Conference Preview: Missouri Valley

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Chad

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Did someone say that the Missouri Valley Conference isn’t that good anymore now that Creighton and Wichita State are no longer in it?  The Loyola Ramblers disproved that notion last season with their amazing run to the Final Four.  Although predicting them to make it that far again this year would be foolish, there is certainly enough returning talent on the roster for the team to hear its name called on Selection Sunday . . . and they may not be the only MVC team to go dancing.  Southern Illinois, Illinois State and Bradley all have large chunks of their rosters returning after strong campaigns last season.  It would not be a shock at all if the Valley found a way to get an at-large bid this year in addition to its conference tournament champion.  No matter what, we should be in for a fun and exciting season.  Have no doubt– the Missouri Valley Conference is for real.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Loyola (Chicago) – Last season’s feel good story, complete with Sister Jean leading the way as the Ramblers made the Final Four, should have a great chance at a return to the Big Dance this year. Even though Donte Ingram, Ben Richardson and Aundre Jackson are all gone, this team still has a ton of talent.  Leading the way will be MVC Player of the Year Clayton Custer and MVC Freshman of the Year Cameron Krutwig.  And don’t forget about Marques Townes as well (Nevada fans surely won’t).  Returning to the Final Four will take another miracle or two, but this team will be tough to beat every time they take the floor.
  2. Southern Illinois – The Salukis return all five starters from a 20-13 team that finished second in the conference last season. Armon Fletcher and Sean Lloyd are scorers in the backcourt, while Kavion Pippen (Scottie’s nephew) is one of the conference’s best big men down low.  He should get some help down there as well with Thik Bol back after missing last season and having two surgeries on his knee.  Thik will likely be limited in his playing and practice time due to his knee, but will be a force to reckon with when he is on the court.
  3. Illinois State – The Redbirds return four starters from last season along with pretty much all of their key reserves. Milik Yarbrough, Phil Fayne and Keyshawn Evans each averaged more than 15 points per game.  This team has experience and depth, two ingredients that could have them in contention for the league crown or even an at-large bid.
  4. Bradley – The Braves return four starters, though will have to make up for the loss of their second leading scorer from last season, forward Donte Thomas. The roster features seven juniors and seniors, so experience will not be an issue.  One newcomer to keep an eye on is 7-1 freshman Ari Boya from Cameroon, one of the tallest players in school history.  Boya recently suffered an ankle injury, however, and is not expected back until at least January.
  5. Valparaiso – The Crusaders return three starters led by Bakari Evelyn, who led the team in scoring at over 17 points per game. They also add in Providence transfer Ryan Fazekas who should have an immediate impact.  This team finished in last place (albeit at 6-12) in the conference last season.  They should be improved this time around.
  6. Northern Iowa – Ben Jacobson’s team was 16-16 overall last season and only 7-11 in conference play, which is far below the standards that have been set in Cedar Falls in recent years. With only two starters back, this year may not be much better.  However, keep an eye on freshman A.J. Green, a top 100 recruit who should be on the court a lot this year.
  7. Indiana State – The Sycamores only return two starters from a team that seemed to fall apart as the season wore on last year. One of those two could compete for conference Player of the Year though, as guard Jordan Barnes averaged 17.4 points per game last season.  This team could get much better when the second semester hits as a pair of transfers will become eligible – Cooper Neese (Butler) and Christian Williams (Iowa).
  8. Evansville – New head coach Walter McCarty has work ahead of him with two of his team’s best players (MVC scoring champion Ryan Taylor and guard Dru Smith) having decided to transfer. Keep an eye on Evansville’s first-ever gradate transfer, Shea Feehan (Eureka College), who averaged more than 30 points per game in Division III last season.
  9. Missouri State – With Paul Lusk gone, Dana Ford comes in to try to rebuild the Bears; but, with only three players who saw serious minutes last season back, it may be a true rebuild. Jarred Dixon is the leading returning scorer, at 9.1 points per game.
  10. Drake – The Bulldogs had a great 2017-18 season, finishing 10-8 in conference play after only winning 7 games overall the year before, but then head coach Niko Medved left (after only one season) for Colorado State. To make matters worse, the majority of the roster is also gone, with Nick McGlynn and Noah Thomas being the only returnees who even scored a point last year.  New head coach Darian DeVries will need to rebuild almost from the bottom up.
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Conference Preview: MEAC

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Chad

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North Carolina Central, Howard, Bethune-Cookman and possibly Norfolk State appear to be the top contenders for this season’s MEAC regular season championship, though the regular season champion does not have a very good track record in the conference tournament, as was shown again last season when sixth seed North Carolina Central captured the automatic bid.  However, none of that matters.

Hampton packed its bags after last season and has moved its athletic programs over to the Big South Conference.  That does not matter either.

The only thing that does matter in the MEAC is what is going on in Savannah, Georgia.  The Savannah State Tigers are entering their final season in the MEAC and in Division I, as monetary issues are forcing the school to return to Division II.  Of course, this ignores the fact that the cost of maintaining athletic teams at Division I versus Division II, especially in a conference like the MEAC, are not too far apart.  It also ignores the fact that the “cost” of scholarships for athletes is not a real cost, as the school is simply giving away for free something that has minimal cost to the university itself.  It also ignores the increased exposure that being in Division I gives a school, and the increased enrollment that it can bring – thus actually generating revenue.  The decision, which in our opinion was a bad one, has been made.  But there may still be time to convince the school to change its mind.  Stay in Division I!  It is the right thing to do and you know it!  #SaveTheTigers.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. North Carolina Central – The Eagles were only 9-7 in MEAC regular season play last year but got hot at the right time to win the conference tournament and steal the league’s NCAA Tournament automatic bid. Four starters return from that squad, led by double-double threat Raasean Davis, and a repeat trip to the Big Dance is certainly possible.
  2. Howard – The Bison may have only gone 10-23 last year, but they went 7-5 in their final 12 regular season games and return all five starters led by 2018 MEAC Rookie of the Year RJ Cole (23.7 points and 6.9 assists per game) and 2017 MEAC Rookie of the Year Charles Williams (20.4 points per game). The two teammates could in fact battle it out for both conference Player of the Year and the league scoring title this season.  The biggest question is whether they can improve on defense with the experience they gained last year.  If so, a conference title should be within their grasp.
  3. Bethune-Cookman – The Wildcats tied for the conference regular season title last year before a one point upset loss to Morgan State in their first conference tournament game. Although Brandon Tabb and his 18.9 points per game are gone, three other starters who averaged double digits are returning.  There is no reason why B-CC will not be right in the mix for the top of the MEAC again this season.
  4. Norfolk State – The Spartans return three starters and a pair of reserves who each averaged over 8 points per game last season. Norfolk State was one of the better defensive teams in the MEAC last year, and if they can keep that up this season, they should win more conference games than they lose.
  5. North Carolina A&T – The Aggies won 20 games last season, but only return one of their top four scorers from that team. Point guard Aaren Edmead (9.6 points per game) is the returnee and should be one of the better point guards in the conference this season.  The leadership on the point, together with having last season’s MEAC Coach of the Year, Jay Joyner, on the bench, should help this team find a way to win games despite their offseason losses.
  6. Maryland-Eastern Shore – The Hawks dismissed head coach Bobby Collins after going 7-25 last season, although having three of their best players taking medical redshirts may have been the real problem. All three, including former MEAC Rookie of the Year Ryan Andino, are back, together with a pair of double-digit scorers from last season (Tyler Jones and Ahmad Frost).  Clifford Reed is the interim head coach and will have a great chance to remove the interim tag from his title if the team stays healthy and plays up to its potential.
  7. Morgan State – Todd Bozeman’s Bears finished 7-9 in the MEAC last season but will have to find a way to get by without their two leading scorers from that team including Tiwian Kendley’s 26.1 points per game. It may be difficult to win 7 conference games again this season.
  8. Florida A&M – The Rattlers lost 25 games last season despite having three players who averaged 11 or more points per game. All three of them are gone now, so it is hard to see how the team will be improved.  One player to keep an eye on is 7-foot center Isaiah Martin, who should pick up more than a handful of double-doubles.
  9. Coppin State – Former Maryland All-American Juan Dixon enters his second season as coach of the Eagles, but he has barely made a dent in the rebuilding job needed at this program. 5-27 was rough last season, but at least the team can say they were improved late by going 5-10 after starting 0-17.  Four seniors will play significant minutes this season, so things should get better.
  10. Savannah State – #SaveTheTigers!!! Savannah State enters its final season at the Division I level before beginning the transition D-2 next season.  Although the Tigers shared the MEAC regular season crown last season, only one starter (Zach Sellers) returns from that team.  They should still remain fun to watch, as they run an up-tempo high-scoring offense, but defense will likely once again be a major problem.
  11. South Carolina State – The Bulldogs do not have a player taller than 6-8 on the roster and only return two starters from a team that lost 22 times last year. Damani Applewhite could have a big season, but that likely won’t be enough to avoid a finish near the bottom of the league standings.
  12. Delaware State – Sixth man Marquis Collins averaged 9.0 points per game last season. Guard Johquin Wiley averaged 8.5 points.  No other returning player averaged more than 3.  That is not a good sign for a team that went 4-28 last year, with two of those wins being over Cairn and Georgian Court.  New head coach Eric Skeeters will certainly have his work cut out for him.

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Season preview: HoopsHD interviews new CSUN head coach Mark Gottfried

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Preseason Coverage

We continue our season preview coverage with new CSUN head coach Mark Gottfried. It is hard to say which of his coaching performances has been the most impressive because there are so many to choose from: winning the 1995 NCAA title as an assistant at UCLA, going 29-4 as head coach at Murray State in 1998, making the 2004 Elite 8 at Alabama after upsetting Stanford/Syracuse along the way, or making 4 straight NCAA tourney appearances at NC State from 2012-2015. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Gottfried about winning an NCAA title and how the new job is going.

You were a Freshman All-American at Oral Roberts, then transferred to Alabama where you set school records with 8 3PM in a game against Vanderbilt and 48.5 career 3P%: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? You just pumped up my ego! You need to figure out the correct technique, practice it, and then be able to correct yourself. The key is repetition/repetition/repetition.

You won the 1995 NCAA title as an assistant to Jim Harrick at UCLA: what was he like to work for, and is it weird to be his boss almost 25 years later? He was amazing to work for: I learned a lot and he is a great teacher. His demeanor was something that I learned a lot about: he was very even-keeled. I do not think it is “weird” that he is working for me: it is a privilege because he brings so much to the table. I just wanted him to be himself and pass on the wisdom that he has acquired.

In 2002 you were named SEC COY at your alma mater: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot. I love Alabama: the fact that we won the SEC title outright made me feel really good.

In the 2015 NCAA tourney as coach at NC State, you held #1-seed Villanova to 31.1 FG% in a 3-PT upset of the Wildcats: how were you able to beat Jay Wright in March? He is extremely good as a coach and his teams are very hard to defend. We had a good plan that day: to be honest that Villanova team was still 1 year away (when they won it all in 2016). They can dribble/penetrate and are fundamentally sound.

Last March you were hired as head coach at Cal-State Northridge: why did you take the job, and how is it going so far? I missed having a team. I worked for the  Dallas Mavericks and did a lot of scouting/draft preparation. Coming back to LA was a natural fit: I know this town and the people here so it just made sense.

You made the postseason during your 1st year as head coach at all 3 of your previous schools (Murray State in 1996/Alabama in 1999/NC State in 2012): how were you able to have such instant success everywhere you go? I do not know that there is any magic formula. The players I inherited all seemed to be very hungry and were tired of losing, as we are this year. However, this is obviously the greatest challenge that I have ever had as a head coach.

Last year PG Terrell Gomez was named conference ROY: how was he able to make such a smooth transition from high school to college despite standing 5’8”? It only took me about 2 days to fall in love with him. He has tremendous character and is a fun player to be around. He is excited for a fresh start.

Your non-conference schedule includes a game against Washington State: how do you prepare to face a team from a power conference? We open up with New Mexico, which is exciting for us: we have tried to create an aggressive schedule based on where we are. I am a believer in getting good at what we do and becoming confident in ourselves with what we want to run.

Your son Brandon played football at Stanford, your daughter Layson is an international fashion model, your father Joe was a basketball coach/athletic director, and your uncle Mike was a college football head coach/ESPN analyst: how proud are you of having such a high-achieving family? I also have a  couple of cousins who you may have heard of: Jim/John Harbaugh! We all grew up around coaching our whole lives so we have seen winning/losing and understand how difficult it can be. The good part is that we have been around a lot of fun times.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Last year we finished 6-24 (337th out of 351 D-1 teams) but my goal every year is to make the NCAA tourney. It is a tall order for us so we will have to be playing our best basketball at the end of the year.

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Conference Preview: Mid-American

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Chad

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Preseason Coverage

The only conference that still uses a divisional format for its standings and regular season schedule, the Mid-American is poised to deliver us a very exciting 2018-19 season.  Cases can be made for at least ten of the twelve teams in this conference to win their division and contend for the conference tournament title.  The two best, however, should be defending champion Buffalo and Eastern Michigan.  Buffalo returns four starters from a team that got to the Round of 32 last year.  The pick to win the overall regular season title will, however, be Eastern Michigan. The Eagles feature three of the league’s best players in James Thompson IV, Elijah Minnie and Paul Jackson.  It will not be easy for the Eagles though, as this league is loaded with talent from top to bottom, and it is hard to imagine many conference games at all this season that will not be fun to watch.

Predicted Order of Finish

EAST

  1. Buffalo – The Bulls won the MAC regular season and tournament titles last year, then beat Arizona in the first round by about 500 points. Guard Wes Clark may be gone, but virtually everyone else of note is back, including CJ Massinburg, Jeremy Harris and two-time defending conference Sixth Man of the Year Nick Perkins.  The Bulls should be very dangerous all season once again and, if they make the Big Dance, will be a very scary first round matchup.
  2. Ohio – The Bobcats return four players who started the majority of their games last year and will gladly welcome back a now-healthy Jason Carter. This team was supposed to contend for the league title last season and, if they remain healthy, should be among the best in the MAC this time around.
  3. Akron – The Zips should be much-improved in head coach John Groce’s second year as they return a pair of double-digit scorers (Daniel Utomi and Jimond Ivey), have Emmanuel Olojakpoke back healthy, and welcome in a handful of transfers including Eric Hester (Florida), Loren Cristian Jackson (Long Beach State) and Deng Riak (East Carolina).
  4. Bowling Green – The Falcons got some great offseason news when 6-10 forward Demajeo Wiggins withdrew his name from the NBA Draft. Wiggins averaged a double-double last season and will be the key to the Falcons trying to make noise in this conference.  Bowling Green was only 16-16 overall last year, but were 16-10 on Valentine’s Day before breaking their fans’ hearts by before dropping their last six games in a row, including three games by 4 points or less.
  5. Miami (Ohio) – Head coach Jack Owens enters his second year at the helm of the RedHawks with a young team that may surprise a few people. All three returning starters are only sophomores, so the future is certainly bright for this team.
  6. Kent State – The Golden Flashes may have been among the conference favorites if 7-foot center Adonis De La Rosa had not decided to transfer to Illinois. However, they do return a pair of double-digit scorers.  The key may be how quickly forward Danny Pippen recovers from offseason knee surgery.

WEST

  1. Eastern Michigan – The Eagles feature a true three-headed monster with double-double machine James Thompson IV and Elijah Minnie down low, plus Paul Jackson in the backcourt. Head coach Rob Murphy also welcomes in a talented recruiting class led by forward Andre Rafus Jr.   There is a ton of talent in the MAC, but the West Division title will almost certainly run through Ypsilanti.
  2. Toledo – Leading scorer Tre’Shaun Fletcher may have graduated, but with three double-digit scorers (Jaelan Sanford, Nate Navigato and Luke Knapke) back, the Rockets appear to be the team most capable of challenging Eastern Michigan for the West Division crown.
  3. Ball State – The Cardinals should be a tough team to beat this season with four starters back, all of whom averaged at least 9.6 points per game. They also welcome in a handful of talented transfers, including K.J. Walton (Missouri) who should contribute right away.
  4. Northern Illinois – The Huskies will certainly score a lot of points this season with their entire starting five back, led by last season’s conference scoring leader Eugene German (20.6 points per game) back. They also get Jaylen Key back healthy after he missed last season due to a shoulder injury.  The key will be improving a defense that allowed opponents to shoot 47.7% from the field.
  5. Central Michigan – The Chippewas only return two starters from last season, but sixth man Kevin McKay averaged over 12 points per game, giving them three legitimate scorers on offense (to go with Shawn Roundtree and David DiLeo). In any other season, this team might contend for the division title, but there may not be enough depth here to make noise this year.
  6. Western Michigan – The Broncos were a disappointing 17-15 last season after being favored by some to win their division, and have now lost their star point guard, Thomas Wilder, from that squad. It is tough to see this team making any serious noise in the conference this year.
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Conference Preview: Metro Atlantic

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Chad

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Preseason Coverage

If there is any conference in the nation that has a single team at the top of it that should, on paper, clearly run away with the league title this year, it would be the MAAC. Rider returns virtually every player of note from a team that won 22 games and shared the league regular season crown.  However, the Broncs were upset by St. Peter’s by double-digits in the conference tournament quarterfinals and should be playing this season with a major chip on their shoulders.  If someone else is going to find a way to keep up with Rider, keep an eye, as always, on Tim Cluess’ Iona team.  The Gaels stole the conference tournament title last year and return their top two players.  Canisius could also be in the hunt with three starters back and watch out for both Marist and Quinnipiac as teams that could make moves up in the standings.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Rider – Dimencio Vaughn averaged 16.1 points per game and 6.7 rebounds. Jordan Allen averaged 13.4 points.  Tyere Marshall averaged 10.3 points and 6.6 rebounds.  Stevie Jordan averaged 12.6 points and 5.9 assists.  Frederick Scott, the MAAC Sixth Man of the Year, averaged 12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds.  All of them, as well as senior guard Anthony Durham, are back this year from a team that won 22 games and tied for the MAAC regular season title.  Anything short of a trip to the Big Dance would be a major disappointment.
  2. Iona – Never count out Tim Cluess’ team in this conference, as he proved again last season by taking the 4th place Gaels to the conference tournament championship and NCAA Tournament bid. While only two starters return, Rickey McGill and E.J. Crawford, they were the top two scorers on the team.  Top reserve Roland Griffin (11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game) is back as well.  Also keep an eye on Robert Morris transfer Isaiah Still, who led his former team in scoring two years ago.
  3. Canisius – Three starters, including a pair of double-digit scorers in Isaiah Reese and Takal Molson, do return but the Golden Griffins will need to find a way to replace Jermaine Crumpton’s 17.1 points per game if they want to contend for the league crown.
  4. Marist – This could be a breakout year for the Red Foxes as they return their top seven players from a 25-loss team and add in new head coach John Dunne, who has proven he knows how to win games in this conference during his time at St. Peter’s. Brian Parker, who averaged over 17 points per game last season, should have another huge season.
  5. Quinnipiac – Another team that could vastly improve on last season (12-21 overall), the Bobcats return four starters led by Cameron Young’s 18.8 points per game. Young was granted a fifth year of eligibility by the NCAA back in May and will play as a graduate student this season.  They also welcome in George Washington transfer Kevin Marfo, a 6-8 forward with double-double potential.
  6. Niagara – Senior forward Marvin Prochet could be poised for a monster year as he is a double-double threat every time he takes the court. However, the Purple Eagles will need to find a way to make up for over 40 points per games scored by Kahlil Dukes and Matt Scott if they want to make any serious noise in this league.
  7. Monmouth – With Austin Tilghman and Micah Seaborn gone from a team that lost 20 games last year, this could be another rough season for the Hawks. They do, however, return three starters and welcome in Florida Atlantic transfer Nick Rutherford.
  8. Fairfield – The Stags lost their top two players (including the school’s all-time scoring leader Tyler Nelson) from a team that barely finished above .500 last season (17-16 overall). Matching last season’s record may be an accomplishment this time around.
  9. Saint Peter’s – The Peacocks welcome in former Seton Hall star Shaheen Holloway as their new head coach, but don’t look for any huge improvement from last year right away. Only two starters return from a team that went 6-12 in conference play.
  10. Manhattan – With their top three scorers gone from last season, this could be a long year for the Jaspers. The one bright spot is the return of junior forward Pauly Paulicap who led the conference in blocks and was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year.
  11. Siena – The Saints went 8-24 last year and did not lose a single player that averaged double figures. The bad news is that they didn’t retain anyone that averaged double figures either.  Without a legitimate scoring threat on the roster, new head coach Jamion Christian should expect another long season in Albany.
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Conference Preview: Ivy League

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Chad

CLICK HERE for all of Hoops HD’s Preseason Coverage

 

Sometimes the easiest way to identify which teams will be the best in a league is to focus solely on those with at least four returning starters.  In the Ivy League this season, that would bring the number of teams to look at down from eight to seven.  In other words, we could be in for some great competition as these teams go head-to-head seeking the four available spots in the conference tournament.  The pick to win it all will be Harvard, a team full of talent that has under-achieved the last two seasons.  However, Penn is poised to make a run at a repeat, and Yale should be equally dangerous – maybe more so because the Bulldogs get to host the conference tournament and will likely be the pick to win it even if they don’t take the regular season crown.  Princeton is looking for a bounce-back now that the Tigers’ young players have more experience, but it would not be a shock to see Cornell, Columbia or Brown sneak in and steal one of the four tournament spots.  In other words, the battle for first will be fun, but the battle for the top four should be even more entertaining.  The Ivy League is always one of our favorite conferences, but this year may be one of the most entertaining in recent memory.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Harvard – Tommy Amaker brought in what was probably the highest rated recruiting class in school history two years ago, and that group has yet to make the NCAA Tournament. Guard Bryce Aiken’s knee injury last season was one of the causes of the 277th nationally ranked assist-to-turnover ratio.  With him back healthy, and a more efficient offense, the Crimson could hear their name called on Selection Sunday.
  2. Penn – The Quakers return four starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, led by guard Ryan Betley and forward A.J. Brodeur. Also keep an eye on Jelani Williams, the 6-5 point guard who missed last season with an ACL injury.  The worst news for the Quakers may be the league’s decision to move the conference tournament from the Palestra to Yale.
  3. Yale – The Bulldogs have a team capable of winning the conference and, given that they are hosting the conference tournament, may end up being the pick to make the Big Dance even if they don’t win the regular season crown. All five starters return from last year, and they all averaged over 9 points per game.  On top of that, Jordan Bruner, who missed last year with a torn meniscus, should be back healthy.  This team has both the talent and depth to win.
  4. Princeton – The Tigers are looking to rebound from a disappointing 5-9 conference record last season. Four starters do return, led by senior guards Devin Cannady and Myles Stephens.  The other two returnees, Sebastian Much and Jerome Desrosiers, are only sophomores, but gained a ton of experience last year.  As they continue to develop, this team could become very dangerous.
  5. Brown – The Bears return all five starters from last year, led by a pair of guards who both averaged over 17 points per game – Desmond Cambridge and Brandon Anderson. Perhaps the best news for this team, given how stacked the conference is with returnees this year, is that none of the five are seniors.
  6. Cornell – The Big Red got the fourth spot in last year’s four-team Ivy League tournament and would have been projected to finish even better this year had Stone Gettings decided to play his senior season instead of sitting out and transferring to Arizona next year as a graduate. Even without his 16.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, Cornell will still be dangerous with four starters returning including three-time Ivy League defending scoring champion Matt Morgan (1,646 career points).
  7. Columbia – Four starters return for the Lions led by junior guard Mike Smith (17.6 points per game). While that would normally be a formula for success, even after losing 19 games last season, the number of teams stacked with returning starters this year will probably keep the Lions from making any serious run at the top four and a spot in the conference tournament.
  8. Dartmouth – The Big Green lost their top two scorers from a team that went only 7-20, though the return of Guilien Smith from injury will help. Still, with the depth in the conference, avoiding an eighth-place finish may be an accomplishment.
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