Conference Preview: Big South

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Chad

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BIG SOUTH

For what seems like the past 15 years, John Brown has been making headlines and throwing down Top Ten plays for the High Point Panthers.  Yet, despite having one of the most exciting mid-major players in the nation, and at least finishing in a tie for four straight conference regular season titles, High Point failed to break through and advance to their first ever NCAA Tournament.  Brown is now gone, and his team appears likely to take a step backwards in the standings after qualifying for the NIT last season.  UNC-Asheville was the school that took the automatic bid last year, following a third place regular season finish.  The Bulldogs earned a 15 seed and fell in their first game to eventual national champion Villanova.  Winthrop, despite 23 wins, did not play in any postseason tournament. The only other Big South team that did play in the postseason was Coastal Carolina, earning an invite to the CIT and advancing to the semifinals.  The Chanticleers will not repeat that this season out of the Big South, as they were the only team to switch conferences during this past offseason, heading over to the Sun Belt in order to elevate their football program to the FBS level.

This season, Winthrop and UNC-Asheville both figure to be back in the hunt for the conference championship.  The surprise team that could move up to challenge the top two is Liberty.  The Flames have a deadly collection of three-point shooters who should be able to keep their team in most games against conference competition.  And if they get hot at the right time, a run through the conference tournament to the NCAAs would not shock us at all.   All three contenders, along with the rest of the league, will have something extra to play for this season as well. The Big South has revised its conference tournament format, and the regular season champion will host the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, followed by the highest remaining seed hosting the title game.  Given the parity we have seen in this conference the past few seasons, this added bonus could make this season more fun to watch than ever.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Winthrop – With the returns of Keon Johnson and Xavier Cooks, plus a deep roster of experienced players, the Eagles seem poised to make up for both the offseason loss of Jimmy Gavin’s 18.7 points per game and the remaining heartache from falling in last year’s conference tournament title game.

2. Liberty – The Flames could be very dangerous with four starters returning, three of whom shot over 35% from beyond the arc.  The biggest issue will be size down low after center Evan Maxwell decided to transfer to Kansas.

3. UNC-Asheville – MaCio Teague has a chance to be the conference’s top freshman player, but losing three starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team could be tough to make up for.

4. Campbell – Defending Big South Rookie of the Year Chris Clemons can take over the game from the point guard position, but the Camels need to develop other pieces around him in order to challenge the league leaders.

5. Gardner-Webb – The inside combination of forward Tyrell Nelson and 6-10, 240-pound center L’Hassane Niangane will keep them competitive, but the Runnin’ Bulldogs need to find a way to make up for losing three starters from last season’s 17-16 team.

6. High Point – John Brown is gone, along with three other starters.  Head coach Scott Cherry will need to rely on transfers if this team has any chance at staying near the top, notably Brandon Kamga from Northeastern and Jahaad Proctor from Iona.

7. Charleston Southern – Armel Potter and Raemond Robinson should form a solid pairing at the guard positions, but a lack of depth and size will likely prevent the Buccaneers from challenging for the upper division.

8. Presbyterian – Sophomore DeSean Murray led the Big South in scoring last season, then promptly transferred to Auburn.  This looks like it will be another long year.

9. Radford – The Highlanders could be in store for a tough season with only one starter and no double-digit scorers back from last year.

10. Longwood – The Lancers lost 23 games last year, and then lost their top three scorers after the season ended.  Losing less than 23 games might be an accomplishment this time around.

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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews Saint Joseph’s JR PG Shavar Newkirk

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Jon Teitel

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We continue our 2016-17 season preview interview series with Saint Joseph’s JR PG Shavar Newkirk.  Last season he was the starting PG for the A-10 champs and led the Hawks to within a few points of making the Sweet 16.  After the loss of Isaiah Miles/DeAndre’Bembry he will be counted on to play some major minutes this season.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Shavar about making a game-winner and clinching an NCAA tourney victory on a last-second review.

shavar

You grew up in New York: what made you choose Saint Joseph’s? I grew up in Harlem but went to school in the Bronx. I fell in love with the school: it is in a great area, the campus is wonderful, and it is not too far from home.

You play for Coach Phil Martelli: what makes him so down to earth, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He does not sugar-coat anything: he tells you exactly what he expects from you. He taught me to trust myself and believe in my abilities.

Last November you scored 10 PTS including the game-winning shot in the final seconds of a 2-PT win over Old Dominion: where does that rank among the most clutch shots of your career? It is definitely up there but I have had that opportunity many times. The ball was actually supposed to go to DeAndre’ Bembry for the last shot but it ended up going to me.

Last season your shooting percentages from 1-PT/2-PT/3-PT land all skyrocketed: what was the biggest difference between your freshman and sophomore seasons? I just got used to the pace of the game.  Everything was very fast when I was a freshman and I felt rushed, but as I learned the game more it became easier for me and I got more comfortable.

In the 2016 A-10 tourney title game you had 4 AST in a win over VCU: what did it mean to you to win a title, and did you have a lot of family/friends who got to attend the game in Brooklyn? I had a lot of people who attended the game, which was wonderful. They can never take the title away from me or our team.

Take me through the 2016 NCAA tourney:
You scored 3 PTS in a 2-PT win over Cincinnati: how nervous were you while the refs spent a few minutes reviewing Octavius Ellis’ potential game-tying dunk to see if it came after the buzzer? It was a crazy/surreal feeling. I hoped that it was after the buzzer but at the time we could not tell.

You scored 10 PTS in a 5-PT loss to Oregon: what did you learn from that game that you think can help you this year? I learned that it all comes down to determination/grit and how much heart a person has. In the NCAA tourney you play against the best of the best so it is the little things that determine who advances.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Temple/Villanova: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? The whole schedule will be tough.  We have a new group of guys this year so I do not know how good we will be on the court but it is a long season.

You lost your top-2 scorers from last year in Isaiah Miles/DeAndre’Bembry: how do you plan to replace all of that offense? It is a team game so we are looking for everyone to step their game up. We need to play to our strengths by getting up and down the court.

You only have 2 seniors on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? I am ready to take on the responsibility of being a leader. Isaiah/DeAndre’ have showed me the ropes so I am ready for the task.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? My goals are to win another A-10 title and make the Big Dance again. I expect to have a great season and be 1 of the standouts in the A-10.

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Conference Preview: Big Sky

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Chad

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BIG SKY

The Weber State Wildcats dominated the Big Sky conference last season, going 15-3 against conference foes to capture the regular season title, and then took care of things in the conference tournament to advance to the NCAAs, where they promptly fell as a 15 seed to Xavier in the Round of 64.  Montana finished second in the conference standings and lost to Weber State in the tournament finals, earning a berth in the CBI.  Two other Big Sky teams, Idaho and Eastern Washington, also played in the CBI while North Dakota, finally armed with a nickname (Fighting Hawks) participated in the CIT.

This season expect more of the same as Weber State, despite losing Joel Bolomboy to the NBA, appears ready to take the league by storm again.  Montana may slip back, and the top challengers could come from a handful of teams that have not made as much noise in recent years.  Idaho, Idaho State, North Dakota and Sacramento State are all lined up to make a run at the top.  Yours truly is particularly looking forward to seeing how Idaho performs this year, if only because one of their star players will be none other than . . . Chad Sherwood (no relation).  The Vandals may prove to be the second best team in the conference, but even they will be hard-pressed to dethrone Weber State.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Weber State – Even without Joel Bolomboy, the Wildcats remain one of the league’s deepest teams.  They also have a star player in guard Jeremy Senglin.  Simply put, there is no reason why they will not win this conference again.

2. Idaho – If the Vandals can stay healthy this year, they may be able to put pressure on Weber State.  They will be led by guard Victor Sanders and brothers Nate and Chad Sherwood.

3. North Dakota – The Fighting Hawks return all of their starters and key reserves, led by Quinton Hooker and Geno Crandall in the backcourt.  With Carson Shanks and Drick Bernstine providing options down low, this team has the pieces to be right near the top of the standings.

4. Sacramento State – The Hornets may be the dark horse team in this conference, as they have the bodies down low that many other teams are seriously lacking.  Justin Strings, Nick Hornsby and Eric Stuteville all provide much needed size.  If the team can replace the leadership of departed senior Cody Demps, they could be right in the thick of things.

5. Idaho State – Ethan Telfair is a legitimate star, finishing last season among the league leaders in points, assist and steals. Geno Luzcando will complement him well in the backcourt, but the Bengals need someone to step up down low if they want to contend.

6. Montana – At first glance, the Grizzlies look like they should finish higher than this with four starters returning and the addition of Oregon transfer Ahmaad Rorie. The problem is that the one starter they lost, Martin Breunig, was their only big presence down low, and there doesn’t appear to be anyone on the roster ready to fill that hole.

7. Montana State – Tyler Hall will score a ton, but may need to run the point as well this season.  If the Bobcats can develop some help on the boards, they could surprise.

8. Eastern Washington – The top two scorers from last year are gone, and the Eagles have a lack of size down low, but Felix Von Hofe and Bogdan Bliznyuk are both able to light up the scoreboard.

9. Portland State – The healthy return of forward Braxton Tucker and the addition of a couple of key junior college transfers will be needed to make up for the offseason loss of three starters.

10. Northern Colorado* – Anthony Johnson should lead the team offensively, but this looks like it could be a long first year for new head coach Jeff Linder, made longer by the school’s decision to self-impose sanctions including a postseason and Big Sky tournament ban.

11. Northern Arizona – The bad news for the Lumberjacks is that this team is coming off a 25 loss season. The good news is that half a dozen sophomores will be key contributors this year, meaning that the future does look bright . . . just not this season.

12. Southern Utah – Todd Simon takes over head coaching duties after running things for UNLV’s final 17 games last season.  Seven newcomers will join the roster this year to begin the rebuilding project.

*Northern Colorado is ineligible for the postseason, including the Big Sky tournament, due to a self-imposed postseason ban.

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Conference Preview: Atlantic Sun

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Chad

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ATLANTIC SUN

The Stetson Hatters were not supposed to make any noise at all last season.  The team was on a postseason ban due to their APR score and finished tied for last place in the regular season standings at 4-10.  The conference did allow the Hatters to play in the conference tournament, where they were expected to lose easily to #2 seed NJIT and begin their offseason.  Instead, it was the Hatters that beat NJIT by 15 points, and then knocked off #6 seed Lipscomb by 21 points to advance to the finals against Florida Gulf Coast.  The Hatters forced FGCU to overtime before finally falling, 80-78, to end their season and amazing conference tournament run.   The Eagles got the automatic bid, defeated Fairleigh Dickinson in a First Four game and fell to #1 seed North Carolina in the Round of 64. North Florida, the conference’s regular season champion, got an NIT bid while NJIT played in the CIT for the second straight season and, also for the second straight season, advanced all the way to the semifinals before falling.

Stetson brings almost their entire roster back from last season and the Hatters have a chance to contend in an A-Sun conference that could feature a ton of parity this year.  North Florida and NJIT both lost key players in the offseason, meaning both teams will struggle to match last year’s success.  Stetson joins Jacksonville and Lipscomb as teams bringing back some key talent, and all three teams have a good chance to rise in the standings.  However, everyone will likely be chasing Florida Gulf Coast, as the defending conference tournament champions return all of their key players and add in a couple new pieces that will just make them that much deeper and tougher to beat.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Florida Gulf Coast – The Eagles return virtually all of their key players led by Marc-Eddy Norelia.  UCF transfer Brandon Goodwin could be a major addition as well as Dunk City looks to return to the Big Dance for the second straight season.

2. NJIT – Ky Howard and Winfield Willis may be gone, but Damon Lynn, Tim Coleman and Rob Ukawuba are all back.  New head coach Brian Kennedy should have this team in contention for top of the league.

3. North Florida – Without Beau Beech and Trent Mackey, the entire offense looks like it will have to run through Dallas Moore.  Moore may arguably be the best player in the entire conference, but the Ospreys will need to find him some help if they want to contend again.

4. Stetson – The Hatters return their top seven scorers from last season’s team that got hot late.  A lack of size down low will be an issue, but don’t be surprised if they are in contention all season long.

5. Jacksonville – The Dolphins will be without the services of Kori Babineaux this season, but they still have Marcel White and add in East Tennessee State transfer Devin Harris.  Head coach Tony Jasick has been doing a great job revitalizing this program and they should remain tough to defeat this season.

6. Lipscomb – The Bisons should be improved this year with several of their key players back and Josh Williams healthy in the backcourt.  He is joined back there by Nathan Moran, giving the team scoring options.

7. Kennesaw State – Kendrick Ray (18.7 points per game) and Yonel Brown (18.6 points per game) were a dynamic backcourt last season. Brown is gone however, and someone else will need to step up to help Ray if the Owls want to succeed.

8. South Carolina Upstate – The good news in Spartanburg is that the team’s best player, Deion Holmes, is only a sophomore.  The bad news is that the Spartans lost 20 games last season and may not be much better than that this one.

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Season Preview: HoopsHD interviews Saint Joseph’s JR SF James Demery

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for all of the Hoops HD Preseason Articles, Interviews, and Conference Previews

We continue our 2016-17 season preview interview series with Saint Joseph’s JR SF James Demery.  He started 29 games as a freshman but became the team’s super-sub as a sophomore.  It seemed to work out pretty well for the Hawks, as they were only a few points away from making the Sweet 16.  After the loss of Isaiah Miles/DeAndre’Bembry he will be counted on to play some major minutes this season.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with James about switching from starter to sub and winning an NCAA tourney game on a last-second review.

demery

You grew up in North Carolina: what made you choose Saint Joseph’s? I had a good relationship with the coaches. I got hurt as a high school senior but Coach Martelli stuck with me and I bonded very well with the other players.

You play for Coach Phil Martelli: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He cares about his players both on and off the court and is always teaching us about both the game and life.

After starting 29 games as a freshman you only started 1 game as a sophomore: what is the biggest difference between being a starter and being a sub? It was a good thing to have that learning experience and we will try to keep it up this year.

Last season your shooting percentages from 1-PT/2-PT/3-PT land all skyrocketed: what was the biggest difference between your freshman and sophomore seasons? Just a lot of hard work in the offseason and getting ready for games. Isaiah Miles was a great 3-PT shooter so to work out with him every day was very helpful. I tried to make my shot more consistent by constantly staying in the gym.

In the 2016 A-10 tourney title game you played 14 minutes in a win over VCU: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? The experience was so surreal and the atmosphere was great. To carry out your goal after working hard all season is what it is all about. It is hard to explain but to have all of our fans celebrating our win when we got back to campus was great.

Take me through the 2016 NCAA tourney:
You scored 10 PTS in a 2-PT win over Cininnati: how nervous were you while the refs spent a few minutes reviewing Octavius Ellis’ potential game-tying dunk to see if it came after the buzzer? Isaiah came over and said that the dunk came after the buzzer. We were a little nervous but when we saw the replay on the screen it looked like it was late: it was great to win in that environment.

You scored 6 PTS in a 5-PT loss to Oregon: what did you learn from that game that you think can help you this year? That game showed us that we know what it takes to get there so we have to continue to work hard and play as a team. Playing against highly-ranked teams like the Ducks will only help me get better.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Temple/Villanova: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? Probably Villanova because they are the champs. We will not underestimate any team so we have to play hard every game and not take anyone lightly.

You lost your top-2 scorers from last year in Isaiah Miles/DeAndre’Bembry: how do you plan to replace all of that offense? I feel like we can do that because we learned from them and we know what it takes. We will know what to do when the time comes and we will be ready.

You only have 2 seniors on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? It is not pressure: I look on it as motivation. We look up to each other and help each other out: we are a group and will make great things happen.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I want to be a more consistent shooter and spend more time in attack mode. I want to be a better leader on and off the court because it is a responsibility that the older guys have passed on to me and others.

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Conference Preview: America East

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Chad

CLICK HERE for all of the Hoops HD Preseason Articles, Interviews, and Conference Previews

AMERICA EAST

For six consecutive years, from 2010-2015, the Stony Brook Seawolves were either in the America East tournament finals or the top seed in the conference tournament.  All six of those seasons they failed to capture the automatic bid.  So when the Seawolves were the top team in the league and playing Vermont in the tournament finals last season, we almost assumed it would be heartbreak yet again.  But it wasn’t.  The Seawolves finally broke through, making their first ever Big Dance – and promptly getting rolled by Kentucky in the Round of 64.  Of course success can often cost a team, and it did just that in the offseason as head coach Steve Pikiell left for Rutgers.  Three of the Seawolves’ top four players also moved on, meaning that a step back can be expected this year.  Three other America East teams also received postseason invites last season, as New Hampshire played in the CIT and both Albany and Vermont were invited to the CBI, where the Catamounts made a run to the semifinals.

This season, the usual America East three-way battle between Albany, Vermont and Stony Brook may have another face or two joining in.  Albany and Stony Brook may both take a step back, and the team battling Vermont could very well be New Hampshire.  The Wildcats feature a star player that has the ability to take over games in Tanner Leissner.  Vermont returns four starters from a team that was playing its best hoops at the end of the season and should be right there in the conference race as well.  Also, don’t overlook UMBC.  The Retrievers could be the surprise team in the conference as new head coach Ryan Odom takes over, but brings back a veteran lineup.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. New Hampshire – No team from the state of New Hampshire has been in the NCAA Tournament since Dartmouth’s last appearance in 1959.  That could change this year with most of the Wildcats’ players returning from last year’s 20 win team.  Led by Tanner Leissner, UNH could punch their first ever ticket to the Big Dance.

2. Vermont – Three double-digit scorers return for the Catamounts, led by guard Trae Bell-Haynes and forward Kurt Steidl.  Tulane transfer Payton Henson could be the addition that catapults the Catamounts to the top of the standings.

3. Albany – Evan Singletary, Peter Hooley and Ray Sanders are all gone, making this a rebuilding year for UAlbany.  Don’t underestimate head coach Will Brown’s ability to have this team back near the top very quickly.

4. Stony Brook – Guard Ahmad Walker is back, but Jameel Warney, Carson Puriefoy, Rayshawn McGrew and head coach Steve Pikiell have all moved on.  Former Ohio State assistant Jeff Boals may get them back near the top soon, but probably not this year.

5. UMBC – Ryan Odom takes over as head coach, and has a team that returns virtually everyone from last season.  Jairus Lyles averaged 23 points per game last season, and three other returnees averaged in double figures as well.  This could be the league’s surprise team.

6. Hartford – The Hawks are a veteran team, but lost star guard Pancake Thomas in a late transfer to Western Kentucky.  If John Carroll can stay healthy down low, they should still improve on last season’s 10-23 record.

7. Massachusetts-Lowell* – The River Hawks have a guard dominated lineup that features four returning starters, none of whom are seniors.  The team seems to be getting itself ready for next season, when they will be eligible for the America East and NCAA Tournaments for the first time.

8. Binghamton – All five starters do return, but only forward Willie Rodriguez put up big numbers last season.  The Bearcats should be better than last year’s 8-22, but probably not much.

9. Maine – This should have been the year that the Black Bears finally made a move up in the standings – until their top two players, Isaac Vann and Kevin Little, both decided to transfer.  Head coach Bob Walsh is now pretty much stuck starting his rebuild over again.

* Massachusetts-Lowell is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament due to being in its fourth and final year of transitioning to the Division I level.

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