USC is coming off a tipsy turvy year. USC was part of the 8 teams who had to play their way into the NCAA tournament where they lost to the miracle VCU team who shocked college basketball like Butler last season. USC finished 19-15 overall and 10-8 in conference, one game back from UW.
Unfortunately for USC, the Trojans look to be taking a huge step backwards after graduating 4 seniors and junior, Nikola Vucevic. Alex Stephenson and Nikola Vucevic combined for 27 points and 20 rebounds a game in what was one of the best frontcourt duos in the nation. Stephenson was .2 points and .8 rebounds from averaging a double-double along with Vucevic.
After losing so much size, experience, and talent the Trojans will have a lot of work to do, especially in the frontcourt. Their backcourt was looking fairly solid until Jio Fontan, last season's second leading scorer, blew out his knee during their Brazilian tour. He had season ending surgery and will not return until 2012-2013. The Trojans will likely be without Curtis Washington this season as he suffered a torn labrum (shoulder injury). The Trojans' new 7 foot center, Dwayne Dedmon, suffered a broken hand in mid October that has kept his practice limited for the past few weeks (common recovery time is 2-3 weeks for the injury he suffered, so he should be back to full mobility in his hand quite soon).
As you can see its been a rough off season for USC, so much so that during the Pac-12 media day Trojan coach, Kevin O'Neil, made this statement: "If Mo gets hurt we can't really play the game. ... We'd have to start a freshman point guard and that would be a disaster. ... I need him (Jones) to do more all the time. ... His impact on our team is unbelievable. If he's in trouble or gets hurt, don't come to our games because it will be ugly."
Key Losses:
Alex Stephenson 6-10 250lb
A big man with a big game. The second best rebounder in the conference behind teammate Nikola Vucevic, Stephenson was a big, talented body who helped USC battle their way to the NCAA. Stephenson had a strong inside game, but his shooting from range struggled a bit in comparison to his counterpart.
Nikola Vucevic 6-10 240lb
A top prospect in the Pac-10, Vucevic was drafted with the 16th overall pick in the NBA draft. He averaged 17 points and over 10 boards per game. Dominating is the only way to describe him. He could push his weight around inside and drop the long ball every now and then. USC will be missing him greatly.
Jio Fontan 6-0 170lb
Fontan has a terrific junior season. Second in scoring at 11 ppg and first on the team with 4 assists per game, Fontan was the guard they needed after losing a lot of backcourt talent the previous seasons. He was going to be the saving grace for the Trojan until his knee injury. He'll be back next season.
Incoming Freshmen:
Alexis Moore 6-2 180lb
Moore adds some much needed depth at the PG position. He is a solid passer who has been developing his shooting game with relative success. His biggest problems lie in his form when passing and a tendency to take too many shots. Moore will have to quickly learn how to play at the collegiate level because Maurice Jones is going to need a hand.
Byron Wesley 6-5 210lb
Wesley will be a terrific 2/3 for the Trojans if he can add a 3 point shot to his arsenal. He has a solid mid-range game that is tough to stop with his strength and height. He strikes me as a less talented, but stronger Terrence Ross. Regardless, the backcourt is USC's weak point Wesley could find himself getting immediate play time.Haven't heard or seen much about his defensive skills so I can't comment on what type of impact he could have there, but at 210lbs he can bang with the best of them on the outside.
USC also added two JC transfers in 7-1 260lb, James Blasczyk, and 6-3 180lb, Greg Allen. Both players could bring in much needed experience to an underdeveloped team.
Returning Players:
Maurice Jones 5-7 155lb
Tyler Sugiyama 5-10 150lb
Daniel Munoz 5-10 175lb
Eric Strangis 6-4 190lb
Daniel Dragovic 6-5 195lb
Aaron Fuller 6-6 235lb
Garrett Jackson 6-6 225lb
Evan Smith 6-7 225lb
Curtis Washington 6-10 245lb
Not a whole lot of big name talent coming back for USC. Like O'Neill said, if Maurice gets hurt then the Trojans are in for a world of hurt. The talent coming in doesn't come close to replacing the talent going out and honestly, the talent remaining is far from spectacular with all the injuries they have sustained. That being said, USC should not be the worst team in conference. They have enough size and "veteran" players win against teams like Utah and ASU, maybe even WSU.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Maurice Jones 5-7 155lb
Alexis Moore 6-2 180lb
Garrett Jackson 6-6 225lb
Curtis Washington 6-10 245lb
James Blasczyk 7-1 260lb
Look at that line-up. Recognize anyone from last season? Jones is the only player who had an impact last season for USC at nearly 10 points and over 3 assists per game. Jackson played in all but one game for USC, though he only averaged 3 points.
What to Expect:
USC is going to have to do all it can to keep its guards healthy as well as find a way to get the frontcourt developing. Not a lot of talent to be seen here and they'll be scrapping for every win they can get. USC has a tough match-up as their last non-conference game against Kansas. They also face Georgia (who UW beat in the NCAA last season) and New Mexico (who UW beat two season ago in the NCAA). USC will have a losing record and finish in the bottom four of the conference. I'd be surprised if they finished higher than 8th. Utah will keep USC out of the basement, but not far from it. Keep your heads up Trojan fans. There is always football to look forward to.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
University of California: Los Angelas 2011-2012 Preview
UCLA finished second in the conference last season with a 13-5 record and 24-11 overall. The Bruins will be a scary team this season. With 6 returning seniors, Josh Smith, and the Wear Twins, UCLA will have a lot of talent especially in the front court. They will be tall, strong, and skilled. A very dangerous combination that makes them the clear front runner in the Pac-12 and likely a top 20 to top 15 team. Their guard play may be slightly weaker than in previous seasons with the early departure of Malcolm Lee (he went in the second round to the Chicago Bulls and then was traded to Minnesota) and Tyler Honeycutt (picked in the second round by Sacramento).
UCLA brings in 3 new freshmen as well as gaining the eligibility of the Wear twins to pump up their roster. They have 6 players standing 6-8 or taller, including 4 players at 6-10. No one is shorter than 6-0 on the team.
Key Losses:
Malcolm Lee 6-5 200lb
Lee was a great PG and SG talent for the Bruins. He was second in scoring behind Reeves Nelson at 13 points per game as well as dishing out 2 assists per outing. His outside shot was a little suspect at only 30%, but he had a dangerous slashing drive attack that gave him a lot of opportunities in the key. Lee had great ball handling and defensive skills that made a huge mismatch for opposing point guards. He had the height to shoot over smaller guards and the speed to move around stronger opponents. Big loss for the Bruins. Lazeric Jones and Jermine Anderson will have to step up their games to fill the gap.
Tyler Honeycutt 6-8 188lb
Honeycutt was third in scoring for the Bruins at nearly 13 points per game. He was second in rebounding behind Reeves Nelson and ahead of Josh Smith. In my mind, Honeycutt could have used another year to develop his game, but he and the NBA decided he was ready and it probably has a lot to do with his height. Honeycutt did struggle at times against solid defenders and against UW he had trouble getting open shots (he went 4-12 and 0-6 from the field in two games against UW). Honeycutt is very similar to UW's Terrance Ross in that he has a wide skill set from outside shooting to driving the lane and crashing the boards. Brendan Lane and Tyler Lamb will likely try to fill the hole left by Honeycutt.
Incoming Freshmen:
Khalid McCaskill 6-6 190lb
A new walk-on for the Bruins, replacing Alex Schrempf who has transferred to UW but will not play this season. McCaskill is known for his driving abilities, but also possesses a decent jump shot. I suspect McCaskill will redshirt or see very little if any play time. Even with a lack of talented depth in the backcourt, McCaskill is a ways back in the line-up.
Norman Powell 6-3 200lb
Powell is a slash and drive guard first and foremost. His mid-range and 3 point shot are still in development, but with his speed and athleticism he can create opportunities for himself and other in the open court. Powell will play the 2 as his ball handling skills are rough when going to his left, something that a 1 guard needs to be able to do. Give Powell a year or two to fine tune his game and he'll be a much better guard for the Bruins.
Returning Players:
Kenny Jones 6-0 190lb
Lazeric Jones 6-0 187lb
Tyler Trapani 6-0 190lb
Nick Kazemi 6-0 175lb
Jermine Anderson 6-2 183lb
Larry Drew II 6-2 190lb
Matt DeMarcus 6-3 203lb
David Brown 6-3 185lb
Tyler Lamb 6-5 200lb
De'End Parker 6-6 215lb
Reeves Nelson 6-8 235lb
Brendan Lane 6-9 223lb
Anthony Stover 6-10 235lb
David Wear 6-10 225lb
Travis Wear 6-10 220lb
Josh Smith 6-10 305lb
Parker is a JC transfer who averaged about 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. A solid prospect with two remaining years of eligibility, Parker should contribute almost immediately at the 3 position. Smith still remains to be overweight and out of shape, which greatly limits his ability to contribute in transition plays and often led to sloppy fouls when defending outside the post. Between Nelson and the Wear twins, the Bruins have the strongest 4 and 5 possibly in the nation. A lot of rebounding and post scoring ability to be sure. Nelson is a work horse who is the returning leading scorer for UCLA at nearly 14 per game and a team high 9 rebounds. Nelson will likely average a double double next season much like former UW star Jon Brockman. I like Nelson for a possible Pac-12 Player of the Year candidate.
Predicted Starting Line-Up
Lazeric Jones 6-0 187lb
Jermine Anderson 6-2 183lb (After his two game suspension for theft)
Tyler Lamb 6-5 200lb
Reeves Nelson 6-8 235lb
Josh Smith 6-10 305lb
What to Expect:
Smith and Nelson will be the leading scorers and rebounders this season without a doubt. Smith uses his weight to make up for his lack of agility in the post to score against defenders. Aziz N'Diaye will need to keep his foul situation under control against UCLA to prevent Smith from dominating inside. UCLA has a tough tournament ahead in Maui (which UW participated in last year). UCLA's success will largely depend on how well the backcourt can move the ball around to feed it inside where their true strength lies. Expect UCLA to dominate a lot of smaller teams and even in conference they should find a few teams they can push around at will. Teams can beat UCLA by excellent guard play and defense, preventing the ball from moving inside. UW should be able to compete, but I expect a series split this season with each team winning at their home court. I can't see UCLA losing to many games in conference and should finish no lower than third, though finishing lower than second in conference should be considered disappointing considering the talent on the team.
UCLA brings in 3 new freshmen as well as gaining the eligibility of the Wear twins to pump up their roster. They have 6 players standing 6-8 or taller, including 4 players at 6-10. No one is shorter than 6-0 on the team.
Key Losses:
Malcolm Lee 6-5 200lb
Lee was a great PG and SG talent for the Bruins. He was second in scoring behind Reeves Nelson at 13 points per game as well as dishing out 2 assists per outing. His outside shot was a little suspect at only 30%, but he had a dangerous slashing drive attack that gave him a lot of opportunities in the key. Lee had great ball handling and defensive skills that made a huge mismatch for opposing point guards. He had the height to shoot over smaller guards and the speed to move around stronger opponents. Big loss for the Bruins. Lazeric Jones and Jermine Anderson will have to step up their games to fill the gap.
Tyler Honeycutt 6-8 188lb
Honeycutt was third in scoring for the Bruins at nearly 13 points per game. He was second in rebounding behind Reeves Nelson and ahead of Josh Smith. In my mind, Honeycutt could have used another year to develop his game, but he and the NBA decided he was ready and it probably has a lot to do with his height. Honeycutt did struggle at times against solid defenders and against UW he had trouble getting open shots (he went 4-12 and 0-6 from the field in two games against UW). Honeycutt is very similar to UW's Terrance Ross in that he has a wide skill set from outside shooting to driving the lane and crashing the boards. Brendan Lane and Tyler Lamb will likely try to fill the hole left by Honeycutt.
Incoming Freshmen:
Khalid McCaskill 6-6 190lb
A new walk-on for the Bruins, replacing Alex Schrempf who has transferred to UW but will not play this season. McCaskill is known for his driving abilities, but also possesses a decent jump shot. I suspect McCaskill will redshirt or see very little if any play time. Even with a lack of talented depth in the backcourt, McCaskill is a ways back in the line-up.
Norman Powell 6-3 200lb
Powell is a slash and drive guard first and foremost. His mid-range and 3 point shot are still in development, but with his speed and athleticism he can create opportunities for himself and other in the open court. Powell will play the 2 as his ball handling skills are rough when going to his left, something that a 1 guard needs to be able to do. Give Powell a year or two to fine tune his game and he'll be a much better guard for the Bruins.
Returning Players:
Kenny Jones 6-0 190lb
Lazeric Jones 6-0 187lb
Tyler Trapani 6-0 190lb
Nick Kazemi 6-0 175lb
Jermine Anderson 6-2 183lb
Larry Drew II 6-2 190lb
Matt DeMarcus 6-3 203lb
David Brown 6-3 185lb
Tyler Lamb 6-5 200lb
De'End Parker 6-6 215lb
Reeves Nelson 6-8 235lb
Brendan Lane 6-9 223lb
Anthony Stover 6-10 235lb
David Wear 6-10 225lb
Travis Wear 6-10 220lb
Josh Smith 6-10 305lb
Parker is a JC transfer who averaged about 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. A solid prospect with two remaining years of eligibility, Parker should contribute almost immediately at the 3 position. Smith still remains to be overweight and out of shape, which greatly limits his ability to contribute in transition plays and often led to sloppy fouls when defending outside the post. Between Nelson and the Wear twins, the Bruins have the strongest 4 and 5 possibly in the nation. A lot of rebounding and post scoring ability to be sure. Nelson is a work horse who is the returning leading scorer for UCLA at nearly 14 per game and a team high 9 rebounds. Nelson will likely average a double double next season much like former UW star Jon Brockman. I like Nelson for a possible Pac-12 Player of the Year candidate.
Predicted Starting Line-Up
Lazeric Jones 6-0 187lb
Jermine Anderson 6-2 183lb (After his two game suspension for theft)
Tyler Lamb 6-5 200lb
Reeves Nelson 6-8 235lb
Josh Smith 6-10 305lb
What to Expect:
Smith and Nelson will be the leading scorers and rebounders this season without a doubt. Smith uses his weight to make up for his lack of agility in the post to score against defenders. Aziz N'Diaye will need to keep his foul situation under control against UCLA to prevent Smith from dominating inside. UCLA has a tough tournament ahead in Maui (which UW participated in last year). UCLA's success will largely depend on how well the backcourt can move the ball around to feed it inside where their true strength lies. Expect UCLA to dominate a lot of smaller teams and even in conference they should find a few teams they can push around at will. Teams can beat UCLA by excellent guard play and defense, preventing the ball from moving inside. UW should be able to compete, but I expect a series split this season with each team winning at their home court. I can't see UCLA losing to many games in conference and should finish no lower than third, though finishing lower than second in conference should be considered disappointing considering the talent on the team.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Stanford University Preview: 2011-2012
After a season where the Stanford roster featured not one senior player, the Cardinals have 4 seniors, 2 juniors, and 6 sophomores. A lot more experience could mean a lot more talent, but that remains to be seen as the early departure of Jeremey Green for the NBA draft has left another big hole in the Stanford offense. Stanford finished 15-16 overall and 7-11 in conference. Thankfully, for the Cardinals, Josh Owens is around for his final season along with Andrew Zimmerman (Here) and Jack Trotter meaning there is some good experience and size in the post. This will be helpful as the Stanford backcourt will likely be less talented than in past years.
Key Losses:
Jeremy Green 6-4 198lb
The athletic guard let Stanford in scoring at 17 points per game. Following in the steps of Landry Fields, Green was a quick guard with the ability to create shots at will. He had a sweet shot, hitting nearly 43% from the 3-point line. Last season was his junior year, but rather than returning for his senior season like Fields, Green opted to declare for the draft and hired an agent almost immediately thereby making himself illegible for his senior season should he wish to withdraw from the draft. In the end Green made a poor decision for his career. Between not getting drafted and the NBA lockout, Green has missed out on valuable playing time that could have helped his stock and skill set.
Incoming Freshmen:
Chasson Randle 6-1 170lb
Randle is a hybrid 1/2 guard will room to improve in each positions skill set. His shot is effective out to the 3 point range, but from deep it is still so-so. With a better 3 point range, his scoring ability can jump through the roof. He also needs to develop his passing abilities should he wish to run an offense properly. He should be a good guard for the Cardinals, not terribly exceptional, but good enough to get the job done. He should find more success once he develops a role within the team.
Wade Morgen 6-1 165lb
Jack Ryan 6-7 200lb
I couldn't find anything useful on either of these new freshmen. ESPN didn't list them on Stanford's 2011 class list and the Stanford web page offered little in terms of useful information. Even Googling the players told me next to nothing about their talents and weaknesses. If you know anything about these guys or have video highlights, post a link in the comments.
Returning Players:
Aaron Bright 5-11 177lb
Gabriel Harris 6-2 190lb
Robbie Lemons 6-3 205lb
Jarrett Man 6-4 195lb
Anthony Brown 6-6 210lb
Josh Heustis 6-7 225lb
Andy Brown 6-7 210lb
Andrew Zimmerman 6-8 230lb
Josh Owens 6-8 240lb
John Gage 6-9 225lb
Dwight Powell 6-9 225lb
Jack Trotter 6-9 225lb
Stefan Nastic 6-11 245lb
It'll be all about Stanford's frontcourt this year. Owens, Powell, Trotter, Zimmerman, and Gage all have experience and some talent amongst them. Owens and Powell are the cream of their crop and will likely play the 4 and 5 in the starting positions. Look for Bright to lead the backcourt.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Aaron Bright 5-11 177lb
Jarrett Mann 6-4 195lb
Anthony Brown 6-6 210lb
Josh Owens 6-8 240lb
Dwight Powell 6-9 225lb
What to Expect:
Stanford will likely be near the middle to bottom of the conference again. As experienced as their frontcourt is, the talent the players' possess is far from exceptional. Owens will likely have the biggest impact as the returning, leading scorer and could average a double-double if he picks up his rebounding game a bit. Owens should shore up the middle with Powell, while Bright and Mann lead the attack from the perimeter. Stanford plays too much of a slow down offense to compete with athletic teams like UW and UA who like to run. Teams like UCLA have too much strength and size for Stanford to bang with and UO has a much better backcourt. I could see Stanford as high as 6th and as low as 9th in conference. I'm betting on ASU, CU, and Utah to fill out the basement.
Key Losses:
Jeremy Green 6-4 198lb
The athletic guard let Stanford in scoring at 17 points per game. Following in the steps of Landry Fields, Green was a quick guard with the ability to create shots at will. He had a sweet shot, hitting nearly 43% from the 3-point line. Last season was his junior year, but rather than returning for his senior season like Fields, Green opted to declare for the draft and hired an agent almost immediately thereby making himself illegible for his senior season should he wish to withdraw from the draft. In the end Green made a poor decision for his career. Between not getting drafted and the NBA lockout, Green has missed out on valuable playing time that could have helped his stock and skill set.
Incoming Freshmen:
Chasson Randle 6-1 170lb
Randle is a hybrid 1/2 guard will room to improve in each positions skill set. His shot is effective out to the 3 point range, but from deep it is still so-so. With a better 3 point range, his scoring ability can jump through the roof. He also needs to develop his passing abilities should he wish to run an offense properly. He should be a good guard for the Cardinals, not terribly exceptional, but good enough to get the job done. He should find more success once he develops a role within the team.
Wade Morgen 6-1 165lb
Jack Ryan 6-7 200lb
I couldn't find anything useful on either of these new freshmen. ESPN didn't list them on Stanford's 2011 class list and the Stanford web page offered little in terms of useful information. Even Googling the players told me next to nothing about their talents and weaknesses. If you know anything about these guys or have video highlights, post a link in the comments.
Returning Players:
Aaron Bright 5-11 177lb
Gabriel Harris 6-2 190lb
Robbie Lemons 6-3 205lb
Jarrett Man 6-4 195lb
Anthony Brown 6-6 210lb
Josh Heustis 6-7 225lb
Andy Brown 6-7 210lb
Andrew Zimmerman 6-8 230lb
Josh Owens 6-8 240lb
John Gage 6-9 225lb
Dwight Powell 6-9 225lb
Jack Trotter 6-9 225lb
Stefan Nastic 6-11 245lb
It'll be all about Stanford's frontcourt this year. Owens, Powell, Trotter, Zimmerman, and Gage all have experience and some talent amongst them. Owens and Powell are the cream of their crop and will likely play the 4 and 5 in the starting positions. Look for Bright to lead the backcourt.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Aaron Bright 5-11 177lb
Jarrett Mann 6-4 195lb
Anthony Brown 6-6 210lb
Josh Owens 6-8 240lb
Dwight Powell 6-9 225lb
What to Expect:
Stanford will likely be near the middle to bottom of the conference again. As experienced as their frontcourt is, the talent the players' possess is far from exceptional. Owens will likely have the biggest impact as the returning, leading scorer and could average a double-double if he picks up his rebounding game a bit. Owens should shore up the middle with Powell, while Bright and Mann lead the attack from the perimeter. Stanford plays too much of a slow down offense to compete with athletic teams like UW and UA who like to run. Teams like UCLA have too much strength and size for Stanford to bang with and UO has a much better backcourt. I could see Stanford as high as 6th and as low as 9th in conference. I'm betting on ASU, CU, and Utah to fill out the basement.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Oregon State University Preview: 2011-2012
Oregon State had a rough season last year, finishing 5-13 in conference and 11-20 overall. It doesn't look to be getting any easier for the Beavers either after graduating four seniors, including two redshirt seniors. This season the Beaver roster only sports one senior in Kevin McShane, who only averaged 9 minutes and .9 points per game. The Beavers had a smaller recruiting class with two incoming freshman, including a point guard from Sweden who is relatively unknown. This team will rely heavily on Jared Cunningham, Joe Burton, and Roberto Nelson. While the Beavers team is somewhat tall (the average height is 6-7) they lack overall depth.
Key Losses:
Calvin Haynes 6-3 188lb
The Beavers had far from a high scoring offense, but Haynes was second on the team at 9.4 ppg. His scoring came mostly from inside and driving the lane as his 3 point shot struggled most of the season. Haynes did a little bit of everything for the Beavers adding 3 boards and 2 assists on average. His speed and experience will be missed by OSU.
Omari Johnson 6-9 220lb
Johnson led the Beavers in rebounds last season at 6.4 per game and was 5th in scoring at 7.2 ppg. A poor free throw shooter, but a solid man on the block, Johnson provided strength inside along with Joe Burton to prevent teams from cheating out on the perimeter. Burton and Angus Brandt will have to step their games up to fill in the rebounding hole.
Incoming Freshman:
Challe Barton 6-3 188lb
Barton played for the Swedish U16, U18, and U20 teams giving him some good experience coming into his freshman year. He will be a backup behind Ahmad Starks. He is a pass first guard, which is great for the Beavers who were led in assists by Joe Burton, the 6-7 280lb F. Both he and Starks will be important in generating more offense for OSU.
Daniel Gomis 6-9 220lb
Gomis will help fill in where Johnson left off. He is a workhorse on the glass and defensively, but his offense leaves a lot to be desired. ESPN says his best shot is his dunk and other than that he tends to struggle to maintain a consistent stroke. Like Joe Wolfinger, the former UW 7 footer, Gomis is known to take a few 3 pointers, but does not have the talent to be a threat with it. Gomis should become a much better and more impacting player for the Beavers after a year or two in the system, working on his shot.
Returning Players:
Ahmad Starks 5-9 165lb
Roberto Nelson 6-3 195lb
Jared Cunningham 6-4 194lb
Joe Burton 6-7 280lb
Rhys Murphy 6-7 195lb
Devon Collier 6-7 206lb
Kevin McShane 6-9 225lb
Angus Brandt 6-10 237lb
Eric Moreland 6-10 201lb
Chris Brown 6-11 262lb
Daniel Jones 6-11 208lb
During the summer, Nelson cut his hand up pretty good after breaking a glass backboard during a game abroad with the rest of the Beavers. Overall it is a minor injury in the grand scheme of things and is already back in action. Starks should continue to be a dangerous player with a deadly 3 pointer from extreme ranges as well as the speed necessary to make him a great defender. His size often leads to a mismatch, but Isaiah Thomas showed that if you are a good enough athlete it doesn't matter. The difference between I.T. and Starks is that I.T. is actually 5-9 and has 20lbs on the much smaller Starks. Cunningham is a fantastic athlete who had one of the better dunks in conference last season and should lead the team in scoring once more. If Barton and Starks can run the offense, Cunningham may find more opportunities on the perimeter to add to his lane driving ability. The biggest question for the Beavers is if their frontcourt can provide enough support to keep the Beavers in games. While Burton is a big body, he is fairly slow and out of shape, which leads to more fast breaks against speedier, transition teams like UW.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Ahmad Starks 5-9 165lb
Roberto Nelson 6-3 195lb
Jared Cunningham 6-4 194lb
Joe Burton 6-7 280lb
Angus Brandt 6-10 237lb
What to Expect:
Despite having a tall team, the Beavers lack real talent in the frontcourt and will likely struggle to compete with teams like UCLA and UW. Beyond the starting 5 the Beavers leave a lot to be desired, but on the plus side, the Beavers have a fairly easy non-conference schedule that will hopefully give the young players some opportunities to develop some confidence and skills. Their toughest test comes on the road against Texas and OSU will likely get blown out of the water despite Texas losing 8 players. Oregon State is in for another tough season, but their coach is aiming high at an NCAA tournament bid. OSU should be happy with a CBI or NIT invitation. Look for OSU to finish amongst the bottom of the Pac-12 once more. I don't see OSU doing any better than 7th in the conference and will likely finish no lower than 10th.
And as an added bonus, for those who haven't seen this video yet, some team "bonding" from the OSU Beavers: "Tickle Fight"
Key Losses:
Calvin Haynes 6-3 188lb
The Beavers had far from a high scoring offense, but Haynes was second on the team at 9.4 ppg. His scoring came mostly from inside and driving the lane as his 3 point shot struggled most of the season. Haynes did a little bit of everything for the Beavers adding 3 boards and 2 assists on average. His speed and experience will be missed by OSU.
Omari Johnson 6-9 220lb
Johnson led the Beavers in rebounds last season at 6.4 per game and was 5th in scoring at 7.2 ppg. A poor free throw shooter, but a solid man on the block, Johnson provided strength inside along with Joe Burton to prevent teams from cheating out on the perimeter. Burton and Angus Brandt will have to step their games up to fill in the rebounding hole.
Incoming Freshman:
Challe Barton 6-3 188lb
Barton played for the Swedish U16, U18, and U20 teams giving him some good experience coming into his freshman year. He will be a backup behind Ahmad Starks. He is a pass first guard, which is great for the Beavers who were led in assists by Joe Burton, the 6-7 280lb F. Both he and Starks will be important in generating more offense for OSU.
Daniel Gomis 6-9 220lb
Gomis will help fill in where Johnson left off. He is a workhorse on the glass and defensively, but his offense leaves a lot to be desired. ESPN says his best shot is his dunk and other than that he tends to struggle to maintain a consistent stroke. Like Joe Wolfinger, the former UW 7 footer, Gomis is known to take a few 3 pointers, but does not have the talent to be a threat with it. Gomis should become a much better and more impacting player for the Beavers after a year or two in the system, working on his shot.
Returning Players:
Ahmad Starks 5-9 165lb
Roberto Nelson 6-3 195lb
Jared Cunningham 6-4 194lb
Joe Burton 6-7 280lb
Rhys Murphy 6-7 195lb
Devon Collier 6-7 206lb
Kevin McShane 6-9 225lb
Angus Brandt 6-10 237lb
Eric Moreland 6-10 201lb
Chris Brown 6-11 262lb
Daniel Jones 6-11 208lb
During the summer, Nelson cut his hand up pretty good after breaking a glass backboard during a game abroad with the rest of the Beavers. Overall it is a minor injury in the grand scheme of things and is already back in action. Starks should continue to be a dangerous player with a deadly 3 pointer from extreme ranges as well as the speed necessary to make him a great defender. His size often leads to a mismatch, but Isaiah Thomas showed that if you are a good enough athlete it doesn't matter. The difference between I.T. and Starks is that I.T. is actually 5-9 and has 20lbs on the much smaller Starks. Cunningham is a fantastic athlete who had one of the better dunks in conference last season and should lead the team in scoring once more. If Barton and Starks can run the offense, Cunningham may find more opportunities on the perimeter to add to his lane driving ability. The biggest question for the Beavers is if their frontcourt can provide enough support to keep the Beavers in games. While Burton is a big body, he is fairly slow and out of shape, which leads to more fast breaks against speedier, transition teams like UW.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Ahmad Starks 5-9 165lb
Roberto Nelson 6-3 195lb
Jared Cunningham 6-4 194lb
Joe Burton 6-7 280lb
Angus Brandt 6-10 237lb
What to Expect:
Despite having a tall team, the Beavers lack real talent in the frontcourt and will likely struggle to compete with teams like UCLA and UW. Beyond the starting 5 the Beavers leave a lot to be desired, but on the plus side, the Beavers have a fairly easy non-conference schedule that will hopefully give the young players some opportunities to develop some confidence and skills. Their toughest test comes on the road against Texas and OSU will likely get blown out of the water despite Texas losing 8 players. Oregon State is in for another tough season, but their coach is aiming high at an NCAA tournament bid. OSU should be happy with a CBI or NIT invitation. Look for OSU to finish amongst the bottom of the Pac-12 once more. I don't see OSU doing any better than 7th in the conference and will likely finish no lower than 10th.
And as an added bonus, for those who haven't seen this video yet, some team "bonding" from the OSU Beavers: "Tickle Fight"
Monday, October 24, 2011
Norris Frederick Silent Auction 10/26/11
Norris Frederick, a UW Track and Field Alum, is hosting a Silent Auction this coming Wednesday in Seattle. The event includes a raffle, silent auction, and a variety of other UW Alumni such as Isaiah Thomas, Jon Brockman, Spencer Hawes, Roy Lewis, and members of Seattle's LFL (Lingerie Football League) team. Many of the celebrities will be part of a "date auction" where the highest bidder wins a date with the celebrity. Frederick is looking to raise money for his 2012 Olympic campaign to represent the USA and UW in London. There will be a live DJ, a bar for those over 21, and other fun events to keep the night going.
You can find out more here on the Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237497606300407
Frederick's personal web page can be found here: http://www.norrisfrederick.com/
The event starts at 7pm and will go through much of the night. It is being hosted at Citrus Seattle.
You can find out more here on the Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237497606300407
Frederick's personal web page can be found here: http://www.norrisfrederick.com/
The event starts at 7pm and will go through much of the night. It is being hosted at Citrus Seattle.
Citrus Seattle
1001 Fairview Ave N
Seattle, WA
Check it out, give money to a good cause, and have some fun.
Go Dawgs!
University of Oregon Preview 2011-2012
Dana Altman turned what looked to be an absolutely dismal season due to transfers, graduation, and early departure to overseas play into respectable 7-11 conference finish, 21-18 overall. Oregon ended up competing in and winning the CBI basketball tournament, though on very questionable conditions due to their terrible court design and paint job. Some magazines and reporters are predicting Oregon to make a run at the top of the conference, even predicting finishes as high as fourth places, ahead of UW. While Cal finishing in the top 4 is very plausible, Oregon finishing in the top 4 seems down right silly to me. They were a mediocre team last season who do have some incoming talent so I expect them to finish around the middle of the Pac again this season. Oregon graduated 2 seniors this past year and have brought in 5 recruits to fill out the roster.
Key Losses:
Joevan Catron 6-6 245lb
Catron was a huge part of the Duck's success. A very undersized forward at 6-6, Catron used his weight to have his way down low on the block. He led the team in points and rebounds at 16 points and 7 boards per game. He will be a tough man to replace, but with two incoming forwards at 6-7 and 6-9 the Ducks look to be a bit taller and more capable in the post.
Jay-R Stowbridge 5-11 180lb
Stowbridge was third on the team in scoring at just under 10 points a game. He was a fast guard with some solid ability at driving the lane. While not a prolific scorer, he had a good enough 3 point shot to demand coverage outside and in.
Malcolm Armstead 6-0 190lb
Armstead nearly transferred prior to the 2010-2011 season, but Altman managed to convince him to stay and effectively saved the Ducks from being trampled on by the conference. The convincing didn't seem to last as Armstead transferred to Wichita State in the off-season. Armstead was a very strong guard for Oregon. He averaged over 8 points per game as well as team highs in assists at 4.4 per game and steals at 2.3 per game. He was a terrific defender with fast hands and feet.
Incoming Freshmen:
Carlos Emory 6-7 225lb
Emory is labeled as a tenacious player, but lacks the overall skills and size to compete at a high level. He will likely be a role player for the Ducks without too much significant impact. He will likely need a year or two to develop, but in high foul situations he will be a bigger body they can use to take up space on the court.
Austin Kuemper 6-9 240lb
Kuemper is a better post prospect for the Ducks. Originally listed at 215lb, Kuemper has appeared to have put on some weight during the summer and his size is likely inflated (as per usual in basketball). He has a nice mid range shot and decent post moves that allow him to score from a variety of places on the court. He has been known to struggle defensively when his head is not in the game. Hopefully Altman can get his head on straight and keep him in the weight room to make him a legitimate 4 at the High Major D1 level.
Bruce Barron 6-2 200lb
Barron is a solid shooting guard with a little more muscle and size than most. At 200lb he can be a tough match-up for opposing guards and has a high enough outside shot percentage to keep defenders from cheating in on him. He has been know to shoot a little more often than he should and needs to learn team ball a little better before his full impact can be achieved.
Brett Kingsma 6-1 165lb
Kingsma is the younger brother of UW's own Kristi Kingsma who was a prolific scorer for the Huskies. Brett had offers from UW, ASU, UO, and a few others and opted for the Ducks where he will likely find more play time as a guard. Brett can score with the best and showed of his impressive shot at the Washington vs Oregon game this past summer. Though a tad small for a top tier shooting guard at 6-1, he can elevate enough and put on enough ball handling moves to create shot opportunities for himself and others. Kingsma may find himself with some early conference struggles as he learn to compete with bigger, stronger guards.
Jabari Brown 6-3 200lb
Brown was a guard looked at by Washington and many thought he would end up at UW. The commitments of Hikeem Stewart, Tony Wroten, and Andrew Andrews likely turned Brown away as there would not be as much play time for the hot shooting guard. Reporters have debated whether Brown or Andrews is the better prospect out of Oregon and it really comes down to what kind of guard you are looking for. Andrews is a point guard, while Brown is a shooting guard. Brown and Kingsma should light up the court for the Ducks along with E.J. Singler.
Returning Players:
Johnathan Loyd 5-8 160lb
Garrett Sims 6-1 181lb
Nicolas Lucenti 6-3 212lb
Devoe Joseph 6-4 180lb
E.J. Singler 6-6 210lb
Olu Ashaolu 6-7 220lb
Jeremy Jacob 6-8 226lb
Tyrone Nared 6-8 210lb
Chris Larson 6-11 220lb
Tony Woods 6-11 250lb
E.J. Singler will be the star and face of this Oregon Ducks team. He was a tremendous player for the Ducks last season and will be just as good this next year (Kyle is still better). Tony Woods in a transfer from Wake College who has two years of experience under his belt, which should enable him to make an immediate impact for the Ducks who desperately need some talent in the post.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Johnathan Loyd 5-8 160lb
Jabari Brown 6-3 200lb
E.J. Singler 6-6 210lb
Austin Kuemper 6-9 240lb
Tony Woods 6-11 250lb
Season Predictions:
The Ducks have some decent size this year, but they still lack the overall depth to compete against the high level teams. I don't seem the Ducks finishing any higher than 5th in conference play and no lower than 8th. Oregon should certainly beat ASU, Colorado, Utah, and WSU. OSU, Stanford, and USC should be on a similar level to the Ducks and make for decent competition. I just don't see such a turn around from missing the NCAA and the NIT to compete for the top spot in conference and a spot in the NCAA. On the off chance the Pac-12 does get 5 teams in the NCAA, Oregon would be one of my picks for the 5th and final spot.
Key Losses:
Joevan Catron 6-6 245lb
Catron was a huge part of the Duck's success. A very undersized forward at 6-6, Catron used his weight to have his way down low on the block. He led the team in points and rebounds at 16 points and 7 boards per game. He will be a tough man to replace, but with two incoming forwards at 6-7 and 6-9 the Ducks look to be a bit taller and more capable in the post.
Jay-R Stowbridge 5-11 180lb
Stowbridge was third on the team in scoring at just under 10 points a game. He was a fast guard with some solid ability at driving the lane. While not a prolific scorer, he had a good enough 3 point shot to demand coverage outside and in.
Malcolm Armstead 6-0 190lb
Armstead nearly transferred prior to the 2010-2011 season, but Altman managed to convince him to stay and effectively saved the Ducks from being trampled on by the conference. The convincing didn't seem to last as Armstead transferred to Wichita State in the off-season. Armstead was a very strong guard for Oregon. He averaged over 8 points per game as well as team highs in assists at 4.4 per game and steals at 2.3 per game. He was a terrific defender with fast hands and feet.
Incoming Freshmen:
Carlos Emory 6-7 225lb
Emory is labeled as a tenacious player, but lacks the overall skills and size to compete at a high level. He will likely be a role player for the Ducks without too much significant impact. He will likely need a year or two to develop, but in high foul situations he will be a bigger body they can use to take up space on the court.
Austin Kuemper 6-9 240lb
Kuemper is a better post prospect for the Ducks. Originally listed at 215lb, Kuemper has appeared to have put on some weight during the summer and his size is likely inflated (as per usual in basketball). He has a nice mid range shot and decent post moves that allow him to score from a variety of places on the court. He has been known to struggle defensively when his head is not in the game. Hopefully Altman can get his head on straight and keep him in the weight room to make him a legitimate 4 at the High Major D1 level.
Bruce Barron 6-2 200lb
Barron is a solid shooting guard with a little more muscle and size than most. At 200lb he can be a tough match-up for opposing guards and has a high enough outside shot percentage to keep defenders from cheating in on him. He has been know to shoot a little more often than he should and needs to learn team ball a little better before his full impact can be achieved.
Brett Kingsma 6-1 165lb
Kingsma is the younger brother of UW's own Kristi Kingsma who was a prolific scorer for the Huskies. Brett had offers from UW, ASU, UO, and a few others and opted for the Ducks where he will likely find more play time as a guard. Brett can score with the best and showed of his impressive shot at the Washington vs Oregon game this past summer. Though a tad small for a top tier shooting guard at 6-1, he can elevate enough and put on enough ball handling moves to create shot opportunities for himself and others. Kingsma may find himself with some early conference struggles as he learn to compete with bigger, stronger guards.
Jabari Brown 6-3 200lb
Brown was a guard looked at by Washington and many thought he would end up at UW. The commitments of Hikeem Stewart, Tony Wroten, and Andrew Andrews likely turned Brown away as there would not be as much play time for the hot shooting guard. Reporters have debated whether Brown or Andrews is the better prospect out of Oregon and it really comes down to what kind of guard you are looking for. Andrews is a point guard, while Brown is a shooting guard. Brown and Kingsma should light up the court for the Ducks along with E.J. Singler.
Returning Players:
Johnathan Loyd 5-8 160lb
Garrett Sims 6-1 181lb
Nicolas Lucenti 6-3 212lb
Devoe Joseph 6-4 180lb
E.J. Singler 6-6 210lb
Olu Ashaolu 6-7 220lb
Jeremy Jacob 6-8 226lb
Tyrone Nared 6-8 210lb
Chris Larson 6-11 220lb
Tony Woods 6-11 250lb
E.J. Singler will be the star and face of this Oregon Ducks team. He was a tremendous player for the Ducks last season and will be just as good this next year (Kyle is still better). Tony Woods in a transfer from Wake College who has two years of experience under his belt, which should enable him to make an immediate impact for the Ducks who desperately need some talent in the post.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Johnathan Loyd 5-8 160lb
Jabari Brown 6-3 200lb
E.J. Singler 6-6 210lb
Austin Kuemper 6-9 240lb
Tony Woods 6-11 250lb
Season Predictions:
The Ducks have some decent size this year, but they still lack the overall depth to compete against the high level teams. I don't seem the Ducks finishing any higher than 5th in conference play and no lower than 8th. Oregon should certainly beat ASU, Colorado, Utah, and WSU. OSU, Stanford, and USC should be on a similar level to the Ducks and make for decent competition. I just don't see such a turn around from missing the NCAA and the NIT to compete for the top spot in conference and a spot in the NCAA. On the off chance the Pac-12 does get 5 teams in the NCAA, Oregon would be one of my picks for the 5th and final spot.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Scott Suggs out 8 Weeks
Well, practice official starts today and wouldn't you know it, Scott Suggs is in for surgery on his right foot to repair a broken toe. Lorenzo Romar expects him to be out 8 weeks, just in time for the Duke game in the Big Apple. Evidently Suggs has been experiencing some discomfort for a few weeks and evidently felt something pop just a few days ago. He will have a screw placed in his foot to help aid the process.
Get Well Suggs.
Get Well Suggs.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Colorado University Preview: 2011-2012
Colorado finished the 2010-2011 season decently enough. A 21-13 record is far from terrible, but their 8-8 in conference is pretty mediocre. To be fair, The big 12 had offered some fairly stiff competition in Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Kansas, and Kansas State. Not the best, but not the worst team in the Big 12, Colorado enters the new Pac-12 in what appears to be a rebuilding year. The Buffaloes have lost five seniors to graduation and sophomore Alec Burks to the NBA draft (The NBA is still in a lockout for those who haven't heard and the first two weeks of the season have been canceled thus far). The Buffaloes four top scorers (all double digit) are included in the above group and are left with then freshman, now sophomore, Andre Roberson as the returning leading scorer at 6.7 points per game. All told, the Buffaloes have lost 60 points per game out of their 80 point average. To me this looks a lot like the California team of 2010-2011 when they lost five seniors and four of their starting five. Much like the Huskies, the Buffaloes are looking for who can take over a game and light up the hoop. It's somewhat unfortunate that Colorado wasn't able to enter the Pac Conference one year earlier to make a better impression, but all signs point to Colorado get stepped all over much like is currently happening on the football side of things. Not to side track terribly, but I cannot wait for this Saturday when the Buffs come to Husky Stadium missing 8 cornerbacks and their number one wide receiver. Keith Price should have a field day. Anyways, back to basketball.
Key Losses:
Alec Burks 6-6 195lb
Burk was an exceptional player, averaging over 20 points, nearly 7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. His range game needed some fine tuning, but he was dangerous in the lane for it not to be a problem. He was selected with the 12th pick of the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. Burks was the driving force of this offense and will be missed sorely by the Buffaloes.
Cory Higgins 6-5 180lb
Another strong shooting guard, the senior averaged 16 points a game and nearly 35% from 3 point range. Higgins knew how do score and did it well throughout his career. His freshman season only averaged 8 points a game, but every year after he averaged between 16 and 18 points a game. Great numbers.
Levi Knutson 6-4 200lb
Knutson took a big step up this previous season, raising his scoring average from 3 points a game to nearly 12. The Buffaloes need someone to follow in Knutson's footsteps and take a dramatic step up in talent and scoring.
Marcus Relphord 6-7 220lb
Relphord was the only other player to average double digits for Colorado at 11 points a game. Despite his taller size, he only managed 4 boards a game. In some sense this is a good thing for Colorado as they have less searching to do when it comes to rebounding (Andre Roberson is their returning leading rebound at nearly 8 a game).
The Buffaloes also graduated Javon Coney 6-3 210lb and Trent Beckley 6-9 240lb, but neither player saw significant time nor contributed significant stats.
Incoming Freshmen:
To replace the exodus of star guards and a pair of big men, Colorado was able to pick up some promising players in 3 guards and a power forward.
Jeremey Adams 6-5 200lbs
Adams is a transfer from Texas A&M. Rivals rated him a 3 star recruit. I couldn't find much info on him and I don't know for certain if he is eligible to play this season as he transferred in March of 2011 from A&M. NCAA rules dictate that most transfer students have to sit out a season. He has already used his redshirt at A&M. 6-5 is a good shooting guard height and he should match up well, in terms of size, to guys like C.J. Wilcox, or Scott Suggs. Not sure what kind of impact he can make, but with a few years of D-1 practice under his belt he should be a solid player for the Buffaloes.
Damiene Cain 6-6 215lb
ESPN has it right when they say Cain is an undersized PF at the high major levels. The Pac-12 is a high major conference and Cain will have difficulty scoring low against the big boys. Thankfully, for him and the Buffs, Cain has a nice outside shot and can make 3 pointers with reasonable accuracy. Unlike Jon Brockman, who was also an undersized paint player, Cain doesn't have the weight and strength to bang down low consistently. Look for Cain to play as a 3/4 hybrid.
Spencer Dinwiddie 6-3 160lb
Now I'm not one to normally bash on the smaller guys, but Dinwiddie is my size exactly and I have no idea how he is supposed to compete with guys like Terrence Ross or drive the lane against Aziz N'Diaye. Then again, there is a reason I'm here typing this article and not playing the game myself. Dinwiddie has obviously put in the effort and practice to be able to compete despite his thin nature. Dinwiddie is definitely a pass first guard with a slower shot.
Askia Booker 6-1 160lb
Another smaller guard, but a needed replacement in terms of skill set. He has a great shot even outside 20 feet and has some nice dribbling maneuvers that allow him to attack the lane. His major drawback is his tendency to force poor shots or passes in heavy traffic. Colorado will need to get him to calm down a bit and let the play develop more before hustling off a shot. If Booker can minimize his turnovers and get open for shots, he has a legitimate chance to be one of the leading scorers for Colorado.
Returning Players:
Colorado will have some size in their mix this next season with their smallest guy at 6-1 and a fair few between 6-5 and 6-9.
Shannon Sharpe 6-1 200lb
Nate Tomlinson 6-3 190lb
Andre Roberson 6-7 195lb
Austin Dufault 6-9 225lb
Trey Eckloff 6-10 235lb
Ben Mills 7-0 215lb
Looking over the roster, it seems like tall, skinny guys are the theme. Ben Mills will be giving up 60+ pounds to Aziz and even Eckloff is giving up 30+ pounds. Their incoming guards are thin, but those currently on the roster are big enough. Colorado would do themselves a favor by handing out protein shakes a little more often.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Shannon Sharpe 6-1 200lb
Nate Tomlinson 6-3 190lb
Jeremy Adams 6-5 200lb
Andre Roberson 6-7 195lb
Austin Dufault 6-9 225lb
The door is wide open for players to grab starting spots and this line-up is based merely on who got the most play time last season and who has the most experience. Overall this give their starting 5 decent enough size. UW certainly played its fair share of games with a similar line-up and it's not like we struggled to succeed.
What to Expect:
I don't see as pretty a year for the Buffaloes as I originally thought. After looking more closely at their roster I can't imagine that Colorado will win too many games. They should compete with ASU, Utah, and WSU. Maybe play decent enough against Stanford, OSU, or USC, but UW, UA, UCLA, Cal, and even UO should put a whooping on the newcomers. What I am most sad about is that neither Colorado nor Utah will play at Hec-Ed this season. I know myself and fellow Dawg Pack members were really looking forward to some fresh meat to torture and tease. Colorado misses the Washington road trip and also misses the South Cal schools at home. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing for the Buffs. USC won't be great this season and WSU definitely should not be that successful either. UW and UCLA both have some great talent on their respective squads so these two trips seem about equal strength for me. Georgia is the only "big name" team I see on their non-conference schedule so expect to see Colorado do well enough before Pac-12 play rolls around and then pushed around in conference plays.
Key Losses:
Alec Burks 6-6 195lb
Burk was an exceptional player, averaging over 20 points, nearly 7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. His range game needed some fine tuning, but he was dangerous in the lane for it not to be a problem. He was selected with the 12th pick of the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. Burks was the driving force of this offense and will be missed sorely by the Buffaloes.
Cory Higgins 6-5 180lb
Another strong shooting guard, the senior averaged 16 points a game and nearly 35% from 3 point range. Higgins knew how do score and did it well throughout his career. His freshman season only averaged 8 points a game, but every year after he averaged between 16 and 18 points a game. Great numbers.
Levi Knutson 6-4 200lb
Knutson took a big step up this previous season, raising his scoring average from 3 points a game to nearly 12. The Buffaloes need someone to follow in Knutson's footsteps and take a dramatic step up in talent and scoring.
Marcus Relphord 6-7 220lb
Relphord was the only other player to average double digits for Colorado at 11 points a game. Despite his taller size, he only managed 4 boards a game. In some sense this is a good thing for Colorado as they have less searching to do when it comes to rebounding (Andre Roberson is their returning leading rebound at nearly 8 a game).
The Buffaloes also graduated Javon Coney 6-3 210lb and Trent Beckley 6-9 240lb, but neither player saw significant time nor contributed significant stats.
Incoming Freshmen:
To replace the exodus of star guards and a pair of big men, Colorado was able to pick up some promising players in 3 guards and a power forward.
Jeremey Adams 6-5 200lbs
Adams is a transfer from Texas A&M. Rivals rated him a 3 star recruit. I couldn't find much info on him and I don't know for certain if he is eligible to play this season as he transferred in March of 2011 from A&M. NCAA rules dictate that most transfer students have to sit out a season. He has already used his redshirt at A&M. 6-5 is a good shooting guard height and he should match up well, in terms of size, to guys like C.J. Wilcox, or Scott Suggs. Not sure what kind of impact he can make, but with a few years of D-1 practice under his belt he should be a solid player for the Buffaloes.
Damiene Cain 6-6 215lb
ESPN has it right when they say Cain is an undersized PF at the high major levels. The Pac-12 is a high major conference and Cain will have difficulty scoring low against the big boys. Thankfully, for him and the Buffs, Cain has a nice outside shot and can make 3 pointers with reasonable accuracy. Unlike Jon Brockman, who was also an undersized paint player, Cain doesn't have the weight and strength to bang down low consistently. Look for Cain to play as a 3/4 hybrid.
Spencer Dinwiddie 6-3 160lb
Now I'm not one to normally bash on the smaller guys, but Dinwiddie is my size exactly and I have no idea how he is supposed to compete with guys like Terrence Ross or drive the lane against Aziz N'Diaye. Then again, there is a reason I'm here typing this article and not playing the game myself. Dinwiddie has obviously put in the effort and practice to be able to compete despite his thin nature. Dinwiddie is definitely a pass first guard with a slower shot.
Askia Booker 6-1 160lb
Another smaller guard, but a needed replacement in terms of skill set. He has a great shot even outside 20 feet and has some nice dribbling maneuvers that allow him to attack the lane. His major drawback is his tendency to force poor shots or passes in heavy traffic. Colorado will need to get him to calm down a bit and let the play develop more before hustling off a shot. If Booker can minimize his turnovers and get open for shots, he has a legitimate chance to be one of the leading scorers for Colorado.
Returning Players:
Colorado will have some size in their mix this next season with their smallest guy at 6-1 and a fair few between 6-5 and 6-9.
Shannon Sharpe 6-1 200lb
Nate Tomlinson 6-3 190lb
Andre Roberson 6-7 195lb
Austin Dufault 6-9 225lb
Trey Eckloff 6-10 235lb
Ben Mills 7-0 215lb
Looking over the roster, it seems like tall, skinny guys are the theme. Ben Mills will be giving up 60+ pounds to Aziz and even Eckloff is giving up 30+ pounds. Their incoming guards are thin, but those currently on the roster are big enough. Colorado would do themselves a favor by handing out protein shakes a little more often.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Shannon Sharpe 6-1 200lb
Nate Tomlinson 6-3 190lb
Jeremy Adams 6-5 200lb
Andre Roberson 6-7 195lb
Austin Dufault 6-9 225lb
The door is wide open for players to grab starting spots and this line-up is based merely on who got the most play time last season and who has the most experience. Overall this give their starting 5 decent enough size. UW certainly played its fair share of games with a similar line-up and it's not like we struggled to succeed.
What to Expect:
I don't see as pretty a year for the Buffaloes as I originally thought. After looking more closely at their roster I can't imagine that Colorado will win too many games. They should compete with ASU, Utah, and WSU. Maybe play decent enough against Stanford, OSU, or USC, but UW, UA, UCLA, Cal, and even UO should put a whooping on the newcomers. What I am most sad about is that neither Colorado nor Utah will play at Hec-Ed this season. I know myself and fellow Dawg Pack members were really looking forward to some fresh meat to torture and tease. Colorado misses the Washington road trip and also misses the South Cal schools at home. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing for the Buffs. USC won't be great this season and WSU definitely should not be that successful either. UW and UCLA both have some great talent on their respective squads so these two trips seem about equal strength for me. Georgia is the only "big name" team I see on their non-conference schedule so expect to see Colorado do well enough before Pac-12 play rolls around and then pushed around in conference plays.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
University of California Preview: 2011-2012
After last seasons massive senior graduation the Cal Bears are in much better shape losing only one player to graduation. Look for the Bears to be a very competitive team in not only the conference, but non-conference games as well. With 3 seniors on the roster along with Allen Crabbe returning for his sophomore year, the Bears have both talent and experience on their side. A lot of people are sold on the Bears and expect them to compete for the conference title. I'm not so sure yet. I believe they will finish in the top 4, but the fact UW absolutely demolished Cal in both games last year leaves me with a lot to be desired.
Key Losses:
Markhuri Sanders-Frison 6-7 265lb
Frison was a force last year for the Bears averaging over 10 points and 7 rebounds per game. At 6-7 and 265lb he was a big boy who could fill the paint and put a hurting on the other team if left unguarded. Luckily the Bears have Richard Solomon and Bak-Bak with size to help replace Frison's presence. Cal also has two incoming freshman with size to further alleviate the loss.
Incoming Freshman:
Christian Behrens 6-8 190lb
Behrens is a decent prospect for the Bears. Though he needs to add a good 20lbs to be a strong post presence, he has passing and shooting skills that allow him to contribute in other ways than low in the post. He reminds me of the Huskies own Jernard Jerreau who is 6-10 195lbs. While he is not a big body, he has the skill set to play a solid 4 or even a tall 3.
David Kravish 6-9 205lb
Kravish could also benefit from adding a few pounds on. Darnell Gant has 25lbs on Kravish and Aziz N'Diaye has 60lbs on him. As a 5 option he is not that viable when guys like N'Diaye or Josh Smith are on the field, but when smaller posts are in the game Kravish could see time at the 5. Likely he'll be more of a 4/5 hybrid as he has tremendous rebounding tenacity and a decent enough low post shot. He is also dangerous from the high post and is a skilled free throw shooter, something many big men lack.
Returning Players:
Brandon Smith 5-11 190lbs
Jorge Gutierrez 6-3 195lbs
Emerson Murray 6-3 195lbs
Nigel Carter 6-4 210lbs
Allen Crabbe 6-4 205lbs
Jeff Powers 6-7 190lbs
Harper Kamp 6-8 245lbs
Bak Bak 6-9 225lbs
Richard Solomon 6-10 220lbs
Robert Thurman 6-10 250lbs
Gutierrez, Crabbe, and Kamp are the returning stars of the team. All 3 players averaged more than 13 points a game last season and there is no reason to think they can't and won't do it again this season. Frison is the only double digit scorer not returning for the Golden Bears and overall Cal has 73% of its scoring coming back into the year (Gary Franklin Transferred mid season to Baylor).
Predicted Starting Line-up:
Brandon Smith 5-11 190lbs
Jorge Gutierrez 6-3 195lbs
Allen Crabbe 6-4 205lbs
Harper Kamp 6-8 245lbs
Richard Solomon 6-10 220lbs
I couldn't decide if Solomon or Thurman would be a more viable option as the starting 5 and in the end I figured Solomon saw much more time last season (playing in every game) than Thurman (playing only in 10 games) and would be that much more experienced. I believe Solomon could give up the starting spot to Thurman against the bigger centers (N'Diaye, Smith, etc.). Brandon Smith should be a solid point guard for the Bears allowing Gutierrez and Crabbe to get out on the wings for more shot opportunities.
What to Expect:
The Bears should be a very competitive team in the conference this year. As I stated before, I don't believe Cal will take the conference title. UCLA and UW have better talent in my opinion that will win out. Cal certainly has a better shot at the title than Arizona does due to their returning talent. Cal should be a much more experienced team this season and 20 point blowouts should not be the norm. Expect to see Cal in the top 3 or 4 teams of the conference, make the NCAA tournament, and win at least their first game if not the second as well. Beyond that, I don't think they quite have the parts in place to make a deep tournament run.
Key Losses:
Markhuri Sanders-Frison 6-7 265lb
Frison was a force last year for the Bears averaging over 10 points and 7 rebounds per game. At 6-7 and 265lb he was a big boy who could fill the paint and put a hurting on the other team if left unguarded. Luckily the Bears have Richard Solomon and Bak-Bak with size to help replace Frison's presence. Cal also has two incoming freshman with size to further alleviate the loss.
Incoming Freshman:
Christian Behrens 6-8 190lb
Behrens is a decent prospect for the Bears. Though he needs to add a good 20lbs to be a strong post presence, he has passing and shooting skills that allow him to contribute in other ways than low in the post. He reminds me of the Huskies own Jernard Jerreau who is 6-10 195lbs. While he is not a big body, he has the skill set to play a solid 4 or even a tall 3.
David Kravish 6-9 205lb
Kravish could also benefit from adding a few pounds on. Darnell Gant has 25lbs on Kravish and Aziz N'Diaye has 60lbs on him. As a 5 option he is not that viable when guys like N'Diaye or Josh Smith are on the field, but when smaller posts are in the game Kravish could see time at the 5. Likely he'll be more of a 4/5 hybrid as he has tremendous rebounding tenacity and a decent enough low post shot. He is also dangerous from the high post and is a skilled free throw shooter, something many big men lack.
Returning Players:
Brandon Smith 5-11 190lbs
Jorge Gutierrez 6-3 195lbs
Emerson Murray 6-3 195lbs
Nigel Carter 6-4 210lbs
Allen Crabbe 6-4 205lbs
Jeff Powers 6-7 190lbs
Harper Kamp 6-8 245lbs
Bak Bak 6-9 225lbs
Richard Solomon 6-10 220lbs
Robert Thurman 6-10 250lbs
Gutierrez, Crabbe, and Kamp are the returning stars of the team. All 3 players averaged more than 13 points a game last season and there is no reason to think they can't and won't do it again this season. Frison is the only double digit scorer not returning for the Golden Bears and overall Cal has 73% of its scoring coming back into the year (Gary Franklin Transferred mid season to Baylor).
Predicted Starting Line-up:
Brandon Smith 5-11 190lbs
Jorge Gutierrez 6-3 195lbs
Allen Crabbe 6-4 205lbs
Harper Kamp 6-8 245lbs
Richard Solomon 6-10 220lbs
I couldn't decide if Solomon or Thurman would be a more viable option as the starting 5 and in the end I figured Solomon saw much more time last season (playing in every game) than Thurman (playing only in 10 games) and would be that much more experienced. I believe Solomon could give up the starting spot to Thurman against the bigger centers (N'Diaye, Smith, etc.). Brandon Smith should be a solid point guard for the Bears allowing Gutierrez and Crabbe to get out on the wings for more shot opportunities.
What to Expect:
The Bears should be a very competitive team in the conference this year. As I stated before, I don't believe Cal will take the conference title. UCLA and UW have better talent in my opinion that will win out. Cal certainly has a better shot at the title than Arizona does due to their returning talent. Cal should be a much more experienced team this season and 20 point blowouts should not be the norm. Expect to see Cal in the top 3 or 4 teams of the conference, make the NCAA tournament, and win at least their first game if not the second as well. Beyond that, I don't think they quite have the parts in place to make a deep tournament run.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Arizona State University Preview: 2011-2012
The Sun Devils finished last in the Pac-10 the previous season with a miserable 4-14 record in conference and a not much better 12-19 overall. Only Kyle Cain played in each of the 31 games during the season. The other 4 starters played in 29 games at most. It was a very down year for the Devils, but not surprisingly so as their roster featured 6 freshmen, 4 sophomores, only 1 junior, and 3 seniors. The youth on this team should be much better going into this season as they'll have a little more experience under their belt. That said, the Devils will likely finish in the bottom 3 or 4. They simply don't have the talent to compete with the majority of the conference. After losing Derek Glasser, the Devils have been hurting for some serious talent and it isn't looking like this will be their year either.
Key Losses
The Sun Devils lose 3 seniors coming into this season all of whom started and played significant minutes throughout the year. The 3 seniors were the second, third, and fourth highest scorers on a team that averaged a mere 64 points per game (UW averaged around 20 points higher).
Richard Kuksiks:
Kuksiks was a fairly consistent player his entire ASU career. His last three seasons averaged 10.3, 12.1, and 10.4 points per game. He has a solid outside shot, hitting around 40% each and every year, and was also an excellent free throw shooter finishing his career just under 80%. Kuksiks was never a super talent in the conference by any means, but his ability to hit from range made him a dangerous player that had to be kept in check, lest he drop 20+ points from outside. He was a decent enough defender and at 6-6 in a G-F position, he often created a bit of a mismatch when Isaiah Thomas or Venoy Overton was forced to guard him.
Ty Abbott:
Much like Kuksiks, Abbott was a consistent, though never terribly threatening player during his time at Arizona State. He averaged a little over 12 points per game his final two seasons along with 3 to 4 rebounds. Abbott possessed a nice 3-point shot, but was not as deadly as Kuksiks. The real loss from Abbott comes from his experience and leadership abilities on the court as a senior player. Honestly, when thinking back on the season, I remember his name and I could probably point him out without his numbered jersey on, but I don't remember any significant plays or outstanding moments where I thought he was going to take over a game.
Jamelle McMillan:
Jamelle is a fine example of how spending four years in a program, developing your game, can really pay off. Jamelle averaged around 2.6 points his freshman year, but ended his season season with a much improved 7.2 points per game. This might not seem like a huge improvement, but every season McMillian shot a little better and was able to help his team that much more. What McMillian lacked in scoring ability he made up for in play making ability. McMillian averaged just under 4 assists per game while only giving up 1.5 turnovers for an A/T ratio of 2.7, a solid number (for reference, Thomas had an A/T ratio of 2 and Gaddy posted a 3.1 ratio before his injury). As with Kuksiks and Abbott, McMillian was never a superstar player, but he had a lot of valuable experience that is tough to replace.
Incoming Freshman
After losing Glasser and now Abbott and McMillian, ASU needed to bring in some solid guards. For the most part it appears they have done a good enough job. The ASU recruiting class features two guards, one of which is an ESPN top 100 player, and one big man.
Jonathan Gillings (from Denmark) 6-8 226lb
I couldn't find any useful information on this guy. ESPN lists him at 6-7 0lbs. Not a typo, zero pounds. ASU definitely went under the radar to find and recruit this guy. He has some decent size and could be a nice addition to the team. The few highlights I could find of him didn't impress me much and in fact, he might be the only player to include a missed shot in his highlight reel. If anyone has useful information on this guy, please link it in the comment section so I can be a little more informed.
Chris Colvin 6-3 185lb
As with Gillings, Colvin was not a highly recruited player. Any time ESPN rates a guy at 40, it means he was not on their radar until he has essentially signed with the Sun Devils. Colvin is a Junior College transfer. The fact that the ASU coaching staff was able to haul in a top rated freshman guard and a JC guard is a wise decision in my opinion as it allows both talented youth and a little more experienced guard to get in mix to help contribute right away. Colvin has originally signed with Iowa State as a freshman, but ended the year averaging a mere 3 points along with 1.9 assists and 2 turnovers per game (he played 15 minutes or so per outing). Overall he doesn't seem like a big nab, but he does have some experience running the court at the "college" level, which is much more helpful then one might initially think.
Jahii Carson 5-11 160lb
Carson is the big grab of the Arizona class. Rated as the number 8 PG and 50th overall, he should be a solid player that can immediately help get this team rolling. What is really interesting about Carson is the fact that he is a run and gun player, while the ASU offense tends towards a much slower tempo. I'm interested to see how the coach deals with this issue and whether we'll see a slowed down Jahii Carson or a sped up ASU Sun Devil team. Personally, I'd much rather see the latter as it is a much more exciting style of basketball. Carson had originally committed to OSU before joining the Sun Devil squad. Carson can score with the best, according to his ESPN recruitment page. To me this says we will see Carson as a hybrid 1/2 guard, much like Isaiah Thomas, as his size limits his ability to effectively play the 2 spot without suffering a huge mismatch.
Returning Players
Corey Hawkins 6-1 196lb
Brandon Dunson 6-1 181lb
Marcus Jackson 6-1 183lb
Keala King 6-4 201lb
Trent Lockett 6-4 210lb
Chanse Cheekmur 6-5 216lb
Carrick Felix 6-6 196lb
Dave Whitmore 6-6 215lb
Kyle Cain 6-7 210lb
Ruslan Pateev 7-0 249lb
Jordan Bachynski 7-2 243lb
ASU returns a lot of size in Pateev and Bachynski. While neither player was a major contributor to the program they could be tough match-ups should they develop their game a bit more over the summer. The two combine for over 14 feet of basketball ability, but they only combined for 5.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game (22 minutes of play). Neither player shot free throws well, but have a decent enough field goal percentage around 50%.
The most important returning player has to be Trent Lockett. He led the Sun Devils in scoring with 13.4 points per game and nearly led the team in rebounding with 5.3 boards per game. He's a dynamic player who could score close to 20 a game next season if he continues his progression. The key for Lockett is to improve his 3-point shot. If he can raise his percentage to 40% he could be a real threat and a legit Pac-12 1st team player.
Projected Lineup:
Jahii Carson 5-11 160lb FR
Trent Lockett 6-4 210lb JR
Kyle Cain 6-7 210lb SO
Carrick Felix 6-6 196lb JR
Ruslan Pateev 7-0 249lb JR
Not sure who to put in for their 4th and 5th players. Felix could be replaced by incoming freshman Jonathan Gillings as Gillings has a little more size, but Felix has more experience. I expect Pateev will start over Bachynski as he has played better over all and the Devils need some size down low. Outside the 7 footers, Gillings is the next tallest player at 6-8.
Don't expect to see an improvement from the Sun Devils this season. They will finish near, if not the bottom, of the conference. The do not have the talent necessary to take on any of the top 5 teams (UW, UCLA, Arizona, Cal, and Oregon). ASU misses the Oregon road trip and miss the Northern California schools at home this season. This is a disadvantage for ASU as the NorCal schools are a much tougher test than the Oregon schools as a whole. They also open and close against instate rival Arizona. I would imagine ASU will finish with maybe 5 or 6 conference wins this year. They could beat WSU, Utah, and maybe pick up a game against OSU or Colorado. The ASU non-con schedule is pretty soft. A lot of "North This" and "South That." Their toughest test will come against New Mexico who will more than likely blow them out of the water.
On the plus side, the Devils have nowhere to go but up.
Key Losses
The Sun Devils lose 3 seniors coming into this season all of whom started and played significant minutes throughout the year. The 3 seniors were the second, third, and fourth highest scorers on a team that averaged a mere 64 points per game (UW averaged around 20 points higher).
Richard Kuksiks:
Kuksiks was a fairly consistent player his entire ASU career. His last three seasons averaged 10.3, 12.1, and 10.4 points per game. He has a solid outside shot, hitting around 40% each and every year, and was also an excellent free throw shooter finishing his career just under 80%. Kuksiks was never a super talent in the conference by any means, but his ability to hit from range made him a dangerous player that had to be kept in check, lest he drop 20+ points from outside. He was a decent enough defender and at 6-6 in a G-F position, he often created a bit of a mismatch when Isaiah Thomas or Venoy Overton was forced to guard him.
Ty Abbott:
Much like Kuksiks, Abbott was a consistent, though never terribly threatening player during his time at Arizona State. He averaged a little over 12 points per game his final two seasons along with 3 to 4 rebounds. Abbott possessed a nice 3-point shot, but was not as deadly as Kuksiks. The real loss from Abbott comes from his experience and leadership abilities on the court as a senior player. Honestly, when thinking back on the season, I remember his name and I could probably point him out without his numbered jersey on, but I don't remember any significant plays or outstanding moments where I thought he was going to take over a game.
Jamelle McMillan:
Jamelle is a fine example of how spending four years in a program, developing your game, can really pay off. Jamelle averaged around 2.6 points his freshman year, but ended his season season with a much improved 7.2 points per game. This might not seem like a huge improvement, but every season McMillian shot a little better and was able to help his team that much more. What McMillian lacked in scoring ability he made up for in play making ability. McMillian averaged just under 4 assists per game while only giving up 1.5 turnovers for an A/T ratio of 2.7, a solid number (for reference, Thomas had an A/T ratio of 2 and Gaddy posted a 3.1 ratio before his injury). As with Kuksiks and Abbott, McMillian was never a superstar player, but he had a lot of valuable experience that is tough to replace.
Incoming Freshman
After losing Glasser and now Abbott and McMillian, ASU needed to bring in some solid guards. For the most part it appears they have done a good enough job. The ASU recruiting class features two guards, one of which is an ESPN top 100 player, and one big man.
Jonathan Gillings (from Denmark) 6-8 226lb
I couldn't find any useful information on this guy. ESPN lists him at 6-7 0lbs. Not a typo, zero pounds. ASU definitely went under the radar to find and recruit this guy. He has some decent size and could be a nice addition to the team. The few highlights I could find of him didn't impress me much and in fact, he might be the only player to include a missed shot in his highlight reel. If anyone has useful information on this guy, please link it in the comment section so I can be a little more informed.
Chris Colvin 6-3 185lb
As with Gillings, Colvin was not a highly recruited player. Any time ESPN rates a guy at 40, it means he was not on their radar until he has essentially signed with the Sun Devils. Colvin is a Junior College transfer. The fact that the ASU coaching staff was able to haul in a top rated freshman guard and a JC guard is a wise decision in my opinion as it allows both talented youth and a little more experienced guard to get in mix to help contribute right away. Colvin has originally signed with Iowa State as a freshman, but ended the year averaging a mere 3 points along with 1.9 assists and 2 turnovers per game (he played 15 minutes or so per outing). Overall he doesn't seem like a big nab, but he does have some experience running the court at the "college" level, which is much more helpful then one might initially think.
Jahii Carson 5-11 160lb
Carson is the big grab of the Arizona class. Rated as the number 8 PG and 50th overall, he should be a solid player that can immediately help get this team rolling. What is really interesting about Carson is the fact that he is a run and gun player, while the ASU offense tends towards a much slower tempo. I'm interested to see how the coach deals with this issue and whether we'll see a slowed down Jahii Carson or a sped up ASU Sun Devil team. Personally, I'd much rather see the latter as it is a much more exciting style of basketball. Carson had originally committed to OSU before joining the Sun Devil squad. Carson can score with the best, according to his ESPN recruitment page. To me this says we will see Carson as a hybrid 1/2 guard, much like Isaiah Thomas, as his size limits his ability to effectively play the 2 spot without suffering a huge mismatch.
Returning Players
Corey Hawkins 6-1 196lb
Brandon Dunson 6-1 181lb
Marcus Jackson 6-1 183lb
Keala King 6-4 201lb
Trent Lockett 6-4 210lb
Chanse Cheekmur 6-5 216lb
Carrick Felix 6-6 196lb
Dave Whitmore 6-6 215lb
Kyle Cain 6-7 210lb
Ruslan Pateev 7-0 249lb
Jordan Bachynski 7-2 243lb
ASU returns a lot of size in Pateev and Bachynski. While neither player was a major contributor to the program they could be tough match-ups should they develop their game a bit more over the summer. The two combine for over 14 feet of basketball ability, but they only combined for 5.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game (22 minutes of play). Neither player shot free throws well, but have a decent enough field goal percentage around 50%.
The most important returning player has to be Trent Lockett. He led the Sun Devils in scoring with 13.4 points per game and nearly led the team in rebounding with 5.3 boards per game. He's a dynamic player who could score close to 20 a game next season if he continues his progression. The key for Lockett is to improve his 3-point shot. If he can raise his percentage to 40% he could be a real threat and a legit Pac-12 1st team player.
Projected Lineup:
Jahii Carson 5-11 160lb FR
Trent Lockett 6-4 210lb JR
Kyle Cain 6-7 210lb SO
Carrick Felix 6-6 196lb JR
Ruslan Pateev 7-0 249lb JR
Not sure who to put in for their 4th and 5th players. Felix could be replaced by incoming freshman Jonathan Gillings as Gillings has a little more size, but Felix has more experience. I expect Pateev will start over Bachynski as he has played better over all and the Devils need some size down low. Outside the 7 footers, Gillings is the next tallest player at 6-8.
Don't expect to see an improvement from the Sun Devils this season. They will finish near, if not the bottom, of the conference. The do not have the talent necessary to take on any of the top 5 teams (UW, UCLA, Arizona, Cal, and Oregon). ASU misses the Oregon road trip and miss the Northern California schools at home this season. This is a disadvantage for ASU as the NorCal schools are a much tougher test than the Oregon schools as a whole. They also open and close against instate rival Arizona. I would imagine ASU will finish with maybe 5 or 6 conference wins this year. They could beat WSU, Utah, and maybe pick up a game against OSU or Colorado. The ASU non-con schedule is pretty soft. A lot of "North This" and "South That." Their toughest test will come against New Mexico who will more than likely blow them out of the water.
On the plus side, the Devils have nowhere to go but up.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Alex Schrempf Transferred to UW
Husky Haul has reported that Alex Schrempf, son of Detlef Schrempf a former UW and Sonics great, has transferred to UW and is currently enrolled in classes. The real question is if he will walk on to the UW basketball team. Alex spent two years at UCLA, including a redshirt season. Last year he played in three games for a combined 2 minutes of play. He likely will not see much play time other than garbage play.
Monday, October 3, 2011
University of Arizona Preview: 2011-2012
With the exhibition opener against Seattle Pacific just a hair over a month away, it's time to get down to it and begin looking at each of the Pac-12 teams in a little bit of detail to get an idea of what sort of challenges await the Huskies. I figure alphabetically is the best way to go, saving UW for last (though technically WSU is last). With UW I'll break it down into 4 separate article concentrating on each class of athletes (Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors) and I'll probably end it with a revised prediction for the Pac-12 standings.
On to Arizona:
Arizona faces a similar situation to Washington as they have lost some of their prime talent, but brought in some promising young talent that could keep them as one of the front runners for the regular season title.
Key Losses:
Derrick Williams:
Not much needs to be said that hasn't been already. Derrick Williams was the Pac-10 Player of the Year and deservedly so. Williams averaged nearly 20 points per game to go along with over 8 boards an outing. He shot 60% on the year from the field and 75% from the line along with an insane 57% from deep. He scored more than twice as many points and had twice as many rebounds than anyone else on the Wildcat roster. He was a huge post presence and drew an average of 8 fouls per game (good for 6th in the nation). He leaves a huge hole in the middle that will need to be filled.
Lamont 'MoMo' Jones:
Jones transferred during the summer to be closer to his family due to some health issues being experienced by his grandmother. Jones was the second leading scorer for the Wildcats with nearly 10 points a game and just under 2.5 assists per game. He transferred to Iona College in the MAAC. Many people also suspect that incoming freshman Josiah Turner also played a role in Jones' decision to transfer. Jones was a proven and successful point guard for the Wildcats and alongside Kyle Fogg, the two helped Williams find many open shots.
Kevin Parrom:
This is an interesting situation. For those who don't know, Kevin Parrom was shot quite recently in New York. He is stable and relatively healthy for someone who was attacked with a shotgun. He suffered gunshot wounds to his hand and leg/knee. I haven't seen any predictions as to his recovery time so I have no idea whether to mark him up as a loss for the Wildcats or just a delayed asset. I'm sure all of us wish him a quick recovery, no matter how much we may despise the Wildcats. If you don't remember Parrom, he is the one who tied up the game in overtime right before Isaiah Thomas made his infamous "Coldblooded" shot.
Jamelle Horne:
Arizona graduated only one senior at the end of the season, 6-7 forward Jamelle Horne. Horne was a solid player for the Wildcats, but was mostly in the shadow of Derrick Williams for the last season or two. In the 2009-2010 season Horne averaged nearly 30 minutes a game. In 2010-2011 Horne averaged only 18 minutes a game due to Williams' dominance in the post. He averaged only 3.3 boards per game and 6.1 points per game. While not a dominate player in his final season, he had all the tools and talents to be a frustrating defender and put up several double digit scoring games through the year.
Incoming Freshmen:
Arizona brought in a high octane recruiting class, snagging two 5-star and two 4-star players including UW recruit Angelo Chol.
Josiah Turner:
Highlighting the class is the #3 PG, Josiah Turner, a 6-3 185lb threat from just about anywhere on the court. He has a nice shot that needs a little refining. His real strengths are his speed and passing ability. He will be a definite threat inside the lane and should be an impact player from day one.
Nick Johnson:
Also at 6-3 and 185lb is the #5 shooting guard out of 2011. He can shoot with the best of them and even blocks shots like a big man. While listed as a 2-guard, he is a bit small for that position, but should be able to make up for that with pure athletic ability. He is also known to have a bit of a weak left hand, so defenders able to turn him the wrong way should experience more success in keeping him from becoming a threat.
Angelo Chol:
Many UW fans know of Chol as he was considered a big part of what would make the Class of 2011 successful for UW. Sadly, like many other big name big men, UW missed out and Chol signed with Arizona instead. At 6-8 and 210lbs he is a big man and will help make up for the loss of Horne and Williams. He has a decent mid-range game that helps to compliment his rebounding and shot blocking ability.
Sidiki Johnson:
Sidiki is a tad bigger than Chol at 6-8 220lb, but not quite as skilled. His scoring game is a work in progress as he is still developing a back to the basket game. Facing the hoop he is able to make a wide variety of shots and can finish strong at the hoop. He rebounds fairly well, but his overall effort tends to come in waves rather than performing at a high level consistently throughout the game.
Returning Players:
Robert Arvizu 6-0 182lb
Dondre Wise 6-1 214lb
Jordan Mayes 6-2 185lb
Kyle Fogg 6-3 180lb
Daniel Bejarano 6-4 208lb
Brendan Lavender 6-5 215lb
Solomon Hill 6-6 226lb
Max Wiepking 6-6 200lb
Jesse Perry 6-7 210lb
Kyryl Natyazhko6-11 264lb
Alex Jacobson 7-0 251lb
The big returning names are Fogg, Lavender, Hill, and Perry. They were the significant contributors this past season and will likely have to step their roles up with the loss of Williams and Jones, with the possibility of Parrom as well.
What to Expect:
Arizona should be a top 4 team in the Pac-12 without a doubt. The real question is whether the young talent coming in can replace the top tier talent they lost. In my mind they take a step back from the Elite 8 team of last season just with the loss of Derrick Williams. Young talent is nice, but experience is a better indicator of how a team will do. I think UW, UCLA, and probably even Cal will be better squads. Josiah Turner will likely make a run for Freshman Player of the Year. Arizona should make the NCAA without too much hassle. Their non-conference season should go well for them and hopefully they will enter the conference season still ranked. Several preseason polls have the Wildcats in the top 15 teams of the nation. To me this far exceeds their abilities. They are far too unproven to be so highly ranked. Are they a top 25 team? More than likely. Are they a top 20 team? Probably. Are they better than UW or UCLA? Likely not. Could they win the conference title? Definitely a possibility. UW should have won it this past season if not for the second half collapse after an outstanding start to the year.
On to Arizona:
Arizona faces a similar situation to Washington as they have lost some of their prime talent, but brought in some promising young talent that could keep them as one of the front runners for the regular season title.
Key Losses:
Derrick Williams:
Not much needs to be said that hasn't been already. Derrick Williams was the Pac-10 Player of the Year and deservedly so. Williams averaged nearly 20 points per game to go along with over 8 boards an outing. He shot 60% on the year from the field and 75% from the line along with an insane 57% from deep. He scored more than twice as many points and had twice as many rebounds than anyone else on the Wildcat roster. He was a huge post presence and drew an average of 8 fouls per game (good for 6th in the nation). He leaves a huge hole in the middle that will need to be filled.
Lamont 'MoMo' Jones:
Jones transferred during the summer to be closer to his family due to some health issues being experienced by his grandmother. Jones was the second leading scorer for the Wildcats with nearly 10 points a game and just under 2.5 assists per game. He transferred to Iona College in the MAAC. Many people also suspect that incoming freshman Josiah Turner also played a role in Jones' decision to transfer. Jones was a proven and successful point guard for the Wildcats and alongside Kyle Fogg, the two helped Williams find many open shots.
Kevin Parrom:
This is an interesting situation. For those who don't know, Kevin Parrom was shot quite recently in New York. He is stable and relatively healthy for someone who was attacked with a shotgun. He suffered gunshot wounds to his hand and leg/knee. I haven't seen any predictions as to his recovery time so I have no idea whether to mark him up as a loss for the Wildcats or just a delayed asset. I'm sure all of us wish him a quick recovery, no matter how much we may despise the Wildcats. If you don't remember Parrom, he is the one who tied up the game in overtime right before Isaiah Thomas made his infamous "Coldblooded" shot.
Jamelle Horne:
Arizona graduated only one senior at the end of the season, 6-7 forward Jamelle Horne. Horne was a solid player for the Wildcats, but was mostly in the shadow of Derrick Williams for the last season or two. In the 2009-2010 season Horne averaged nearly 30 minutes a game. In 2010-2011 Horne averaged only 18 minutes a game due to Williams' dominance in the post. He averaged only 3.3 boards per game and 6.1 points per game. While not a dominate player in his final season, he had all the tools and talents to be a frustrating defender and put up several double digit scoring games through the year.
Incoming Freshmen:
Arizona brought in a high octane recruiting class, snagging two 5-star and two 4-star players including UW recruit Angelo Chol.
Josiah Turner:
Highlighting the class is the #3 PG, Josiah Turner, a 6-3 185lb threat from just about anywhere on the court. He has a nice shot that needs a little refining. His real strengths are his speed and passing ability. He will be a definite threat inside the lane and should be an impact player from day one.
Nick Johnson:
Also at 6-3 and 185lb is the #5 shooting guard out of 2011. He can shoot with the best of them and even blocks shots like a big man. While listed as a 2-guard, he is a bit small for that position, but should be able to make up for that with pure athletic ability. He is also known to have a bit of a weak left hand, so defenders able to turn him the wrong way should experience more success in keeping him from becoming a threat.
Angelo Chol:
Many UW fans know of Chol as he was considered a big part of what would make the Class of 2011 successful for UW. Sadly, like many other big name big men, UW missed out and Chol signed with Arizona instead. At 6-8 and 210lbs he is a big man and will help make up for the loss of Horne and Williams. He has a decent mid-range game that helps to compliment his rebounding and shot blocking ability.
Sidiki Johnson:
Sidiki is a tad bigger than Chol at 6-8 220lb, but not quite as skilled. His scoring game is a work in progress as he is still developing a back to the basket game. Facing the hoop he is able to make a wide variety of shots and can finish strong at the hoop. He rebounds fairly well, but his overall effort tends to come in waves rather than performing at a high level consistently throughout the game.
Returning Players:
Robert Arvizu 6-0 182lb
Dondre Wise 6-1 214lb
Jordan Mayes 6-2 185lb
Kyle Fogg 6-3 180lb
Daniel Bejarano 6-4 208lb
Brendan Lavender 6-5 215lb
Solomon Hill 6-6 226lb
Max Wiepking 6-6 200lb
Jesse Perry 6-7 210lb
Kyryl Natyazhko6-11 264lb
Alex Jacobson 7-0 251lb
The big returning names are Fogg, Lavender, Hill, and Perry. They were the significant contributors this past season and will likely have to step their roles up with the loss of Williams and Jones, with the possibility of Parrom as well.
What to Expect:
Arizona should be a top 4 team in the Pac-12 without a doubt. The real question is whether the young talent coming in can replace the top tier talent they lost. In my mind they take a step back from the Elite 8 team of last season just with the loss of Derrick Williams. Young talent is nice, but experience is a better indicator of how a team will do. I think UW, UCLA, and probably even Cal will be better squads. Josiah Turner will likely make a run for Freshman Player of the Year. Arizona should make the NCAA without too much hassle. Their non-conference season should go well for them and hopefully they will enter the conference season still ranked. Several preseason polls have the Wildcats in the top 15 teams of the nation. To me this far exceeds their abilities. They are far too unproven to be so highly ranked. Are they a top 25 team? More than likely. Are they a top 20 team? Probably. Are they better than UW or UCLA? Likely not. Could they win the conference title? Definitely a possibility. UW should have won it this past season if not for the second half collapse after an outstanding start to the year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)