Conference Preview: Mid-American

Posted on October 25, 2017 by Chad

MID-AMERICAN

The MAC is a bit of a throwback conference, a rare league these days that features teams within fairly close geographic proximity to one another.  In fact, six of the conference’s schools are in the State of Ohio and three more are in Michigan.  The closeness and history that these programs have built with one another has led to some of the best Under the Radar rivalries in college basketball, and always makes MAC basketball fun to watch.  It also routinely means that anything can happen in the conference tournament and the regular season champion seems to come up short there more often than not.

This year, the MAC appears to have a prohibitive favorite, but the Western Michigan Broncos should not book their tickets to the Big Dance until after the automatic bid is won.  Ball State could challenge for the West Division crown, and the East is so wide open that almost any team in it could prove a tough out on any given night.  In short, expect another fun season in the MAC, and expect a conference representative in the NCAA Tournament that will put a real scare into whoever they draw in the first round.

EAST DIVISION

  1. Buffalo – Despite losing a pair of double-digit scorers, the Bulls return two others in CJ Massinburg and Nick Perkins, along with a talented group of newcomers led by Missouri transfer Wes Clark (eligible after the first semester).
  2. Ohio – Most teams would be rebuilding this year after losing Antonio Campbell to a career-ending injury midseason and then watching point guard Jaaron Simmons transfer to Michigan.  Head coach Saul Phillips, however, is merely reloading, especially with players like Jordan Dartis, Jason Carter and Gavin Block back.
  3. Kent State – Last season’s NCAA Tournament entrant from the MAC returns a deep backcourt, led by Jaylin Walker, but has a lot of questions up front as the Golden Flashes have to find a replacement for Jimmy Hall’s 19 points and over 10 rebounds per game.
  4. Bowling Green – The Falcons have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1968.  While that streak may not be snapped this year, things are certainly trending in the right direction with three returning starters, a five-man freshman class, and only one senior on the entire roster.
  5. Akron – Keith Dambrot won a ton of games as head coach in Akron, but this season he is at Duquesne.  The Zips brought in a name coach in John Groce, but he is going to have to rebuild with only one starter (Jimond Ivey) back from last year’s MAC regular season championship team.
  6. Miami (Ohio) – The good news for new head coach Jack Owens is that four starters return from last season.  The bad news is that their best player, Michael Weathers, is gone — and even with him this team still lost 21 games last year.

WEST DIVISION

  1. Western Michigan – The Broncos appear to have all the pieces needed to win a conference title, from a star player (Thomas Wilder) to experience (four returning starters) to a 7 footer down low (Seth Dugan).  The game is played on the court, but if it was played on paper, Western Michigan would already be dancing this year.
  2. Ball State – With Tayler Persons in the backcourt and Trey Moses down low, the Cardinals will definitely be making noise this year and be ready to step up should Western Michigan falter.
  3. Eastern Michigan – The Eagles have a ton of new players on their roster with only four scholarship returnees.  If head coach Rob Murphy can get them to gel quickly, the Eagles could be a contender — especially with double-double machine James Thompson IV dominating down low.
  4. Toledo – The Rockets lost three starters from last season, two of whom averaged double figures.  It is hard to see them making a run at the upper levels of the conference, though Jaelan Sanford and Nate Navigato can both score.
  5. Northern Illinois – This could be a long season for head coach Mark Montgomery’s team with only two starters back and star center Marin Maric having chosen to transfer to DePaul.
  6. Central Michigan – When two players that combined to average over 51 points per game leave a team, it is hard to figure out how they can possibly succeed.  That is exactly what happened this offseason to the Chippewas, who now need players like Cecil Williams to step up as they begin life after Marcus Keene and Braylon Rayson.
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Hoops HD Report: Big East Conference Preview

Posted on October 24, 2017 by David Griggs

Chad is joined by a six man panel for our Big East Conference Preview.  Villanova isn’t just our unanimous pick to win the league, some feel that they’re so good that they can win it all this year.  Xavier, who struggled during most of the season last year but advanced all the way to the Elite Eight after sneaking into the tournament, returns all their key players and adds a few more.  They’re a team to watch as well.  Seton Hall is another team that we think will be much improved and could contend for a protected seed.  Providence and Butler will probably be dancing as well.  We talk about them, and all the other teams in the Big East.

 

And for all you radio lovers, below is an mp3 version of the show….

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Conference Preview: Metro Atlantic

Posted on October 24, 2017 by Chad

METRO ATLANTIC

The MAAC has given us a ton of fun and excitement the past few years, from Monmouth with their bench antics, to Jimmy Patsos giving the opposing team “air handshakes”, to Tim Cluess finding a way to get his Iona Gaels into back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.  The conference has a chance to be exciting again this year, though with the top teams from last season all losing a majority of their key players, the excitement may come more from league parity than anything else.

Since we do have to pick someone to win the conference, the call will be Sydney Johnson’s Fairfield Stags, one of the only teams with a significant returning cast.  Iona and Monmouth, perhaps based more on their head coaches than anything else, are picked to contend, along with a St. Peter’s team that is coming off the CIT championship.  Also, keep an eye on both Niagara and Manhattan.  Both teams lost a ton of games last season, but are among the very few teams in the league with returning experience that could help them win games.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Fairfield – The Stags enter this season not having made an NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997.  With star guard Tyler Nelson leading four returning starters, plus a deep bench, they have a real chance to break that streak this year.
  2. Iona – The Gaels lost three double-digit scorers from last year’s team, and only returnee Rickey McGill averaged more than 10 points per game.  However, one can never underestimate head coach Tim Cluess’ ability to find a way to win games and get his team into the Big Dance.
  3. Monmouth – The Hawks must begin life without Justin Robinson, their diminutive star guard who is among four starters gone from last season.  However, the cupboard is not bare for head coach King Rice as he does bring back Micah Seaborn and should get more production from guys like Austin Tilghman and Diago Quinn.
  4. St. Peter’s – The Peacocks won the championship last season.  The CIT Championship that is, but a championship is a championship (and we do love the CIT here at HoopsHD).  Only two starters return, but this team still has a good chance to finish in the upper division, especially if redshirt sophomore Cameron Jones is as good a player as he was projected to be.
  5. Niagara – Senior guards Matt Scott and Kahlil Dukes combined to average over 32 points per game last season.  They lead a team that returns its entire starting lineup, but this same group lost 23 games last year.
  6. Manhattan – The Jaspers should be vastly improved from last year’s 10-22 record as they return their top six scorers and have Rich Williams back healthy.  It may be too much to expect them to contend for the league title, but an upper division finish could certainly be within their reach.
  7. Siena – Jimmy “Air Handshake” Patsos is one of our favorite head coaches.  He will have his work cut out this season as the Saints only return one starter, though sixth man Nico Clareth did average almost 14 points per game and has a chance to shine in Albany this year.
  8. Marist – The Red Foxes lost 24 games last season and then lost one of the best scorers in program history, Khallid Hart.  The good news is that pretty much everyone else is back, and the roster is filled with underclassmen.  Marist should be competitive this season and could be even better next.
  9. Canisius – Having senior Jermaine Crumpton, who averaged almost 16 points per game last season, will certainly help the Golden Griffins remain competitive.  However, he is the only one of their top four scorers back and matching last season’s .500 conference record may be tough.
  10. Rider – The Broncs lost four starters in the offseason, all of whom averaged in double figures.  That is probably too much to make up for, meaning it looks like a step backwards this year for Kevin Baggett’s team.
  11. Quinnipiac – The Bobcats lost 21 games last season and only return one double-digit scorer (senior Chaise Daniels).  This could be a long first season for new head coach Baker Dunleavy, who is the son of Tulane head coach Mike Dunleavy, Jr.
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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews Norfolk State G Zaynah Robinson

Posted on October 24, 2017 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of Jon’s interviews, and the rest of our extensive and continuous preseason coverage

We like to cover the entire country from A-Z…and thanks to players like Zaynah Robinson we can actually do the whole alphabet!  After playing in 33 games as a freshman, he was #4 in the conference with 39.5 3P% as a sophomore, and made the MEAC All-Tournament Team last spring after leading the Spartans to the championship game.  If you like PGs who lead their conference in SPG (1.6) and AST-TO ratio (2.7), then this is your man.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Zaynah about being 5’11” and the key to winning in the postseason.

You are 5’11”: do you view your size as an advantage or disadvantage on the court? I am a positive thinker so of course I see it as an advantage. What I lack in height I make up for in speed/quickness.

You play for Coach Robert Jones: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him? I have learned about attention to detail: it is vital not only in basketball but in life. I like that he puts us in positions to win.

You played in 33 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I just understood my role and did whatever the team needed me to do. I had to raise my mental capacity to a new level and my teammates helped me do that.

Last year you started 4-13 before winning 10 in a row: what happened in January that allowed your team to turn things completely around? Our focus changed. We had a relatively new team with a lot of guys who did not know what it took to win but after getting punched in the mouth a few times the switch finally clicked.

You finished the year by leading the MEAC in STL and AST-TO ratio: what is the key to being a good PG? You have to understand your role as a leader.  You cannot take even 1 single play off and have to be the most alert player on the floor.

Your scoring increased from 6.2 PPG as a sophomore to 13.5 as a junior, but your 3-PT/FT% decreased a little bit from the previous year: do you think that is due to playing more minutes, or having defenses focused more on stopping you, or other? I think fatigue had a little to do with it, as well as adjusting to a new role and carrying a bigger load.

You have won at least 1 conference tourney game in each of the past 3 years and then lost in the 1st round of the CIT on the road every single time: what is the key to winning games in the postseason? The key is to compete to your full potential. I think that not being in the NCAA tourney stopped us from giving a full effort, which is what it takes to be successful.

1 of your biggest non-conference games this year is a trip to Auburn: how will you prepare to face a team from the SEC like the Tigers? I do not get into all of that: it is just another conference so we will prepare to give our best effort.

You are 1 of several seniors on the roster: how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success this year? It will be very crucial. In college basketball a lot of teams base their success on having talented freshmen, but I think talent mixed with experience is usually better.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Championship: everything else will come from that.

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Conference Preview: Ivy League

Posted on October 24, 2017 by Chad

IVY LEAGUE

The Ivy League became the last conference to add a postseason tournament to determine its automatic qualifier last season, but playing the four-team event may not have mattered.  Not only did Princeton go 14-0 in the regular season, but the Tigers then won both tournament games to advance to the Big Dance, losing a close first round game to Notre Dame.  Things are going to be a little different this season in the Ivy though.

Harvard has a lineup of players with enough experience and depth to be at-large bid worthy, though they will need to win games in November and December to get there.  Don’t expect conference play to be a cakewalk, however, as Yale, Penn and Princeton all have dangerous lineups and should push the Crimson all season long.  Below those top four, the bottom of the league should be better as well — as strides are being made at every school and enough talent exists that this has a chance to be a very fun season — especially with the eight teams playing for only four conference tournament spots.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Harvard – Despite only having two expected significant contributors who are juniors or seniors, the Crimson could be good enough to merit at-large consideration this season should they slip up in the Ivy League tournament.  Sophomores Bryce Aiken and Seth Towns are legitimate scorers, there are multiple 6-10 players on the roster, and highly touted freshman Rio Haskett could take over the point after the graduation of Siyani Chambers.
  2. Yale – The Bulldogs have a handful of dangerous guards with Makai Mason back healthy joined by Miye Oni, Alex Copeland and Trey Phills.  They probably have enough pieces in the frontcourt to contend as well, and should be the team to take the title if Harvard falters.
  3. Penn – The Quakers return four starters and get Antonio Woods back after he missed last season.  Steve Donahue is in his third season in Philly and this could be the year he makes some serious noise in this conference as his team is deep and gained a ton of experience last season.
  4. Princeton – The Tigers won every game they played against Ivy League foes last season, and do return the backcourt tandem of Devin Cannady and Myles Stephens.  However, they lost too many pieces in the frontcourt, including Spencer Weisz, to have that type of season again.
  5. Dartmouth – The Big Green should be much improved from last year’s 7-20 record, especially with junior Evan Boudreaux at forward and more experience and depth around him.  Boudreaux is a double-double machine who finished second in the Ivy in scoring and first in rebounding last year.  He could win both categories this time around.
  6. Cornell – The Big Red have a fascinating inside-outside pairing with Matt Morgan at guard and Stone Gettings at forward.  The two combined to average over 30 points and 10 boards per game last year.  Keep an eye on a freshman named Jimmy Boeheim too — his father is fairly well known in western New York.
  7. Columbia – The Lions will be a tough team to beat again this season, especially with Mike Smith in the backcourt, but it will be very tough for them to make up for the loss of Luke Petrasek up front.
  8. Brown – Despite having three starters back, the Bears lost their top two scorers from a team that only went 4-10 in Ivy League play.  They are a real longshot to qualify for the Ivy League tournament this season, and a finish at the bottom of the standings would not be a shock.
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Hoops HD Report: ACC Conference Preview

Posted on October 23, 2017 by David Griggs

Chad is joined by a full panel as we preview the ACC.  We begin by talking about Louisville’s spectacular offseason and how even though they are extremely talented we still expect them to struggle due to all the distractions.  Duke is a national title contender and the consensus favorite to win the league, but we also like Miami FL a lot as well.  Virginia, Notre Dame, and North Carolina are all teams that we feel are solidly in the mix for the NCAAs as well.  Georgia Tech appears to be trending up as a program, as does Boston College.  And, we have what we think as a horrendous Pitt team bringing up the rear.  All that, and much more as we discuss all 15 teams!!

 

And for all you radio lovers, below is an mp3 version of the show….

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