HL Previews

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The Horizon League started to release their own team previews today. They started with YSU today...........

Men's Basketball Preview, Part 1: Youngstown State
Oct. 23, 2007

The Youngstown State men's basketball program will count on a mix of veterans and newcomers to fill prominent roles during the 2007-08 campaign.

However, it's the two players who do not return that have posed the biggest question. How do you replace the all-around skills of Quin Humphrey and Keston Roberts? The answer lies within a group of the players who will have vastly increased duties with the top two go-to performers gone from the program.

Seniors Byron Davis, Dwight Holmes, John Barber and George Cotal, juniors Mikko Niemi and Jack Liles and sophomore Alek Mrozik, along with a talented group of newcomers will be looking to pick up the slack with the departure of last year's top two scorers - Humphrey and Roberts.

Humphrey and Roberts combined to average 35 of the team's 66 points-per-game total. Both individuals played more than 1,000 minutes - one-third of the squad's total for the entire season.

Third-year Coach Jerry Slocum said although more than 50 percent of the Guins' scoring has departed, he has been in this position before.

"All I can tell you is what my life has been in the past. When you have good players, they graduate and then good players take their spots," Slocum said. "We've got some very good basketball players here. We're excited about their development and where they're going to be."

"We're excited about the fact that we are going to have some guys who are going to be some the best players in our league just like the two guys that we lost. We know we have some large shoes to fill, but we feel like we have some guys who will be able to do that."

While seven veterans return, a group of successful newcomers will jump into the fray to help replenish the scoring of Humphrey and Roberts.

The Penguins were able to build some momentum winning 14 games in 2006-07, including a first-round Horizon League Tournament win over Detroit. The 14 wins were the highest since 2000-01 and the fourth most since 1984-85.

How the team comes together throughout the season is something Slocum is optimistic about.

"I think that we're going to get better as the year goes on," Slocum said. "I don't think that this is going to a kind of team that early in November is going to be a finished product. But by the time that we hit the bulk of our league play in January I think we have a chance to be a pretty good basketball team."

Helping lead the program Davis, who is entering his second campaign at point guard.

After sitting out the season prior, Davis, a New Mexico State transfer, led the team with 116 assists. He finished as the team's third-leading scorer averaging 8.6 points per game. He also grabbed 99 rebounds and had 28 steals.

Sixth-man Barber returns for his final campaign after making great strides in 2006-07. Barber averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest for the campaign. He ranked third on the squad in rebounding and fourth in points scored.

Making the biggest improvement of any Guin during last year was Liles. Liles, who had 88 points and 75 rebounds as a freshman, had 229 points and 197 boards last year. He was second on the team averaging 6.4 rebounds per game and led the program in field-goal shooting converting 55.6 percent of his attempts from the field. Liles also led the team in blocks with 36.

Holmes proved a spark by appearing in the starting lineup 23 times out of 31 contest. He scored 93 points, but contributed in a greater role grabbing 65 rebounds, handing out 20 assists and finishing with seven steals and seven blocks.

Slocum said there will be an increased role for the post players this year.

"We feel the strength of this team is a little bit different than what we've had in the past," Slocum said. "We have some very good low-post players. You have Jack Liles and John Barber and a bunch of our new guys can play really good with their back to the basket. We'll be a little more inside-to-out then what we've been in the past."

"It's a lot easier shooting the ball from eight feet with a guy that can play with his back to the basket and then playing in-to-out. Meaning that those guys have the ball and get double teamed or people will send an extra guy at them then we kick to the outside."

Niemi filled in at the point guard spot and saw action in all 31 games, while starting twice. In averaging 10.6 minutes per game, he dished out a total of 38 assists while scoring 24 points.

Cotal played in every game for YSU making 11 3-pointers, while Mrozik appeared in 17 games in his debut campaign.

The newcomers feature junior college transfers Gemayl Johnson and Kevin Draughon, redshirt Vancey Cooksey and incoming freshmen Dan Boudler, Blair Rozenblad, Vytas Sulskis and Mychal Doblanski. All seven of these individuals enjoyed team success and personal accolades at their previous schools.

Johnson, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 19 points and eight rebounds per contest for Montgomery Takoma Park/Silver Spring College as a sophomore. He earned first-team Maryland JuCo Conference honors last year while finishing with 120 assists and 46 steals.

Draughon's team reached the NJCAA Division II National Championship Game losing to Mott. In his two years, Draughon averaged 13.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest. He averaged 12.5 points and 5.3 boards in his sophomore campaign last year.

Cooksey sat out last season because of the program's depth at the guard position. As a senior at Marian Catholic High School, he was a third-team All-Illinois Class AA selection. An excellent athlete, he averaged 20.1 points, 4.5 assists, three rebounds and 2.6 steals per contest. He helped guide the program to its first state Sectional appearance since 1991.

Slocum said the talent of the squad and increased depth will proved many opportunities that were maybe not followed before.

"I honestly believe that there are some characteristics of this team that we did not have last year," Slocum said. "I think we will pass the ball better. I think we're a team that sees the floor a little bit better. I think it's a team that can be a little bit stronger by a sense of maturing and getting better in terms of an inside presence. I think it's a team, and nobody wants to talk about floor play and passing, but this team will get more easy shots than what it got last year. Because of the fact that they'll share, they'll dribble, they'll kick."

Boudler will help on the front line joining the program as a 6-foot-8 forward. At Louisville High School he was a first-team Division II All-Ohio pick. While being named the District Player of the Year, he averaged 17.2 points, 13.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks as the Leopards won the Northeastern Buckeye Conference title.

Rozenblad overcame a knee injury that cut short his junior campaign to give Kennedy Catholic a boost late in the season. Despite playing just half the campaign, he was a second-team Class A All-State selection. He averaged 15 points and eight rebounds as Kennedy Catholic reached the state semifinals.

Sulskis, the Florida Class 1A Player of the Year, helped lead The Rock of Gainesville (Fla.) to its first-ever appearance in the State Championship Game. A first-team all-state selection, he averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists per contest.

Doblanski, a standout guard from Liberty, joins the program after being selected as the Trumbull County Player of the Year. He averaged 21.9 points per game while earning Special Mention All-Ohio Division II honors.

Slocum knows that all the players on this year's team have the capability to step up and contribute in any given game. The hope is that game-in and game-out there are plenty of options to keep the team on a successful path.

"This group has a lot of questions to answer," Slocum said. "It's a group that we are going to learn as we go in terms of who and what identity we'll have. To some people that might be alarming, to me, it's exciting and I think it's exciting for our program."

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102307aab.html

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Men's Basketball Preview, Part 2: Cleveland State
Oct. 24, 2007

Gary Waters has been very quiet about his expectations for the 2007-08 season, preferring to put in the hard work and effort on the court and wait to see how it translates into wins and losses.

Waters knows well from experience, first coming a decade ago when he turned around a floundering Kent State program and then again six years ago when he faced a similar situation at Rutgers.

"I expect this team to be above .500 and we want to compete for some things," Waters told the media during the preseason. "We want to compete for the title at the tournament in Daytona, we want to compete better on our home court and make it an advantage for us and we want to compete for the Horizon League title, both during the regular season and the post-season.

"You can never lower your expectations, because if you do, you are certain to achieve them. I have our guys striving for the highest part of the mountain and if they don't achieve that, then they will be somewhere just below it."

Starting just his second season at CSU, Waters will benefit from a roster full of players brought in over the last 18 months. Fourteen of the 16 players on the roster were recruited by the current coaching staff, allowing Waters to accelerate the job of building a winner in Cleveland.

"In order to run the system that we want to use, you have to have players capable of running it," Waters said. "We did a nice job last year of doing this with the personnel at hand but we couldn't effectively run our system because we were both short on depth and lacking the players with the skill set to play in the system."

Waters addressed the depth issue in recruiting, adding a class of newcomers that was ranked by experts as the second-best recruiting class in the state of Ohio. That is quite an accomplishment considering that the Vikings needed both quality and quantity in recruiting.

The bulk of the eight-player recruiting class came from in-state where Waters added one of the top five players at every position. Seven of the eight players are from Ohio, including three from the greater Cleveland area. Add to the mix the three transfers who joined the program last year but sat out the season to meet NCAA transfer guidelines and the Vikings will have 11 new players on the court this year.

Despite all of the new faces, the roster still has good balance, featuring eight upperclassmen (two seniors and six juniors) and seven underclassmen (one sophomore & six freshmen).

"We are a pretty young team this year," Waters said. "But when you take a close look, we are an experienced team as well. The only thing that we lack is experience playing together and that will come. This group has as good of a team chemistry as any team I've ever coached. They do everything together, both on and off the court, and that chemistry is going to translate into better team work on the court."

The bulk of the experience comes from the five returning players, two of whom were starters and each of whom saw considerable action a year ago. Add to the mix the the three Division I transfers -- Cedric Jackson, Chris Moore and George Tandy -- each of whom have two years playing experience and the Vikings boast at least one veteran at each position on the court.

"This is a good mix because over half of the team has played in the system for the last year and the other half are freshmen who have the potential to have an impact once they adjust to college basketball," Waters said.

Point Guard Position Improved
The best example of the balance on the roster is at point guard where junior Cedric Jackson and freshman Norris Cole will most likely split the playing time with freshman Eric Schiele entering the mix once he becomes eligible at the end of fall semester.

The most likely starter is Jackson, who transfered to CSU last year after starting 35 of the 54 games that he played during his two seasons at St. John's. Although he may be better suited to play at off-guard, his leadership skills, ball-handling and ability to penetrate opposing defenses to create scoring opportunities make him the perfect candidate to run the point.

At 6-3, 190 pounds, Jackson's size, strength and quickness have made him one of the top perimeter defenders on the squad.

Cole (6-1, 190) is the point guard of the future. He started on teams that went 50-6 during his final two seasons at Dunbar High, winning the state title each year. His athleticism allowed him to twice earn all-league recognition as a quarterback on the football team at Dunbar.

"Our point guard position is in good shape," Waters said. "Cedric is a high major athlete whose experience at St. John's will help him to be an impact player in this league while Norris is a winner who has all of the tools that you want from your point guard."

Schiele (5-10, 160) is the most intriguing of the Viking newcomers after leading the nation in scoring (39.6 ppg) as a senior at Waterloo High. His 120 three-pointers as a senior ranks him second in state history and he had four 50-point games, including a career high of 69 points.

"Eric is definitely high-octane offensively," Waters said.

In a pinch, Waters can also call on senior Breyohn Watson and sophomore Joe Davis to play the position though each will be used extensively elsewhere.

Shooters Wanted
The off-guard position is the deepest position for the Vikings. Watson (6-3, 190) and Davis (6-0, 180) are the two-returners at the position with freshman D'Aundray Brown (6-4, 180) being the best of the freshmen class.

Add to the mix Jackson and Schiele, when they aren't playing at the point, and Nick Weaver, when he isn't at small forward, and Waters has six players capable of providing minutes at the spot.

After setting the school record by making 198 three-pointers last season, the Vikings will be hard-pressed to equal the accomplishment this year as the roster features only two natural shooters.

"I like our guards this year because they are generally big and strong and capable fo cutting and slahing their way to the basket, but we need to work on improving our outside shooting," Waters said. "We've got a lot of guys who can make the shot but I don't consider them to be shooters."

Watson gave the Vikings a boost off the bench last year, averaging 2.3 points and 1.2 assists in 15.2 minutes. He used his size and quickness to be a defensive sparkplug.

A natural scorer, Davis ranked second among Horizon League freshmen a year ago by averaging 9.2 points a game. He was second on the team with 33 treys, but shot just .270 from behing the arc (33-122) as opposed to .504 from inside it (67-133). He started 19 of the last 20 games, scoring in double figures 13 times.

Brown is the name that pops up most when talking about the freshmen who can make an impact. He was a first team all-state choice and district player of the year honoree after averaging 22.3 points, 14.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game as a senior.

Options Exist At Small Forward
The most interesting position for the Vikings this year is at small forward where the versatility of the Viking roster is in full force. Depending on the opponent and situation, Waters can opt to use numerous different playing combinations.

J'Nathan Bullock (6-5, 240), a second team preseason All-Horizon League choice for the second straight year, will most likely see the lion's share of playing time at the position with junior Nick Weaver (6-2, 190) being the leading candidate when Waters goes with a three-guard lineup.

Bullock, who is only the third player in school history to lead the team in scoring as both a freshman and sophomore, averaged 13.5 points and a team-best 6.5 rebounds a game last year despite playing most of the year as an undersized power forward.

Weaver, who ranked sixth nationally with a 23.1 scoring average as a sophomore at Glendale Community College. The top outside shooter on the squad, he made 47-percent of his three-point attempts a year ago.

Inside Lineup Features Size & Depth
The move of J'Nathan Bullock to small forward was made possible by the improvement in depth at both the power forward and center spots, where six players should see time, four of whom are 6-8 or taller.

Eastern Illinois transfer George Tandy (6-8, 210) is the leading candidate to start at power forward with senior Kevin Francis (6-8, 210) expected to see extensive time as well. Freshman Daitwan Eppinger (6-6, 190) may also work his way into the lineup as he gains experience.

Tandy, who was the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year while at Eastern Illinois, will provide the Vikings with a shot-blocking and post defensive presence that has been lacking the last couple of seasons. He averaged 9.2 points and 7.1 rebounds as a sophomore in 2005-06.

Francis was one of the top players off the bench for CSU last year, averaging 6.2 points and 4.4 rebounds with 25 blocks in the first 18 games before becoming ineligible at the semester break.

Eppinger, a second-team all-state choice as a senior at Garfield Heights High, averaged 19.1 points a game as a senior.

The size is even better at center where juniors Chris Moore (6-9, 240) and Renard Fields (6-7, 220) and freshman Joe Latas (6'11", 280) will help to give CSU its biggest inside game in five years.

Moore, a product of Lakewood St. Edward High who played his first two collegiate seasons at UC Santa Barbara, has dropped over 25 pounds since joining the squad last fall. A high energy blue-collar player, he fits in well with the Waters' system and should be a mainstay in the lineup the next two seasons.

Fields, who has played in 53 games off the bench the last two years, came back to campus almost 15 pounds heavier and the improvement in size, along with considerable gains in the weight room as well, have helped him to play stronger on the court. He averaged 2.0 points and 2.9 rebounds a game last year, ranking second on the team with 23 blocks.

Latas is the big man of the future and when that future begins is all up to Latas and his ability to recover from off-season ankle surgery. He averaged 22.0 points, 14.5 rebounds a 4.6 blocks in his first nine games as a senior before being sidelined for the season with a broken ankle. When healthy, he is an efficient back-to-the-basket post player capable of dominating the post at both ends of the floor.

Schedule To Present Many Challenges
The Vikings are guaranteed to play at least 32 games in 2007-08, the most since setting a school record with 33 games in both 1985-86 and 1986-87, with at least 17 of those games coming on the road.

The season opens with a five game road swing that includes four games as part of the Glenn Wilkes Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Vikings play at South Florida on Nov. 9 in an opening round matchup before heading to George Mason to face the 2005 NCAA Final Four participant on Nov. 13.

CSU returns to Florida to face Georgia Southern (Nov. 16), Florida State (Nov. 17) and Florida Atlantic (Nov. 18) in Daytona Beach.

"The early season schedule will be a big challenge to us," Waters said. "With five straight games on the road against some pretty good competition, our players will have to come together very quickly in order for us to find success. If this happens, then it will be a big sign for the rest of the year."

The Vikings open the home schedule with a three-game homestand, facing John Carroll (Nov. 24), Cal State Northridge (Dec. 28) and Geneva (Dec. 1).

Horizon League play begins in early December for the second straight year when CSU hosts Youngstown State on Dec. 8.

After a week-long break for final exams, CSU will play host to NCAA national runnerup Ohio State on Dec. 18 in the inaugural game of the McLendon Scholarship Classic, an annual game that will benefit the John & Joanna McLendon Scholarship fund at CSU.

The non-conference slate ends with back-to-back games against MAC opponents. CSU will host Central Michigan on Dec. 22 before travelling to Kent State on Dec. 29.

The 18-game League schedule continues after the first of the year with the Vikings playing home-and-home series against each of the other nine League opponents, including first-year Horizon League member Valparaiso.

The lone break in the league schedule comes on Feb. 23 when CSU hosts a game in the sixth annual O'Reilly Auto Parts ESPNU BracketBusters.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102407aaa.html

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Men's Basketball Preview, Part 3: Detroit
Oct. 25, 2007

Perry Watson - the dean of Horizon League coaches - is perfectly willing to look back in order to view the future. And he likes what he sees for the 2007-08 Titans.

There are many who would willingly close the door on the recent past, one which, in Detroit, has meant a rarity under Watson. His teams have gone three straight seasons without compiling a winning record after they turned that trick in 10 of his first 11 years on the job at UDM. Instead of refusing to look back, he uses the past as a springboard. It has steeled Watson's resolve for this season as he knows the experiences endured by his team over the last three years will make a difference for 2008.

His senior class is an amazingly hardened and seasoned one. It's a group of three perimeter players who truly have earned their battle scars.

Jon Goode and Zach Everingham are fifth-year seniors, having redshirted early in their Titan careers in order to be a part of the season that lies ahead. And Brandon Cotton, who has led the team in scoring for three straight years, is a rare sixth-year senior, having been granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA for an injury he suffered at Michigan State prior to transferring to Detroit.

"These guys have seen everything," Watson said. "They're in a position to lead us this year."

The value of experience doesn't stop with the seniors, too. Watson's also got a five-man sophomore class which, a year ago, had no college basketball testing to speak of. Now, that group - Nemanja Jokic, Woody Payne, Jason Praet, Justin Sample and Eulis Stephens - has 933 minutes of court time, and five starts, between them after last season, and they're ready to go for more.

Sample, in particular, is in a position to step up his role in 2008. He saw action in one game in 2005-06, then went to the sidelines with an ankle malady. Last year was his first full year of duty. And now, the 6-8, 235-pounder has the opportunity to step into the lineup at center and fill the shoes of Detroit's biggest graduation loss, All-Horizon League center Ryvon Covile.

Last season, Covile became the first Titan to average a double-double - 13.7 points and 10.6 rebounds, the latter figure sixth-best in the country - since Joe Kopicki in 1982. While putting up those numbers on game day, he also served as a mentor in practice for Sample, who was pushed by the veteran big man on a daily basis.

"I told Justin that I didn't know exactly how much he's play last year because we had Ryvon, but he wouldn't ever play against anybody who was better than Ryvon," coach Watson recalled. "Justin took it to heart. He worked hard in practice against Ryvon and he got better. He made plays at the end of the year that you never would see when the year started.

"Now he has a chance to step up and make a big contribution for us. He may not have a lot of experience yet, but he has a lot of experienced people around him. There's nothing better for a young center than to have experienced players out there with him."

And that experience starts with the seniors.

Cotton is the Titans' marquee player. He has earned Second-Team All-Horizon League honors for three straight years, and joined the Titans' 1,000 Point Club last season while finishing with an 18.1 scoring average, third-best in the conference.

The explosive Cotton scored in double figures 26 times last season. He had a pair of 30-point games down the stretch, scoring 31 against Green Bay and a career-high 33 at Youngstown State in the first round of the Horizon League post-season tournament.

"He's a marked man. Every team has Brandon's number circled on their scout boards," Watson noted. "He's done a better job of learning how to handle that. He had to play most of last season with pins in his left hand (following an off-season automobile accident) but that's past him now. He should have a great season."

Goode, who started 31 games as a sophomore and then served as the Titans' sixth man last winter, has a chance to return to the starting lineup at point guard, a position left open when Brandon Bell didn't return for his senior season. Goode led the 2006 Titans with 106 assists, and he was third on the most recent UDM edition with a 9.2 scoring average off the bench. He scored in double figures 16 times as a junior, with a high of 18 against both Milwaukee and Buffalo. Goode hit a team-high 49 three-pointers last winter, shooting 37.7 percent behind the arc.

More importantly, he enters the new season with a clean bill of health. Goode had to bounce back from summer foot surgery and it slowed his start last year. Now, he's raring to go.

Everingham, the third senior, also has the chance to crack the lineup after averaging a career-high 4.9 points a game last winter. At 6-4, he could be the biggest of the three guards Watson generally starts, replacing the graduated Muhammad Abdur-Rahim. Everingham is a heady player who can shoot from long range and he knows how to find the open man, too. His total of 54 assists was second to Bell among the Titans a year ago.

Payne and Stephens are also ready for increased duty on the perimeter, and the group of veterans will also face competition from junior college transfer Josh Samarco and freshman David Boarden.

The slender Payne has shown already show flashes at point guard, and is one of the best defenders on the team, owning quick feet and even quicker hands. Stephens, at 6-4, is a quick slash-to-the-basket player on offense and averaged 1.3 points in his rookie season. Samarco, who played one season at nearby Schoolcraft College - which also produced the likes of former Titans Rulon Harris and Torvoris Baker - is an outstanding outside marksman and could help shore up Detroit's three-point shooting which hit at just a .327 accuracy rate in 2007. Samarco's brother, Martin, led Bowling Green in scoring last year as a senior.

Up front, the Titans have an experienced junior to run in tandem with Sample in the person of 6-9 Chris Hayes, who started all 30 games a year ago. The lanky Hayes averaged 5.2 ppg in his first year as a starter, and was second to Covile in rebounding (3.6) and blocked shots (11). Hayes also showed greater range on his jump shot as a sophomore.

To go with Sample and Hayes, the Titans also return Jokic (6-6), Praet (6-7) and 6-8 redshirt freshman Russell Allen who, like Sample, had the opportunity to learn plenty by battling Covile in practice all last winter. Coach Watson believes Jokic, in particular, could make major strides now that the Serbian sophomore has had a year to adjust to the speed and physical style of Division I basketball. Jokic averaged 2.1 points and 2.5 rebounds as a rookie.

Another junior college addition, 6-8 Michael Harrington, also figures prominently in the forecourt. Harrington is a bruiser who figures to join Sample and Hayes in the post rotation. A third J.C. transfer, 6-5 Mychael Broom, is a versatile inside-outside player, but his Titan debut was put on hold by early October knee surgery.

All together, it's a group which could produce a turnaround in Watson's 15th season at UDM. The coach is definitely looking forward to it.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102507aaa.html

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Men's Basketball Preview, Part 4: UIC

Oct. 26, 2007

Based in a city passionate about its sports teams and embracing of character, the UIC men's basketball team features plenty of Chicago-style flavor heading into the 2007-08 campaign.

Led by a cast of hungry, hard-working veterans and a trio of newcomers accustomed to winning, this year's Flames squad will settle for nothing less than success.

One won't find a massive ego in this group. Selfishness? Not in the vocabulary of this UIC squad, a gathering of 13 student-athletes mature and ready to do what is asked of them for the good of the team.

Making such team-first requests will be 12th-year head coach Jimmy Collins, who returns to the sidelines for the Flames after missing the final 19 games of last season due to an abdominal aortic aneurysm that required surgery and months of recuperation.

The return of Collins, who has guided UIC to three NCAA Tournaments (1998, 2002, 2004), an NIT berth (2003) and a pair of Horizon League Tournament titles (2002, 2004), has given the Flames a jolt in confidence, focus and energy as they seek to add another championship chapter to the great tradition of UIC basketball.

Despite losing three of the team's top four scorers and the top two rebounders from last season, UIC has the weapons to make up for such losses in seasoned vets Josh Mayo, Robert Bush and Scott VanderMeer.

Mayo, a 5-foot-11 junior guard, serves as the Flames' top returning scorer after posting 12.2 points per game in his sophomore season. The Merrillville, Ind., native is expected to expand his role from facilitator to go-to scorer after providing some clutch offensive moments throughout the first two years of his collegiate career, including a career-high 26-point outburst against NCAA Tournament qualifier Davidson, a 19-point effort in an upset of No. 12 Butler and a game-winning shot at Loyola last season.

League coaches, SIDs and media members think Mayo can make a smooth transition from role player to The Man after voting him to the Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team.

Bush, a 6-foot-4 senior wing, started the final nine games of 2006-07 and averaged 9.8 points and 3.8 rebounds down the stretch. He highlighted his late-season surge with a career-high effort of 21 points to propel UIC past bitter rival Milwaukee in the first round of last year's Horizon League Tournament.

VanderMeer is the hardest to miss, bringing his seven-foot, 260-pound frame to the floor for the Flames following a record-breaking defensive season. The junior center shattered the UIC and Horizon League single-season blocks records with 111 swatted shots, ranking fourth nationally, en route to All-Horizon League Defensive Team honors.

That trio of core players will be complemented by a cast of returnees ready to take the next step in their on-court production.

Senior Karl White Jr. has shown increased maturity this preseason to go along with his well-known combination of quickness, defense and gravity-defying leaps. Collins has praised the growth of White as a student, basketball player and person over the last few months. White even added "Jr." to his name in honor of his father and the strengthened bond formed between the two over the summer, a display of the fourth-year guard's humility as he enters his final go-around in a UIC uniform.

Sophomore guard Spencer Stewart has also worked on taking his game to another level. After a rookie season that showed glimpses of solid shooting (.355 from behind the arc, .941 from the free throw line) and crisp passing (2.7 assists per game) but was hindered by leg and ankle injuries, the 6-foot-4 point guard will be counted on to help run the show in the backcourt alongside Mayo.

Aiding VanderMeer in the frontcourt will be senior Jermaine Dailey and redshirt sophomore Jovan Ignjatovic. Dailey is a 6-foot-7 jumping jack who wowed the Pavilion crowd with his leaping ability last season and will add more of the rebounding and defensive load to his broad shoulders, while Ignjatovic is a 6-foot-9 forward who showed plenty of promise in limited action last year but should see his number called even more this season, especially as he continues to improve on his offense and defense in the post.

Boosting the Flames' talent level and depth are three newcomers with stellar credentials.

Freshman Robert Kreps, a 6-foot guard, joins the Flames after a decorated prep career in which he was the runner-up behind Simeon's Derrick Rose for Mr. Basketball honors in Illinois last season. Nicknamed "Robo," Kreps led his Maroa-Forsyth squad to the state title last year, averaging 23.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while adding to his legend in Illinois prep hoops lore by guiding the Trojans to the Class A crown less than a week after undergoing an appendectomy.

Fellow freshman Tori Boyd is another Illinois All-State honoree. The 6-foot-5 high-flying wing was a standout at Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, averaging 17.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while leading his team to the Elite Eight of the Illinois High School Association Class AA State Tournament. So far Boyd has not been shy to show his explosive moves to the basket or his nice touch from outside.

The last of UIC's newcomer crop is 6-foot-7 forward Jeremy Buttell. The Texas native played a season at Texas Tech under Bobby Knight before transferring to UIC. With the Red Raiders he played in 19 games as a rookie in 2005-06. Buttell was a two-time all-state honoree in Texas as a prep, garnering 2005 Texas 5A Offensive Player of the Year honors. After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer guidelines, Buttell has added strength to go with his nifty mid-range game.

Collins has the tools to implement a variety of new twists in the Flames' offensive system, but the success of the 2007-08 UIC men's basketball team will hinge on the Flames' defensive effort.

Chicagoans know that defense wins championships. The 46 defense of the 1985 Bears, the Doberman Defense of the Bulls dynasty in the 1990s and the recent success of the Lovie Smith Cover 2 defense at Halas Hall has entrenched such thinking in the minds of the natives in the Windy City. Such thinking has not been lost on Collins or his players.

With teams shooting at will from the outside last year due to the intimidating presence of VanderMeer on the inside, UIC is intent on shoring up its perimeter defense. Collins has even teased his players in the early stages of practice that he is looking for a defensive effort similar to that of the Golden State Warriors, who shut down shooting-happy Dirk Nowitzki and the high-powered Dallas Maverick offense in the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs.

The Flames have plenty in their arsenal in terms of coaching. UIC returns to full strength with the school's all-time winningest coach back on the bench and armed with renewed vigor. Joining Collins on the bench for the 12th straight season is longtime friend and colleague Mark Coomes, the Flames' associate head coach who took the reigns of the program admirably in Collins' absence and led the Flames to a bevy of big wins.

Also pacing the UIC sidelines as assistant coaches are former Flames standouts Tracy Dildy and Bryant Lowe. Dildy returns to the place where his coaching career started after making a name for himself as one of the nation's best assistants and recruiters at five successful stops, while Lowe moves from his director of basketball operations position to become a full-time assistant coach.

UIC will be tested right away. The Flames open the season at home in a huge intrastate contest against Bradley at the Pavilion on Nov. 10. UIC will head to the Virgin Islands to take part in the 2007 Paradise Jam, with 2007 NCAA Tournament darling Winthrop on the docket first. Possible matchups against Georgia Tech and Notre Dame, among many other tough opponents, face the Flames later in the venture to the V.I.

Non-conference contests against DePaul, Illinois State, and Akron are just a few of the tests facing the Flames before they head into Horizon League play, where the usual slate of tough League contests await. UIC will also take on League newcomer Valparaiso for the first time in 10 years.

No egos. No complacency. No excuses. No looking back. Those are the beliefs that every member of the UIC men's basketball program has, and those are the beliefs that make the 2007-08 edition of the Flames Chicago's kind of team.

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Men's Basketball Preview, Part 5: Valparaiso
Oct. 30, 2007

The Valparaiso University men's basketball team begins writing a new chapter in program history as the Crusaders prepare for the start of the 2007-08 season. The Horizon League awaits the Crusaders this year after a very successful 25-year run in the Mid-Continent Conference that included nine regular season championships, eight tournament championships and seven NCAA Tournament appearances.

While the move in conference affiliation will present a stern challenge for the Crusaders, they will meet the challenge head-on with a very experienced squad. Eight of last season's 11 letterwinners return this year for Valpo, including four starters who averaged over 10 points per game in 2006-07. The eight returnees combined to account for 93.6 percent of the scoring and 86.6 percent of the rebounding on last year's team.

COACHING
One of the winningest head coaches in the history of Division I basketball, Homer Drew returns for his 31st season on the sidelines. In his fifth season of his second stint at Valparaiso, and his 19th year overall coaching the Crusaders, Drew currently ranks ninth among active Division I coaches in career victories with 571. His 571 wins also is good for 37th all-time among Division I head coaches, just 27 victories out of the top-30. Drew enters the 2007-08 campaign with 302 victories at the helm of the Crusader program, and has averaged better than 20 wins a season over his last 13 years guiding Valpo.

Joining Drew on the sidelines once again will be the most successful player in Crusader basketball history, Bryce Drew. Drew, who put Valparaiso on the national radar when he hit "The Shot" in the first round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament to lift the Crusaders over Ole Miss, is in his third season as a member of the Valpo coaching staff and his second year as the associate head coach.

Assistant coach Luke Gore enters his sixth season on the Crusader coaching staff in 2007-08, while Chris Sparks returns to the Athletics-Recreation Center for his first season as an assistant coach after playing for Valpo from 1997-2000. Tarrance Price, also a former Crusader player, is in his second year as Valpo's director of basketball operations.

SENIORS
Drew has three seniors ready to lead the Crusaders into the Horizon League for the 2007-2008 campaign.

Forward Shawn Huff started all 31 games for Valpo a year ago, bouncing back from an injury that caused him to miss the second half of his sophomore season. Huff averaged 11.4 points per game as a junior, increasing his scoring average nearly four points from the previous year. He posted double-figure point totals 19 times last season and broke the 20-point barrier on four occasions, including a career-high 25 points at Chicago State. Huff was the most prolific Crusader from the free throw line last season, hitting 87 percent of his attempts from the charity stripe, tenth-best in a single season in Valpo history. He is also one of the most accurate 3-point shooters to ever play at Valpo, with a career 3-point percentage of .393 good for ninth all-time.

Guard Jarryd Loyd showcased his versatility last season, coming off the bench in a sixth man role in all but one contest after making 43 starts over his first two years. Loyd is also one of Valpo's best 3-point shooters, having hit 39.9 percent of his attempts from behind the arc in his career, eighth-best in the Crusader annals. Seeing most of his time at point guard, Loyd has also shown the ability to distribute the basketball in his first three seasons. He has registered 262 career assists, good for 14th all-time at Valpo and just 33 helpers shy of the top-ten in the category. Loyd dished out 84 assists last season, second-most on the team, and led the Crusaders in scoring off of the bench with 6.4 points per game.

Calum MacLeod will look to try to earn a starting spot this year after receiving five starts during his first year with the Crusaders. The 7-1 center from New Zealand showed flashes of potential during his junior campaign, reaching double figures in scoring five times, including three games with at least 16 points. MacLeod has shown a soft touch on his shot, as he hit 58.7 percent of his field goal attempts and 84.8 percent of his free throw attempts last year.

JUNIORS
Valpo's three juniors all jumped into the starting lineup last season after seeing limited playing time as freshmen, and will use that year of experience to their advantage this season.

Guard Jake Diebler started all 31 games for the Crusaders last year after seeing action in just 18 games his first season. Diebler was on the floor the most of any Valpo player, averaging 32 minutes per game and playing at least 20 minutes in all 31 contests. The Crusaders' defensive leader, Diebler paced the team with 1.52 steals per game, which ranked fourth among all Mid-Con players. He especially stood out on the defensive end over the regular season's final weekend, holding two First Team All-Conference selections in Steve Barnes and Quinton Day to a combined seven points on 2-of-22 shooting. Not to be overlooked offensively, Diebler averaged 5.4 points per game, including three double-figure efforts.

Forward Urule Igbavboa had a breakout season last year, earning Valpo's Homer W. Drew Sr. Memorial Award as the Crusaders' most improved player. Igbavboa emerged as Valpo's top post threat, averaging 11.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, the latter mark being good for second among all Mid-Con players. He also ranked among the Mid-Con's top-10 in field goal percentage (.563, fourth) and blocked shots (0.68/game, eighth) on his way to earning Second Team All Mid-Con recognition. Igbavboa reached double figures in scoring 20 times last year, including a career-best 21 points at Western Michigan, and broke the 10-rebound barrier on 12 occasions. He tallied 10 double-doubles on the season, including his first career triple-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists at Chicago State.

Guard Brandon McPherson rounds out the Crusaders' trio of juniors returning to the starting lineup this year. McPherson started all 31 games for Valpo last year, averaging 11.3 points and 3.3 assists per game from the point. His assist average was good for sixth in the Mid-Con, one of four statistical categories McPherson ranked in the top-10 in league-wide. McPherson owned a team-best assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.51, third-best in the league, and ranked second in the league by hitting 44.8% of his 3-point attempts, a mark which ranks tenth-best in a season in Valpo history. He reached double figures in scoring in 19 games last year, including back-to-back career-high 24-point efforts at the Rainbow Classic.

SOPHOMORES
One Crusader sophomore will look to gain a permanent position in the starting lineup, while another will look to see increased playing time heading into this season.

Samuel Haanpää received All-Newcomer accolades from the Mid-Con last season and became the first Crusader freshman since Lubos Barton (1998-99) to lead Valpo in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game in his debut campaign. Haanpää ranked 12th nationally and led the Mid-Con, hitting 45.7 percent of his shots from behind the 3-point line. In addition, the sharpshooter's 75 made 3-pointers rank sixth in a single season all-time at Valpo. Haanpää, who started 12 games and came off the bench in 17 others as a freshman, hit five 3-pointers in seven different games, including a season-best 24-point effort at Western Illinois that earned him Mid-Con Player of the Week honors.

Matt Bennett walked on to the Crusader squad prior to his freshman year and provided valuable minutes off the bench, seeing action in 16 games. Bennett played a season-high nine minutes against Centenary in Valpo's win over the Gents.

FRESHMEN
Coach Drew has brought four freshmen in for the 2007-08 season to go along with the eight returnees in the quest for Horizon League gold.

Bryan Bouchie and Benjamin Fumey will provide depth for the Crusaders in the frontcourt as freshmen. Bouchie comes to Valpo from Indiana's Washington H.S., where he was a member of the Hatchets' state championship team as a sophomore and was twice named to the All-Regional team. Fumey joins the Crusader squad after playing in his native Germany.

Two freshmen, Howard Little and Mike Rogers, will look to make an impact in the backcourt this season. Little played a season of prep basketball at Stoneridge [Calif.] School after earning All-Area honors four times at Rich Central H.S. in Illinois. Rogers arrives at Valpo from Redemption [N.Y.] Christian Academy, where he earned team MVP honors.

SCHEDULE
Coach Drew has put together a challenging schedule for the 2007-08 campaign, one which features seven games against five NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago. The schedule also contains 16 home games at the Athletics-Recreation Center, the most since the ARC was constructed prior to the 1984-85 season.

The season kicks off with a home game November 12 against Grace, the first of four contests the Crusaders will play as part of the South Padre Island Invitational. Valpo will travel to Vanderbilt, an NCAA Sweet 16 team last season, on November 20 for the second game before heading to South Padre Island for the final two games. The Crusaders will take on Maryland Eastern Shore on November 23, with Austin Peay, 2007 Ohio Valley Conference regular season champions, and Florida Gulf Coast facing off on the other side of the pod.

The Crusaders will also play at IPFW in between games of the tournament. Valpo returns home November 28, hosting Western Michigan, and will follow with a December 1 home contest against Ball State. The Horizon League slate gets off to an early start, as the Crusaders play at 2007 NCAA Tournament participant Wright State on December 6 and at Detroit two days later.

The Crusaders return home for two more contests, hosting Evansville and Chicago State, before hitting the road for two challenging games. Valpo will play at Big Ten power and 2007 NCAA second round foe Wisconsin on December 22. They follow on December 30 with a game at the Dean Smith Center against North Carolina, which went to the NCAA Elite 8 last year.

Valpo hosts Indiana Wesleyan on January 2 before resuming the double round-robin league schedule January 5 at Butler, the 2007 Horizon League regular season champions and NCAA Sweet 16 participants. The Bulldogs' return trip to the ARC on February 5 will be televised to a nationwide audience on ESPN2. The Crusaders will once again be part of the ESPN BracketBusters event, hosting a game on February 23. The regular season closes out when Valpo hosts Wright State on March 1.

The Horizon League Championship runs from March 4-11, with the top two seeds getting byes into the semifinals. The first round contests will be at the higher seeds, while the second round and semifinal games will be hosted by the top overall seed. The championship game on March 11 will be hosted by the highest remaining seed.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/103007aaa.html

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Men's Basketball Preview, Part 6: Loyola
Oct. 31, 2007

A year removed from the team's first 20-win season since 1984-85, Loyola University Chicago looks to continue the forward progress it has made over the past three seasons under the direction of head coach Jim Whitesell. The 2007-08 edition of the Ramblers will be different than last season as the team looks to replace four starters, including its top two scorers, Blake Schilb (17.0 ppg) and Majak Kou (12.9 ppg).

"We are going to be a much different team than we were last year because we lost so much firepower and some good chemistry guys," Whitesell said. "This year, we need some guys to emerge and take that next step as players. We've also got to stay healthy, but overall, I'm happy with the progression of the program. We want to try to keep getting better and we're going to have to do a lot of the little things to be successful."

Whitesell will be able to call upon a stable of players with plenty of valuable game experience, including junior guard J.R. Blount, who was the only Rambler to start all 32 contests a year ago. A proven winner and a starter since the day he set foot on campus, Blount tied for second on the team with 12.9 points per game in 2006-07 and chipped in 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Despite his 6-foot-1 frame, Blount is not afraid to take the ball to the hole, as evidenced by his 175 free throw attempts last season.

"J.R. leads by example and is a very tough player," Whitesell said. "We need to improve his playmaking ability. If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be one of the better guards in the Horizon League this year. He is a winner."

Fellow junior Leon Young looks to bounce back from an injury plagued sophomore campaign, although he still managed to contribute 8.7 ppg and 5.6 rpg despite missing six games due to various ailments. The 6-foot-6 forward, who started 14 contests a year ago, posted a pair of double-doubles last season and continued to be solid at the foul line, hitting 81 percent (70 for 86) of his tries.

"Leon had a tough year with injuries and missed a lot of basketball last season," Whitesell said. "When healthy however, he has shown that he is one of the better rebounders in the League. We're working hard to improve his face-up game this year."

Another bruising forward, sophomore Andy Polka, gives the Ramblers formidable size on the front line. The 6-foot-7 Polka, who ranked third in the Horizon League with 7.2 rpg as a rookie, started 14 contests and also kicked in 6.3 ppg and 1.6 apg, showing off his skills as one of the top passing big men in the Horizon League. In Loyola's final two games at the Horizon League Championship, Polka averaged 7.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 2.0 apg.

"Last year, Andy surpassed my expectations defensively and proved that he is a great passer," Whitesell said. "We want him to play a bigger role for us offensively this season. He had a great offseason and added some muscle. We're hopeful he can have a breakout season."

Versatile senior Tracy Robinson returns and should see an increased role this season after contributing 4.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 1.2 apg last season. The 6-foot-7 forward displayed an ability to handle the ball and shoot from the perimeter. Robinson has excelled both as a starter and as a sixth man, and averaged 8.0 ppg in three starts last season.

"Tracy has made a lot of strides with his defensive play and we are hoping that he can fill a bigger role for us at the offensive end of the floor," Whitesell said.

Senior captain Tom Levin filled a variety of roles last season and like Young, is looking to rebound from an injury riddled 2006-07 campaign. The 6-foot-8 forward posted 2.8 ppg and 1.8 rpg and shot the ball well from long range toward the latter stages of the season.

"Tom is like a good relief pitcher in that when you need him in certain spots, he can fill that need and give the team a lift," Whitesell said. "Last season, he really helped us with his perimeter shooting and defensively he is very aware of what we are trying to do. Both on and off the court, he handles himself in a professional manner."

Darrin Williams, who has had to overcome his own injury obstacles in his career, seems to have recovered from knee surgery and saw limited action last season. Throughout the year, he continued to improve and make the physical progress necessary to warrant playing time.

"Darrin was one of our most improved players last year even though it may not have showed in his minutes played," Whitesell said. "If he continues to develop the way he has so far, he is going to force us to play him more minutes."

Three returnees will battle for minutes in the backcourt - seniors Cortney Horton and Dave Telander and sophomore Aric Van Weelden. Horton was another of the injured Ramblers who missed parts of the 2006-07 season. Known for his prowess at the defensive end of the floor, Horton is looking to make a bigger contribution this winter.

"Cortney just couldn't get on the floor on a consistent basis last year because of some injuries which is unfortunate because he was really coming along before getting hurt," Whitesell said. "I like his toughness and hard-nosed mentality. We need him to become a better jump shooter."

Telander rebounded from a sophomore slump to regain his shooting touch and contribute 2.1 ppg, while finishing the season with a flourish. Loyola went 7-2 last season when he hit a three-point field goal.

"Toward the end of the season, when Dave got into the game, our team played better. We're expecting him to help us with shooting the three and counting on him to give us some poise on the floor," Whitesell said.

Van Weelden played sparingly, but did see important minutes in a January stretch in which Schilb was out with an injury. Despite being a freshman, he played smart and with poise when called upon last season.

"Aric has really impressed our coaching staff and has worked hard to improve his shooting," Whitesell said. "He is versatile enough to play both guard spots."

Whitesell welcomes four newcomers to the fold, including transfers Justin Cerasoli and Ross Forman. Cerasoli was a top 100 prospect coming out of West Aurora High School in suburban Aurora, Ill., before playing at Seton Hall and Mississippi. He will be eligible to play for the Ramblers at the completion of the first semester. "Justin is a really intriguing player that has great size for a point guard," Whitesell said. "He has good passing skills and should be an immediate contributor once he becomes eligible."

Forman acclimated himself to the Loyola program and campus last season after transferring from the University of Wyoming. At 6-foot-8, he has the ability to play both inside and on the perimeter. "Ross gives us some size and can shoot the ball," Whitesell said. "He is a good team guy and I'm glad he got a chance to learn the system last year. He will provide us with a perimeter shooting threat."

A trio of freshmen joins the mix and will vie for immediate playing time. Six-foot-eight forward Kyle Thomas had a strong senior season at Folsom High School in California and should play both inside and outside at Loyola. "We really like Kyle's size and skill level. He needs to improve his strength in his adjustment to college basketball," Whitesell said.

Guard Geoff McCammon was a classic late bloomer and was one of the most sought-after guards in the Chicago area last season. "Geoff is very raw and very athletic and really burst onto the scene as a senior," Whitesell said. "He is a good three-point shooter who also is a typical gym-rat. We need to find ways to utilize his athleticism." Ryan Sterling, a sharpshooting guard, also will vie for playing time as a walk-on.

Despite the loss of several key players from last season, Loyola's blend of youth and experience should provide a nice mixture to keep the team in contention for the Horizon League title in 2007-08.

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Men's Basketball Preview, Part 7: Milwaukee
Oct. 31, 2007

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's basketball team thinks it has a winning combination for the 2007-08 season.

Eighty percent of the team's scoring from a season ago is back in the fold, led by the return of four starters. Then, throw in a solid group of returnees that came off the bench last season. Finally, mix in a highly-regarded group of true freshmen and transfers that will all be looking to make their mark, and the Panthers figure they have the talent on board to compete for the Horizon League title. Now, according to head coach Rob Jeter, it is a matter of bringing it all together.

"I think we are probably the most unknown of all the teams," Jeter said. "People have heard a lot about the different players we have, and people have seen all of our freshmen, but now they are waiting to see the jump they can make. When you take the returning guys that got experience last year and you add the new guys - freshmen and transfers - it is a good mix. Now we need to figure out a way to play together. Again, the one thing we don't have is that experience of playing together. There is a lot of value to that in team sports, and especially in our league. So, the quicker we can get that experience, who knows how tough we can be."

The group of returnees is led by a quartet of seniors who appear intent on making their final season in Milwaukee a memorable one. Avery Smith (15.5 ppg) earned Preseason All-Horizon League First Team honors while Paige Paulsen (11.3 ppg) was a preseason second-team honoree after collecting all-newcomer honors a season ago. Allan Hanson started 30 of 31 games a season ago, averaging a team-high 33 minutes per game while finishing fourth on the team in scoring (7.7 ppg). And, Marcus Skinner played in all 31 games, starting seven times.

A junior and three sophomores then round out the list of returnees, with each having played Division I basketball for the first time last season.

Junior Ricky Franklin begins his second year in Milwaukee with a great chance to make a major jump forward. He started 23 games and averaged 7.2 points per game a season ago. But, he averaged 9.6 ppg over the last 16 games of the season, when he reached double figures eight times.

Sophomores Roman Gentry, Charlie Swiggett and Kaylan Anderson will also be looking to make a big jump this season. Gentry started to show signs late last season of just how big that jump might be. He averaged 11 points per game over the final three games of the season, including a 17-point, nine-rebound outing at UIC. Swiggett was in the starting lineup for 12 of the first 17 games of the season before a knee injury ended his year. But, the sophomore has recovered and will be back in the mix for playing time again this season. Anderson, who has a redshirt season under his belt in addition to playing in 25 games a season ago, will also be fighting for time in the rotation.

The experience gained by this group during an often trying 2006-07 campaign should pay off. It already has, according to Jeter, in the form of greatly-improved preseason preparation born from a better understanding of the rigors of Division I basketball.

"You can definitely see the jump and you can see the maturity with their bodies. And mentally you can see them maturing," Jeter said of the returnees. "During preseason conditioning, as freshmen, when they would hit those walls where they were physically and mentally worn down, you could see them give in. This year I haven't seen any of that with those guys. I think that's what you see when you have guys returning. You don't really see their breaking point - they fight through it. And they understand what it is going to take."

Jeter says having those veterans around is greatly helping the teaching process as practice gets underway.

"For me as a coach, it is night and day working with this group compared to last year at this time," Jeter said. "I am not saying we are that much better, it is just that the explanations are easier and I don't need to give pep talks about being prepared for what is coming. They know what is coming, they are prepared and now it is just a matter of making sure we are in the best shape we can be in."

While the Panthers will certainly lean on their group of returnees, it is contributions from their highly-regarded group of newcomers that could help the Panthers take a major step forward. Oklahoma State transfer Torre Johnson will take the floor for the Panthers after averaging better than 10 ppg in his one season in Stillwater and Tulsa transfer Deion James returns to action after playing in 55 games over two seasons with the Golden Hurricane. St. Mary's (Texas) transfer Joe Allen had also hoped to be a part of this group, but he will be sidelined for the season with a quad tendon tear.

UWM will also have five true freshman on the roster in 2007-08, part of a recruiting class recognized by many as the best in the Horizon League. Chicago Simeon standouts Tim Flowers and Kevin Johnson are part of the mix, with each having played on the last two Illinois Class AA championship teams. Flowers has been rated among the top 75 players in the country while Johnson had a breakout senior season to earn all-state and all-state tournament honors. Notre Dame Prep's Deonte Roberts returns to the Midwest after playing his high school basketball in St. Paul, Minn. Roberts was an all-state performer in Minnesota and then an All-New England honoree.

Meanwhile, Anthony Hill (Milwaukee Bradley Tech) and Brad Carroll (Tempe Corona del Sol) join the roster after all-state high school careers.

All of those pieces, plus walk-on returnee Jason Averkamp, give Jeter plenty of choices when it comes to starting lineups and playing rotations.

"I think what this group has to understand is that it doesn't matter if you are starting a game, ending a game or are anywhere in between, every person is important. They all have important roles," Jeter said. "It could be matchups that change our lineup. If it's style of play, we could change lineups. We have guys that are willing to pick each other up."

The apparent depth on the Panther roster has Jeter eyeing the idea of effectively pushing the tempo, pressing in a variety of manners and wearing out the opponent.

"Our tempo and our pressure is something we're going to have to look to continue to build on," Jeter said. "Conditioning is going to be huge because we are going to be able to throw a lot of bodies out there that are all capable of helping the team. You might as well find them a place on the court where they can help the team. I think we have to play a little faster and play more aggressively and live with some mistakes."

In the end, though, the Panthers' transition back into title contenders in the Horizon League will start with their seniors. Jeter is pleased with what he has seen so far, especially in the willingness of his older group to lead.

"I am seeing a group of seniors who have dedicated themselves in the off-season to becoming more fit and becoming stronger. I am seeing a group of guys that are coming through in the area of leadership, which is something we talked so much about last year," Jeter said. "They are more comfortable with me, they are more comfortable with what we are doing and they really understand what it takes. We were looking at a group last year that could play but had not been through the battles and didn't understand the importance of the weight room and didn't understand the need for attention to detail. I don't have to tell them any more - they know. This group is in much better shape, they are stronger and their leadership abilities have improved tremendously."

Jeter has found that leadership has turned into an enthusiasm which has spread through the entire 18-man roster.

"I can just sense the excitement with this group. I think they all like each other and they are all enjoying themselves," Jeter said. "This preseason conditioning has been the most enjoyable for a group that I have been around in a long time. Does it hurt? Is there pain involved in preseason? Yes, but they have managed to smile and joke with each other and have fun with each other, and that's a good sign."

The next step is to take the work in the preseason, along with the enthusiasm, and turn it into victories on the court. The tests for the Panthers will come early and often on the 2007-08 schedule, with UWM set to face Northern Iowa, Drake, Marquette and Wisconsin in the first six weeks of the season.

The visit by the Badgers to the U.S. Cellular Arena will be the first contest between the two teams at The Cell and the first home game in the series for the Panthers since the 2001-02 season. Meanwhile, the matchup with Marquette at the Bradley Center will be the first between the two schools since 1998.

The early schedule should serve the Panthers well when it comes to preparing for league play, where they have been picked to finish fourth in the official preseason poll, which includes votes from head coaches, sports information directors and media that covers the league. The poll saw the Panthers tally 325 points, just behind Wright State (354) and Green Bay (333). Butler was the clear preseason favorite, collecting 456 points and 42 of 46 first-place votes.

"It puts us in a pretty good spot," Jeter said. "We are capable of exceeding expectations. We have a group that I think understands the task at hand. You take a look at the history of our league, and it is usually groups that have experience and groups that have come together over three or four years that have more success. Green Bay is one of those teams that has a group together for their third season, and some of them four seasons. Plus, Wright State and Butler are coming off a great seasons and have a lot of returning players. So I can see where some of those teams might be a little bit ahead of us. It seems about right."

Now, the work begins on the long journey from October to March, as Jeter and his staff look to blend some extremely talented pieces of the puzzle into a cohesive unit.All of those pieces have Jeter excited to get the season started.

"It's going to be an exciting year," Jeter said. "Last year we had some holes to fill but this year, I don't think we have holes to fill, we just have more experience to gain. We have a lot of returning players, we have some good pieces that are filling some of those gaps we had last year, and together that presents a lot of bodies which can add a lot of excitement. We can play a lot of different combinations and play a lot of different ways.

We should be able to get up and down and play a style of basketball people are going to enjoy."

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110107aaa.html

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Men's Basketball Preview, Part 8: Green Bay

Nov. 2, 2007

There are plenty of schools in NCAA Division I who would be happy with an 18-win year. Especially when the victory total marked the school's winningest season since 1999. Don't count Green Bay among those schools.

The Phoenix finished the 2006-07 campaign with an 18-15 mark, but went just 7-9 in Horizon League play. However, Green Bay still finished in the League's top four, and is the only team in the conference to do so each of the past four years.

Green Bay fielded the youngest team in the League last year, as freshmen and sophomores combined to average more than 130 minutes, out of a possible 200, of action per game. That fact led to some consistency issues, something that the Phoenix is determined to overcome.

"We're getting back to Green Bay basketball," sixth-year head coach Tod Kowalczyk simply states.

The Phoenix has the core group to do just that, as Green Bay returns four of the top five scorers from last year's squad. In addition, Green Bay has three more letterwinners who return, as well as seven players suiting up for the first time.

Junior Mike Schachtner, a preseason first-team all-league selection, headlines the list of returning players. The 6-foot-9 forward was a second-team All-Horizon League pick as well as an Academic All-American last year after averaging 14.9 points per contest. In 2006-07, he was the only player to finish in the league's top five in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage. After his breakout season, he should draw more attention on the offensive end, thereby freeing up his teammates.

Fellow junior Terry Evans, a two-time All-Horizon All-Defensive Team honoree, is another key cog back in the Phoenix lineup. The 6-foot-5 Evans is one of the league's most athletic players and is capable of playing nearly anywhere on the floor. He averaged 7.7 points to go along with a team-high 6.3 rebounds per contest last year. In addition, he ranks among the school's all-time best in blocked shots and steals. His floor energy will be crucial for a Phoenix team looking to score easy baskets in transition.

Another top returnee is junior Ryan Tillema, who has added 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason. The swing man missed six games early on during the 2006-07 campaign while battling mononucleosis, but is now back at full strength. The 6-foot-8 player still averaged 8.6 points and 3.3 rebounds over 27 outings and regained the confidence in his jump shot in the latter stages of the season. Tillema is another Phoenix player who gives the team flexibility, as he is someone who has played everywhere but at point guard.

Green Bay's other returning starter is guard Troy Cotton, who had a fine freshman season offensively last year. He shot 46 percent from 3-point range en route to a scoring average of 7.6 points per game. A deadly shooter, Cotton has improved defensively and also is better working away from the ball. After his strong rookie campaign, the 6-1 Cotton will need to get his shot off quickly, as he will be a focal point on the scouting report.

Randy Berry, a sophomore forward, started 10 games last year for the Phoenix and averaged 5.0 rebounds over those outings. He played in 31 contests last year, the fourth-most ever by a Green Bay freshman, and rates as the squad's top low-post defender. A workhorse, he figures to see plenty of playing time in the paint.

The lone senior on the 2007-08 squad is forward Tevah Morris. Morris is the veteran of the team, having played in a team-high 80 games over his first three years. He provides depth and energy, as well as a big body (6-9, 245) in the low post. A hard worker both on and off the floor, he has taken on a leadership role for the Phoenix in his final year in Green Bay.

Junior wing Cordero Barkley is a two-year letterman who has played in 62 games, and is one of seven Phoenix players with Division I starting experience. An athletic player, he has shown the capability of being an impact player off the bench. In addition to playing on the wing, he can also play down low, giving Green Bay another look to its lineup.

Among the seven players who will suit up on game days for the first time are a trio of transfers who sat out last year.

Pat Nelson is a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward who played the 2005-06 season as a freshman at Ball State. He is a big man who features a nice offensive skill set and may be the team's best scorer on the block. After practicing with the team all of last year, Nelson figures to be a vital member of the frontcourt rotation this season.

The other eligible first-semester transfer is Eric Van Cleave, a Wisconsin high school product. Van Cleave (6-1) is a junior in eligibility after playing two seasons at Division II Minnesota State. He is a heady player who is battling for playing time at the wide open point guard spot.

Another player looking for time in the backcourt is 6-footer D'Angalo Jackson, who will be eligible to play on Dec. 22 after joining the team following the fall semester. He attended Creighton, but did not play. Jackson is a Milwaukee native, who was highly regarded as a prep.

The Phoenix also has four true freshmen vying for roles, with three contending for time running the point guard spot.

Rahmon Fletcher is a lightning quick guard, who at 5-foot-10 is the squad's smallest player. The left-handed playmaker, who can score from the outside as well as get into the lane, hails from Kansas City, Mo., where he was all-state.

Bryquis Perine, another top-flight rookie, is the team's third Milwaukee product. He is a combo-guard, who can also play the three spot. Another lefty, Perine is long at 6-foot-3 and has a smooth stroke from deep.

Six-foot-3 Uriel Segura is a pass-first point guard who was born in Mexico and has two years of prep basketball experience in the United States. With his skill set, he has drawn comparisons to former Phoenix standout Javier Mendiburu.

The final member of the freshman class is 6-foot-7 forward J.J. Henley. Henley is a physical presence who joins a loaded front line. He will have the opportunity to learn from an experienced group of players down low and is likely to redshirt this season.

Green Bay has been picked to finish third in the Horizon League according to the preseason league vote, behind last year's Sweet 16 participant Butler and League champion Wright State.

Despite the fact that the Horizon League looks to continue its impressive run as one of the nation's top conferences, Kowalczyk did not schedule lightly in the non-conference. For the first time in school history, the Phoenix will face a trio of Big Ten teams in the same season. The three foes, Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconsin, each advanced to at least the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament, and the Buckeyes finished as the national runner up.

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Men's Basketball Preview, Part 9: Wright State
Nov. 3, 2007

Boasting one of the best turnaround seasons in the nation, the Raider fans showed a burst of support last season that helped propel Wright State into the national limelight, a 14-1 home record, a Horizon League crown and an NCAA Tournament bid.

This time around the Raiders will be without two one-thousand-point scorers in DaShaun Wood and Drew Burleson which accounted for 44 percent of last year's scoring and 34 percent of the rebounding not to mention a load of leadership.

"It will likely take a group effort to fill those shoes," head coach Brad Brownell said. "Everyone will have to step up, hit those late shots, play hard on defense and make the right pass."

Last year's NABC District 10 Coach of the Year Brad Brownell will enter his second year at the WSU helm with new players as well as experienced players like sophomore guards Vaughn Duggins, a preseason second-team selection, and Todd Brown and front court players like seniors Jordan Pleiman and Scottie Wilson. Junior Will Graham comes back after starting 12 games a year.

Who will make an impact this year? 6-9 center Ronnie Thomas? Or could it be 6-4 guard John David Gardner? Maybe it will be 6-4 freshman Troy Tabler? Or could it be one of the other newcomers?

Duggins started 32 games as freshman and has been tabbed one of this season's top ten players in the Horizon League as he was voted to the circuit's preseason second team. The Indiana native was selected to the League's Newcomer Team a year ago along with fellow freshman Todd Brown. Brown placed third in the team's scoring race and added a spark to the team as he was placed in the starting lineup just before mid-year.

Pleiman, a starter since his sophomore campaign, has given solid minutes, averaging 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds as a junior. Coming on strong, Wilson used his brawn and his shot to make a statement for the coming year as he was selected to the Horizon League All Tournament Team last March.

"I think the league race will be very wide-open," said Brownell. "If we can continue to improve and find somebody to be a step-up scorer, I think we'll have a chance to make a run. I think our fans can look forward to a year where we will improve as the season goes."

Of the newcomers, two have played major college basketball and one played in the junior college ranks. Gardner came to WSU after playing a season at UNC Wilmington where he saw limited time but put together an all-state high school career in Alabama. Thomas, transfer from Duquesne, played his prep ball in Middlebury, IN and should provide a powerful punch while challenging for a starting role. Junior Gavin Horne, originally from Canada, played two years at Sante Fe Communitiy College in Florida.

Besides Tabler, Brownell and his staff will have freshmen Kyle Pressley, N'Gai Evans, and Cooper Land. All put up impressive numbers in high school and will look to do more than just contribute this year in all areas.

Success has followed Brownell and his teams. In just five years as a head coach, the Indiana native has compiled over 100 wins and has averaged more than 21 wins a seasons with three trips to the NCAA Tournament. He has taken the first steps to build the WSU program into one of the top contenders every year in the Horizon League.

This season, the home slate includes Bradley from the Missouri Valley Conference, Coastal Carolina of the Big South, Marshall of Conference USA and Miami of the MAC and St. Bonaventure from the Atlantic 10. Of course, the schedule will include the Horizon League teams such as NCAA-Cinderella team Butler, Detroit and newcomer Valparaiso.

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Men's Basketball Preview, Part 10: Butler
Nov. 4, 2007

In a span of less than two months last year, Butler basketball was transformed from the forgotten to the formidable.

The Bulldogs were picked to finish sixth in the nine-team Horizon League preseason poll (one voter picked Butler last) released on Oct. 10. That sentiment pretty much mirrored the evaluation reported in most of the major college basketball preseason publications.

That's why there was considerable "head-scratching" in the college basketball world when the Bulldogs stood at center court at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 24 and collected the NIT Season Tip-Off Championship trophy. The moment capped a run that saw Butler post consecutive victories over Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee and Gonzaga - all "Top 25" programs.

Butler went on to post a school and Horizon League record 29-7 campaign, a co-championship in the Horizon League regular season race and a trip to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Along the way, the Bulldogs were ranked in the "Top 25" of the national basketball polls for a school and league record 16 consecutive weeks.

The squad's tremendous success ultimately cost Butler its head coach - Todd Lickliter was named coach at the University of Iowa one day after the Final Four. And two starters - 6-6 forward Brandon Crone and 6-7 forward Brian Ligon - were among three seniors who collected their diploma last May.

Butler moved quickly to replace Lickliter, naming assistant coach Brad Stevens to the top job just three days after it opened. Replacing the seniors could take longer.

"Those guys brought so much to the table beyond the stat line," said Stevens of Crone, Ligon and Marcus Nellems.

"They were often the players who made the play that led to the big play. They were the ones who would block out, so someone else could get a rebound. They would set the screen that would free a teammate for an open shot or pass. They were completely selfless, and that was contagious."

On the plus side, Stevens won't have a shortage of talent in 2007-08. The Bulldogs return five of their top six scorers from last season, including All-Horizon League guards A. J. Graves and Mike Green.

Graves emerged as one of the premier backcourt players in the nation in 2006-07. The 6-1 guard led the Bulldogs in scoring with a 16.9 average, while posting the fourth-highest single season point total (591) ever by a Butler junior. He earned honorable mention All-America honors and was named a first team Academic All-American. He was selected MVP of the NIT Season Tip-Off, earned first team All-League and All-District 10 honors and became the 31st player in Butler history to reach 1,000 points in career scoring.

Green, who transferred to Butler from Towson, was named Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, after leading the Bulldogs in assists (4.0) and rebounds (6.0) and finishing second on the squad in scoring (13.9). He became the first player in Butler history to record over 400 points, 200 rebounds and 100 assists in the same season. The 6-0 guard was named second team All-League and All-District 10.

The Butler backcourt duo has been ranked among the best backcourts in the nation by several preseason publications. "I don't know about rankings, but I do know that I wouldn't trade them for anything," stated Stevens. "It's not because of the kind of players they are, and they're both terrific players. It's because of the kind of people they are. The thing that's important to them is to be part of a special team, and they'll do what it takes to achieve that."

"They're very complimentary in their skill set, and that's made them even better. I think both would tell you they're a better player today because of the guy beside them."

The two stellar guards will be joined by 6-5 returning starter Julian Betko, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Betko tied a Butler single season record by starting all 36 games a year ago, and he finished as the team's fifth-leading scorer (4.3). He was named to the All-Tournament Team at the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Rounding out Butler's strong and deep senior class are 6-7 Pete Campbell and 6-7 Drew Streicher. Campbell, a transfer from IPFW, wound up as Butler's fourth-leading scorer (9.1), and he was named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. He led the league in three-point field goal shooting with a record .519 mark, and he finished second in the league in three-point field goals per game (2.31). The sharp-shooting forward scored in double-figures in 16 of Butler's final 22 games. Streicher, who tied the school single season record for games played (36), emerged as one of Butler's top defenders. He led the Bulldogs in blocked shots (0.4) and field goal shooting (.644).

The five Butler seniors boast a combined 20 years of collegiate experience heading into this season.

"Those (seniors) have a great idea of what it takes to be successful," noted Stevens. "They all lead in their own way, and they're all guys who represent our program in the right ways on and off the court."

One other returnee who picked up considerable experience last year is sophomore Willie Veasley, who played in 35 games in his initial season with the Bulldogs. He finished second on the team with a .632 shooting percentage and emerged as a solid defender.

Other letterwinners returning from last season are 6-7 forward Elliot Engelmann, who played in 15 games, and guards Ben Slaton and Nick Rodgers, both former walk-ons.

Joining the returnees are six newcomers - 6-8 Avery Jukes, 6-4 Grant Leiendecker, 6-7 Matt Howard, 6-0 Zach Hahn, 6-1 Shawn Vanzant and 6-4 Alex Anglin. Two of the six have already spent time in the Butler system. Jukes, a sophomore, transferred to Butler from Alabama and will be eligible in December, while Leiendecker sat out his first season at Butler last year as a medical redshirt. Howard and Hahn, two Indiana High School All-State performers, both were members of the Indiana All-Star Team for the 2007 Indiana-Kentucky High School All-Star series. Vanzant was the leading scorer for 29-2 Wharton High School in Tampa, Fla., last season. Anglin, a sophomore, earned a spot on Butler's roster as a walk-on.

The new talent has given Butler a deeper, more versatile roster. Determining who will play will be one of the challenges facing Stevens. Determining how they'll play won't.

"Our style will be very similar to last year. Our pieces are different, but our philosophy isn't. Hopefully, we'll continue to be efficient and effective in what we do."

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