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.
Friday, October 14, 2011
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.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Pac-12 Men's Basketball Predicitions
Well, I ordered my Dawg Pack tickets today making me realize how close the season is to starting and that means getting this blog back up in running order again. What better place to start than with a final standings prediction?
This year we have Colorado and Utah joining the fray and, in my opinion, Colorado is the stronger addition as opposed to football where Utah is clearly a superior team. For those who don't know, Colorado is from the Big 12 and Utah from the MWC.
Last season Colorado was a 1 seed in the NIT tournament, losing by 1 point in the semi-finals to also 1 seeded Alabama of the SEC. They finished with a record of 24-14 (8-8 in conference). Their star, Alec Burks, led the team in scoring (20.1) and assists (2.9) as well as being second in rebounding (6.4). He was taken in the first round with the 12th pick by the Utah Jazz. Their second leading scorer, Cory Higgins, was a senior and has graduated as has their third leading scorer, Levi Knutson. This leaves SLU transfer, Marcus Relphorde, as the returning leading scorer with 11.5 points per game. Andre Roberson returns as the leading rebounder with 7.8 boards per game. Nate Tomlinson has the highest assists per game returning with 2.4 assists per game.
Utah finished 13-18 (6-10 in conference), losing in the quarter finals of the conference tournament to Nationally ranked San Diego State. Will Clyburn returns as the leading scorer with 17.1 ppg. Josh Watkins returns as the number 2 scorer at 14.5 ppg. Clyburn also lead the team in rebounding with 7.8 rpg. Josh Watkins returns as the leading assist member with 3.5 apg.
Colorado appears to be entering a rebuilding year after losing so much scoring, but the Huskies are in a similar situation and I feel like we are a much stronger team. Some might look at the above stats and argue that Utah will be a better contender in the Pac-12, but the Big 12 is much stiffer competition than the MWC.
I'll cover each of the Pac-12 teams in more detail in separate posts, but I thought a quick introduction would help make understanding my placement of each team more reasonable.
In reverse order:
12. Utah
11. ASU
10. WSU
9. OSU
8. Stanford
7. Colorado
6. USC
5. UO
4. Cal
3. UA
2. UW
1. UCLA
Right now, I think UCLA has a lot of size and skill that will be tough to beat. I believe we will split the series with each team winning at home. UW will hopefully make the competition a close and fun one.
I may amend this list as I go through the team stats, incoming players, etc., but at a first glance this was my gut instinct. The top 5 I'm pretty confident about. USC and Colorado could be flipped around. The bottom 5 are a mess in my opinion and could be tossed about in a few arrangements with Stanford nearer the top than the other 4.
This year we have Colorado and Utah joining the fray and, in my opinion, Colorado is the stronger addition as opposed to football where Utah is clearly a superior team. For those who don't know, Colorado is from the Big 12 and Utah from the MWC.
Last season Colorado was a 1 seed in the NIT tournament, losing by 1 point in the semi-finals to also 1 seeded Alabama of the SEC. They finished with a record of 24-14 (8-8 in conference). Their star, Alec Burks, led the team in scoring (20.1) and assists (2.9) as well as being second in rebounding (6.4). He was taken in the first round with the 12th pick by the Utah Jazz. Their second leading scorer, Cory Higgins, was a senior and has graduated as has their third leading scorer, Levi Knutson. This leaves SLU transfer, Marcus Relphorde, as the returning leading scorer with 11.5 points per game. Andre Roberson returns as the leading rebounder with 7.8 boards per game. Nate Tomlinson has the highest assists per game returning with 2.4 assists per game.
Utah finished 13-18 (6-10 in conference), losing in the quarter finals of the conference tournament to Nationally ranked San Diego State. Will Clyburn returns as the leading scorer with 17.1 ppg. Josh Watkins returns as the number 2 scorer at 14.5 ppg. Clyburn also lead the team in rebounding with 7.8 rpg. Josh Watkins returns as the leading assist member with 3.5 apg.
Colorado appears to be entering a rebuilding year after losing so much scoring, but the Huskies are in a similar situation and I feel like we are a much stronger team. Some might look at the above stats and argue that Utah will be a better contender in the Pac-12, but the Big 12 is much stiffer competition than the MWC.
I'll cover each of the Pac-12 teams in more detail in separate posts, but I thought a quick introduction would help make understanding my placement of each team more reasonable.
In reverse order:
12. Utah
11. ASU
10. WSU
9. OSU
8. Stanford
7. Colorado
6. USC
5. UO
4. Cal
3. UA
2. UW
1. UCLA
Right now, I think UCLA has a lot of size and skill that will be tough to beat. I believe we will split the series with each team winning at home. UW will hopefully make the competition a close and fun one.
I may amend this list as I go through the team stats, incoming players, etc., but at a first glance this was my gut instinct. The top 5 I'm pretty confident about. USC and Colorado could be flipped around. The bottom 5 are a mess in my opinion and could be tossed about in a few arrangements with Stanford nearer the top than the other 4.
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