Conference Preview: Mid-American

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Chad

For the rest of our preseason coverage, CLICK HERE.

MID-AMERICAN

Most people would consider the Mid-American Conference to be among the upper echelon of mid-major conferences.  Perhaps it is because the MAC also plays FBS level football.  Or perhaps it is because the MAC consistently places at-large teams into the NCAA Tournament.  Wait.  Strike that last sentence.  Despite being one of the better known mid-majors, the MAC has not had an at-large entry into the NCAA Tournament since Miami-Ohio received a bid back in 1999.  This season, the MAC will give us at least one team that should have at-large worthy credentials if they falter in the conference tournament.  Central Michigan returns virtually everyone from last season’s regular season co-champions and MAC tournament runner-ups.

Last season, it was Buffalo that got the league’s only dance ticket when Bobby Hurley’s Bulls upset CMU in the championship game.  Buffalo received a 12 seed, losing in the Round of 64 to West Virginia.  They also then lost Bobby Hurley to Arizona State.  Central Michigan was relegated to the NIT, while four other teams also received postseason invitations.  Kent State, Bowling Green and Western Michigan all participated in the CIT.  Eastern Michigan played in the CBI.

This year, Central Michigan is the clear pick to win the West Division, overall #1 seed and a tournament berth.  In fact, they are good enough to be in the at-large discussion if they play up to their preseason potential.  The second best team in the West will likely be Western Michigan, but the Broncos probably will not be able to keep pace with the Chippewas.  In the East Division, three teams will all be in contention for the division crown.  Akron is the pick to take it, but Miami-Ohio and Kent State could both be factors.

Predicted Order of Finish

East Division

1.  Akron – The Zips should be a contender at least in the East Division, with all of their key pieces back led by center Pat Forsythe.  Despite being plagues by injuries, this team still found a way to win 21 games last year.  There is no reason why they will not be even better this time around.

2.  Miami-Ohio – Eric Washington and Geovonie McKnight will be the leaders on a team with six key seniors.  Do not be surprised if the Redhawks are a contender for the division title.

3.  Kent State – The Golden Flashes return their entire starting frontcourt led by Jimmy Hall, who averaged just shy of 16 points per game last season.  However, their backcourt is gone which means they will need to rely on Kellon Thomas, who redshirted last year, and Maine transfer Xavier Pollard.  Pollard did average over 14 points per game two years ago for the Black Bears.

4.  Buffalo – It was a tough offseason for the Bulls as they lost their head coach, Bobby Hurley, and their starting point guard, Shannon Evans, both to Arizona State.  The also lost MAC Player of the Year Justin Moss, who was dismissed from the school in August.  The Bulls do have a solid backcourt pair in Lamonte Bearden and Jarryn Skeete.

5.  Ohio – Antonio Campbell will be a force down low, but the Bobcats will need to rely on a handful of transfers if they want to be successful this year.  Kenny Kaminski (Michigan State) and Jaaron Simmons (Houston) will probably be the keys to the season.

6.  Bowling Green – The Falcons do not appear to have the pieces to make up for the loss of Richaun Holmes.

West Division

1.  Central Michigan – The Chippewas return a very deep, experienced roster led by a trio of seniors, Chris Fowler, John Simons and Rayshawn Simmons, along with junior Braylon Rayson.  They appear to be the best team in the MAC by a solid margin, and if they can play up to their talent level, could be in the hunt for an at-large bid in case of a slip-up in the MAC tournament.

2.  Western Michigan – The Broncos feature depth, experience and size down low.  However, they will need to find the outside scoring to replace David Brown and Austin Richie.  If they do, they will be tough to beat.

3.  Northern Illinois – The Huskies have a pair of seniors in the backcourt (Aaric Armstead and Travon Baker) that will be joined by top recruit Marshawn Wilson.  If Darrell Bowie can get some help down low, this team could surprise.

4.  Ball State – The Cardinals return four starters from last year’s team plus have Jeremie Tyler eligible to play again.  Youngstown State transfer Ryan Weber leads a solid group of newcomers as well.  Head coach James Whitford’s team should be vastly improved over last season’s 7-23 record.

5.  Toledo – The Rockets have Nathan Boothe down low and Jonathan Williams in the backcourt, but it will be very difficult for them to replace the loss of their top three scorers from last season.

6.  Eastern Michigan – Raven Lee was second in the MAC in scoring last season, but he is the only starter returning this year.  If the newcomers do not step up, this could be a long season in Ypsilanti.

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Season preview: UCLA SR PF Tony Parker

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Jon Teitel

For all of our extensive Preseason Coverage – CLICK HERE

It is 1 thing to go undefeated on the road, but as a 2-time gold medalist for USA Basketball Tony Parker has gone undefeated around the world!  He went 5-0 at the 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Argentina and 8-0 at the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship in Germany.  He has not done too bad in America either, winning 4 straight Georgia 4A state titles at Miller Grove High School and making the NCAA tourney during each of the past 3 years at UCLA.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Tony about winning on a controversial goaltending call last March and being the Bruins’ only senior this year. 

tony

In the 2012 McDonald’s All-American Game you scored 10 PTS in a 4-PT loss by the East: which of your teammates impressed you the most (Kyle Anderson/Kris Dunn/TJ Warren/other)? We were just out there having fun but the practices were competitive. TJ played well, as did Shabazz Muhammad.

At Miller Grove High School you won 4 straight Georgia state titles: how was your team able to be so dominant for such a long period of time, and what made you choose UCLA? We were a powerhouse and our coach did a great job. I was the only freshman playing with 7 seniors during my 1st year so it was easy for me to be a role player and just have fun. I think we only lost 1 game during my junior year, and it taught me to play hard defense. It was a good decision to come here and I still talk to the guys who helped recruit me.

You play for Coach Steve Alford: what makes him such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He is really good guy and was a good player himself, so he loves to work us hard and push us.

Take me through the 2015 NCAA tourney:
You scored 3 PTS and Yanick Moreira was called for goaltending on Bryce Alford’s jumper with 13 seconds left in a 1-PT win over SMU: did you think it was the right call, and how did it feel to win a game on a call like that? Moreira had been going after a lot of shots and I thought that he actually goaltended 1 of mine before, so I thought it was the right call. It just worked in our favor.

You scored a career-high 28 PTS (11-14 FG) in a win over UAB: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I just came out and played as hard as possible: in a tourney you never know if it is going to be your last game.

You had 16 PTS/11 REB in a loss to Gonzaga: what did you learn from that game that you think can help you this year? I just give credit to them for beating us twice last year. They did a good job of controlling the pace so I just have to play harder against teams of that nature.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against UNLV/Kentucky/Gonzaga/North Carolina: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? They are all great teams so we will just have to play hard. We cannot take anyone for granted so we have to strive to get better every game.

You lost 2 of your top-3 scorers from last year (Norman Powell/Kevon Looney): how are you going to try to replace all of that offense? We just do like we always do: next man up. We play as a team.

You are the only senior on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? There is not that much pressure. I love playing basketball so I just will try to enjoy my senior year.

Your father Virgil played college basketball: who is the best athlete in the family? I would say me but he would say him! He is more of a shooter and we are very competitive with each other.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I want to push our team to be as good as we can be. We need to grow as a team so when we reach March we can have a long run in the postseason. There will be storms along the way and we just have to weather them.

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Conference Preview: Metro Atlantic

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Chad

For the rest of our Preseason Coverage, CLICK HERE.

METRO ATLANTIC

8.6 miles.  The distance between Iona and Manhattan’s campuses.  And the distance between the two schools that form what is the best rivalry in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.  What can make a rivalry like this even better though?  A great answer is seeing the two teams meet in the MAAC Tournament championship game with a berth in the NCAA Tournament on the line.  You want even better than that?  Well, having that same matchup take place in the MAAC title game three years in a row would fit the bill.  Each of the last three seasons that is exactly what has happened, with Manhattan pulling off the upset victories in 2014 and 2015.  Last season, the win put the Jaspers in one of the 16-seed First Four games where they fell to Hampton.  Iona ended up in the NIT — certainly not the tournament they wanted to be in after going a dominating 17-3 in conference regular season play.  As for the rest of the MAAC, only Rider (CBI) and Canisius (CIT) joined the two New York City area rivals in postseason play.

This season, the MAAC has a great chance to come down to the same two teams battling for the automatic bid.  Iona and Manhattan, joined by a dark horse pick in Siena, are the top teams in the conference, with Iona being led by one of the best mid-major players in the nation, A.J. English.  Rider, Fairfield and Monmouth have a chance to be in contention for postseason play as well, while Canisius will need a young team to come together quickly if they want to remain near the top of the standings.

Predicted Order of Finish

1.  Iona – The trio of A.J. English, Schadrac Casimir and Isaiah Williams is going to score a ton of points.  The Gaels will need Ryden Hines to step up down low now that David Laury is gone, but there is no reason they will not be the best team in the league again.

2.  Siena – Picking the Saints this high after a 20 loss season may be a shock to some, but they should be vastly improved with Imoh Silas and Brett Bisping back healthy down low.  The Saints will be strong in the backcourt as well with Marquis Wright and Ryan Oliver providing leadership.

3.  Manhattan – The Jaspers lost three starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, but do return senior forward Shane Richards and a deep group of reserves that will be asked to step up.  There is still enough talent here to be right near the top of the standings again.

4.  Rider – Teddy Okereafor, Jimmie Taylor and Zedric Sadler will combine to form a very solid backcourt, but the Broncs will need to find a way to make up for the loss of Matt Lopez down low.

5.  Fairfield – The Stags may be one of the most improved teams in the conference as they return all five starters, and have 4 seniors that figure to be major contributors.  They will be led once again by Marcus Gilbert, who averaged more than 16 points per game last season.

6.  Monmouth – The Hawks have a chance to be in contention despite losing three key players as guards Justin Robinson and Deon Jones return and both averaged more than 12 points per game last year.  The Hawks also have solid size down low with Zac Tillman and Chris Brady.

7.  Canisius – The Golden Griffins only return two starters, but they still have enough talent, bolstered by a solid group of newcomers that should help immediately, to challenge for the upper division.

8.  Quinnipiac – The Bobcats may struggle this season with Zaid Hearst gone, but the addition of JC transfer Giovanni McLean should help as he will likely pick up much of the scoring slack.

9.  Niagara – Emile Blackman and Karonn Davis will lead a solid backcourt, but the Purple Eagles have huge holes down low.  The best news is that there are no seniors on the roster, so the younger players will gain a ton of experience this year that will hopefully pay off next.

10.  Marist – Things will be difficult in Poughkeepsie without Chavaughn Lewis — and with him they only won 7 games last year!  Khallid Hart will be called upon to lead the Red Foxes this year.

11.  St. Peter’s – Marvin Dominique and Desi Washington led the way for the Peacocks last season.  This year, they are both gone, and there just does not appear to be anyone ready to fill in the gaps.  It could be a very long season for John Dunne’s squad.

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Season preview: Florida State SO G Xavier Rathan-Mayes

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Jon Teitel

For all of our extensive Preseason Coverage – CLICK HERE

Most of the 2015 All-ACC Freshman Team became 1st round NBA draft picks after winning a national title (Duke’s Jahlil Okafor/Tyus Jones/Justise Winslow), while a 4th remains stuck behind 3 teammates who all scored more than he did last year (North Carolina’s Justin Jackson).  The 5th, Florida State’s Xavier Rathan-Mayes, led his team in scoring last year with almost 15 PPG, and returned to school so that he can keep trying to break his father Tharon’s records.  The 1st freshman in the illustrious history of the ACC to score 30+ PTS in at least 3 games, he was also 1 of only 2 freshmen in the nation (along with Maryland’s Melo Trimble) to lead his team in PPG/APG/SPG last year.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Xavier about being teammates with Andrew Wiggins and having the best 5 minutes of his life against Miami.

xavier

You were born in Canada: how did you 1st get into the sport of basketball? My dad introduced me to the game and we would work out every single morning. I just fell in love with it.

1 of your teammates at Huntington Prep was fellow Canadian Andrew Wiggins: could you tell even back then that he was going to become a star? Definitely: he always had a great work ethic and a drive to be great. He never wanted to lose so I knew early on that he was destined to do big things in the NBA.

Your father played basketball for the Seminoles and remains 1 of the top-25 scorers in school history: how much of an influence was he on your own decision to attend Florida State and/or wear #22? He was a big influence on my decision because I always wanted to follow in his footsteps and try to break some of his records. He was my biggest role model and I wear #22 to honor him and represent everything that he did.

You play for Coach Leonard Hamilton: what makes him such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He is a father-figure who I can talk to about anything in my life. He has a great relationship with his players and always puts us first. The most important lessons he has taught us are off the court: how to one day be great men/husbands.

You played SG in high school: how difficult was it to make the transition to PG in college? I played PG during my final year of high school, which was a position that I always wanted to play. It was a little tough last year but my coaches/teammates believed in me and helped me get through the tough times and develop into the player I am still becoming. It takes a lot of film study but is getting easier.

Last February you scored 30 PTS (including 26 in a row) in the final 4:38 of a 4-PT loss to Miami: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? It was something that I have never felt before: it seemed like I was by myself in a quiet gym.  It was a historic run when I look back on it, but it does not matter that much because we lost the game.

You finished the year by being named to the All-ACC freshman team and were 1 of only 2 freshman in the nation (with Melo Trimble of Maryland) to lead his team in PPG/APG/SPG: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? The biggest thing for me is my work ethic. I always try to be the hardest worker no matter where I go: I want to be the 1st 1 to get to the gym and the last 1 to leave. I am dedicated to getting better each day.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Iowa/VCU/Mississippi State/Florida: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? We are looking forward to all of those games, but I am most looking forward to playing up in Gainesville. My dad has taught me about the rivalry and I have definitely circled it on my calendar. It will test our character and show us how good a team we are.

Your team returns its entire starting backcourt from last season (Montay Brandon/Devon Bookert/yourself): how on earth is McDonald’s All-American Dwayne Bacon going to be able to get any minutes?! Dwayne is a big-time player so he will find a way to get some minutes. He has worked hard and soaked up a lot of knowledge so I do not think it will be a struggle for him.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? My biggest goal is to win: I hope we can win an ACC title and make a deep run in the ACC tourney.

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Season preview: UC Irvine SR G Aaron Wright

Posted on October 18, 2015 by Jon Teitel

For all of our extensive Preseason Coverage – CLICK HERE

Aaron Wright certainly had the right stuff at Cerritos High School, where he recorded a triple-double in a playoff win.  He began his college career on the wrong foot, as he had to redshirt after hurting his knee only 9 games into his freshman season.  However, he has bounced back to become a senior leader for an Anteater team that was only 1 possession away from upsetting Louisville in last year’s NCAA tourney.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Aaron about overcoming injuries and winning the 1st Big West basketball title in school history. 

wright

You had a triple-double (20 PTS/12 REB/10 AST) for Cerritos High School in a playoff win: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? It is definitely up there. It was my senior year and we had always lost before in the 1st round of the playoffs, so I tried to leave it all on the court.

What made you choose UC Irvine? It is somewhat close to home and is in a great area near the beach. Another huge part was that it is a great academic school.

You play for Coach Russell Turner: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He is the most competitive coach that I have ever played for: he hates losing as much as the rest of us do. He taught me to never give up no matter what the situation is.

9 games into your freshman season you hurt your knee and had to take a medical redshirt: how bad was the injury, and how were you able to overcome it? It was pretty bad. Overcoming it was the toughest part because I had never had a serious injury like that before. I only missed 1 game during my high school career so it was tough to miss the rest of the season, but injuries happen in sports. I just grinded it out in rehab to make sure that I could come back healthy.

In the 2014 Big West tourney you scored 4 PTS in a 3-PT loss to Cal Poly: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? It is definitely in the top-5. We beat them twice in the regular season and I know it is tough to beat a team 3 times in a year, but we should have won and made it to the tourney title game. However, you have to give it to Cal Poly: they had a hot streak at the right time of the year.

In the 2015 Big West tourney title game you scored 5 PTS in a 9-PT win over Hawaii: how big a deal was it to win the 1st Big West tourney title in school history, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? As kids we all want to make it to the NCAA tourney and when your school has never done that before it makes it even better. Everyone on campus was hyped: it is more of an academic school but people seemed to care more about sports for once. When we left to go to the NCAA tourney we had people cheering us as we got onto the bus. Our fan base has grown so much since my freshman year, which is great.

In the 2015 NCAA tourney you scored 5 PTS in a 2-PT loss to Louisville: how close did you come to winning the game, and what did you learn from the loss that you think can help you this year? We came really close: I thought we were in control of the game until the final 4 minutes. It was our 1st time on a stage like that while some of Louisville’s players had won a national title. I learned to play every possession as if you are losing rather than trying to protect a lead.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against Boise State/Oregon/Kansas: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? Kansas is going to be a big game for us. They are a great basketball school and have a great fan section. We are going to their house where they do not lose a lot of games, so we just have to play our hardest.

You return 3 of your top-4 scorers from last year (Mamadou Ndiaye/Luke Nelson/Alex Young): how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success this year? It was tough to lose a couple of our seniors who were big pieces of our team, but we also bring back other players who have made some big shots so there are a lot of players who will be able to step up. Even if we do not have a bunch of prolific scorers I still think that we can be a dangerous team.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? We expect to win the Big West again and make it back to the NCAA tourney. We made some history by getting there last year, but my goal this year is to win the regular season title and tourney title in the same year and then make it to the Sweet 16.

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Season preview: Bradley coach Brian Wardle

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Jon Teitel

For all of our extensive Preseason Coverage – CLICK HERE

Brian Wardle made 3 straight postseason appearances as head coach at Green Bay, so now it is on to the next challenge after being named head coach at Bradley last March.  The bad news is that the Braves only won 3 conference games last year, but the good news is that they did not lose a lot of seniors.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Wardle about being a great scorer in college and bringing in a ton of freshmen this fall.

wardle

As a freshman for Coach Mike Deane at Marquette you were named C-USA 6th Man of the Year: how does your mindset change when you are a starter vs. coming off the bench? When you come off the bench you want to bring some energy and toughness, and coaches like to bring in guys who can score. You have an advantage when you can pay attention to the details before you check into the game. I challenge my players to do that: it is not about who starts the game but who finishes it.

You led the Golden Eagles in scoring during each of your final 3 seasons: what is your secret for being a great scorer? You have to build a swagger through hard work and confidence is gained through your work ethic. I would get in the gym and watch the ball constantly go through the net, so even if I missed my 1st 5 shots in a game I thought the next shot would go in. You also have to put the time in to be the best-conditioned athlete on the floor by doing the extra things to be successful.

In 2010 you were hired as coach at Wisconsin-Green Bay: what was the best part of being the youngest D-1 head coach in the nation, and what was the worst part? The best part was the opportunity to build a relationship with your players and try to put yourself in their shoes. You can jump into practice when you need…to if you are still in playing shape and have your health! You always think you are prepared, but you are never as prepared as you think to move 1 seat over on the bench: you can only gain wisdom through experience. There were some things that caught me completely off-guard because there are so many time constraints and so many different aspects to a program.

In the 2013 Horizon League tourney Ryan Broekhoff scored 25 PTS including a 3-PT shot with a man in his face at the buzzer in a 1-PT win by Valparaiso: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? I have had a lot of them as a player and coach, but that is because basketball is a rollercoaster ride. It was tough to swallow but we battled as a group and fought hard through the end, so you just have to be proud of what you were able to accomplish.

In 2014 you were named Horizon League COY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? Any personal accolades a coach receives is due to his team winning games. I had really good players who bought in and sacrificed for each other, which is the beauty of team sports. We had a vision and took it step by step: you need good players and coaches around you.

Your best player last year was Keifer Sykes: how do you think he is going to do in the pros? I think he will have a very long career in pro basketball and end up in the NBA 1 day. Everyone has a different path but he is a warrior and will help a team win, which he has done his entire career.

Last March you were hired as head coach at Bradley to replace Geno Ford: why did you take the job, and how has the transition been so far? I took the job because having grown up in Chicago I know what a great place this is academically.  Bradley basketball has great history/tradition so it was a no-brainer. I was extremely excited just to be interviewed, and to get it was a dream come true. My goal is to build a program that can last a long time and contend for championships. The transition has been wonderful: we have great people on campus and throughout the community and our athletic director has helped us all become comfortable and build a culture. It is a team effort to build a program and you need help with everything from marketing to sports information to training.

You play 6 games in a 13-day stretch in November highlighted by a pair of heavyweights in Arizona/Virginia: how do you expect to survive such a gauntlet? We are 1 of the most inexperienced teams in America so we will throw ourselves into the fire and see what we are made of. In-game experience against high-quality programs is the best way to evaluate your players, and to beat the best you have to play the best. Young men want to be challenged and try to get better.

You have 9 freshmen on the roster: do you consider this a rebuilding year or do you think you have a real chance to contend? It will be a learning process but nobody will feel sorry for us so we just have to get better each day/week/month. If we focus on the daily process then the results will happen. It is a big year for us to build our brand and then move forward.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? Ultimately we want to establish our identity and let people know what we stand for. I am not big on predicting a specific number of wins: great coaches do not get ahead of themselves and I just want us to get better each day on the little things.

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