Conference Preview: America East

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Chad

AMERICA EAST

The Vermont Catamounts went a perfect 19-0 against America East foes last season before losing a close game to Purdue as a 13 seed in the Round of 64.  That probably won’t be repeated this year — with almost everyone back this team could actually contend for an even better seed in the Big Dance and has a real chance to win a game once there.  In fact, the biggest battle in the conference could be between Catamount teammates Trae Bell-Haynes and Anthony Lamb for conference Player of the Year honors.  In other words, John Calipari’s young Kentucky team better be on guard when they host Vermont on November 12 during the season’s opening weekend.

As for the rest of the conference, all but one team returns at least three starters, which means that there should be a higher level of play and some very exciting contests, even if they are all only battling for second place.  New Hampshire, with star Tanner Leissner, Albany and UMBC are the top three contenders, though any of the top seven preseason picks could make some serious noise this year.  It will be especially interesting to watch UMass-Lowell, as the River Hawks will be eligible for the America East and NCAA Tournaments for the first time, and could be in line for the 4 seed and a home game in the conference tournament quarterfinal round.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Vermont – The Catamounts won all 19 games they played against America East foes last season, and return the majority of that team including conference Player of the Year Trae Bell-Haynes and Rookie of the Year Anthony Lamb.  This team could be playing multiple games in the NCAA Tournament this year.
  2. New Hampshire – The Wildcats could have the league’s best frontcourt with Tanner Leissner, Jacoby Armstrong and Iba Camara.  If they can find a way to make up for the losses of guards Jaleen Smith and Daniel Dion, they look like the team most likely to jump in if Vermont falters.
  3. Albany – The Great Danes may have the league’s best backcourt with David Nichols and Joe Cremo, but probably don’t have enough down low to overtake Vermont.
  4. UMBC – The Retrievers were last season’s surprise team in the America East, and with four starters and a deep bench returning, have a chance to move up even another step this year.  Jairus Lyles averaged almost 19 points per game and could make it more than 20 this time around.
  5. UMass-Lowell – The River Hawks return two senior and one junior double-digit scorers for their first NCAA Tournament-eligible season, led by double-double threat Jahad Thomas.  It would not be a total shock to see them finish even higher than this.
  6. Stony Brook – The Seawolves are likely to take a step back this season with three starters gone and a ton of questions in the backcourt.  Tyrell Sturdivant should be their go-to player and is poised for a huge season.
  7. Binghamton – Although we are picking them in 7th place, the Bearcats have a chance to be a surprise team with most of their rotation back.  The key will be keeping Willie Rodriguez and J.C. Show healthy and on the court, something they could not do last season.
  8. Hartford – The good news is the Hawks return four starters from last season.  The bad news is that Jalen Ross, who scored almost 20 points per game, is gone.  Hartford should be better than 9-23 last year, but maybe not much better.
  9. Maine – With all nine teams now eligible for the NCAA Tournament, one school will not qualify for the 8-team America East tournament.  Finding a way to avoid being that team would be a successful year for Maine, but even doing that may be a longshot with top scorer Wes Myers gone.
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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews new UNC-Wilmington head coach CB McGrath

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Jon Teitel

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

No pressure at all for new UNC-Wilmington coach CB McGrath: he just has to replace a coach who has won each of the past 3 CAA regular season championships (Kevin Keatts) while bringing in the high expectations of having been a player/assistant for another coach who has won 3 NCAA titles in the past 13 years (Roy Williams).  Hired last April, he inherits a team who only has 1 returning starter in Devontae Cacok as he prepares to become the next branch on the Roy Williams D-1 coaching tree that includes guys like King Rice (Monmouth), Kevin Stallings (Pitt), and Mark Turgeon (Maryland). HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach McGrath about playing for Coach Williams and winning NCAA titles.  

You played PG for Coach Roy Williams at Kansas and were team captain in 1998: what is the key to being a good PG, and what is the key to being a good leader? I have always been a PG so I always had that mentality to be a leader, whether that is right or wrong. It is important to lead by example, which requires the respect of your teammates via hard work and the relationships you build. Some people are born leaders and some are not.

You went 58-0 at home during your career as a Jayhawk: how do you explain the environment at Phog Allen Fieldhouse to someone who has never been there? It is hard to explain: it is just a great venue where everyone is cheering for the team to win. We won some close games because of it: even if we did not have our best day they would get us going.

You have had approximately 20 family members attend Kansas: is everyone dying for you to put Bill Self on your schedule ASAP?! Most of them do not live there any more because they moved away after college but my parents are still there. I think at some point I would like that to happen…but I do not want to overload us right now.

You won 3 NCAA titles as an assistant to Williams at UNC: what makes him such a great coach, and what does it take to win a title? It takes a lot of things to win a title: health, talent, a great coach, etc. Winning is definitely not as easy as people think it is. Coach is great because he cares so much about his players and they work hard for him in return. He teaches everyone to be invested in all of the rewards that come their way.

In April you were hired as head coach at UNC-Wilmington: why did you take the job, and how does your approach change when you are taking over a 2-time-defending NCAA tourney team rather than a last-place loser? I took the job because I wanted it.  I have been looking at some head coaching jobs the past few years and was able to have some selectivity because I already had a good job at UNC. A winning mentality is hard to create but Wilmington has a lot of things going for it. It is easier to take over a good team but we lost a lot of starters from last year.

Your wife Kris played tennis at Kansas and was Big 12 POY: who is the best athlete in the family? She is, for sure. My kids are getting older so they might surpass her at some point, but she still plays tennis.

You have a few former Tar Heels on your staff including assistant coaches Jackie Manuel/Joe Wolf: how strong is the bond among all the former players? It is a family and that is not just lip service. It was important to me to have someone who played there because that is how I want to run our program: they know what I am about, the terminology, etc. I have enjoyed them on the staff and they have all done a great job.

1 of your biggest non-conference games this year is a trip to LSU: how will you prepare to face a team from the SEC like the Tigers? You put a game plan together for every game and just try to execute it to the best of your ability. Some people have more talent and you might have to do different things but there is no difference in preparing to try to win every game.

Your team only has 1 returning starter in Devontae Cacok after CJ Bryce followed Coach Kevin Keatts to NC State and the rest of your starting lineup graduated (Ambrose Mosley/Chris Flemmings/Denzel Ingram): what makes Cacok such a great player, and how are you going to try to replace all of that offense/experience? Devontae is a hard worker and an explosive athlete: he has a lot more touch/skill than even he knows he has. We lost a lot of scoring but we have guys who want bigger roles and we will get the most efficient scoring we can.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I just want us to work hard every day to get better every day. If so, we will be a tough team to beat by the end of the season. I expect them to do that but I can live with whatever record we have: it is about the whole method and everyone supporting each other.

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Conference Preview: West Coast

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Chad

WEST COAST

Last season, we here at HoopsHD officially elevated the entire West Coast Conference from its former “Under the Radar” conference status to the same level of leagues like the Atlantic 10.  The conference proved us correct when St. Mary’s and Gonzaga both made the Big Dance, and the Zags got Mark Few his first career Final Four, losing to North Carolina in the national championship game.  This year, the Zags have to rebuild a bit with several key pieces from their team gone, and that is why it is St. Mary’s that is (albeit narrowly) the pick to win the league.  The Gaels have a chance to be very special this year, and would not be a shock at all be be playing in the Sweet 16, if not deeper.

As for the rest of the conference, the pile of new head coaches that came in last season (Kyle Smith, Herb Sendek, Damon Stoudamire and Terry Porter) continue to try to grow their programs, but no one appears strong enough to catch up with the top two.   That really may be the top three, as BYU is once again clearly the third best team in the league.  The Cougars should have another very strong season, but they will need to make some noise in non-conference play and pick up a couple wins against the Zags and Gaels if they want to actually contend for a ticket to the Big Dance.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. St. Mary’s – The Gaels are absolutely loaded this year, led by arguably the nation’s best center, Jock Landale, along with Calvin Hermanson, Emmett Naar, Ole Miss graduate transfer Cullen Neal and more.
  2. Gonzaga – Last year’s national runner-up, the Bulldogs have to make up for some huge offseason losses as four double-digit scorers have moved on.  However, they should still be very dangerous, especially if players like Killian Tillie, Rui Hachimura and Zach Norvell can play up to their potential, with the help of returnees Josh Perkins and Johnathan Williams.
  3. BYU – The Cougars could have made this a three way battle and an incredibly exciting season — if only Eric Mika had pulled his name out of the NBA Draft.  Instead, the star forward who averaged over 20 points and almost 10 boards per game is now playing pro ball overseas, and there are tons of question marks down low.  Still, BYU will be dangerous enough in the backcourt to make some noise with the combination of TJ Haws, Elijah Bryant and Nick Emery — assuming they can all stay healthy.
  4. San Francisco – Kyle Smith did a great job getting 20 wins out of this team in his first season as head coach.  Although they lose their top scorer, Ronnie Boyce III, the majority of the team returns and junior college transfer Erik Poulsen could be a big factor.  The Dons may not be able to crack the top three, but they will not be a pushover either.
  5. San Diego – The Toreros have a chance to surprise a few teams with this season with Olin Carter III back at guard and a pair of transfers, Isaiah Pineiro (Portland State) and Isaiah Wright (Utah), that could have big seasons.
  6. Santa Clara – Herb Sendek enters his second season as head coach of the Broncos, and will do so without his best player from last year, guard Jared Brownridge, who averaged over 18 points per game.  He still has a few weapons though, led by KJ Feagin at guard and Princeton grad transfer Henry Caruso, who missed most of last season with an injury.
  7. Pacific – The Tigers are one of several West Coast Conference teams that had close to a complete roster turnover this past offseason.  They do bring in Oregon transfer Kendall Small at point guard, and he will have a chance to shine here.  However, the talent and depth is probably not enough for an upper division finish, and will be hurt for a few more years due to scholarship reductions from violations under the prior coaching regime.
  8. Portland – Terry Porter’s team is almost a complete mystery heading into this season, with a ton of new pieces (11 of them if you count redshirts and walk-ons).  There is definitely some potential talent here, but it will probably take at least one full season for them to gel and learn how to win.
  9. Loyola Marymount – Mike Dunlap is entering his fourth season as head coach for the Lions, but it looks like he is going to be rebuilding once again with very few offensive options returning from last season.
  10. Pepperdine – The Waves only won 9 games last season, albeit in part due to a slew of injuries.  Their top three scorers from last season are now gone, and it is tough to see any serious chance of success this year.
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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews UNC-Wilmington F Devontae Cacok

Posted on October 18, 2017 by Jon Teitel

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

When we were college sophomores we were just trying to find friends who had a fake ID and summer jobs that would pay us money.  All Devontae Cacok did as a sophomore last year was set the NCAA single-season record by shooting 80 FG%.  He was not just a dunking machine: he set a conference record with 24 REB vs. Drexel last January.  He did not just succeed against lesser competition: he had a double-double in the NCAA tourney against Virginia last March.  He does not just contribute on offense: he became the 2nd UNCW player to ever be named CAA Defensive Player of the Year.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Devontae about being a great rebounder and whether anyone will ever break his record.  We also wish him a belated happy 21st birthday earlier this month!

You have stated that your main reason for choosing UNC-Wilmington was former head coach Kevin Keatts: did you have any thoughts about following him to NC State after he took a new job last spring (like your former teammate CJ Bryce did)? There was a lot of emotion going on this summer and I thought about it but I felt that staying here would be the best decision for me. The current coaching staff will help me with connections after college.

Last year you led the team with 9.8 RPG and set a school record with 24 REB in a game: how are you able to grab so many REB despite only being 6’7”? If the ball is anywhere around me I will go get it. Helping give my team another possession will help us win games and I have a strong motor. I want to break the school record this year.

You finished the season by being named conference DPOY: what is the key to playing great defense? You have to be able to see the floor, know when you need to rotate, challenge every shot without fouling, and be a general presence in the paint.

You also set an NCAA single-season record with 80 FG%: how do you make so many shots, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? I put a lot of concentration into finishing each shot so I try to have quick hands/feet. I do not think that anyone will ever break it even though records are made to be broken: if they do then I might return to college to break it again!

In the 2017 NCAA tourney you had 12 PTS/15 REB in a 5-PT loss to Virginia: how close did you come to beating the Cavaliers, and what did you learn from that game that you think will help you this year? The biggest factor was not having complete focus in the final seconds of the game. If we could have taken care of the ball then we might have won the game. We just need to stay focused the whole game and bounce back after someone makes a run against us.

You have a new coach this year in CB McGrath: how does his style so far compare to your former coach? Coach McGrath is a lot different that Coach Keatts: his system is more big-oriented due to coming from North Carolina, whereas Coach Keatts was more guard-oriented. It gives me a chance to excel in his system and I have prepared hard all summer.

1 of your biggest non-conference games this year is a trip to LSU: how will you prepare to face a team from the SEC like the Tigers? After playing a bunch of ACC teams like Virginia/Clemson/Duke we are prepared to face anyone so we will just try to treat it like a normal game…but every game is important.

In addition to CJ you lost the rest of your starting lineup from last year (Ambrose Mosley/Chris Flemmings/Denzel Ingram): how are you going to try to replace all of their offense/experience? We will need a lot of guys to step up this year to replace those 4 starters. Everyone has to fill their role and accept that challenge.

You turned 21 earlier this month: how was the big day? I actually went home for it.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? My goal is to be more efficient on the court, not foul as much, and make some smarter decisions. We want to win another conference title, make it back to the NCAA tourney, and then make a run after falling short the past couple of years.  We just need to learn from our mistakes.

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Conference Preview: Mountain West

Posted on October 18, 2017 by Chad

MOUNTAIN WEST

The Mountain West has fallen on hard times.  The conference has not received an at-large bid to either of the last two NCAA Tournaments, and its automatic qualifiers received a 14 and a 12 seed those two years.  Here at HoopsHD, we actually relegated the conference to “Under the Radar” status midway through last season, a status reserved for conferences that are normally single-bid leagues.  This needs to change, as the conference needs to find a way to regain its status of at least being on the same level as leagues such as the Atlantic Ten.  There is a chance that the turnaround could begin this season.

Nevada won the regular season and conference tournament titles last year and is the favorite heading into this season, led by a host of talented transfers that should fill in the gaps left by offseason losses.  San Diego State welcomes a new coach for the first time this millennium, but has enough returning talent to rebound from a disappointing 2016-17 season and be right in the thick of things.  As many as five other programs have legitimate conference title aspirations, including Boise State, UNLV, Wyoming and Fresno State.  Perhaps the biggest disappointment this season will come in Albuquerque, and not because the team is expected to struggle mightily.  The disappointment is that The Pit has been renamed “Dreamstyle Arena.”  For us, however, it always has been and always will be The Pit.

Predicted Order of Finish

  1. Nevada – Despite losing three of their top four scorers, the Wolf Pack should be right in the hunt for another Mountain West championship thanks to the returns of point guard Lindsey Drew, star forward Jordan Caroline and several key additions.  Most notable among the newcomers are twins Caleb and Cody Martin who sat out last season after transferring from North Carolina State, where Caleb averaged over 11 points per game two years ago.
  2. San Diego State – The Aztecs enter a new era this season as Steve Fisher retired after 18 seasons, leaving the program’s reins in the hands of long-time assistant Brian Dutcher.  Dutcher has the pieces to land San Diego State in the Field of 68 in his very first season, with seniors Trey Kell and Malik Pope leading the way, and a handful of strong newcomers, including San Francisco transfer Devin Watson, ready to fill in the gaps.
  3. Wyoming – The Cowboys return the majority of their CBI Championship team and will be looking to parlay that success into an NCAA bid.  Justin James and Hayden Dalton both averaged double figures off the bench last year, and could be even bigger factors this season.
  4. UNLV – Despite losing 21 games last season, the Rebels have a great chance to bounce back with a recruiting class that was ranked in the Top 20 nationally.  Brandon McCoy is a legitimate NBA prospect at forward/center, and will be joined by one of the nation’s top Juco transfers, Shakur Juiston.  Also keep an eye on guard Jordan Johnson, a transfer from Wisconsin-Milwaukee who should be able to jump right in and lead the team from the point.
  5. Boise State – The Broncos should once again be among the top teams in the conference, thanks in part to Chandler Hutchison, a nightly double-double threat that could contend for conference Player of the Year honors.  In the end, they will need to find second and third options on offense if they want to seriously take a shot at the league’s top spot.
  6. Fresno State – The Bulldogs may have the Mountain West’s most dangerous backcourt with Jaron Hopkins, Jahmel Taylor and Deshon Taylor, the later two of which are deadly from beyond the arc.  They also add in graduate transfer Ray Bowles (Pacific) who averaged over 13 points per game last season.  The problems, of course, will be down low where the team lacks in size, depth and experience.
  7. Colorado State – Larry Eustachy performed miracles last season, getting 24 wins out of a rotation that was limited to only seven players after a slew of academic casualties hit the team in the spring semester.  This year a few of those casualties are back eligible, and the team adds in a handful of Juco transfers, but their top two scorers, Gian Clavell and Emmanuel Omogbo, are gone and the team is likely to take a few steps back.
  8. Utah State – The Aggies have a couple very nice pieces in their backcourt, led by last season’s conference Freshman of the Year, Koby McEwen.  However, it would be a shock for them to be much improved off of last season’s 14-16 record.
  9. Air Force – Although the Falcons are woefully lacking in the size and athleticism to keep pace with the top of the conference, this year’s team will be dominated by senior leadership, and that may be enough to keep them out of the conference cellar.
  10. San Jose State – The Spartans now have Jean Prioleau running the show after Dave Wojcik’s surprise retirement over the summer.  Although it may take the team time to adjust to a new head coach, they at least still have forward Ryan Welage.  The late decision by star Brandon Clarke to transfer to Gonzaga really hurt, and could make this a long season.
  11. New Mexico – Head coach Craig Neal is gone.  Almost 75% of last season’s scoring either graduated or transferred.  And The Pit has apparently been renamed “Dreamstyle Arena.”  In other words, this is going to be a very long season for new head coach Paul Weir.
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HoopsHD is LIVE at A-10 Media Day with: Commissioner Bernadette McGlade

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Jon Teitel

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

Since the A-10 was kind enough to bring their media day to Washington, DC, HoopsHD decided to take the day off from work and check out all the action.  With 14 teams there is a lot to cover so we did our best.  Next up is Commissioner Bernadette McGlade who is beginning her 10th season in charge of the conference.  She has held just about every role in the sport: star rebounder at North Carolina, head coach at Georgia Tech, Final 4 Tournament Director, Selection Committee chairwoman, etc.  Jon Teitel got to chat with the Commish about being an ACC double-legend and her admiration for the chairwoman of the Commission on College Basketball.

Your 1251 career REB remains #1 in UNC history: what is the secret to being a great rebounder? Get a lot of playing time!

In 1981 you were hired at Georgia Tech to be the head women’s coach at age 23: did you consider your age to be an advantage or disadvantage? It was a double-edged sword: people told me that I was crazy to take the job…but would also be crazy to turn it down. I was thrown into the fire immediately.  As a recruiter I got off my 1st flight in NY and only then realized that I was not old enough to rent a car because I was not 25!

In 1993 you served as Tournament Director for the Women’s Final 4: what was the best part?  We had a goal of getting an advance sellout, which has never happened at a neutral site.  People chuckled when they heard about the goal and just told us to work hard, but we sold out the week before the Final 4. I would call Ticketmaster every night to see what was available.  They said they only had 1 left in Row ZZ and I asked if there were 2 tickets together somewhere else: they said that was the only ticket left in the entire building and I bought it myself.

You were chairwoman of the Women’s Basketball Selection Committee in 1999/2000: do you focus on a single most important factor (RPI/SOS/road wins/other)? I think it is a combination of factors but a team’s record is also important. You should not get credit for losing even if your star player was injured. Head-to-head competition is also important, as is having an above-.500 record in conference play: we like to see if you have had success against your fellow at-large selections. While there is not just 1 thing that is most important, I am not so sure that there should be 15 factors taken into account.

In 2012 you became the first person to be named an ACC Legend as a player (UNC) and coach (Georgia Tech): many star players often turn out to be bad coaches so how were you able to succeed at both? I have had an opportunity to work with really great people. I had a great coach/teachers at UNC, and Homer Rice was a fabulous/supportive boss at Georgia Tech. The student-athletes could have chosen not to accept me because I was so young but that did not happen: it was a positive successful environment.

Several teams (GMU/VCU/Davidson) have been added to the A-10 during the past decade: what impact has realignment had on your conference? It has had a tremendous impact, especially after losing Temple/Charlotte who needed a conference that sponsored football.  We were able to add 3 schools who matched our profile and were in our geographic footprint, which has helped us remain a national conference.

Do you prefer a conference tourney that rotates cities or stays put in 1 place? I like the balance we have fallen into: 4 years in Brooklyn, then popping out to Pittsburgh/DC, but now we have the secondary excitement of returning to Brooklyn in 2019.  It helps the fan bases when we move it around: we had over $1 million in tickets sales last spring in Pittsburgh.

Your sister Agnus Berenato won her 450th career game last year: who is the best coach in the family? Of course I would have to say myself but she certainly outlasted me.  She did a fabulous job in Pittsburgh and won a WNIT title at Georgia Tech in 1992, to her credit. Last year at Kennesaw State she got a top-4 seed and made it to the Atlantic Sun semifinals.

What makes a good referee? Making good decisions.  The consistency of calls is what the players/coaches want, regardless of whether or not you call it tight.

You previously mentioned that the 1 woman in sports business who you would most like to meet is Condoleezza Rice: how do you feel about her being the Chairwoman of the NCAA’s brand-new Commission on College Basketball? I think it is fabulous. She is a remarkable individual with a great breadth/depth of knowledge, both in higher education/athletics. She is quite exceptional.

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