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Post by Raider Rowdies on Jul 24, 2008 17:58:18 GMT -5
Central Michigan Chippewas Overall Rank: #122 Conference Rank: #4 MAC 2007-08: 14-17, 8-8, 2nd West 2007-08 postseason: none Central Michigan is still transitioning into the Coach Ernie Zeigler era. Year one went alright, but year two should be better as the staff continues to bring in talented players. Yet, there are key players gone and this team could end being labeled as another transition group instead of a team that can compete for a Mid-American Conference title. Who’s Out: The biggest loss is Giordan Watson. The senior point guard led the team with 16.4 points, 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals. Nobody else on the team even averaged more than ten points per game or more than 1.5 assists per contest. Nate Minnoy, who was second on the team in scoring last year with 8.8 points per game, has left he program. Justin Blevens, Tyrone Jordan, Chase Simon, Eddie Spencer and Reynold Walters are not quite as big of losses as Watson and Minnoy, but each started at least one game last season. Who’s In: With the large group of departures, many of them unexpected, the newcomers will have to step in and immediately provide some depth off the bench. Junior college transfers Jacolby Hardiman and Antonio Weary have the experience to contribute right away. Hardiman, a 6-4 wing, is noted for his defensive ability, a much needed attribute for the Chippewas. Weary is a great athlete who will push the tempo in transition. Once his jump shot becomes more consistent, Weary, who has three years of eligibility, will be a dynamic scorer from the wing. Redshirt freshman William Eddie III and incoming freshman Adrian Hunter will be thrown into the mix at point guard. Eddie’s defense and year in the program could earn him the backup role. Hunter can also play the two guard spot and is expected to play an important role right away. As long the 5-11 freshman can bring his scoring to the collegiate level, he will be a dynamic part of the offense. Lawrence Bridges will add his name to the list of small forwards. Bridges, at 6-5 and 220 pounds, could see some action at the four spot in certain situations. The freshman has a ton of potential and could make a big impact right away. So could 6-8 forward Zach Saylor. Central Michigan needs Saylor and Bridges, if he can effectively play power forward, to provide some depth off the bench this year. Who to Watch: Despite all the nice recruits coming to Mt. Pleasant, it is a walk-on who could have the biggest impact on the success or failures of this year’s team. Robbie Harman was backing up Watson for a couple years, but his heart, hustle, intelligence and quickness were hard not to notice. What this team needs is a steady, smart floor leader and they have one in Harman. With Jordan Bitzer and Jeremy Allen on the wings, not to mention the newcomers, Harman will not have to score, but he still can and will, especially from beyond the arc. Bitzer is the other long range shooting threat in the backcourt, but he struggled with his shot at times last year. Allen is the slasher. At 6-2, he appears slightly undersized to man the three spot, but he plays bigger than he looks. However, he could stand to play a little bigger and help the team out on the glass. Final Projection: The problems about the lack of depth in the frontcourt stem from the suspension of Marcus Van. Van started a dozen games last year and averaged 5.8 points and a team high 5.3 rebounds. The Chippewas can live without his scoring, but losing their best rebounder would hurt. Chris Kellerman and Marco Spica both have starting experience as well and will be the likely starters come November. Kellerman can stretch out the defense with his outside shooting and Spica is a solid scorer in the paint. Once Spica can hit the glass more effectively, he will be a dominating big man. Projected Post-season Tournament: none Projected Starting Five: Robbie Harman, Junior, Guard, 5.4 points per game Adrian Hunter, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season Jeremy Allen, Sophomore, Guard, 7.2 points per game Chris Kellerman, Senior, Forward, 7.2 points per game Marko Spica, Junior, Center, 6.5 points per game www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/200809-central-michigan-basketball-preview-122-44416
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Post by bballraider on Jul 29, 2008 16:17:21 GMT -5
GreenBay is the first of the HL teams to show up. At #117 they are picked to finish 5th in the HL this year. The writers at CHN seem to be giving the HL more credit this year, as last year UWGB was 136th (lowest of HL in top144) and picked to finish 4th. So is this considered progress for the Phoenix? They move up nationally, but down in the league. Wisconsin Green Bay Phoenix Overall Rank: #117 Conference Rank: #5 Horizon 2007-08: 15-15, 9-9, 4th 2007-08 postseason: none It seems like Wisconsin Green Bay and Coach Tod Kowalczyk are always one year away from great things. However, a few bad breaks here and there and the Phoenix end the year disappointed. The 2007-2008 season was no different and the 2008 off-season has the expectations rising once again. Will this be the year the team finally breaks through and puts together a consistent winning campaign? The talent is there to do so, but it was last year too…and the year before that and the year before that. Who’s Out: Yet, with all five starters return, maybe this really will be the year. Tevah Morris earned a few starts during his senior campaign, but averaged less than ten minutes per game. Guards D’Angalo Jackson and Uriel Segura are transferring after seeing limited action last season. Who’s In: The newcomers are talented enough to provide some depth off the bench and increase the overall toughness on the roster. Jesse Childs has the experience after playing two years at Mesa Community College. The 6-3 combo guard will either be a solid backup point guard or a two guard who can also handle the ball and create shots for himself. Either way he will provide some quality depth on the perimeter. So will Brent Eaton. The 6-5 swingman is a superb shooter and will immediately be a sharpshooter off the bench. It might take some time for the Middlebury, Indiana product to adjust to the level of competition, not to mention the switch from Yoder cheese to Wisconsin cheese, but the rims are still ten feet high in Amish country and Eaton will certainly knock down his fair share of long balls as a freshman. Chop Tang’s versatility, toughness and neat name will make him a fan favorite. The 6-7 forward, who spent two years at the junior college level, can battle in the paint and step outside and hit the jumper. Who to Watch: Mike Schachtner might not be the most intimidating 6-9 forward around, but he gets the job done. The sharpshooter knocked down over 45 percent of his shots from beyond the arc last season and led the team with 15.8 points per game. He is not a great rebounder, but he will use his size to help out on the glass. Most of the rebounding will be done by fellow forwards Terry Evans and Randy Berry. Evans is only 6-5, but he makes up for his size with his hustle. Not only will Evans put up some decent numbers in the scoring column and grab plenty of rebounds, but he is also a superb defender and led the team in steals and blocks during the 2007-2008 campaign. Berry is the more traditional big man who will hang out in the paint and use his 6-9, 225 pound frame to clear space in the paint. Ryan Tillema might be listed as a guard, but at 6-8, he does not look like one. Tillema and Evans started on the wings last year and should again this year. That size is a huge advantage for the Phoenix. Tillema is the most prolific shooter on the team and defending him is a huge problem for most shorter wings. Final Projection: The biggest problem last year was with the turnovers. Rahmon Fletcher proved to be a solid scorer and distributor during his freshman campaign, but with that experience he has to keep the turnovers down and the team under control. If that happens, UWGB will be a force in the Horizon League. If it does not, the Phoenix will once again be another year away from big things. Projected Post-season Tournament: none Projected Starting Five: Rahmon Fletcher, Sophomore, Guard, 10.1 points per game Ryan Tillema, Senior, Guard, 12.5 points per game Terry Evans, Senior, Forward, 9.6 points per game Mike Schachtner, Senior, Forward, 15.8 points per game Randy Berry, Junior, Forward, 7.0 points per game www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/200809-wisconsin-green-bay-preview-117-47294
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Post by Doliboabros on Jul 29, 2008 20:30:13 GMT -5
The 2007-2008 season was no different and the 2008 off-season has the expectations rising once again. Will this be the year the team finally breaks through and puts together a consistent winning campaign? The talent is there to do so, but it was last year too…and the year before that and the year before that. Maybe someday they'll figure out that Green Bay has an idiot for a coach.
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Post by raiderguy06 on Jul 29, 2008 23:01:15 GMT -5
Yeah, it is pretty pathetic when they have that much talent coming back and they are ranked 5th. That tells me that Poor Man's Coach K is a major tool and people are beginning to figure that out.
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Post by Bomber on Aug 10, 2008 10:22:06 GMT -5
What 4 teams do you guys think they have ranked higher than Green Bay?
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Post by raiderguy06 on Aug 10, 2008 13:00:03 GMT -5
my guess is 1) Cleveland State (In my opinion we are better than Cleveland State but that is probably where they would be) 2) Wright State 3) UIC and 4) Butler (just off of reputation)
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Post by Nutt House on Aug 10, 2008 21:19:41 GMT -5
1) Cleveland State 2) Wright State 3) UIC 4) Valpo
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Post by Raider Rowdies on Aug 11, 2008 15:06:48 GMT -5
Murray State Racers Overall Rank: #106 Conference Rank: #1 Ohio Valley 2007-08: 18-13, 13-7, 2nd 2007-08 postseason: none Murray State has been on the outside of the Ohio Valley Conference elite over the last couple seasons, but it is time for Coach Billy Kennedy to take the Racers back to the NCAA Tournament. A couple key players are gone, but this is a talented team that continues to recruit quite well. Experience, or lack there of, has been an issue over the last couple of years since Coach Kennedy took over, but now the team finally has as many upperclassmen as underclassmen and that will keep Murray State in the race for a conference title. Who’s Out: However, losing Bruce Carter will make it a little more difficult. Carter, a 6-4 guard, led the team in points and rebounds during his senior campaign. Carter got to the basket with ease and was a decent enough outside shooter to keep the opposing defense honest. Ray George averaged 7.8 points per contest and was a big spark off the bench. Like Carter, George is not a superb shooter, but he was effective getting to the rim. Forward Tarod Sanders is not returning after averaging 8.2 minutes per game in 2007-2008. Who’s In: The Racers are pretty well equipped to run an experienced seven man rotation without any of the newcomers. This group will probably extend that number up to nine or ten. Power forward Ivan Aska is expected to make the biggest impact. At 6-7, 230 pounds, Aska has the size to battle in the paint in the OVC. Yet, his toughness and athleticism give him the potential to be more than just a big man in the conference. His scoring will not blow anybody away, at least not yet, but he should play an important role right away at Murray State as a rebounder. Jeffery McClain, a sophomore transfer from Three Rivers Community College in Polar Bluff, Missouri, will also provide some much needed help in the rebounding department. The 6-6 forward is a good athlete and a solid all-around player. At 6-3, guard Donte Pool has good size for a player who can handle the ball so well. Yet, it will be his scoring ability, which will help replace Carter and George’s production, that will earn him minutes as freshman. Fellow guard Matt Fraliex will be the best long range shooter on the team from day one. That might not be enough to earn him a ton of minutes right away, but he can at least be the marksman off the bench. Who to Watch: Even without the team’s leading scorer and their sixth man, the backcourt will be in good hands. Tyler Holloway shot over 46 percent from beyond the arc last year and will do plenty of scoring inside the arc as well. Without Carter, Holloway’s scoring prowess should be even better than his 10.6 points per game of a year ago. Having an experienced senior like Kevin Thomas to get him the ball makes his job even easier. Kevin Thomas is not much of a scorer, although he does have his moments, but it is his 4.5 assists per game and solid defense that make him so valuable to the Racers. Listed as a 6-4 forward, Danero Thomas has the skills to play on the wing and the strength to mix it up under the basket. His versatility makes him tough to guard and he is expected to take over a big chunk of the departed scoring after averaging 12.3 points per game as a sophomore. Final Projection: Under the basket the Racers have an emerging star in Tony Easley. The 6-9, 200 pound junior averaged 9.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 2007-2008 and is due for a big campaign. Without Carter, who led the team in rebounds, it is up to Easley to shoulder more of the load and hit the glass a little harder. Easley is also a decent shot blocking threat and can at least make the opposition think twice before heading into the paint. Yet, it is 6-6 junior Marvin Williams who could become a better shot blocker if he can find more playing time. With the wide-bodied George Fotso, and Danero Thomas, who will certainly spend plenty of time at the four spot, the team has a decent amount of depth up front. That depth is also now experienced and the Racers can use their big men to bully their way to a conference championship. Having a senior heavy backcourt will help. Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA Projected Starting Five: Kevin Thomas, Senior, Guard, 6.7 points per game Tyler Holloway, Senior, Guard, 10.6 points per game Danero Thomas, Junior, Forward, 12.3 points per game Marvin Williams, Junior, Forward, 5.6 points per game Tony Easley, Junior, Forward, 9.3 points per game www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/200809-murray-state-basketball-preview-107-57095
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Post by bballraider on Aug 25, 2008 18:15:13 GMT -5
I think they may very well have WSU as the top team in the HL. I think CSU and WSU will be pretty close in the ratings. With Cigarboy posting Wright State basketball stories on their site as one of their writers. Their staff is pretty familiar with Wright State, which should help.
I am guessing they have: 1.) WSU, 2.) Cleveland State (close second), 3.) UIC, and 4.) Butler in that order with WSU being in the 70-75 range. I would have had Valpo in before Butler until Valpo lost a couple key players (Haanpaa and Bouchie).
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Post by Glory Days on Aug 25, 2008 21:08:18 GMT -5
WSU should be ranked around 65 and second in the HL. CSU returns more of their roster than us so I see them getting the nod in the preseason rankings.
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Post by Raider Fanatic on Aug 27, 2008 19:11:45 GMT -5
I am guessing they have: 1.) WSU, 2.) Cleveland State (close second), 3.) UIC, and 4.) Butler in that order with WSU being in the 70-75 range. I would have had Valpo in before Butler until Valpo lost a couple key players (Haanpaa and Bouchie). I like that top 4.
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Post by Raider Grad on Aug 27, 2008 19:16:53 GMT -5
I think Cleveland State gets picked ahead of us. They return 4 starters vs 3 for us.
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Post by Doliboabros on Aug 28, 2008 21:11:03 GMT -5
Valpo should be an interesting team this year. They have a bunch of new faces that look pretty good on paper and Homer Drew knows how to coach.
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Post by bballraider on Sept 2, 2008 16:44:29 GMT -5
llinois State Redbirds Overall Rank: #82 Conference Rank: #5 Missouri Valley 2007-08: 25-10, 10-3, 2nd 2007-08 postseason: NIT Coach Tim Jankovich led Illinois State to the NIT in his first year at the program. The next step is the NCAA Tournament. However, it might be a little too soon to make that jump. The Redbirds lose four of their top six scorers and, while there is still enough talent coming in to make a run towards the NCAA Tournament, another trip to the NIT is more likely at this point. Who’s Out: Can anybody replace the production of Anthony Slack? The forward led the team with 7.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. He also added 9.5 points per contest. Without a consistent scorer and a tenacious defender like Slack on the floor, ISU will look different on both sides of the court. Making matters worse, Levi Dyer was an underappreciated big man who could make a big impact off the bench. The backcourt lost starters Dom Johnson and Boo Richardson. The duo combined to average 15.1 points and 7.0 assists. Little used Julius Moor is also departing from the perimeter, but the departure of Johnson and Richardson creates a lot of questions in the backcourt. Who’s In: Despite all those losses, the excitement around Redbird basketball is still high…and for good reason. Coach Jankovich has a talented group of newcomers coming in who are ready to work their way into the regular rotation. The most important position is at point guard where newcomers Lloyd Phillips, Landon Shipley and Kenyon Smith hope to fill the void. Phillips, a transfer from Iowa Western Community College, is a great shooter and has enough experience to step into a starting role. Shipley spent two years at Austin Peay before heading to Normal. He only earned a couple starts during his time with APSU, but he is a decent scorer and ball handler. Smith, an incoming freshman, has plenty of potential, but his lack of experience will likely give others the first shot at the point guard duties. During the 2005-2006 campaign Champ Oguchi had a great year with the Ducks of Oregon. The following year his production dropped and he opted to transfer to ISU. Oguchi, while inconsistent, is a great shooter and will give the Redbirds a very dangerous shooting and slashing threat from the wing. Bobby Hill is another experienced newcomer who could step into a starting role. The 6-7 junior might not put up huge numbers, but he is a solid defender and could help replace part of Slack’s production. Kellen Thornton, Ty Modupe and Jeremy Robinson will add some much, much needed depth up front. Snagging Robinson from the SEC or a Big Ten school is a great get for Illinois State. The 6-8 center has a nice looking stroke from mid-range and is developing some decent post moves. Blake Mishler, a transfer from East Tennessee State will be eligible in December, but it is likely he will redshirt the entire season. Who to Watch: There is no doubt who the star of this team will be this year. Osiris Eldridge not only has a cool name and a not so cool haircut, but he also led the team with 15.8 points per game. He can shoot the three-pointer or get to the basket and this year he will need to be a team leader if the Redbirds expect to make a run at the post season. Emmanuel Holloway and Alex Rubin will add more depth to the backcourt and compete with the newcomers for minutes running the point. Final Projection: The backcourt, even with the questions regarding the point, will be fine. The problem is the frontcourt. Dinma Odiakosa had a solid sophomore season, but now he has to step up and be the scoring threat under the basket. Brandon Sampay will be in the frontcourt mix once he recovers from offseason surgery. While Sampay is out, the newcomers will get some valuable experience, but the lack of experience and depth up front will be a concern all year long. Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT Projected Starting Five: Lloyd Phillips, Junior, Guard, DNP last season Osiris Eldridge, Junior, Guard, 15.8 points per game Champ Oguchi, Senior, Guard, DNP last season Bobby Hill, Junior, Forward , DNP last season Dinma Odiakosa, Junior, Forward, 6.9 points per game www.collegehoopsnet.com/200809-illinois-state-basketball-preview-82-77909
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Post by Glory Days on Sept 2, 2008 18:54:54 GMT -5
With all of ISU's new players, it should benefit us to open the season against them. We should hit the ground running this year, whereas, they will still be get used to all of the new faces on their roster.
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