The Hoops HD Report: Pac-12 Conference Preview

Posted on October 22, 2019 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE for all of our extensive Preseason Content

Last year, the Pac 12 didn’t have a single team wearing home white uniforms in the Round of 64, and the year before last the league failed to get a single team past the Round of 64.  The panel takes a look at this year’s league, and feels that it will be significantly stronger than what we’ve seen the last couple of years.  Oregon has a lot of talent and could contend for a protected seed.  Colorado finished strong last year and has all five starters back.  Washington lost a lot of talent, but has a lot of talent coming in.  Arizona brings in a strong recruiting class, and Oregon State is a potential dark horse.  We discuss all that, the new coaches in the league, and more…

HOOPS HD TOP FIVE

  1. Oregon
  2. Colorado
  3. Washington
  4. Arizona State
  5. Arizona

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

CLICK HERE for our Pac-12 Media Day Recap and Response

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Big Sky Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 21, 2019 by David Griggs

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MEDIA DAY PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

  1. Eastern Washington
  2. Montana
  3. Weber State
  4. Southern Utah
  5. Northern Colorado
  6. Portland State
  7. Montana State
  8. Northern Arizona
  9. Sacramento State
  10. Idaho State
  11. Idaho

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON MEDIA POLL

  1. Montana
  2. Weber State
  3. Eastern Washington
  4. Northern Colorado
  5. Southern Utah
  6. Portland State
  7. Montana State
  8. Northern Arizona
  9. Sacramento State
  10. Idaho State
  11. Idaho

 

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jerrick Harding – Weber State, SR G

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY TEAM

Jerrick Harding – Weber State, SR G
Sayeed Pridgett – Montana, SR G
Harald Frey – Montana State, SR G
Holland Woods – Portland State, JR G
Mason Peatling – Eastern Washington, SR F
Jacob Davison – Eastern Washington, JR G

 

COMMENTS FROM DAVID.  Eastern Washington should have been better than what they were a year ago, but injuries absolutely killed them.  With a (hopefully) healthy roster, they should finally be set up to compete for a first place finish and a spot in the Big Dance.

Northern Colorado won 21 games last year, and has four starters back.  I’m a little surprised that the coaches and media didn’t show them a little more love.  They finished second a year ago, and they return most of the pieces from that team.

Portland State is another team that just looks a lot better to me than where the coaches and media have them.  I know they lost three starters and were just .500 a season ago, but they have one of the better players in the conference in Holland Woods along with some experienced players who return, and a couple of really strong JUCO transfers that should help them out.

Montana is another team that the coaches and media seem to like.  They return Sayeed Pridgett, but the other four starters are gone.  They do have some talented freshmen and a key NAIA transfer joining the roster, but as an outsider I can’t help but think they’ll suffer some setbacks this year.

Weber State finished just 11-9 in league play and really struggled down the stretch.  Three starters are back, and they should benefit from that experience.  They should also be strong at the guard position with a player like Jerrick Harding.

SOUTHERN UTAH!!  Is being picked 4th or 5th in the Big Sky anything to get excited about??  Well, it is if that school was a recent Centenary Award Winner (the award HoopsHD gives out to the worst team in D-1 basketball).  Four starters are back from a team that finished with a .500 record last year, and that experience should propel them to one of their better seasons in recent memory.  I do not say that as a backhanded compliment.  I am sincerely impressed with how much this program has improved under coach Todd Simon in the three years he’s been there.

Montana State has three starters back form last year’s team that tied for fourth place, and will look to get some help from some JUCO transfers this year.

Northern Arizona won just 10 games a year ago.  All five starters are back, though, and that experience should help them out some.

Sacramento State, Idaho State, and Idaho should all make the conference tournament this year!!  But…only because the league now takes all 11 teams.

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The Hoops HD Report: Big Ten Conference Preview

Posted on October 21, 2019 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE for all of our extensive Preseason Content

Chad and the panel take a look at what is a very deep Big Ten.  Michigan State is the unanimous favorite to win the league, and will likely begin the season ranked #1.  Maryland, Ohio State, and Purdue are all strong teams who could end up as protected seeds, while the Badgers also look strong.  Other topics we discuss are whether or not Indiana can crack the field for the first time under Archie Miller, if Minnesota can once again exceed all preseason expectations, if Illinois’s experience could result in them having success, and how Michigan will do under first year head coach Juwan Howard.

HOOPS HD TOP FIVE

  1. Michigan State
  2. Maryland
  3. Ohio State
  4. Purdue
  5. Wisconsin

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show.

CLICK HERE for our Big Ten Media Day Recap and Response

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Conference USA Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 20, 2019 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE for all of our extensive Preseason Content

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL

  1. Western Kentucky
  2. UTSA
  3. Louisiana Tech
  4. Old Dominion (tied 4th)
  5. UTEP (tied 4th)
  6. UAB
  7. North Texas
  8. Middle Tennessee
  9. Florida Atlantic
  10. Florida International
  11. Marshall
  12. Charlotte
  13. Rice
  14. Southern Miss

 

PRESEASON MEDIA DAY ALL-CUSA TEAM

Devon Andrews – Florida International
Jailyn Ingram – Florida Atlantic
DaQuan Bracey – Louisiana Tech
Antonio Green – Middle Tennessee
Xavier Green – Old Dominion
Zack Bryant – UAB
Jhivvan Jackson – UTSA
Keaton Wallace – UTSA
Taveion Hollingsworth – Western Kentucky
Charles Bassey – Western Kentucky

 

COMMENTS FROM DAVID.  C-USA is definitely a UTR conference, but last year ended a four-year streak where the managed to put a team into the Round of 32.  So, it’s probably better than what it typically gets credit for.

Western Kentucky absolutely out-talented everyone else in the league last year, but an abundance of off-court distractions made it difficult for them to consistently play at a high level.  With four starters back, they once again probably have the most talent in the conference, and truth be told they should be good enough to make a splash on the national scene if they can hold it together, but inconsistency seemed to be one of the motifs from last season, and that will have to change this year if the Toppers want to end up inside the bubble.

What head coach Steve Henson has done at UTSA has been nothing short of remarkable.  This was a program that was routinely winning less than five games a year when he arrived.  They managed a winning record last year, tied for second place in the conference, and have four starters coming back.  They are no longer a doormat.  In fact, they are quite fun to watch, and if WKU can’t hold it together it wouldn’t shock me if this team finished in first place.

I’m a little shocked there isn’t more love for North Texas.  Those of you that follow UTR know that there was a point where they were 20-4, looked to be one of the best teams in the league, and there were even some rumblings of them landing on the bubble.  Injuries hurt them late in the year, but with three starters back, this team should do A LOT better than what the coaches and media are predicting.  Hell, if I had a vote, I’d have the Mean Green in THIRD place!!

LA Tech had a rather unspectacular season last year, but they did finish the season looking a lot better than they looked in November, and with four starters back they should be able to be one of the better teams in the conference last year.

Old Dominion won last year’s CUSA Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they fell to Purdue.  They are in somewhat a rebuilding mode with just two starters back, but they should get some help from a key JUCO transfer, as well as from some guys who saw quality minutes last year.

UTEP has already played an exhibition game against Texas Tech…and won it!  Now, the number one rule of exhibition games is to not take them into account, but still there is an indication that UTEP is no longer the dregs of the conference like they were in the final days of the Tim Floyd era.  Four starters are back from last year’s team.  The problem is they won just six D-1 games last season, so I’m a little surprised the media and coaches seem to like them as much as they do.  Then again, they already beat Texas Tech, so…

UAB won 20 games for the fourth time in five years last year (albeit not all of them were against D-1 teams).  But with just one starter back, the Blazers are kind of in rebuilding mode and may have trouble reaching that mark this year.

After a remarkable three-year run where Middle Tennessee made the Round of 32 twice, and cracked the top-25 late in the season in a third year, they won just 11 games a year ago and are seemingly a long way away from getting back to where they had it.  They were playing a little bit better at the end of the year and have three starters back, along with a couple of key transfers.

Florida International got off to a great start last year, and actually ended up winning 20 games.  With four starters back, I’m a little surprised they weren’t shown a little more love in the preseason polls.

Florida Atlantic has three starters back, but what they really need is an infusion of upgraded talent.  They were plagued with injuries last year, so they should be better if they stay healthy.

Marshall also returns three starters from a team that won 23 games.  Dan D’Antoni has done a fantastic job with this program and it wouldn’t shock me if they were once again playing at a high level down the stretch.  He’s also the best dresser in the conference, and perhaps in all of college basketball!

Charlotte, Rice, and Southern Miss will likely be battling it out just to make the C-USA Tournament.

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America East Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 19, 2019 by David Griggs

CLICK HERE for all of our extensive Preseason Content

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL

  1. Vermont
  2. UMBC
  3. Stony Brook
  4. Albany
  5. UMass-Lowell
  6. Binghamton (tied 6th)
  7. Hartford (tied 6th)
  8. Maine
  9. New Hampshire

 

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA EAST TEAM

Andrew Fleming – Maine, SR F
Cameron Healy – Albany, SO G
Anthony Lamb – Vermont, SR F
K.J. Jackson – UMBC – SR G
Christian Lutete – UMass-Lowell, SR G
Sam Sessoms – Binghamton – SO G

 

COMMENTS FROM DAVID. No one in this league has made more noise over the course of a weekend than UMBC did when they knocked off Virginia two years ago, but the dominant program in this conference for the last several years has been Vermont, and the coaches and media seem to think that this will once again be the case.  Last year, the Catamounts won 27 games and were right there with Florida State in the Round of 64.  Just two starters return, but Vermont has shown us before that they are capable of reloading.  Anthony Lamb is one of the best players in the conference, and if some of the other guys are able to step up they should finish near the top again.

UMBC struggled with injuries last year, but they still managed to win 21 games, and with three starters back and some pretty good depth they should once again be able to make quite a bit of noise in league play.  Ryan Odom has done a fantastic job with this program.  It’s not just that he won a game in the NCAA Tournament as a #16 seed, it’s that the Retrievers were struggling to win as many as five games a year when he initially arrived.

Stony Brook once again has a new head coach, and although they have several contributing players coming back from a year ago, their best overall player is gone.  I currently have more questions than answers as to how good I think this team is going to be.

Albany has had some really good seasons in recent years.  Last season was not one of them.  Having said that, they were playing their best basketball down the stretch, and with all five starters back they should once again be one of the better teams in the conference this year.

UMass-Lowell, who only just recently completed their transition up to D-1, is poised to have one of their best seasons ever as a full blown D-1 program.  Four starters are back from a team that showed some signs of life last year.  If they can finish with an overall winning record and make a postseason tournament such as the CIT, it would be a huge step in the right direction for this program.

Binghamton won just 11 games last year, and doesn’t have much coming back in the way of talent.  They are still in a process of rebuilding.

Hartford is also starting completely over with no starters back from last year’s team.  Maine and New Hampshire will likely have an uphill battle as well.

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Big 12 Media Day Recap and Response

Posted on October 18, 2019 by David Griggs

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MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL

  1. Kansas
  2. Baylor
  3. Texas Tech
  4. Texas
  5. West Virginia
  6. Oklahoma State
  7. Iowa State
  8. Oklahoma
  9. Kansas State
  10. TCU

 

MEDIA DAY BIG 12 PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Udoka Azubuike – Kansas, SR C

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Chris Clarke – Texas Tech, SR G

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Oscar Tshiebwe – West Virginia, FR F

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM

Tristan Clark – Baylor – JR F
Tyrese Haliburton – Iowa State, SO G
Udoka Azubuike – Kansas, SR C
Devon Dotson – Kansas, SO G
Desmond Bane – TCU, SR G

 

COMMENTS FROM DAVID.  This is a conference that routinely sends more than half its teams to the NCAA Tournament.  Last year was a bit of a down year.  They only sent 5.  But still, out of all the power conference the Big 12 is the only league that can call it a down year when half the teams still make it.

Kansas is the overwhelming preseason favorite after their seemingly century long streak of first place finishes ended a year ago.  They did lose some key players, but as always they are reloading with talent.  Three starters are back, including the Big 12 preseason player of the year in Udoka Azubuike, and another outstanding young guard in Devon Dotson.  They have outstanding guards, they have an outstanding center, and they have depth.  It is worth noting that Kansas has received a notice of allegations from the NCAA, and that will be hanging over them throughout the season as things develop.  We’ll see if it ends up being a distraction for them later on.

Texas Tech has started the last two seasons outside the rankings.  Two years ago they made the Elite Eight.  Last year they were the national runner-up.  Don’t you think it’s time that they finally got some preseason love??  Well, four starters are gone from last year’s team, but they do have several players who saw significant minutes last season returning and, if things go as I think they will, those players will embrace their new roles and Texas Tech will once again be on the national scene.

Baylor is a team that the media and coaches are obviously big on, and they have been picked second.  I really like this Baylor team, but I still can’t see them finishing ahead of Texas Tech if for no other reason that Texas Tech is always a lot better than people think they are going to be.  Still, Scott Drew has done a sensational job and he returns three starters from a team that made the NCAAs 1 year ago.  This is a team that, like Texas Tech, ended up being a lot better than they were expected to be a year ago.  They are good in both the frontcourt and backcourt, and should get some help from their bench as well.

Texas missed the NCAA Tournament last year, but did win the NIT and are looking to get back to The Big Dance this year.  Only two starters are back, but they do have a nice core of players who saw significant minutes last year, and like most Shaka Smart teams they look to be strong at the guard position.

West Virginia fell flat last year.  It was easily one of the worst teams they’ve had since Bob Huggins arrived on campus.  They struggled with injuries and just couldn’t get in a regular routine.  Expect to see a huge improvement this year, especially if everyone is healthy.  It wouldn’t shock me at all to see this team back in the rankings and in the top half of the bracket before the season is over.

Kansas State tied for first place last season!  They’ve got three key starters back!  And they are picked to finished….9th??  What am I missing.  Okay, I realize that they lost two huge contributing players to graduation, but still they’ve got Xavier Sneed back, a few other players who saw significant minutes, two really good freshmen players coming in, and a solid JUCO player.  They’re not my pick to win the league, but I think they’re going to be a hell of a lot better than 9th!!

Oklahoma State finished in 9th last season.  All five starters are back, and just based on experience alone they should be an improved team.

I’m a little surprised there isn’t a little more love for Iowa State.  They did lose some big pieces, but they will be aided by a key transfer and the return of their starting point guard.  But, they did lose a lot.  Still, it wouldn’t shock me to see them hovering around the bubble come March.  Or, they’ll just win the Big 12 Tournament again.  They’ve gotten in the habit of doing that.

Both Oklahoma and TCU return multiple key starters from teams that won 20 or more games a year ago.  TCU barely missed the NCAA Tournament.  But, that just goes to show you how strong this league may be this year.  The bottom of this league is far better than the bottom of nearly every other power conference.

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