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Post by bballraider on Jul 20, 2006 17:00:14 GMT -5
UNCW shows up at #115, talks a little about Brownell: ....Lost in the George Mason hoopla is the fact that UNC Wilmington tied the Patriots atop the Colonial Athletic Association and won the conference tournament. But that was last year and this year will look a lot different for the Seahawks, starting at the top. Head coach Brad Brownell left for the browner pastures of Wright State and Benny Moss, who spent the last six seasons as an assistant at Charlotte, will take over.... collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2006/115.htm"the browner pastures", is this a put down on Wright State or a comment about the comparable grasses of the two areas?
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Post by Raiderfan on Jul 20, 2006 17:23:17 GMT -5
I suppose he also could have made a play on words with "Brown"ell and "brown"er pastures but I read it as a slam against WSU. You know, in stead of going to greener pastures he took a step back and went to browner pastures. I could be wrong but that is how I read the comment.
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Post by Bomber on Jul 29, 2006 13:27:26 GMT -5
Butler BulldogsOverall Rank: #106 Conference Rank: #2 Horizon 2005-06: 20-13, 11-5, 2nd 2005-06 postseason: NIT Three players who started all 33 games are gone, but there are reasons for Butler fans to be hopeful. The bench should be deeper and a pair of transfers will replace much of the production that is lost. Who’s Out: Brandon Polk will be the toughest to replace. The 6-6 forward led the squad with 18.0 points and added on 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Finding a replacement under the basket for him is the biggest issue with Butler heading into the 2006-2007 season. The backcourt duo of Avery Sheets and Bruce Horan have a few players ready to replace them. Sheets averaged 9.6 points and a team high 3.3 assists as a senior and Horan tacked on 10.9 points per contest. Who’s In: Mike Green and Pete Campbell step in for the absent Sheets and Horan. Three years ago Green became the first player to start every game at point guard for Towson. He didn’t miss much his second year either, and averaged 11.9 points and 4.3 assists before opting to transfer to Butler. Campbell, a transfer from IPFW, is a tremendous shooter for a 6-7 forward. He won’t battle inside too much, but Campbell has already proven he can score at the Division I level. Eliott Englemann, a 6-7 forward, will add some depth to the three and four spots. A trio of shooting guards in Forrest Smallwood, Grant Leiendecker and Will Veasley will add depth on the wings. Veasley is garnering the highest expectations of the bunch and could develop into a spark off the bench this season. Who to Watch: The backcourt is the strong point for most teams in the Horizon, but the frontcourt still needs to do some dirty work. That will fall on senior Brian Ligon. The 6-7 forward only averaged 2.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game a year ago, but will be given the opportunity to see a drastic increase in numbers with Polk gone. Fellow senior Brandon Crone can do the work on the glass. The 6-6 forward averaged a team high 5.0 rebounds per game and tacked on 9.8 points. There won’t be much height, but that duo is capable of holding down the frontcourt. Final Projection: A.J. Graves is the vibrant leader of the group. Graves averaged 13.4 points, 2.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals last year. He’s a dynamic scorer who can do more than just hit the long ball. When things go bad, Coach Lickliter will look to Graves and, more times than not, Graves will get it done. The Horizon is pretty well packed from top to bottom. The difference between 2nd and 6th could be one game, and the difference in any game could be one mistake. The two transfers have had a season to adjust and practice with the team and Green won’t make many of those mistakes while running the show. There is some depth, especially with perennial sixth man Julian Betko returning. Marcus Nellems and Drew Streicher won’t put up great numbers, but they do have experience. Projected Post-season Tournament: none Projected Starting Five: Mike Green, Junior, Guard, DNP last season A.J. Graves, Junior, Guard, 13.4 points per game Pete Campbell, Sophomore, Forward, DNP last season Brandon Crone, Senior, Forward, 9.8 points per game Brian Ligon, Senior, Forward, 2.3 points per game www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2006/106.htm
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Post by Wolf on Jul 31, 2006 7:48:24 GMT -5
There is no way Butler should be picked to finish second next year. They are going to get eaten alive inside without Polk. Ligon is their only post player. He has had 2-3 serious knee injuries and has not been able to complete a full season as a back up for Butler. How does anyone think he will be able to play the bulk of the minutes in the post for an entire season and stay healthy?
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Post by Halo on Jul 31, 2006 11:08:26 GMT -5
Another horible pick as well as commentary. When I made that comment after the Green Bay presentation some idiots came to say how good and accurate is the author of those reports.
Butler will always be a taugh team to play against....but there is no way that they will end up second next year. It is more possible to come second to the end than second to the top.
with only two starters returning and without significant senior leadership they will have to scrape their way out of the bottom end of the league
Loyola, WSU, UWM,UWGB and YSU will definitely be better than Butler next year.
Big D, hope you got your lesson talking about that writter at collegehoops.com
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2006 12:04:50 GMT -5
i highly doubt YSU will be better than Butler. Butler will be ok but probably moreso middle of the pack. Crone and Ligon are not threats inside and i don't care how good BU is around the arc b/c if you can control them like we did last year, there's no reason why you can't go inside on them. a 6-7 forward to them is the equivalent to a 6-9+ forward for everyone else.
while i disgree w/ this prediction, i don't feel that this writer's credibility is zero either. people always seem to have the assumption that b/c they disagree w/ one's predictions that the analyst has zero credibility. apparently the fans are always right. halo's opinion is no better or worse than this guy's. i suppose if halo picked GB to win this year and someone disagrees w/ him, halo has no credibility either.
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Post by Big D From UIC on Jul 31, 2006 12:59:18 GMT -5
Loyola, WSU, UWM,UWGB and YSU will definitely be better than Butler next year. Ok, I have to ask...did you come up with this list by pulling names out of a hat, or do you follow the HL closely and really feel that the teams listed will be better than Butler? It would be one thing to say one of UWM and YSU could finish higher, but both? And UIC finishes below all of those teams? Also, I had a real problem with this guy picking UWGB at #3 in the HL last year (which if I remember correctly, he did do). I emailed him and asked him what in God's name he was thinking. He gave me some random response about the conference being wide open for 3rd and below and so he just went with UWGB because they had some good talent. I'm not sure this guy is as credible as he is lucky. If Butler finishes #2 this year, I won't question any more of his picks.
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Post by Big D on Jul 31, 2006 13:30:09 GMT -5
I didn't say he was good. I didn't say he was accurate. Hell, I didn't even say I agreed with anything he wrote. You should really check your facts before you call someone out in a post. My exact quote from the UWGB message board is... Joel Welser is the writer for the top 144 preview. He writes about MAC and HL basketball on a regular basis during the season.p2.forumforfree.com/season-preview-from-collegehoopsnetcom-vt248-uwgbphoenix.html
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Post by Halo on Jul 31, 2006 15:21:06 GMT -5
Bottom line is that, like almost every publication, they need to write something about the Horizon League. They have someone that really dont know anything about the league to check who is there and maybe the Horizon rankings the last couple of years and they serve a report-prediction.
I am just saying that those reports are not really well thought off. It would be better if they contact local writers from the schools locations and get a better idea. But the interest about Horizon is not enough to pay for all that research
About UIC, it could be better than Butler too. Just another mid of the pack team. Detroit as well.
I do believe and I stated here before that Loyola, WSU and Green Bay (the team I support) will be the top teams next year
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Post by Raider Country on Aug 7, 2006 18:09:09 GMT -5
Dayton FlyersOverall Rank: #97 Conference Rank: #7 Atlantic 10 2005-06: 14-17, 6-10, 11th (t) 2005-06 postseason: none Big things were expected after Coach Brian Gregory brought an impressive recruiting class to Dayton in 2004. With what remains of that class now being upperclassmen, it is time they start winning more consistently. Who’s Out: The big loss is point guard Warren Williams, who averaged 5.5 points and 4.4 assists as a senior. That leaves the Flyers without a proven point guard on the squad. The backcourt also loses little used Marques Bennett and Jeff Penno. Big men Chris Alvarez and James Cripe have opted to transfer. Alvarez was the more productive of the two, earning 13 starts and averaging 3.6 points and 4.3 rebounds as a sophomore last season. Who’s In: Andres Sandoval is a lightning quick combo guard who will have a lot of pressure on him from the get go. After stints at Richmond and Santa Fe Community College, Sandoval will be asked to run the point for Dayton. The 6-4 Milford, Massachusetts native is relatively new to running the show, but has the talent to thrive at that position. Incoming freshman London Warren will be his backup. Warren can equal Sandoval in his quickness and will bring some intensity off of the bench. Shooting guard Marcus Johnson has tremendous athletic ability and can create for himself quite well. Power forward Kurt Huelsman can fill in some minutes at the four and five spots when necessary. Who to Watch: Brian Roberts led the squad with 16.0 points per game last year and tacked on 3.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds. He’s a long range threat, draining 41% of his shots from beyond the arc. However, Roberts won’t have to carry the team, especially since Monty Scott will be on the other wing. Scott averaged 11.2 points and 4.3 rebounds last season and can do a little bit of everything. Final Projection: The frontcourt might not be the most talented group in the A-10, but there are plenty of options with this versatile unit. Norman Plummer averaged 10.0 points and a team high 6.5 rebounds last year. While he isn’t a true center, the 6-7, 238 pound junior should see most of his minutes at the five. Charles Little impressed as a freshman and it will be hard to keep him out of the starting lineup. Jimmie Binnie and Desmond Adedeji have starting experience as well and will provide some minutes off of the bench. The A-10 will be tough this year, but an NIT bid isn’t out of the question. However, a 7th place finish in the conference won’t quite be enough to warrant a postseason berth. Projected Post-season Tournament: none Projected Starting Five: Andres Sandoval, Junior, Guard, DNP last season Brian Roberts, Junior, Guard, 16.0 points per game Monty Scott, Senior, Forward, 11.2 points per game Charles Little, Sophomore, Forward, 4.6 points per game Norman Plummer, Junior, Forward, 10.0 points per game www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2006/97.htm
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Post by Raider Country on Aug 15, 2006 21:11:59 GMT -5
Loyola Chicago RamblersOverall Rank: #88 Conference Rank: #1 Horizon 2005-06: 19-11, 8-8, 3rd (t) 2005-06 postseason: none Loyola Chicago returns all but one player from a team that went 8-8 in conference and 19-11 overall last season, including wins over Bradley and Purdue. Coach Jim Whitesell has brought the winning ways back to Chicago and, at least on paper, this is the best team Ramblerland has seen in quite some time. Who’s Out: Chris Logan started 22 contests, averaging 8.8 points, as a senior. His departure won’t worry Loyola fans though with J.R. Blount, Majak Kou and Blake Schilb returning to the perimeter. Blount, a sophomore point guard, averaged 11.3 points and 2.3 assists last season. Kou isn’t the most consistent shooter around, but can get to the bucket and looks to increase on his 12.8 points per game a year ago. Schilb, an early candidate for Horizon Player of the Year, averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals. Who’s In: If and when healthy, Matt Adler will see his first action for the Ramblers. The 6-11 center redshirted last season and can make an immediate contribution in the shot blocking department. Andy Polka, a 6-7 240 pound power forward spent his summer playing for the United States at the Global Games with good results. He’ll find it troublesome to see too many minutes as a true freshman with the depth the Ramblers have up front, but the potential is there for big things in the future. The depth on the perimeter is an issue and Courtney Horton will have the opportunity to put an end to that concern. The 6-2 transfer from Southeastern Community College in Iowa averaged 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds last year and will provide a spark off the bench. Speaking of providing a spark off the bench, Marvell Waithe would do that quite nicely. Some academic concerns leave his eligibility in question, but if he can play, the 6-7 wing will bring another scoring threat onto the court. The Canadian has a smooth stroke, but needs to work on his strength in order to be effective going to the basket. Who to Watch: Leon Young isn’t the experienced option up front, but after an explosive freshman campaign big things are expected from the 6-6 forward. Young averaged 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds while coming off the bench in all but five games. His minutes might not go up too much, but Young could put up even bigger numbers with a year of experience on his side. Kye Pattrick started 25 games as a junior last season. Once the 6-9, 250 pound Australian learned how to stay out of foul trouble, he became quite productive despite the overall numbers of just 1.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. There is tons of depth up front too with Brandon Woods and Tom Levin both having starting experience. Junior Tracy Robinson saw the least amount of minutes of the big guys last year, but showed potential while seeing an increase in playing time late last season. Final Projection: Teams like Detroit, Wright State, Butler and Wisconsin-Green Bay aren’t going to make what could be a magical season easy. In fact, top to bottom, the Horizon is a vastly improved conference and nobody is going to concede anything to Loyola. Yet, with this much talent, the Ramblers are the favorites to make the NCAAs, which would be their first trip since the Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1985. Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA Projected Starting Five: J.R. Blount, Sophomore, Guard, 11.3 points per game Majak Kou, Senior, Guard, 12.8 points per game Blake Schilb, Senior, Guard, 19.1 points per game Leon Young, Sophomore, Forward, 10.4 points per game Kye Pattrick, Senior, Center, 1.9 points per game www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2006/88.htm
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Post by Fastbreak on Aug 21, 2006 15:04:59 GMT -5
Marist Red FoxesOverall Rank: #81 Conference Rank: #1 MAAC 2005-06: 19-10, 12-6, 3rd 2005-06 postseason: none With four starters returning who all averaged in double digit scoring last year, Marist is the obvious preseason favorite in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. It helps that teams like Siena and Manhattan have been crushed by transfers. Coach Matt Brady’s biggest test will be dealing with the high expectations and keeping his side consistent throughout the season, a quality that has hindered the Red Foxes in the past. Who’s Out: Carl Hood averaged 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds as a senior. The 6-3 wing averaged over 30 minutes per contest, but his numbers are replaceable. Seldom used James Sutton has also run out of eligibility. Who’s In: Incoming freshman guard Dejuan Goodwin may see a few minutes this year due to his defensive skills on the perimeter. Goodwin, who earned All-City honors at Mt. St. Joseph’s in Baltimore, averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a senior. Wilfred ‘Spongy’ Benjamin, nicknamed for his soft, spongy like body as a child, will look to make a bigger impact this season after spending two years at Williston State College in North Dakota. The 6-7 forward has good athleticism and will provide some toughness in the paint and on the glass. Fortunately, the pudgy, spongy exterior is gone, but the nickname remains. Who to Watch: There are plenty of options to choose from. Jared Jordan led the team with 16.1 points and 8.5 assists per game as a junior and backcourt mate Will Whittington is a sharpshooter. Jordan, who appears to run all game long with little rest, is one of the best in the conference. He does it all and is a pest on the defensive end, not to mention his 8.5 assists led the nation last season.. Whittington averaged 15.4 points per game last campaign and shot nearly 41 percent from long range. Last years sixth man, Ben Farmer, will step in for the departed Hood. The 6-5 wing averaged 6.6 points and 2.9 boards last season and should contribute much more given the starting nod. Final Projection: The frontcourt is deep, returning starters James Smith and Ryan Stilphen on the court and Miles Orman and Shae McNamara coming off the bench. Smith, a 7-0 center, averaged 12.2 points and 5.8 rebounds during his first season at Marist after transferring from Westchester Community College in New York. Even bigger things are expected from Smith as a senior, especially if he can stay out of foul trouble. Stilphen is another solid scoring option in the paint and led the team with 7.0 boards per contest a year ago. The 6-8 power forward from Bay Village, Ohio will once again provide a 1-2 punch along with Smith under the basket that most teams in the conference will have trouble stopping. This is the year folks in Poughkeepsie have been waiting for since their last NCAA appearance in 1987. Now the team just has to perform and live up to the high expectations. Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA Projected Starting Five: Jared Jordan, Senior, Guard, 16.1 points per game Will Whittington, Senior, Guard, 15.4 points per game Ben Farmer, Junior, Guard, 6.6 points per game Ryan Stilphen, Junior, Forward, 12.1 points per game James Smith, Senior, Center, 12.2 points per game www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2006/81.htm
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Post by Raider Country on Aug 30, 2006 18:31:21 GMT -5
Miami Ohio RedhawksOverall Rank: #73 Conference Rank: #2 MAC 2005-06: 18-11, 14-4, 2nd East (t) 2005-06 postseason: NIT It seems like every year Miami of Ohio loses a great player or two and everybody gets worried. Then Coach Charlie Coles pulls his troops together and pushes for a 20 win season. Unfortunately, that hasn’t resulted in success in the MAC Tournament since the Hawks haven’t been dancing since 1999. There might not be enough depth for Miami to end the NCAA drought this year, but the NIT is easily within reach. Who’s Out: This time around the big loss is William Hatcher. The 6-2 guard led the team with 14.3 points and 4.3 assists during his senior campaign. After being hindered early in the year by injuries, fellow guard Josh Hausfeld had a productive final season in Oxford and earned 16 starts. Nate VanderSluis wasn’t a dominant big man, but averaged 4.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 28 starts. Seldom used guards Chad Troyer and Lawrence Ross have opted to transfer. Who’s In: Carl Richburg has some expectations placed on him. The 5-9 point guard redshirted last season after playing one year at Southern Indiana. He’s quick, a good distributor and a fine scorer, but when the pressure is on it remains to be seen how well Richburg will react. Redshirt freshman Adam Fletcher will provide some depth at the center spot. Three incoming freshmen will battle for minutes on the perimeter. Alex Moosman scored 23.4 points per game as a senior in high school, but it is his point guard skills that will allow him to see plenty of minutes this year. At 6-4 and 210 pounds, Antonio Ballard has the versatility to play at the shooting guard spot or either forward position and is expected to contribute right away. It may take a little while for Steve Pogue to find his spot on the team. Pogue has plenty of potential and, at 6-5, adds another big guard to dominate the perimeter in the near future. Who to Watch: It’s usually the guards that dominate the MAC, but the RedHawks have a trio of forwards that will be the team leaders. Tim Pollitz, a 6-6 junior, averaged 12.7 points and 5.7 boards last year and could end up to be the next big star in Oxford. Nathan Peavy tacked on 11.2 points and a team high 6.9 rebounds during the 2005-2006 campaign and will be the senior leader of the frontcourt. Michael Bramos saw most of his action off of the bench as a freshman, but showed plenty of promise and potential and will be ready to battle for a consistent starting role this year. Add an experienced senior center into the mix like Monty St. Clair, and Miami has the deepest frontcourt in the conference. Final Projection: It is hoped that Doug Penno can continue the string of successful guards at Millett Hall. Penno, who started 15 games last season, has a decent outside shot and has developed into a solid team leader. The 6-5 shooting guard will be given the opportunity to put up huge numbers during his senior campaign. The questions lie in the backcourt and the overall depth doesn’t have much experience. However, once the MAC season gets underway, the newcomers should have enough experience to get Miami towards the top of the conference. Having that success last into March is yet to be seen. Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT Projected Starting Five: Carl Richburg, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season Doug Penno, Senior, Guard, 5.1 points per game Michael Bramos, Sophomore, Forward, 5.3 points per game Tim Pollitz, Junior, Forward, 12.7 points per game Nathan Peavy, Senior, Forward, 11.2 points per game www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2006/73.htm
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