't have the flashiest stats but gets it done on the defensive end and that's what makes him such a valuable asset.

Herzog loggs 17.8 minutes per game but still manages to block 2.9 shots per game, which is a team-high.

UCF opened conference play with a huge win over Marshall, led by Jordan's 18-point second half. The Knights have reenergized its fan base, and has many media outlets picking UCF to finish first in Conference USA.

The jump from Marshall to UCF has worked for coach Jones. His players are playing consistent basketball, as well as being discipline on both ends of the floor.

The Knights not only have a great lead guard in Jordan, but also an up-and-coming coach in Donnie Jones, who could be in contention for Coach of the Year honors if UCF continues to win ball games.

UCF will be on the road next to take on a Houston Cougars team that has struggled early, but is still capable of pulling off an upset.

"We have to realize that we have that target on our backs when we go on the road," said coach Jones. "We're in different waters than this program has ever been in before because we're ranked."

"We just have to realize that people are going to play at a different level against us night-in and night-out."

UCF played away from home this season four times, but only two true road wins, with the other two coming on a neutral court.

The upcoming game against Houston will be a great way to challenge UCF and see how well they handle playing on the road with the target on their back.

For more CoHoops news follow us on Twitter (@Collegiate_Hoop) or subscribe via email

Duke Waits For An Update on Freshman Kyrie Irving

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

"As long as no surgery is needed, or it appears that it might not be needed, we're going with this action," Duke's coach Mike Krzyzewski said following their ACC opening win against Miami.

Reports say freshman guard Kyrie Irving received a new boot, and will have his big right toe scanned this week, and remains out indefinitely.

Irving injured his foot in the second half on December 4, 2010 when Duke took on Butler in a National Championship rematch.

Irving was able to return and finished the game with 21 points as Duke pulled away.

Irving, one of the best point guards in the country, watched the past five games from the bench.

He appears to be in a great deal of pain wearing a boot, as well as, coach Krzyzewski telling reporters his freshman guard could be out for a long time.

Such an injury could cause Irving to miss up to weeks, or possibly the season. Irving is a valuable asset to the Duke Blue Devils (13-0), and fans would love to see him back in action.

Irving averaged 17.4 points, 5.1 assist, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals, while shooting 45 percent from deep in eight games of action.

"I think we are good, we've just got to get more experience especially with Kyrie [Irving] out," said Krzyzewski.

Nolan Smith, the talented senior has stepped up tremendously with Irving sidelined pacing Duke with four straight 20-point games.

After defeating Miami, and pacing the Blue Devils with 28-points, five rebounds, and five assist, Smith stated "the first thing we learned is that we're a very good team," replying to playing without talented frosh Irving.

"Guys are still looking to step up. Andre [Dawkins] and Seth [Curry] did a great job tonight defensively on one of the hottest players coming into the game in Malcolm Grant."

Smith added, "Our defense was there all night, and going forward that's going to be our identity."

For more CoHoops news follow us on Twitter (@Collegiate_Hoop) or subscribe via email

2010-2011 College Basketball Week 8 Review and Week 9 Preview

By Marc Daley

 

If you remember last season (which shouldn't be too hard unless you woke up New Year's Day naked on your car roof with your keys in your, um, back door) Texas was ranked number one in mid-January and had won their first seventeen games. It looked like the Longhorns' collection of All-American bulls and thoroughbreds had paid off and they seemed primed to secure their fourth Final Four.

Then the wheels came off, starting with their first loss of the season to Kansas State. Eventually, they would lose three times to Baylor and split their series with Oklahoma, which had their worst season since 1981. They went out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Wake Forest.

Duke isn't likely to go careening off the cliff but there are some programs that have stumbled out of the gate in the past few weeks after a strong beginning. Their own dance tickets might get lost in the mail if they keep struggling.

• Minnesota. The Gophers had started 11-1 before they went into Big Ten play and dropped two straight road contests to Wisconsin and Michigan State. Tomorrow they could right the ship against Indiana in their first Big Ten home contest but then have to take on Ohio State and Purdue. A 1-4 start is a distinct possibility. The Big Ten is a strong conference and ten conference wins should get Tubby Smith's charges in the Dance but if they do start 1-4 they would have to go 9-4 the rest of the way. That "rest of the way" includes Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan twice and Northwestern twice.
  
• Tennessee. The Vols started 7-0 with wins over Villanova and Pittsburgh. Inexplicably they lost for the first time to an Oakland squad that is currently 8-8 and doesn't have Mark McGwire or Jose Canseco in the lineup. Since then, they have dropped three of their last five to the likes of College of Charleston and Charlotte. Their two wins have been by a combined seven points to Belmont and UT-Martin. UT-Martin has had one winning record in the past sixteen years. Bruce Pearl has to miss half the conference season for lying to the NCAAs. The good news is that the SEC is watered down yet again and this team has the talent to finish in the top three in the SEC East. The bad news is that if they don't the Vols will not only find themselves in NIT land but Pearl could find himself out of a job.
  
• West Virginia. The Mountaineers were within seven points of starting Big East play undefeated. Then they lost to St. John's (which seems rejuvenated under Steve Lavin) and Marquette (which is undergoing a transition phase). Tomorrow brings the Big East's version of a get-well card in DePaul but then Huggie Bear's charges tangle with Georgetown, Providence, Purdue and Louisville. A 2-5 start to Big East play is a real possibility. From there they would probably have to go 8-3 the rest of the way to feel secure about a dance ticket with games against Pittsburgh (twice), Syracuse, Notre Dame and UConn.
  
• Washington State. The Pac-10 has been worse than a lot of non-BCS conferences in the past year. They're a little better this year but still not strong enough to get four or five teams into the dance. Ken Bone had done a nice job turning the Cougars around but they since they beat Baylor they have dropped their last three games. Unlike the other conferences teams should try to win eleven conference games to feel reasonably confident about getting their tickets punched. In order for the Cougars to do that they have to go 11-5 the rest of the way in Pac-10 play.
  

 

With that setup in mind it's obvious that now is the time for teams to get it together. Some big matchups occur this week.

 

• UConn-Notre Dame (Tuesday, 7ET). Kemba Walker should still be a Player of the Year candidate but he needs help. In their overtime win over bottom-feeders South Florida Walker and no. 2 option Alex Oriakhi scored 39 of their 66 points while the rest of the team shot eight for 29 from the field. In their loss to Pittsburgh Walker scored nearly half of their 63 points while the rest of the team shot nine for 33. It seems that the nation has figured out how to slow the Huskies, which is to let Walker get his and concentrate on stopping the rest of the team. Jim Calhoun has to get consistency on the offensive end from Oriakhi (he's a rebounding beast) and have somebody step forward as a no. 3 option.
  
• Brigham Young-UNLV(Wednesday, 10 ET). The Mountain West has taken over as the best conference west of the Pecos. They should expect to get at least three teams in with a great shot at getting four in. UNLV could be that third or fourth team in and seem to have righted the ship since a mid-December loss to Cal-Santa Barbara, getting Frank Martin to cause a reporter to wet his pants following their win over Kansas State. Jimmer Fredette is a first-team All-America candidate again but has help from eight teammates who average at least ten minutes a game. Expect this one to go down to the wire.
  
• UCF-Houston(Saturday, 5ET). This is rarified air for the Golden Knights, who have never won a NCAA Tournament game. They start their Conference USA schedule with Marshall on Wednesday before this matchup with a program that was one of the kings of the early 1980s. It is essential that Marcus Jordan and Co. start the C-USA schedule strong. They can probably afford to split with Memphis and have a couple of other losses but they have to be careful they don't stumble to ensure a dance invite.
  

 

For the first time this season there are no new additions to the Top 25. Louisville and Minnesota took big drops but are still in the polls for now.

 

1. Duke
   
2. Ohio State
   
3. Kansas
   
4. Villanova
   
5. Pittsburgh
   
6. Syracuse
   
7. Purdue
   
8. Missouri
   
9. Kansas State
   
10. San Diego State
    
11. Kentucky
    
12. Connecticut
    
13. Memphis
    
14. Michigan State
    
15. Georgetown
    
16. Texas A&M
    
17. Brigham Young
    
18. Texas
    
19. UCF
    
20. Minnesota
    
21. Florida
    
22. Illinois
    
23. Louisville
    
24. Baylor
    
25. Notre Dame

2011 NBA Draft Stock Watch: December Edition

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

An exciting month of December comes to a close with many numerous headline stories, suspensions, and transfers.

Renardo Sidney, the talented big man for Mississippi State may have done the most damage to his NBA draft stock this month fighting another teammate in the stands.

We were introduced to Anatoly Bose from Nicholls State, who at a point, lead the NCAA in scoring.

Harrison Barnes has shaken his slow start, somewhat, and the Tar Heels look great headed into conference play.

Kyrie Irving has been sidelined with a foot injury, that I believe will not have an effect on his draft stock.

During his time on the court as a Blue Devil, Irving proved that he was the best point guard in the College game by out playing two of the best in Jacob Pullen, and Kalin Lucas.

Nonetheless, here is my take on who has rising and falling NBA draft stock.

Rising

Jared Sullinger - Ohio State (Lottery Pick)

Jared Sullinger had a more productive month than any other player. He had a 40-13 game against IUPU, and also a 30-19 game against South Carolina. During December, Sullinger had scored 20 points, and grabbed 10.6 boards per game while shooting nearly 60 percent from the field.

His strength, and length down low is very beneficial and should help him if he choses to leap to the pros.

Josh Selby - Kansas (Lottery Pick)

After sitting out a nine game suspension dealt by the NCAA, freshman Josh Selby has shown his ability to hit big shots, just like his predecessor Sherron Collins. In his first game, Selby scored 21 points, while shooting 5-of-8 (62%) from three, and hitting the game winning bucket to put the Jayhawks over USC.

He has played the off-guard for Kansas, but has shown the ability to play point guard and will most likely grow into a great lead guard for the Jayhawks.

Tyler Honeycutt - UCLA (Lottery Pick)

Tyler Honeycutt stands at 6-foot-8 with the abilities of a guard and forward. Honeycutt exploded to begin December pouring in 33 points, nine rebounds, and four assist against Kansas. Since then, Honeycutt has continued his all around dominance and watched his stock elevate because of it.

Honeycutt reminds me a lot of Evan Turner without the Elite ball handling skills; terrific mid-range shooter, and slashing wing man.

Brandon Knight - Kentucky (Lottery Pick)

Brandon Knight continues to emerge as a lead guard versus a potent scorer. Knight continues to get his teammates involved, and has done work on offense as well. He dished out 4.4 assist per game in December, while scoring 18.5 points per game.

Many scouts wanted to see Knight emerge into a point guard, after December, you can't be mad at his progression.

Cory Joseph - Texas (Mid-First Round)

Cory Joseph has emerged as an great lead guard for the Texas Longhorns. Every since coach Barnes asked the frosh to be most assertive in the offense, Joseph has stepped up and filled the role.

In December, Joseph hit many clutch shots as well as scoring 14.8 points, while chipping in 4.1 rebounds, and three assist per game.

Watch: Jimmer Fredette (BYU); JaJuan Johnson (PUR); Derrick Williams (AU); Kyrie Irving (Duke); Terrence Jones (UK); Klay Thompson (WSU)

Falling

Renardo Sidney - Mississippi State (Late Second Round)

Renardo Sidney has damaged his chances at becoming a possible lottery pick after coming out of high school so highly-touted. Sidney was suspended for a game after crying out in practice in a unacceptable manner.

Soon after, Sidney was caught fighting his roommate on the schools trip in the stands. Many scouts tend to shy away from players with bad attitudes, and Sidney's performances in December have scouts looking away.

Elias Harris - Gonzaga (Second Round)

Harris was suppose to be one of the best players in all of College Basketball. However, since injuring himself in a loss to San Diego State, Harris hasn't been himself.

He has improved with a late push in December, but still hasn't proven he can get back to superstar status for the 'Zags.

Jacob Pullen - Kansas State (Second Round to Undrafted)

There was one thing the College game witnessed last season with Kansas State's Jacob Pullen; he can score the basketball. However, for a 6-foot guard, it's best suited if you're a point guard to make it to the league.

Pullen hasn't displayed leadership at all, and that has effected his draft stock.

Watch: Marcus Morris (KU); Steven Gray (GU); Corey Fisher (Vill); Nolan Smith (Duke)

For more CoHoops news follow us on Twitter (@Collegiate_Hoop) or subscribe via email