FanIQ HL Preview
Nov 6, 2008 20:23:35 GMT -5
Post by Raider Rowdies on Nov 6, 2008 20:23:35 GMT -5
College Basketball Preview - Horizon League
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1. Cleveland State, 2. Wright State, 3. Valparaiso, 4. Wisconsin-Green Bay, 5. Butler, 6. Illinois-Chicago, 7. Loyola- Chicago, 8. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 9. Youngstown State, 10. Detroit.
TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:
1. CLEVELAND STATE - From 2005 to 2007 the Vikings posted just eight league victories, but in just his second year as CSU's head coach, Gary Waters led the Vikings to 12 Horizon League wins. The Vikings finished last year with an impressive 21-13 overall ledger, and with the return of four starters, including J'Nathan Bullock, this year could be a magical one for CSU. Bullock is clearly the top player on Cleveland State and the forward should push for the top honors in the Horizon League. The senior forward is coming off a tremendous season in which he produced 14.8 ppg, while also grabbing 6.6 rpg. Centers Chris Moore and George Tandy will definitely create space for Bullock to work underneath the basket. Neither player will contribute much to the scoring, but hopefully newcomer Charlie Woods will be able to make some noise in the paint offensively. The backcourt will be led by Cedric Jackson, who is coming off a strong junior campaign in which netted 13.9 ppg and also pulled down 4.9 rpg. D'Aundray Brown and Norris Cole made tremendous strides during their freshman seasons, and now the two guards will likely see a substantial increase in playing time. Coach Waters has a strong group of veteran players tied in with a good mixture of young explosive newcomers. If everything goes right, the Vikings could be at the top of the conference by season's end.
2. WRIGHT STATE - The Raiders did not have the easiest road this past season, dealing with injuries and a youth movement, but despite those bumps in the road, Wright State finished with 21 wins. Now with every player healthy and more experience, the Raiders look ready to pounce on the Horizon League. It does not hurt that Wright State possesses one of the top players in the conference in Vaughn Duggins. The 6-3 guard is coming off a strong sophomore campaign in which he led the Raiders with 13.8 ppg, while also finishing second on the squad with 85 assists. Todd Brown will give coach Brad Brownell a tremendous one-two punch in the backcourt, as the junior guard is a perfect running mate for Duggins. Brown netted 12.7 ppg a year ago, and was a threat from long range, shooting 42.3 percent from behind the arc. The loss of Scottie Wilson and Jordan Pleiman will hurt the Raiders in the paint, but coach Brownell is hoping Duquesne transfer Scott Grote can give the team a solid option down low. Grote averaged 9.0 ppg as a freshman at Duquesne and has a chance to really excel in the Horizon League. However, Grote will need help underneath the basket and that is where Ronnie Thomas comes into play. The 6-9 forward has the ability to be a strong player, but injuries and lack of playing time have hurt his progress. If Wright State can avoid the injury bug, and Grote can gel quickly with his new team, then coach Brownell's squad could be on the verge of a Horizon League title.
3. VALPARAISO - The Crusaders have plenty of positives to build off their first season in the Horizon League. Valpo finished just 9-9 in league action, but reeled off three consecutive conference wins down the stretch and proved the Crusaders could play with the top teams in this league. With four starters back in the fold and a strong bench, the Crusaders should be able to take a step forward this year. Coach Homer Drew has also done a tremendous job preparing his team for any task, and this season's task will be a simple one; push for a league title. Valpo usually possesses a few guards who can shoot extremely well, and this year the team has two in Scott Haanpaa and Brandon McPherson. Haanpaa only averaged 10.0 ppg this past year, but the guard shot a strong 43.0 percent from long range. As for McPherson, he also only posted 10.1 ppg, and although he shot 40.9 percent from behind the arc, he also dished out 82 assists. The third and final piece to the backcourt is Jake Diebler. The senior guard does not possess the shooting touch of Haanpaa or McPherson, but the senior did finished second on the squad with 92 assists, and should be amongst the leaders in that category this year. While guard play is usually the main aspect of coach Drew's offense, the best player on his team resides in the paint, and that is forward Urule Igbavboa. The 6-9 senior has the scoring touch and the tenacity of an inside player. Igbavboa averaged 11.0 ppg and led the team with 7.3 rpg, and there is no reason those numbers should not improve this year.
4. WISCONSIN-GREEN BAY - The Phoenix shockingly did not perform up to their preseason hype this past year, but with all five starters back in the mix, along with a few newcomers, coach Tod Kowalczyk's squad is primed for a run at the top. The team has a strong inside and outside balance this year, but the top option is without question forward Mike Schachtner. The senior is coming off a campaign in which he led the team with 15.8 ppg, while shooting an impressive 48.7 percent from the field. Fellow forward, Terry Evans did most of the dirty work in the paint for UW-Green Bay, as the senior paced the team with 6.9 rpg and 34 blocks, but averaged just 9.6 ppg. Evans will continue to be a defensive threat, but should also improve offensively. Randy Berry plays a similar role to Evans for the Phoenix, and should find himself on the court most of the time. However, the most intriguing part to this unit is its addition of Chop Tang, a junco transfer from Eastern Arizona. He is a fundamentally sound player that gives the Phoenix tremendous depth in the paint. Obviously the frontcourt could be one of the best in the league, but not to be overlooked is the backcourt for UW-Green Bay, as the Phoenix possess one of the top guards in Ryan Tillema. Tillema posted 12.5 ppg this past season, and along with his ability to slash through the lane, the guard can also drain the three-point basket, netting 44.5 percent of his attempts a year ago. Tillema's running mate will once again be Rahmon Fletcher, who in just his freshman season, proved to be an elite point guard. Fletcher netted 10.1 ppg and led the squad with 96 assists. the now sophomore did commit 91 turnovers, but with time that number will likely be reduced.
5. BUTLER - Last year the Bulldogs put together the school's first 30-win campaign, and climbed into the top 10 of the polls. It was an impressive season for coach Brad Stevens in his first year, as he coached the Bulldogs to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where the team fell to Tennessee in overtime. A repeat of last year is highly unlikely considering four starters graduated in the off-season. The lone starter back in the fold is sophomore Matt Howard. The forward, who averaged 12.3 ppg and 5.5 rpg, will have to take more of leadership role for this squad. Coach Stevens will have to rely on plenty of young players however, as the team will showcase six freshman, and does not possess a single senior on the roster. Look for freshmen guards Shelvin Mack and Ronald Nored to see plenty of action to start the year, and it will likely be a "learn as you go" approach with both backcourt players. Over the past few seasons, the Bulldogs have dominated the Horizon League, but expect Butler to land somewhere in the middle of the pack this year.
6. ILLINOIS-CHICAGO - Coach Jimmy Collins is entering his 13th year at UIC, and this season the squad is filled with explosive talent and experienced leaders. The best player on this roster, and possibly in the Horizon League is Josh Mayo. The 5-11 guard is a scoring machine, and has the ability to beat a team with his jump shot, or by driving the lane. Mayo posted 17.1 ppg during his junior campaign and could average over 20.0 ppg this year. Teaming with Mayo in the backcourt will be Spencer Stewart, who is an offensive liability, shooting just 32.9 percent from the floor, but he is a solid distributor, leading the team last year with 114 assists. Another threat in the backcourt for UIC will be three-point specialist Robert Kreps. The guard was one of the top reserve players in the Horizon this past season, netting 8.1 ppg, while shooting a strong 46.2 percent from behind the arc. Unfortunately the frontcourt will have some question marks, with the only secure option being Scott VanderMeer. The senior forward led the team last year with 7.5 rpg and 85 blocks, but will need to improve on his 9.3 ppg.
7. LOYOLA-CHICAGO - The Ramblers did not have a very productive season this past year, collecting just 12 victory, and only six in league action. Fortunately the team returns four starters, including J.R. Blount, who led the team with 15.1 ppg despite shooting just 38.7 percent from the floor. Justin Cerasoli played a huge role off the bench, but will likely find himself in the starting lineup next to Blount this time around. The real strength for Loyola this season will be its deep frontcourt, which returns all three starters, including Andy Polka. Polka led this squad with 6.7 rpg last year, but his 8.3 ppg will need to improve in the upcoming season. Possibly the best player in this frontcourt was not even a regular starter last year, as Leon Young struggled with some injuries. Young was second on the team this past season with 10.6 ppg, and also grabbed 5.1 rpg. Young should be able to improve in both areas, and will likely land a starting spot, but will need to stay healthy to maximize his potential.
8. WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE - Finishing a season with just 14 victories could be deemed a failure, but for the Panthers it was a rather impressive showing. The team's top scorer, Torre Johnson, was dismissed after just 10 games and instead of folding up the campaign, the Panthers performed at a higher level. Unfortunately, most of the offensive scoring has moved on, leaving coach Rob Jeter with just two returning starters. However, the team will receive a boost from the return of Avery Smith, who was dismissed from the squad before last year began. Smith, who produced 15.5 ppg two years, will give the Panthers much-needed explosiveness in the backcourt. Ricky Franklin and Deonte Roberts will give the Panthers a solid three-guard tandem as the squad looks to improve on last year's numbers. Where the Panthers will struggle this season is in the paint, as the team does not return many options in the frontcourt. Since UW-Milwaukee is thin down low expect junior college transfers James Eayrs and Burleigh Porte to make immediate impacts this year. Eayrs is a large-bodied forward that is a force down low, while Porte is a more agile and explosive player in the paint.
9. YOUNGSTOWN STATE - The Penguins have been a doormat in the Horizon League for a few seasons, and last year was no exception as the team collected just five league wins. There should be no difference this season, as the team returns three starters, but none of the three averaged double figures offensively. Forward Jack Liles (9.7 ppg) is the best option in the paint, but other than him, the Penguins lack experience and will have a few newcomers that will need to adjust to Youngstown State's approach quickly. Sirlester Martin and Dallas Blocker will have a large role for the Penguins this year, but it will be interesting to see if the two juco transfers can gel with Liles. Losing Byron Davis will certainly hurt the production in the backcourt, but sophomores Vance Cooksey and Vytas Sulskis really made tremendous strides this past year. Cooksey only scored 6.2 ppg this past season, but the young guard paced the team with 88 assists. Cooksey however, is still very raw and will need to improve on his 67 turnovers and his meager 32.7 percent shooting effort from the floor. Coach Jerry Slocum's squad should find its way back into double-figure victories, but do not expect much more from Youngstown State.
10. DETROIT - The Titans were a mess this past season, winning just seven total games. Because of the horrendous showing, Ray McCallum will now take over as the head coach for Detroit. Coach McCallum inherits four returning starters, including Chris Hayes, who should be a force in the paint this year, The forward averaged 10.6 ppg this past season, and was a monster on the glass, grabbing 6.2 rpg. Hayes will likely carry the load down low once again for Detroit, but the team is hoping for juco transfer Jason Bennett to lend a helping hand in the frontcourt. Bennett, who is 7-3, should instantly help the Titans on the glass and defensively. Unfortunately, the backcourt will need to replace the team's top offensive player from a year ago in Jon Goode, but the likelihood of that is remote. Instead the Titans are hoping for Woody Payne and Eulis Stephens to improve on last year's numbers and form a strong tandem in the backcourt. Neither player scored more than seven points per contest, but both shot over 40.0 percent, so there is reason for Coach McCallum to be optimistic.
www.faniq.com/ncaabb/wire/College-Basketball-Preview--Horizon-League/xt/8307289-HORIZON-OUTLOOK
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1. Cleveland State, 2. Wright State, 3. Valparaiso, 4. Wisconsin-Green Bay, 5. Butler, 6. Illinois-Chicago, 7. Loyola- Chicago, 8. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 9. Youngstown State, 10. Detroit.
TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:
1. CLEVELAND STATE - From 2005 to 2007 the Vikings posted just eight league victories, but in just his second year as CSU's head coach, Gary Waters led the Vikings to 12 Horizon League wins. The Vikings finished last year with an impressive 21-13 overall ledger, and with the return of four starters, including J'Nathan Bullock, this year could be a magical one for CSU. Bullock is clearly the top player on Cleveland State and the forward should push for the top honors in the Horizon League. The senior forward is coming off a tremendous season in which he produced 14.8 ppg, while also grabbing 6.6 rpg. Centers Chris Moore and George Tandy will definitely create space for Bullock to work underneath the basket. Neither player will contribute much to the scoring, but hopefully newcomer Charlie Woods will be able to make some noise in the paint offensively. The backcourt will be led by Cedric Jackson, who is coming off a strong junior campaign in which netted 13.9 ppg and also pulled down 4.9 rpg. D'Aundray Brown and Norris Cole made tremendous strides during their freshman seasons, and now the two guards will likely see a substantial increase in playing time. Coach Waters has a strong group of veteran players tied in with a good mixture of young explosive newcomers. If everything goes right, the Vikings could be at the top of the conference by season's end.
2. WRIGHT STATE - The Raiders did not have the easiest road this past season, dealing with injuries and a youth movement, but despite those bumps in the road, Wright State finished with 21 wins. Now with every player healthy and more experience, the Raiders look ready to pounce on the Horizon League. It does not hurt that Wright State possesses one of the top players in the conference in Vaughn Duggins. The 6-3 guard is coming off a strong sophomore campaign in which he led the Raiders with 13.8 ppg, while also finishing second on the squad with 85 assists. Todd Brown will give coach Brad Brownell a tremendous one-two punch in the backcourt, as the junior guard is a perfect running mate for Duggins. Brown netted 12.7 ppg a year ago, and was a threat from long range, shooting 42.3 percent from behind the arc. The loss of Scottie Wilson and Jordan Pleiman will hurt the Raiders in the paint, but coach Brownell is hoping Duquesne transfer Scott Grote can give the team a solid option down low. Grote averaged 9.0 ppg as a freshman at Duquesne and has a chance to really excel in the Horizon League. However, Grote will need help underneath the basket and that is where Ronnie Thomas comes into play. The 6-9 forward has the ability to be a strong player, but injuries and lack of playing time have hurt his progress. If Wright State can avoid the injury bug, and Grote can gel quickly with his new team, then coach Brownell's squad could be on the verge of a Horizon League title.
3. VALPARAISO - The Crusaders have plenty of positives to build off their first season in the Horizon League. Valpo finished just 9-9 in league action, but reeled off three consecutive conference wins down the stretch and proved the Crusaders could play with the top teams in this league. With four starters back in the fold and a strong bench, the Crusaders should be able to take a step forward this year. Coach Homer Drew has also done a tremendous job preparing his team for any task, and this season's task will be a simple one; push for a league title. Valpo usually possesses a few guards who can shoot extremely well, and this year the team has two in Scott Haanpaa and Brandon McPherson. Haanpaa only averaged 10.0 ppg this past year, but the guard shot a strong 43.0 percent from long range. As for McPherson, he also only posted 10.1 ppg, and although he shot 40.9 percent from behind the arc, he also dished out 82 assists. The third and final piece to the backcourt is Jake Diebler. The senior guard does not possess the shooting touch of Haanpaa or McPherson, but the senior did finished second on the squad with 92 assists, and should be amongst the leaders in that category this year. While guard play is usually the main aspect of coach Drew's offense, the best player on his team resides in the paint, and that is forward Urule Igbavboa. The 6-9 senior has the scoring touch and the tenacity of an inside player. Igbavboa averaged 11.0 ppg and led the team with 7.3 rpg, and there is no reason those numbers should not improve this year.
4. WISCONSIN-GREEN BAY - The Phoenix shockingly did not perform up to their preseason hype this past year, but with all five starters back in the mix, along with a few newcomers, coach Tod Kowalczyk's squad is primed for a run at the top. The team has a strong inside and outside balance this year, but the top option is without question forward Mike Schachtner. The senior is coming off a campaign in which he led the team with 15.8 ppg, while shooting an impressive 48.7 percent from the field. Fellow forward, Terry Evans did most of the dirty work in the paint for UW-Green Bay, as the senior paced the team with 6.9 rpg and 34 blocks, but averaged just 9.6 ppg. Evans will continue to be a defensive threat, but should also improve offensively. Randy Berry plays a similar role to Evans for the Phoenix, and should find himself on the court most of the time. However, the most intriguing part to this unit is its addition of Chop Tang, a junco transfer from Eastern Arizona. He is a fundamentally sound player that gives the Phoenix tremendous depth in the paint. Obviously the frontcourt could be one of the best in the league, but not to be overlooked is the backcourt for UW-Green Bay, as the Phoenix possess one of the top guards in Ryan Tillema. Tillema posted 12.5 ppg this past season, and along with his ability to slash through the lane, the guard can also drain the three-point basket, netting 44.5 percent of his attempts a year ago. Tillema's running mate will once again be Rahmon Fletcher, who in just his freshman season, proved to be an elite point guard. Fletcher netted 10.1 ppg and led the squad with 96 assists. the now sophomore did commit 91 turnovers, but with time that number will likely be reduced.
5. BUTLER - Last year the Bulldogs put together the school's first 30-win campaign, and climbed into the top 10 of the polls. It was an impressive season for coach Brad Stevens in his first year, as he coached the Bulldogs to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where the team fell to Tennessee in overtime. A repeat of last year is highly unlikely considering four starters graduated in the off-season. The lone starter back in the fold is sophomore Matt Howard. The forward, who averaged 12.3 ppg and 5.5 rpg, will have to take more of leadership role for this squad. Coach Stevens will have to rely on plenty of young players however, as the team will showcase six freshman, and does not possess a single senior on the roster. Look for freshmen guards Shelvin Mack and Ronald Nored to see plenty of action to start the year, and it will likely be a "learn as you go" approach with both backcourt players. Over the past few seasons, the Bulldogs have dominated the Horizon League, but expect Butler to land somewhere in the middle of the pack this year.
6. ILLINOIS-CHICAGO - Coach Jimmy Collins is entering his 13th year at UIC, and this season the squad is filled with explosive talent and experienced leaders. The best player on this roster, and possibly in the Horizon League is Josh Mayo. The 5-11 guard is a scoring machine, and has the ability to beat a team with his jump shot, or by driving the lane. Mayo posted 17.1 ppg during his junior campaign and could average over 20.0 ppg this year. Teaming with Mayo in the backcourt will be Spencer Stewart, who is an offensive liability, shooting just 32.9 percent from the floor, but he is a solid distributor, leading the team last year with 114 assists. Another threat in the backcourt for UIC will be three-point specialist Robert Kreps. The guard was one of the top reserve players in the Horizon this past season, netting 8.1 ppg, while shooting a strong 46.2 percent from behind the arc. Unfortunately the frontcourt will have some question marks, with the only secure option being Scott VanderMeer. The senior forward led the team last year with 7.5 rpg and 85 blocks, but will need to improve on his 9.3 ppg.
7. LOYOLA-CHICAGO - The Ramblers did not have a very productive season this past year, collecting just 12 victory, and only six in league action. Fortunately the team returns four starters, including J.R. Blount, who led the team with 15.1 ppg despite shooting just 38.7 percent from the floor. Justin Cerasoli played a huge role off the bench, but will likely find himself in the starting lineup next to Blount this time around. The real strength for Loyola this season will be its deep frontcourt, which returns all three starters, including Andy Polka. Polka led this squad with 6.7 rpg last year, but his 8.3 ppg will need to improve in the upcoming season. Possibly the best player in this frontcourt was not even a regular starter last year, as Leon Young struggled with some injuries. Young was second on the team this past season with 10.6 ppg, and also grabbed 5.1 rpg. Young should be able to improve in both areas, and will likely land a starting spot, but will need to stay healthy to maximize his potential.
8. WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE - Finishing a season with just 14 victories could be deemed a failure, but for the Panthers it was a rather impressive showing. The team's top scorer, Torre Johnson, was dismissed after just 10 games and instead of folding up the campaign, the Panthers performed at a higher level. Unfortunately, most of the offensive scoring has moved on, leaving coach Rob Jeter with just two returning starters. However, the team will receive a boost from the return of Avery Smith, who was dismissed from the squad before last year began. Smith, who produced 15.5 ppg two years, will give the Panthers much-needed explosiveness in the backcourt. Ricky Franklin and Deonte Roberts will give the Panthers a solid three-guard tandem as the squad looks to improve on last year's numbers. Where the Panthers will struggle this season is in the paint, as the team does not return many options in the frontcourt. Since UW-Milwaukee is thin down low expect junior college transfers James Eayrs and Burleigh Porte to make immediate impacts this year. Eayrs is a large-bodied forward that is a force down low, while Porte is a more agile and explosive player in the paint.
9. YOUNGSTOWN STATE - The Penguins have been a doormat in the Horizon League for a few seasons, and last year was no exception as the team collected just five league wins. There should be no difference this season, as the team returns three starters, but none of the three averaged double figures offensively. Forward Jack Liles (9.7 ppg) is the best option in the paint, but other than him, the Penguins lack experience and will have a few newcomers that will need to adjust to Youngstown State's approach quickly. Sirlester Martin and Dallas Blocker will have a large role for the Penguins this year, but it will be interesting to see if the two juco transfers can gel with Liles. Losing Byron Davis will certainly hurt the production in the backcourt, but sophomores Vance Cooksey and Vytas Sulskis really made tremendous strides this past year. Cooksey only scored 6.2 ppg this past season, but the young guard paced the team with 88 assists. Cooksey however, is still very raw and will need to improve on his 67 turnovers and his meager 32.7 percent shooting effort from the floor. Coach Jerry Slocum's squad should find its way back into double-figure victories, but do not expect much more from Youngstown State.
10. DETROIT - The Titans were a mess this past season, winning just seven total games. Because of the horrendous showing, Ray McCallum will now take over as the head coach for Detroit. Coach McCallum inherits four returning starters, including Chris Hayes, who should be a force in the paint this year, The forward averaged 10.6 ppg this past season, and was a monster on the glass, grabbing 6.2 rpg. Hayes will likely carry the load down low once again for Detroit, but the team is hoping for juco transfer Jason Bennett to lend a helping hand in the frontcourt. Bennett, who is 7-3, should instantly help the Titans on the glass and defensively. Unfortunately, the backcourt will need to replace the team's top offensive player from a year ago in Jon Goode, but the likelihood of that is remote. Instead the Titans are hoping for Woody Payne and Eulis Stephens to improve on last year's numbers and form a strong tandem in the backcourt. Neither player scored more than seven points per contest, but both shot over 40.0 percent, so there is reason for Coach McCallum to be optimistic.
www.faniq.com/ncaabb/wire/College-Basketball-Preview--Horizon-League/xt/8307289-HORIZON-OUTLOOK