Xavier Musketeers Blog

Xavier Musketeers: 6-0

hehmand — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:19:22 GMT

The Xavier Musketeers are the champions of the Puerto Rico Tip-off, 6-0, and nationally ranked (14th AP, 14th ESPN).
And to be honest, they aren’t playing that well.
The Musketeers opened the season with a solid defensive effort in a 71-43 victory over the IPFW Mastodons. Xavier held IPFW to 25% shooting and out rebounded them by 13. Freshman Kenny Frease played well with 12 points and seven rebounds. Jamel McLean notched a double-double. However, Xavier shot less than 60% from the foul-line and turned the ball over 16 times.
The free throw shooting improved against Toledo an 81-65 win. However, the defense slacked against the Rockets, especially in the second half. The Musketeers were outscored 46-45 in the second half; including giving up 32 points to Tyrone Kent (he scored 37 total in the game).
The Musketeers followed up their two wins at home by traveling to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Tip-off. There they faced a scrappy Missouri Tiger team which let a late lead slip away. Missouri couldn’t capitalize at the free throw line, while Xavier did. Freshman Terrell Holloway nailed all ten of his free throws, including scoring the last six Musketeer points. However, Xavier turned the ball over 20 times.
Xavier then pulled out a miracle win the following afternoon with a half-court buzzer beating three pointer in overtime from Sophomore Dante Jackson. The Musketeers played one of the most evenly matched games in recent memory against the Hokies. Each team turned the ball over 16 times, Virginia Tech won the battle of the boards by one, and each team shot nearly 38%.
Two days later, Xavier posted their biggest victory of the season by defeating a ranked Memphis Tigers team on ESPN2. The Musketeers played their best ball of the season to date. They had more rebounds and steals than the athletic Tigers, while turning it over just 10 times. However, they only connected on 2-14 from three point range, and shot 36% for the game. But Sean Miller proved that defense does, in fact, win championships, as the Musketeers were able to get past Missouri, Virginia Tech, and Memphis to be crowned champions of the Puerto Rico Tip-off.
Xavier’s most recent victory came over backyard rival, Miami (OH). In typical Miami vs. Xavier fashion, the game was close and ugly. Xavier still struggled from three (2-12), but continued to cut back on the turnovers (9). The free-throw woes returned, as the Musketeers made only 22 of 38 attempts. Miami led for most of the game, but senior B.J. Raymond willed Xavier to victory by stepping into the point guard role, a role which he’s never taken on in his four years as a Musketeer. Raymond took over the point guard role after Dante Jackson missed the majority of the second half with leg cramps.
Through six games, one thing has been certain, it hasn’t been pretty, but it’s been effective. No two games have looked the same, but Head Coach Sean Miller has been able to always find a way to win. It’s easy to see that the future is very bright for Sean Miller and his Musketeers.

Through Six Games:

The Bad:
• Free-throw shooting- Xavier is shooting 67% on the year.
• Three-point shooting- Xavier is shooting 29% on the year.
• Turnovers- The Musketeers are averaging nearly 16 turnovers per game, while averaging only 10 assists.
• Inconsistency because of Inexperience- Xavier is mixing in five new players including Jamel McLean, Kenny Frease, Brad Redford, Brian Walsh and Terrell Holloway. All have shown the ability to play effectively. They’ve also shown they have the ability to look lost.
• Guard play- Or lack of it. Terrell Holloway is out 2-4 weeks with a stress fracture in his foot. Mark Lyons is ineligible. Dante Jackson missed most of the second half of the Miami game with cramps. And Jordan Crawford is ineligible, as well.
• The Atlantic Ten- If you were to take away Xavier and Dayton, this league would barely be above .500. Charlotte has already racked up impressive losses to Cal State Fullerton, Appalachian State, and Old Dominion. Temple lost to Buffalo. UMass has losses to Jacksonville State and Wisconsin-Green Bay. Saint Louis has a loss to Detroit. These are the teams that are supposed to challenge for the top of the league. So far, the A-10 has been flat out embarrassing.

The Good:
• 6-0- No matter how you slice it and dissect it, Xavier is 6-0. Despite their inconsistencies, they’ve found ways to keep winning.
• National Ranking- Until they get beat (and maybe not even then), Xavier is going to stay ranked.
• It’s early- Xavier should only get better. The freshman will continue to see minutes and gain experience. The seniors should continue to step up. It is unbelievable to think that Xavier is 6-0 and is only going to get better.
• The front court- Derrick Brown, BJ Raymond, CJ Anderson, and Jamel McLean are averaging nearly 42 of Xavier’s 69 points per game. Jason Love also leads the team in rebounds.
• The defense- Sean Miller has this team playing like his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. Have a stifling defense (giving up less than 60 points per game) and do just enough offensively to keep winning.
• Terrell Holloway- Xavier’s biggest question mark coming into the season was point guard play. Terrell Holloway answered that question in Puerto Rico. He didn’t miss a free throw (20 for 20), and helped ice the games against Memphis and Missouri. He’s played extremely well for a freshman as he’s managed the game effectively. Xavier needs him back and healthy if they want to continue their winning ways.

Atlantic Ten 2008-2009 Men's Basketball Season Preview: Part Five

hehmand — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:27:30 GMT

In last week?s Atlantic Ten article I previewed some names to remember come March. As always, here?s a quick recap:

An?Juan Wilderness (Charlotte)
Marcus Johnson (Dayton)
Brenton Butler (Fordham)
Wynton Witherspoon (George Washington)
Jerrell Williams (LaSalle)
Kevin Anderson (Richmond)
Keith Cothran (Rhode Island)
Tasheed Carr (Saint Joseph?s)
Lavoy Allen (Temple)
Dante Jackson (Xavier)

In this fifth and final Atlantic Ten season preview article, I?ll highlight some key non-conference match ups that should have all A-10 fans marking their calendar.

Charlotte 49ers
November 27 vs. Arizona State
The 49ers get an early season test against a team that arguably should have been in the NCAA Tournament last season. This season, the Sun Devils are ranked in the preseason Top 25 and have Pac-10 title hopes. This is a great chance for Charlotte to make an early statement and take their place as one of the top teams in the Atlantic Ten.

Dayton Flyers
November 29 vs. Marquette
The young Flyers take on the experienced Golden Eagles, one of the Big East favorites. The two teams should meet in the Chicago Invitational, a tournament Xavier won last season by defeating eight-ranked Indiana. Can the Atlantic Ten make it two years in a row? Dayton has a legitimate chance.

Duquesne Dukes
December 13 vs. West Virginia
The Dukes will be down this year. But they could spring a trap on Bob Huggins? Mountaineers in Pittsburgh.

George Washington
December 7 vs. Maryland
Maryland has been down the past few seasons. George Washington had a disappointing 2007-2008 season. This would be a nice win for Karl Hobbs and could place the Colonials back on the right track.

La Salle Explorers
December 14 vs. Villanova
La Salle has the opportunity to be the biggest surprise in the Atlantic Ten this season. What better opportunity to prove that than against a Top 25 ranked rival. La Salle could shake up Philadelphia?s ?Big Five? this season, with Villanova being the first to potentially fall.

Massachusetts
November 18 at Memphis
This story writes itself. Former coach John Calipari brings in his former school in an early season match up. Memphis gets an early test for its young team, while UMass has the chance to take down an old coach and show the nation that the Minutemen are for real this season.

December 13 at Kansas
UMass travels to defending national champion Kansas and could steal a win. Kansas lost a lot of talent from their title team, while UMass has one of the most underrated backcourts in the nation. Wouldn?t it be something if the Minutemen could take down the national champion and national runner-up?

Rhode Island
December 20 at Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State isn?t ranked. Nor is Rhode Island. But what makes this game intriguing is Travis Ford, the former UMass head coach. He?ll get a good challenge from a former A-10 rival.

Richmond Spiders
November 18 at Syracuse
1991 NCAA Tournament First Round, anyone?

December 19 vs. Wake Forest
Wake Forest (Preseason #24) is a team loaded with potential. The Spiders will get a great chance to see if the magic from last year is still hanging around.

Saint Joseph?s Hawks
Maui Invitational
The Hawks get to travel to Maui for the prestigious Maui Invitational. The field is loaded with top ten talent, including Texas (Saint Joe?s first round game, November 24), Notre Dame, and preseason number one, North Carolina. Saint Joe?s has perhaps the best opportunity of any Atlantic Ten team to make some real noise on the national level.

Temple Owls
December 13 vs. Tennessee
The schedule has lightened a bit since the departure of John Chaney. But the Owls still have their usual tough non-conference schedule. The marquee match up is a nationally televised ESPN game against 2008 Sweet 16 team, Tennessee. The Owls have hopes for back-to-back Atlantic Ten titles. Beating Tennessee could make them the front-runner for that honor.

Xavier Musketeers
Puerto Rico Tip-off
The preseason favorite Musketeers have a golden opportunity to turn more heads this year. Coming off an impressive Elite 8 run, Sean Miller has the Musketeers primed for another year in the spotlight. The Puerto Rico Tip-off provides plenty of potential challenges. The Musketeers play Missouri on November 20, and have the opportunity to play Virginia Tech and either USC or Memphis. A few wins in Puerto Rico will go a long way come March.

December 20 vs. Duke
This may be the biggest non-conference game in the Atlantic Ten this season. The Musketeers landed a neutral-site game with the Blue Devils in New Jersey to be televised nationally on CBS. Xavier could not only do itself a huge favor by knocking off preseason top ten Duke, but also lend more credibility to the Atlantic Ten.

Atlantic Ten Votes on Preseason Predictions

hehmand — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:33:59 GMT

The coaches predcitions really haven't been much different than my own:

2008-09 ATLANTIC 10 MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
First-Team School Cl. Pos. Ht. Hometown PPG RPG Asts Stls Blks
Derrick Brown Xavier Jr. F 6-8 Dayton, Ohio 10.9 6.5 63 33 30
Dionte Christmas Temple Sr. G 6-5 Philadelphia, Pa. 19.7 5.9 86 46 7
Kevin Lisch Saint Louis Sr. G 6-2 Belleville, Ill. 14.6 3.8 96 37 4
Chris Lowe Massachusetts Sr. G 6-0 Mount Vernon, N.Y. 11.8 3.3 214 57 5
Ahmad Nivins Saint Joseph’s Sr. F 6-9 Jersey City, N.J. 14.4 5.8 16 22 39

Second-Team
Rob Diggs George Washington Sr. F 6-8 Brandywine, Md. 13.9 7.7 27 21 31
Ricky Harris Massachusetts Jr. G 6-2 Baltimore, Md. 18.2 2.5 63 56 5
Tommie Liddell Saint Louis Sr. G 6-4 East St. Louis, Ill. 12.3 4.3 60 18 6
Lamont Mack Charlotte Sr. F 6-7 Chicago, Ill. 12.8 5.1 46 36 11
Chris Wright Dayton So. F 6-8 Trotwood, Ohio 10.4 5.7 5 5 14

Third-Team
C.J. Anderson Xavier Sr. G/F 6-6 Cincinnati, Ohio 10.7 5.9 54 31 10
Kevin Anderson Richmond So. G 5-11 Duluth, Ga. 10.7 2.7 94 55 6
Jimmy Baron Rhode Island Sr. G 6-3 East Greenwich, R.I. 14.2 2.1 64 18 1
Rodney Green La Salle Jr. G 6-5 Philadelphia, Pa. 13.4 5.0 101 45 7
David Gonzalvez Richmond Jr. G/F 6-4 Marietta, Ga. 11.7 3.0 64 42 11

Rookie Team
Melquan Bolding Duquesne Fr. G/F 6-4 Mount Vernon, N.Y. 18.0 7.0
Kenny Frease Xavier Fr. C 7-0 Massillon, Ohio 20.6 12.2
Terrell Holloway Xavier Fr. G 6-0 Hempstead, N.Y. 14.0 7.0 (apg.)
Mark Lyons Xavier Fr. G 6-1 Schenectady, N.Y. 21.0 3.5 (apg.)
Paul Williams Dayton Fr. G 6-4 Detroit, Mich. 23.8 6.1

Defensive Team
Lavoy Allen Temple So. F 6-9 Morrisville, Pa. 8.1 5.7 55 17 52
Derrick Brown Xavier Jr. F 6-8 Dayton, Ohio 10.9 6.5 63 33 30
Kevin Lisch Saint Louis Sr. G 6-2 Belleville, Ill. 14.6 3.8 96 37 4
Chris Lowe Massachusetts Sr. G 6-0 Mount Vernon, N.Y. 11.8 3.3 214 57 5
Garrett Williamson Saint Joseph’s Jr. G 6-5 Lower Merion, Pa. 5.3 2.7 89 39 18

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Xavier (44) 8. Richmond
2. Temple (12) 9. Rhode Island
3. Dayton (3) 10. La Salle
4. Saint Joseph’s 11. George Washington
5. Charlotte (2) 12. Duquesne
6. Massachusetts 13. Fordham
7. Saint Louis 14. St. Bonaventure
First-place votes in parentheses

Atlantic Ten 2008-2009 Men's Basketball Season Preview: Part Four

hehmand — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:28:44 GMT

Two weeks ago, I posted an article that took a look at the top ten returning players in the Atlantic Ten. Here is a quick recap:

-Chris Lowe (Massachusetts)
-David Gonzalvez (Richmond)
-C.J. Anderson (Xavier)
-Tommy Liddell (St. Louis)
-Chris Wright (Dayton)
-Jimmy Baron Jr. (Rhode Island)
-Derrick Brown (Xavier)
-Ricky Harris (Massachusetts)
-Ahmad Nivins (Saint Joseph?s)
-Dionte Christmas (Temple)

This week, I will be taking a deeper look at ten players who you may not know yet, but may by season?s end.

An?Juan Wilderness 6-foot-6 forward, Charlotte
The highly touted recruit is entering into his sophomore year under Bobby Lutz. Wilderness put up big numbers in high school (20.4 points per game, 11.0 rebounds per game in 2005) and made an immediate impact in his freshman season as a 49er. He averaged 8.1 points per game and averaged nearly five rebounds. With Leemire Goldwire gone, Bobby Lutz is looking for other options and Wilderness will be one of his go-to men. Look for the athletic forward to continue to have impressive numbers and help guide Charlotte to the postseason.

Marcus Johnson 6-foot-3 guard, Dayton
Many people will tell you that star sophomore Chris Wright is going to make the Flyers tick in the ?08-?09 season. While Wright will continue to shine (#6 returning A-10 player), Marcus Johnson is what will really make the Flyers go. You may not know him yet for two reasons: the previously mentioned Chris Wright, as well as former Flyer great, Brian Roberts. But with Roberts gone, this is now Johnson?s team to run. He?s steadily increased his production since his freshman year (over 6 points per game), averaging 10+ points per game last year, including 18 points per game in the Flyers final four Atlantic Ten match ups. If he has a big season as the end of last season indicated, then the Flyers will have a big season.

Brenton Butler 6-foot-2 guard, Fordham
On paper, this upcoming season looks to be a transition year at Fordham. But Brenton Butler is the one man that could keep the Rams competitive. After the departures of Bryant Dunston and Marcus Stout, Butler takes his turn as the Rams star. Even with Dunston and Stout on the team, Butler averaged 11 points per game in his sophomore season. However, Butler will have to find consistency this year to keep the Rams relevant. Twice last season Butler scored zero points in a game and two points in three other games. On the other hand, he scored 15+ points in 11 different games. If he can find the touch on a nightly basis, the Rams could pull off some upsets this season.

Wynton Witherspoon 6-foot-7 forward, George Washington
Rob Diggs is going to carry the load this year in Washington D.C. Coaches in the Atlantic Ten know that, having voted Diggs onto the preseason all Atlantic Ten 2nd team. However, Diggs is going to need some help, and senior forward Wynton Witherspoon should be able to provide it. Witherspoon averaged 11 points and 4 rebounds per game a year ago, slightly behind Diggs? 13.9 and 7.7. Witherspoon fits the mold of the typical Karl Hobbs forward, long and athletic. Combining Witherspoon?s athleticism and positive production from a season ago with Rob Diggs will give most Atlantic Ten teams fits on any night and make Karl Hobbs? season a little less stressful than last.

Jerrell Williams 6-foot-8 forward, LaSalle
LaSalle is one of those teams that will get overlooked this season in the Atlantic Ten, but they will have the ability to provide a trap game for any team in the league. Junior guard Rodney Green will provide the majority of the scoring output, while Williams will provide the majority of the rebounding. He pulled in 6.4 boards per game in his freshman year. He also gives Coach John Gianinni the added benefit of being the team?s second returning leading scorer. If he improves upon his 9 points per game, he could help the Explorers shock several teams in the league. A postseason bid isn?t out of the question, either.

Keith Cothran 6-foot-4 guard, Rhode Island
As I have previously written, Rhode Island had an extremely disappointing finish to a promising season last year. At one point, they had been ranked in the top 25 and an NCAA appearance seemed certain. Then things started to drop off, including Keith Cothran?s output. He averaged nearly 10 points per game in the Rams? first 10 games a year ago. His last 10 games, however, were a different story, as he averaged less than 7 points. The positive here, though, is that Cothran has all the talent in the world to be one of the better guards in the league. If the Rams can find the Cothran from the beginning of last year, coupled with sharp shooting Jimmy Baron, the Rams could finally get that elusive NCAA bid.

Kevin Anderson 6-foot guard, Richmond
Richmond had an extremely surprising season last year. They finished fourth in the league and were invited to the College Basketball Invitational. Kevin Anderson was a huge part of the Spider?s success. Now, Kevin Anderson may not be a secret in this league anymore. The coaches have taken notice of his ability, voting him onto the preseason Atlantic 10 3rd team. The Spiders highest rated recruit from 2007 put up impressive numbers for any freshman with 10.7 points per game and 3 assists per game. The Spiders high expectations took a slight hit over the summer with the loss of big-man Dan Geriot for the season, but Anderson will pick up the slack. He should improve his numbers in all categories, and coupled with fellow preseason 3rd team selection, David Gonzalvez, could lead the Spiders to a better season that last.

Tasheed Carr 6-foot-4 guard, Saint Joseph?s
It?s hard to be a senior guard with starting experience and still be relatively unknown. That?s the case with Tasheed Carr, but only because in his four years as a Hawk, Pat Calthes, Rob Ferguson and Ahmad Nivins have garnered all of the attention. Calathes and Ferguson are gone, while Nivins remains. That fact gives the Hawks one of the most dangerous inside-out combinations in basketball. Carr averaged nearly 11 points per game a year ago, as well as 5.6 assists. With the aid of Nivins, his assist and point numbers should both increase this year, easily putting Phil Martelli back into the postseason, and potentially a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Lavoy Allen 6-foot-9 guard, Temple
Allen put up an impressive 52 blocks a season ago, landing him on the preseason Atlantic Ten all-defensive team. Even more impressive is that he managed 8.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. The sophomore should have a breakout season this year, and is next in line behind Dionte Christmas as Temple?s star. While the loss of Mark Tyndale will be greatly felt, the emergence of Allen will help take some of the load off of Christmas. The former Rivals.com Top 150 recruit will be a defensive force in the league, while still being able to score (he put up double digits ten times a year ago). With Allen?s help, Temple should challenge for a league title and should make its way back to the NCAA Tournament.

Dante Jackson 6-foot-5 guard, Xavier
Everyone in the Atlantic Ten knew about Stanley Burrell and Drew Lavender. They were both 1000+ point scorers and led Xavier to the Elite 8 last year. Both are gone and sophomore Dante Jackson is primed and ready to step into the guard position. While only a sophomore, Jackson will be Xavier?s most experienced returning guard (along with Indiana transfer Jordan Crawford, whose eligibility for this season is still in question). While he didn?t put up eye-popping numbers a year ago (only 2.4 points per game), his size and quickness make him a tough match up. The former Rivals.com Top 100 recruit earned valuable minutes and experience in the Musketeers run to the Elite 8 a year ago, and with the grooming of head coach and Big East all-time assist leader Sean Miller, Jackson should emerge as a solid guard this season, and a great guard in the future.

Atlantic Ten TV Schedule

hehmand — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:16:13 GMT

The A-10 has released its national TV schedule for the 2008-09 basketball season. Last year's Elite 8 finisher Xavier dominates the schedule with 18 nationally televised games.

*CBS** College*

Wed. Dec. 3

Sat. Dec. 6

Sat. Jan. 3

Thu. Jan. 8

Thu. Jan. 15

Sun. Jan. 18

Thu. Jan. 22

Thu. Jan. 29

Sun. Feb. 8

Wed. Feb. 18

Thu. Mar. 5

ESPN

Tue. Nov. 18

Tue. Nov. 25

Wed. Nov. 26

Fri. Nov. 28

Sat. Dec. 13

*May be aired

#May be aired

ESPN/ESPN2

Thu. Feb. 5

Thu. Feb. 12

*Thu.
Feb. 19 Xavier at
Charlotte 7:00 (finally, XU

Thu. Feb. 26

Thu. Mar. 5

Network designation

ESPN2

Fri. Nov. 21

Sun. Nov. 23

Mon. Nov. 24

Fri. Nov. 28

Sun. Nov. 30

Thu. Dec. 11

Sat. Dec. 13

Sat. Dec. 20

Sat. Jan. 17

Sat. Jan. 24

Wed. Feb. 11

Sat. Mar. 14

*May be aired

ESPNU

Sun. Nov. 16

Thu. Nov. 20

Fri. Nov. 21

Thu. Nov. 27

Sat. Dec. 13

Sun. Dec. 14

Fri. Dec. 19

Tue. Dec. 23

Sat. Jan. 24

Mon. Dec. 29

Sat. Jan. 31

*May be aired on

CBS

Sat. Dec. 20

Atlantic Ten
hehmand — Thu, Sports Network
Auburn at Xavier 8:00
Boston College at Massachusetts 8:30
Vanderbilt at Massachusetts 5:00
Saint Louis at Xavier 8:00
Xavier at Rhode Island 8:00
Charlotte at Saint Joseph’s 4:00
Saint Louis at Temple 8:00
Saint Louis at Dayton 8:00
Saint Joseph’s at Massachusetts 3:00
Saint Joseph’s at Saint Louis 10:00
Saint Joseph’s at Temple 7:00
Massachusetts at Memphis 12:00
Richmond at Syracuse 6:00
Saint Joseph’s vs. Indiana/Notre Dame* TBA
Saint Joseph’s at Maui Invitational# TBA
Duquesne at Duke 3:00
Tennessee at Temple 12:00
Massachusetts at Kansas 2:00
on ESPNU depending on outcome of previous game
on ESPN2 or ESPNU depending on outcome of previous game
Temple at Xavier 7:00
Temple at Saint Joseph’s 7:00

fans who can't afford to travel can watch this game)*
Xavier at Saint Joseph’s 7:00
Dayton at Xavier 9:00
to be determined at a later date
Xavier vs. Fairfield/Virginia Tech TBA*
Xavier at Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic TBA*
Saint Joseph’s vs. Texas 3:00
Charlotte vs. Baylor/ Providence* TBA
Charlotte at Anaheim Classic* TBA
Saint Joseph’s at Villanova 8:00
Xavier at Cincinnati 8:00
Temple at Kansas 2:30
Temple at Massachusetts 7:00
Xavier at Louisiana State 8:00
Xavier at Dayton 7:00
Atlantic 10 Championship Final 6:00
on ESPNU depending on outcome of previous game
Rhode Island at Duke 4:30
Xavier vs. Missouri 1:00
Xavier vs. Fairfield/Virginia Tech TBA*
Charlotte vs. Arizona State 9:00
Virginia Commonwealth at Richmond 2:00
Villanova at La Salle 7:00
Wake Forest at Richmond 7:00
Butler at Xavier 7:00
Charlotte at Temple 6:00
Temple at Villanova 7:00
Massachusetts at Xavier 12:00
espn360.com depending on outcome of previous game
Xavier vs. Duke 2:00
2008-2009 Men's Basketball Preview: Part 3

09 Oct 2008 00:12:02 GMT

The first two parts of the Atlantic
Ten season preview have focused specifically on the 14 teams that comprise the
Atlantic Ten Conference and my prediction for their order of finish. A quick recap of my prediction:

14.
St. Bonaventure

13.
Duquesne

12.
Fordham

11.
LaSalle

10.
George Washington

9.
Richmond

8.
Rhode Island

7.
Charlotte

6.
Dayton

5.
St. Louis

4.
Saint Joseph’s

3.
Massachusetts

2.
Temple

1.
Xavier

Now with this article it is time to
get more in depth with the conference.
I’ll be taking a look at the top returning players. In my next article (part four) I’ll be taking
a look at players poised to have a breakout season. Part five will focus on coaches on the hot
seat and marquee match ups out of conference.

_Top
Ten Returning Players_

10. Chris Lowe 6-foot
guard, Massachusetts

The+other+ half of the best backcourt in
the Atlantic Ten is Chris Lowe. The senior guard enters his final
season at UMass ready to build off their deep NIT
run last season. Lowe is one of the best
assist men in the conference averaging
6.3 last year, and 7.6 over the Minutemen’s five game NIT stint. His assist
numbers should increase even more this year because of backcourt mate Ricky Harris. But Lowe isn’t all about passing. He can fill up the stat sheet in other ways. Last season he averaged a career best 11.8
points per game and 3.3 rebounds
per game. However, what will make Lowe
more dangerous this season is
previously mentioned Ricky Harris.
Defenses will try to key in on Harris and shut him down, leaving Lowe as a strong second
option. Because of that, look for Lowe’s numbers to increase even
more. If all goes right, UMass will
finally be back in the NCAA
Tournament, a place, one could argue, they should have been the past two seasons.

9. David Gonzalvez 6-foot-4
guard, Richmond

David
Gonzalvez has been a model of consistency in his two seasons with the Spiders. In his first year he averaged 9.6 points per
game and 11.7 points per game last season. With Dan Geriot out for the year, Gonzalvez becomes the
Spiders returning leading scorer, and is only one of three Spiders to
average double figures last year. The
good news for Spiders fans
is that he’s proven he can score at will, scoring 20 or more points in big games
last season against Memphis, Temple,
Charlotte and
UMass. If the Spiders want to improve off their
9-7 conference record a season ago, Gonzalvez
will have to keep increasing his scoring output.

8. C.J. Anderson 6-foot-6
forward, Xavier

In his first
season as a Musketeer, Anderson proved he was
worth the hype surrounding him after transferring from Manhattan.
It was there he averaged a near double-double at 18.8 points per game
and 9.4 rebounds per game. His numbers were down last year after averaging
10.7 points per game, but the Musketeers didn’t need Anderson as their offensive leader. Xavier
had five players score in double figures and any one of those five could lead
the team on any night, including C.J.
But this coming season with Drew Lavender, Stanley Burrell and Josh Duncan
gone, the Musketeers will need to rely more on the player Anderson
was at Manhattan.
Although he may seem undersized at his
position, his slashing ability and tenacity around the basket makes him an instant threat to hurt the opposition. Look for Anderson to have a big senior season and help
lead the Musketeers back to the NCAA Tournament.

7. Tommie Liddell 6-foot-5
guard, St. Louis

Tommie
Liddell had a rough transition to the beginning of the Rick Majerus era at St. Louis. Liddell saw a drop off in every offensive category from his sophomore season. At various points in the season he even
butted heads with his new head coach.
But this year should be a different story for Liddell. He had a full season under Majerus’ new
system and an off-season to work on his game.
Liddell has all the potential to be one of the top guards in the
conference, which he was in 2006-2007 when he averaged 15.4 points per game,
6.8 rebounds per game and 2.6 assists per game.
This season Liddell should be more comfortable with Majerus and come out
ready to end his Billiken career with a bang.
Expect the senior Liddell to
play more like his sophomore self and place himself back on the list as one of
the best guards in the A-10.

6. Chris Wright 6-foot-8
forward, Dayton

Chris
Wright was on pace to be the Atlantic Ten Rookie of the year until he
succumbed to an injury that sidelined him for nearly the entire conference season (he only played in one
conference game). In the fifteen games
he did play Wright averaged 10.4 points per game in only 20 minutes of
play. Wright, one of the most highly
touted recruits in Dayton
history, has shown the ability to be one of the most explosive players in the
conference. Teams will have a difficult
time in stopping the sophomore star.
Without last year’s leading scorer Brian Roberts, Wright will be option
number one for the Flyers. Because of that,
look for Wright to have a monster season where he will be competing for a slot
on the All Atlantic Ten First Team. And if his supporting cast plays to their
ability, and if Wright stays healthy, he could be able to lead the Flyers back to
the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.

5. Jimmy Baron, Jr. 6-foot-3
guard, Rhode Island

In
three seasons, Jimmy Baron has made 243 out of 578 three-point field goals. He’s made 379 total field goals. The bottom line is simple. Jimmy Baron is
one of the best deep shooters in the Atlantic Ten. Sixty-four percent of his career baskets have been from three and his final
season at Rhode Island
should be no different. In fact,
expect Baron to shoot and make more three’s.
Last season he averaged 14.2 points per on a team where he was not
the go-to- guy. With Will Daniels gone, the Rams are now
Baron’s team to run. On top of that,
Baron has one of the quickest releases
in the entire league which makes him
extremely tough to guard. Rhode Island’s
opposition is really going to have
to zero in on Baron and try to shut him down
if they want to beat the Rams. That’s no easy feat, however, as
Baron only scored in single
digits five times last season. This season is Baron’s last shot at the NCAA Tournament so expect him to have his best season yet.

4. Derrick Brown 6-foot-8
forward, Xavier

Derrick
Brown’s comparisons to former Xavier great James Posey are inevitable. They are long, athletic and extremely
exciting players. What separates the two was Posey’s
consistent shooting. Until now, a lot of
the Atlantic Ten may have
considered Brown as nothing more than an exciting dunker who can jump out of the gym. But Brown will be quick to silence his critics this season. He’s the Musketeers top returning scorer and
should be their go-to guy. He averaged 10.9 points per game last year,
as well as 6.5 rebounds per game.
His length gives him the ability to be a defensive stopper, and his height, strength and athleticism gives him the
ability to be a back- to-the- basket type
forward. If he continues to develop his
jump shot (he shot 34% from three- point range last season), he could be the best all-around player in the Atlantic Ten.
One website, NBAdraft.net, already have Brown pegged as an NBA lottery pick next season. If everything falls into place, Brown could
surpass Posey in terms of skill. He could easily be the most versatile player
in the Atlantic Ten for the coming
season, which is great news for Musketeer fans, but bad news for everyone else.

*3.
*Ricky Harris
6-foot-2 guard, Massachusetts

Former head coach
Travis Ford left Massachusetts
a gift: Ricky Harris. Ford wishes he had
a player like Harris out at Oklahoma
State because his job
would be much easier. But the scariest
part about Ricky Harris is that he’s only had two seasons under his belt. Between his freshman and sophomore campaign
he increased his scoring average 13.7 points per game. He shot nearly 43% from the field last season
en route to putting up 18.2 points per game.
He scored over 20 points per game 17 times last season. He has the ability to go off for 30 or even
40 points on any given night. Coming into
his third season with the Minutemen, Harris will take over the reigns as team
leader, along with backcourt mate Chris Lowe.
The potent combination of Harris and Lowe will help carry UMass back to
the postseason. Ricky Harris could end
up adding some hardware to his trophy case along the way, namely Atlantic Ten
player of the year.

2. Ahmad Nivins
6-foot-9 forward, Saint Joseph’s

Saint Joseph’s has the best big man in the
Atlantic Ten in Ahmad Nivins. And that’s*after*
having a somewhat disappointing junior campaign in which his point total and
rebound total were down. However, one
could pinpoint that to a mid-season injury, as well as having Pat Calathes and
Rob Ferguson as main options. But this
year, Nivins is the number one man on Hawk Hill. He brings back his 1,177 career points and
570 career rebounds for one more shot at the NCAA Tournament. His size and power not only make him a force
in the Atlantic Ten but also at the national level. His post presence makes Saint Joseph’s a contender to knock off
anyone in the country and a contender for the Atlantic Ten title. Most teams in the conference will have a
tough time matching up with Nivins and he should have his most productive
season yet. Phil Martelli is going to rely
heavily on Nivins ability to carry the Hawks back to the NCAA Tournament. The combination of Martelli’s coaching and
Nivins post presence should give Hawk fans high hopes for 2008-2009.

*1.
**Dionte
Christmas* 6-foot-5 guard, Temple

If there is a more
explosive guard in the conference, I’d like to see him. Christmas led the Owls last year with 19.7
points per game (he averaged 20.0 points the year before), and that was with
Mark Tyndale on the team. Without
Tyndale by his side this year, Christmas will clearly be the number one option
and could average anywhere from 20-24 points per game this year. He scored 25 points or more six times last
season, including 37 against Duquesne.
If forward Lavoy Allen continues to provide an inside presence and open
up the outside for the Owls, Christmas will be even more deadly. Not all sits well with Christmas,
however. He ended his season on a
low-note last year, scoring only three points against Michigan State
in the NCAA Tournament. That should make
him hungry to have his best season yet as an Owl, which all but guarantees him
the Atlantic Ten player of the year and a potential All-American selection.

2008-2009 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Preview: Part Two

hehmand — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:12:49 GMT

About a week and a half ago I previewed the bottom half of the Atlantic Ten. This time I look into the top half of the conference. These are the teams that you should count on seeing in the postseason.

*7.
*Charlotte 49ers

Coming off a 2004 NCAA Tournament
appearance, Charlotte
looked to become an instant force in the Atlantic Ten. In their inaugural 2005-2006 season, Charlotte posted a
respectable 11-5 conference record. 2006-2007
saw a drop-off for Bobby Lutz’s team, going 7-9 in conference. Last season Lutz had his team back in form as
Charlotte stood
4-1 in A-10 play heading into February. A
month later, they were at a disappointing 6-7 conference record. Then star guard Leemire Goldwire turned things
on, averaging just under 23 points a game in Charlotte’s final three Atlantic Ten regular
season games that led the 49ers into the Atlantic 10 Tournament on a roll. An amazing comeback win over Massachusetts (most likely knocking the Minutemen out of
the NCAA Tournament) led Charlotte to the
semi-finals where they fell to eventual champion Temple.
Goldwire led the way with just under 22 points per game in the Atlantic
Ten Tournament. Unfortunately for Charlotte, Goldwire ended his career with only six points
in an NIT first round loss at Nebraska. Heading into their fourth Atlantic 10 season,
Charlotte looks
to replace Goldwire’s 18.6 points per game.
Seniors Lamont Mack and Charlie Coley, along with Sophomore An’Juan
Wilderness will provide a lift in the frontcourt, but the real task will be in
finding consistent guard play. Michael Gerrity left the program earlier this
month, leaving the 49ers with four guards averaging a combined 14.5 points per
game last season, four points less than
Leemire Goldwire. But if Lutz can find
the consistency at guard, his 49ers could have their best A-10 season to date.

*6.
*Dayton Flyers

There is not one Atlantic Ten
coach who needs a big season more than Brian Gregory. He had a successful first season in 2003-2004
taking over for Oliver Purnell. He led
the Flyers to an NCAA Tournament berth.
Since then, the Flyers have largely been a disappointment, earning only
one postseason appearance in which they lost in the NIT quarterfinals to Ohio State
last season. Last season should have been Gregory’s big year, but
injuries to Charles Little and superstar freshman Chris Wright sent the Flyers
from 14-1 to 23-11. Heading into this
season, the Flyers will be without arguably the greatest guard in UD history,
Brian Roberts and his near 2,000 career points.
The good news for Dayton
though is the talent that remains. The
Flyers have some excitement coming into the 2008-2009 season. Sophomore Chris Wright is back and
healthy. Junior Marcus Johnson averaged
14.1 points per game in the Flyers last seven games last year. Gregory has a solid recruiting class coming
in. However, like Charlotte, the Flyers need to get consistency
out of other guards to make up for the loss of Brian Roberts. If junior guards London Warren, as well as
incoming freshman Paul Williams play well, and if senior Charles Little
improves off his 8 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game, the Flyers could
do some serious damage in this conference.
But if the Flyers keep losing to conference rival Xavier (six straight
losses) and keep disappointing in the league in general (24-29 in the past
three seasons), Brian Gregory could be looking for a new job.

*5.
Saint Louis
Billikens*

Saint Louis made some of the biggest news
last off-season. No, they didn’t land a
top ten recruit. They landed a major
head coach in Rick Majerus. The problem,
however, was that Majerus was dead set on changing the system that had been in
place. Star guards Tommie Liddell and
Kevin Lisch both had production drop offs from the prior season. That led the Billikens to a disappointing 7-9
Atlantic Ten record and no postseason.
So some maybe wondering why the Billikens are so high on the preseason
list. There are quite a few
reasons. The biggest reason is that
Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell are great guards. Both guards are already 1,000+ point
scorers. Both have had a season in Rick
Majerus’ new system. Both will be
looking to end their Billiken career with a bang. Also, Rick Majerus has had a season to
recruit. Coming in this season will be
near seven-foot center and Rivals.com #107 recruit, Brett Thompson. Last, but not least, the Billikens finally
have an on-campus home, the state-of-the-art Chaifetz Arena. Still, there are a lot of questions coming
into the 2008-2009 season for the Billikens.
There is no question that they have the talent. It will just be a matter of getting
everything to click this season. If that
happens, Saint Louis
could be the surprise team of the league.
If not, the Billikens could slide further down the standings.

*4.
**St. Joseph’s
Hawks*

Other than the days of Jameer
Nelson and Delonte West, St. Joe’s is usually nowhere near the top of the
league when it comes to athleticism. But
they are always near the top of the league when it comes to consistency. Since 2001-2002, the Hawks have won 91 league
games (including post-season). That’s an
average of 13 victories a year. Also,
since that 2002 season, the Hawks have only had one Rivals.com Top 150
recruit. That man was Ahmad Nivins in
2005. And he’s back for his last season
as a Hawk. He averaged 14.4 points per
game last season and was one of the top big men in the conference. Also coming back is the backcourt of Tasheed
Carr and Darrin Govens (combined 20.6 points per game, combined 8 assists per
game). The bad news for the Hawks is
that Pat Calathes (all conference first team) and Rob Ferguson (11.9 points per
game), two big men who could shoot or play in the low post, are gone. That would be a problem for most Atlantic Ten
teams. But not St. Joe’s. Head Coach Phil Martelli is a basketball
miracle worker and always finds a way to get the most out of his teams. This year should be no different. With loads of talent still in stock from last
year’s NCAA Tournament appearance, the Hawks will look to capitalize and make
another March run. Don’t be surprised if
they do. It wouldn’t be Martelli’s first
time.

*3. Massachusetts
Minutemen*

UMass should have been in the NCAA
Tournament last season. They had
non-conference wins over Syracuse, Boston College
and Houston. They beat Dayton
once and Rhode Island
twice in conference. They finished 10-6,
well enough for third place behind Temple
and Xavier. Then Leemire Goldwire of Charlotte took control of
their quarterfinal match-up in the Atlantic Ten Tournament. UMass led 36-17 at the half. Goldwire had only five points. Then UMass gave up 50 second half points, 19
to Goldwire. The defeat, however, which
would have crippled most teams, seemed to refocus UMass. They made an impressive NIT run all the way
to the title game before falling to Ohio
State. The Minutemen off season seemed to parallel
that Charlotte
game. Head Coach Travis Ford turned down
several high profile coaching jobs to stay with the Minutemen. Then in a shocking twist, Ford bolted to Oklahoma State.
Now it’s up to new Head Coach Derek Kellogg to refocus UMass. They will be without Atlantic Ten Player of
the Year Gary Forbes, as well as versatile forward Etienne Brower. But the Minutemen have arguably the best backcourt
in the league, and one of the best in the country. The senior tandem of Chris Lowe and Ricky
Harris (combined 30 points per game) will lead the way back to the
postseason. They’ll be joined by
Rivals.com Top 150 recruit in point guard David Gibbs, which gives UMass even
more depth at guard. Derek Kellogg has
all the tools in place to take UMass back to the NCAA Tournament for the first
time since 1998 and put UMass firmly back at the top of the conference.

*2.
*Temple Owls

Fran Dunphy is bringing Temple back to where they
belong: the national spotlight, the NCAA Tournament, fighting for the top of
the Atlantic 10. Last season saw the
Owls win the Atlantic Ten Tournament title for the first time since 2001. With the duo of Dionte Christmas and Mark Tyndale,
it should have been no surprise that Temple
would be in that position. But it was a
surprise. Temple was 6-8 on January 13^th^. They finished the season by going 12-4,
earning the second overall seed in the Atlantic 10. Fran Dunphy is primed to lead the Owls to a
repeat performance. Yes, Mark Tyndale is
gone. But Dionte Christmas is back. And anytime a team brings back a guard as talented
as Christmas, they are bound to be dangerous.
The senior has a legitimate chance to break 2,000 career points and will
look to increase his 19.7 points per game.
Sophomore guard Lavoy Allen will look to have a breakout year after
putting up 8.1 points in his debut season.
Temple
also brings back guard Ryan Brooks (8.6 points per game). They will challenge UMass with depth at
guard, and will play a similar exciting, run-and-gun style. It took time for things to click last season,
but this year Temple should start rolling from the
word go. Temple should be back in the NCAA Tournament
again this season, and with a star senior guard, could do some damage come
March.

*1.
**Xavier
Musketeers*

As Ric Flair always said, “To be
the man, you gotta beat the man.” Well,
Xavier is and has been ‘the man’ ever since joining the conference in 1995. They’ve won four conference tournaments and
have won or shared six regular season championships. They’ve appeared in the NCAA Tournament nine times
since joining the league. They had the
2003 National Player of the Year in David West. They are also only one of nine
teams in the country to make two “Elite Eight” appearances in the last five
seasons. They have been the epitome of consistency
and will look to capitalize on last year’s “Elite Eight” appearance and first
30 win season in school history. Not all
things are perfect for the Musketeers though.
The senior trio of Josh Duncan, Stanley Burrell and Drew Lavender graduated. That leaves the Musketeers looking for
answers, primarily at the guard position.
Luckily for reigning Atlantic Ten coach of the year Sean Miller, the
corps of freshmen and sophomore guards should step in and pay dividends. Sophomore guard and former Rivals.com Top 150
recruit Dante Jackson will see more minutes this year. The hole left by Drew Lavender at point guard
is the biggest question mark, but Miller has brought in guards Terrell Holloway
(Rivals.com #100), Mark Lyons (Rivals.com #103) and Brad Redford
to fight for minutes. Better news for
Musketeer fans is that the front line should be the best it has been in some
years. Forwards C.J. Anderson (10.7
points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game), potential NBA first round draft pick Derrick
Brown (10.9 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game), and guard/forward B.J.
Raymond (9.9 points per game) all return.
Sophomore forward and Tulsa transfer
Jamel McLean (6.0 points per game, 4.8
rebounds per game in 2006-2007) is eligible.
Miller also added Kenny Frease (Rivals.com #41) at center to go along
with Jason Love (6.0 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game). The mixture of an experienced front line, a
Top 25 recruiting class and arguably the best coach in the league will keep
Xavier at the top of the league and back in the NCAA Tournament. And unless someone else steps up, Xavier
looks to continue to be ‘the man’ for years to come.

Sean Miller At It Again...

hehmand — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:09:14 GMT

Sean Miller continues his strong recruiting. Rivals.com Top 150 recruit (#84) Kevin Parrom gave Miller and Xavier a verbal commitment late last week.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080914/SPT0102/809140423/

2008-2009 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Preview

hehmand — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:13:28 GMT

College football
season is finally here and kicking into gear.
That means that the college basketball season is right around the
corner. With that in mind, here is a
glance at the 2008-2009 Atlantic 10 Conference.

*14.
*St. *Bonaventure
Bonnies*

March 2000 was a long, long time ago.
For those not familiar, that was the last NCAA Tournament appearance for
the St. Bonaventure program. They took
powerhouse Kentucky
to the limit, forcing three overtimes, before falling short of shocking the
college basketball world. In the eight
years since, the program has fallen on its face. In 2003, eligibility issues created a
monumental scandal that lead to forfeits and firings. So when Head Coach Mark Schmidt took over the
program in 2007, he knew it would be a tough time turning things around. Unfortunately, 2008 won’t be that turn around
year. After going 2-14 in the conference
last year, the Bonnies lose their three leading scorers including Michael Lee,
top two assist men and two of its top three rebounders. Senior D’Lancy Carter (6.6 points per game,
6.2 rebounds per game) and Jonathan Hall, a 6-foot-5 Junior College transfer,
are going to have to have standout seasons for the Bonnies to survive.

Prediction: 1-15

13. Duquesne Dukes

Duquesne was seemingly headed in the right direction the past few
seasons. In 2006-2007 they had six
conference wins. Last year they amassed
seven Atlantic 10 victories. Then, in a
surprising move, leading scorer Shawn James and second leading scorer Kojo
Mensah left school early for the NBA draft.
Three others graduated, leaving the Dukes without their five top
scorers. But, the Dukes do return a
talented guard in Aaron Jackson (9 points per game); as well as bring in a
Rivals.com Top 150 recruit in Melquan Bolding.
2008-2009 will be a season that will provide a tough test for Coach Ron
Everhart. He’s been slowly improving the
program, but this year will be a step back.

Prediction: 4-12

12. Fordham Rams

Dereck Whittenburg was primed to have a historical season last season at
Fordham. His Rams were 10-6 in
conference play the year before. His
talented foursome that featured potential Atlantic 10 player of the year Bryant
Dunston, as well as Marcus Stout, Sebastian Greene and Michael Binns were
entering their senior year. It was safe
to say, like Duquesne, Fordham was headed in the right direction. Even though Bryant Dunston finished the
season with 15.5 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game, the numbers
translated to only six conference wins and a disappointing season. Things won’t get any better this year with
last year’s senior class departed. They
will still be able to rely on junior Brenton Butler (11.2 points per game), as
well as newcomer and Rivals.com Top 150 recruit Jiovanny Fontan. But the lack of experience will cost the Rams
their fair share of games.

Prediction: 4-12

11. *La Salle**Explorers*

Atlantic 10 second team all conference standout Darnell Harris and his
16.6 points per game are gone. But that
doesn’t leave Dr. John Giannini without plenty of options and experience
returning from a team that had a surprising 8-8 2007-2008 campaign. This team is loaded with juniors and seniors
including Rodney Green (13.4 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 3.2
assists per game), Jerrell Williams (9.1 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per
game) and Yves Mekongo-Mbala (8.3 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game). While losing a player like Harris is a huge
loss, it is the only significant loss the Explorers face entering the
season. Don’t be surprised to see the La
Salle Explorers finish the 2008-2009 season much higher than 11^th^ in
the conference. They will cause their
fair share of trouble.

Prediction: 6-10

*10.
**George
Washington Colonials*

Karl Hobbs is on the hot seat, no question about it. His Colonials went undefeated in conference
in 2005-2006. In 2006-2007, George
Washington won the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
Since then things have been slowly falling apart. They proceeded to lose to Vanderbilt in the 2007
NCAA First Round by an incredible 33 points.
Then, last season the Colonials went 5-11 and missed the Atlantic 10
Tournament altogether. Maureece Rice had
a disappointing finish to a nice Colonial career, averaging nearly seven points
per game less than his junior year. On
top of that, this past off-season, Karl Hobbs dismissed Cheyenne Moore and
Miles Beatty from the team. No doubt
this upcoming season could be the most important for Hobbs.
Luckily for him, he will have his usually long and athletic roster which
could bail him out. Led by Rob Diggs,
Wynton Witherspoon and Damian Hollis (34 total points per game, 18.2 rebounds
per game), the Colonials should improve.
But don’t be surprised if the Colonials have another disappointing
season and finish lower than 10^th^.

Prediction: 6-10

*9.
*Richmond Spiders

There was no bigger surprise in the Atlantic 10 last year than the
Richmond Spiders. The Spiders finished
tied for fourth in the conference, earning a bye in the conference tournament,
as well as a place in the first College Basketball Invitational. The Spiders return three of their top four
scorers to try and duplicate the success from last year. Don’t be surprised if David Gonzalvez takes
over this season. Gonzalvez scored 20
points or more seven times last season including 25 against national runner-up Memphis. A tough conference schedule could slow the
Spiders (they play Saint Louis, Charlotte and George Washington twice). Also, last year’s leading scorer, Dan Geriot,
is out for the year with a knee injury.
But what could really hurt the Spiders are off the court issues. On September 8^th^ two assistant
coaches involved with Richmond’s
men and women’s teams left the school over recruiting violations. Time will tell if the NCAA steps in and how
well Coach Chris Mooney and his Spiders respond.

Prediction: 7-9

8. Rhode Island Rams

At one point last year, the Rhode Island Rams were 14-1 and ranked in the
Top 25. Then they started Atlantic 10
play. After such a hot start, the Rams
cooled considerably, and arguably had the most disappointing second half of the
season for any Atlantic 10 team. The
Rams settled for a National Invitational Tournament berth and then lost their
first round game at Creighton after losing a 15 point halftime lead. The Rams
look to rebound after a disappointing season without leading scorer and
Atlantic 10 first team performer Will Daniels (18.6 points per game, 6.5
rebounds per game). They also lose
sharpshooter Parfait Bitee who made 51.2% of his three-point attempts. The Rams do return another sharpshooter in
coach Jim Baron’s son, Jimmy Baron (40.6% three-point shooting). They also return Kaheim Seawright, a 6-foot-8
forward who chipped in 9.2 points per game last season. The Rams will rely heavily on these two
experienced seniors to end their careers on a high-note. The Rams could finish higher, but the rest of
the league may be too talented for that to happen.

Prediction: 9-7