2014-2015 _ MEN'S BASKETBALL TOP 144 PREVIEWS

[Copenhagen]

www.collegesportsmadness.com/mens-basketball/top-144-previews

#144 _ Fordham Rams

2013-2014 Overall Rank: #144
Conference Rank: #11 A-10

Fordham #144
Fordham Men's Basketball 2014-2015 Preview

Fordham has struggled since Tom Pecora took over the program in 2010. Those struggles didn’t start when Pecora arrived though, as the Rams haven’t made a trip to the postseason since 1992 when Fordham was last in the NCAA Tournament. Despite those struggles, there is reason for hope in 2014-15. That hope rests squarely on the shoulders of Jon Severe. The sophomore guard was a major pickup for the Rams when he committed to play for Fordham before last season. Severe, a local kid from Queens, was a 2013 Parade All-American and the Mr. Basketball for the state of New York as a senior and continued to thrive as a freshman last year. Severe set a Fordham freshman record for points in a season, 536, last year, averaging over 17 per game. With Severe back and a solid mix of returnees and highly touted newcomers surrounding him, Fordham basketball looks to be on the rise.

2013-14 Record: 10-21, 2-14
2013-14 Postseason: none
Coach: Tom Pecora
Coach Record: 34-85 at Fordham, 189-211 overall

Who’s Out:
Fordham loses a key cog from last year’s team in Branden Frazier. Frazier was the leader of last season’s Fordham team, leading the team in minutes, 36.8 per game, points, 18.2 per game, assists, 4.3 per game, and was third in rebounding, 5.1 per game. He was one of three seniors on last year’s team, joining Leo Walsh and Khalid Robinson, who each saw limited minutes last season, but that wasn’t the extent of the departures. Four players transferred this offseason and leave the back end of Fordham’s rotation depleted. Chris Whitehead and Jermaine Myers both leave after playing in at least 25 games apiece a year ago. Whitehead is a forward who averaged 2.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and an assist per game in 11.8 minutes per contest last season, while Myers leaves after leading the team in free throw percentage at over 90%. Also gone are brothers Jared and Jake Fay. Both players saw limited minutes, as Jake played in 15 games and Jared saw action in just three contests.

Who’s In:
Tom Pecora brings in a number of newcomers that has Fordham’s future looking bright. Leading the way is local forward Eric Paschall. The 6-foot-6 forward was a consensus three star recruit and he should have an early impact at Fordham. Paschall averaged over 20 points per game as a sophomore and junior at Dobbs Ferry in New York before transferring to St. Thomas More in Connecticut for his senior year, where he won the New England Prepatory School Athletic Council Player of the Year award. He will join a pair of red-shirt freshmen to lead the new players. Antwoine Anderson and Manny Suarez were both partial-qualifiers last season and they should provide a boost this season. Anderson is a 6-foot-1 guard from Rochester, New York who averaged 16 points per game in high school, while Suarez is a 6-foot-10 center who averaged a double-double in his final two year’s of high school and he should be a big addition to the frontcourt. Pecora went out of the country to fill the rest of the open roster spots, grabbing four international players. Serbian Nemanja Zarkovic is the best of the group. Zarkovic, who lives in Montreal, could fill a Fordham need a point guard. Rounding out the group are a pair of Germans, Zaire Thompson and Christian Sengfelder, who are teammates at Uprising Academy in Germany, and Dekeba Battee-Aston, an Australian product that played at Northfield Mount Hermon in Massachussetts.

Who to Watch:
The frontcourt will be the area to watch for Fordham. Last season, Fordham relied on guard play to carry them, and the Rams will need the frontcourt to step up if they are to improve. Ryan Canty is a player who looks ready to breakout as a senior. Canty played in 25 games as a junior, starting six, and he finished the season on a strong note. Over the final six games of the season, Canty posted double digits in rebounds five times, including a career high 19 in Fordham’s A-10 Tournament victory over George Mason. He will be joined by Ryan Rhoomes, a 26 game starter a year ago who averaged 6.2 points and a team leading 6.9 rebounds per game, and Travion Leonard, who averaged 4.5 points and 4.2 rebounds off the bench last season. Fordham will also count on newcomers Eric Paschall and Manny Suarez to contribute in the frontcourt and both should see big minutes and could be in the mix to start.

Final Projection:
Tom Pecora is firmly on the hotseat right now, but this year’s Fordham team could change that. The Rams have a lot of new faces, but the talent level has improved from last year’s team. While the frontcourt will be the spot to watch, the guards will still be key in 2014-15. The trio of Severe, Mandell Thomas and Bryan Smith will be relied on heavily. Severe is going to be the go to guy, with Thomas and Smith, who averaged 11.9 and 7.3 points per game respectively a year ago, serving as complementary wing players. The Rams will need one of them, or newcomer Zarkovic, to step up and be the team’s point guard. Severe is going to be featured off the ball, but Thomas or Smith could be candidates for the open point guard slot. If one of those players can fill the point guard role and the frontcourt can improve, Fordham could see great improvement this season.

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:
Bryan Smith, Senior, Guard, 7.3 points per game
Jon Severe, Sophomore, Guard, 17.3 points per game
Mandell Thomas, Senior, Guard, 11.9 points per game
Ryan Rhoomes, Junior, Forward, 6.3 points per game
Ryan Canty, Senior, Center, 3.0 points per game

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.7 (143th in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 78.0 (329, 13)
Field-Goal Percentage: 39.3 (337, 13)
Field-Goal Defense: 46.2 (291, 13)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.1 (88, 4)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 30.6 (285, 10)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.3 (52, 1)
Rebound Margin: -1.8 (255, 12)
Assists Per Game: 12.2 (205, 10)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.4 (80, 3)

[Copenhagen]

#129 DREXEL MEN'S BASKETBALL 2014-2015 PREVIEW


Joel Welser
Wed, 07/02/2014

Drexel Dragons

2014-2015 Overall Rank: #129
Conference Rank: #3 CAA

#129 Drexel Men's Basketball 2014-2015 Preview

Drexel got off to a great start to the 2013-2014 campaign. Their only losses in the first month of the season came against UCLA and Arizona, and those were by only a combined nine points. The Dragons beat teams like Rutgers, Alabama and Davidson in that stretch. But Drexel could not keep it up, in large part due to injuries, and ended up a disappointing 8-8 in CAA play. This is a team that hung in there against just about everybody though and that 8-8 record just could have easily been 11-5 or better. But there is some serious rebuilding to do for Coach Bruiser Flint and company with the top three minute earners now gone.

2013-14 Record: 16-14, 8-8
2013-14 Postseason: none
Coach: James “Bruiser” Flint
Coach Record: 228-173 at Drexel, 314-245 overall

Who’s Out:
Chris Fouch, Frantz Massenat and Dartaye Ruffin were the only players to start more than 18 games last season. Everything revolved around those three. Fouch was the leading scorer, with 18.3 points per game, and the most prolific outside shooter. Massenat added 17.5 points and dished out 4.7 assists per contest. Ruffin was never much of a scorer, but he was the team’s best rebounder and a solid defender in the paint. Unfortunately, Kazembe Abif has already been hit by the injury bug again. He missed nearly half of last season with a couple of injuries and now is likely out for the 2014-2015 campaign. His size and rebounding will be missed on this inexperienced squad.

Who’s In:
Coach Flint has brought in four newcomers who will all compete for minutes. Rashann London and Sammy Mojica will add a couple much needed options on the perimeter. This team needs a new shooter and somebody who can score off of the bench and Mojica has the potential to be that guy. Tyshawn Myles and Austin Williams are the newcomers in the frontcourt. Miles, at 6-8 and 260 pounds, is the one to watch for now, especially with Abif out. He may not be much of an offensive threat yet, but he can eat up a lot of space in the paint on both ends of the floor.

Who to Watch:
It will be very interesting to see the backcourt/frontcourt dynamic of this team. The Dragons traditionally have strong play on the perimeter and often skip right over the big guys on offense. Without Fouch and Massenat, the strength of this team is in the frontcourt and we should see a much bigger lineup than in years past. But will the new starting guards feed the big men effectively? Rodney Williams, a 6-7 forward, started 18 games as a freshman and showed plenty of potential. He did not look to shoot too often, averaging just 5.4 points per game, but he is an efficient interior scorer and a strong rebounder. Mohamed Bah, another sophomore, has limited experience and will be pushed by Myles, a similar big-bodied forward. Damion Lee is technically a guard, but his versatility has allowed Coach Flint to move him around. Lee, a 6-6 junior, played just five games in 2013-2014 before a torn ACL ended his season. Two years ago he averaged 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds and those are the kind of numbers that he will have to put up this year if Drexel has any hope of reaching a postseason tournament.

Final Projection:
Major Canady, Travon Allen and Freddie Wilson have the unenviable job of replacing Fouch and Massenat. Canady is a big 6-4 guard who did start 14 games as a freshman. He is not going to score much, but if he can do a decent job finding his teammate and keeping the turnovers down, that will be enough. Allen averaged 11.7 points per game contest, but was terribly inconsistent with his shot. Somebody on this team must start knocking down three-pointers and Allen is the best returning option. If that happens, and the injuries stop now, Drexel will be able to compete in a relatively weak CAA.

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:
Major Canady, Sophomore, Guard, 2.1 points per game
Damion Lee, Junior, Guard, 13.0 points per game
Tavon Allen, Junior, Forward, 11.7 points per game
Rodney Williams, Sophomore, Forward, 5.4 points per game
Mohamed Bah, Sophomore, Forward, 2.0 points per game

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 68.8 (231st in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.3 (103, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.1 (276, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.5 (113, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.1 (281, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 31.4 (276, 6)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.9 (142, 2)
Rebound Margin: -0.9 (219, 5)
Assists Per Game: 11.8 (242, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 8.5 (3, 1)

[portpasses]

Find it interesting that 4 of the projected starting 5 we were heavily involved with. And that doesn't include Casey Carroll who has since transferred from Drexel.

[Copenhagen]

Sat, 07/05/2014

Saint Joseph’s Hawks

2013-2014 Overall Rank: #127
Conference Rank: #10 A-10

#127 Saint Joseph's Men's Basketball 2014-2015 Preview

Saint Joseph’s was squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble last season after losing their final two regular season games, but the Hawks rebounded and went on to win the A-10 Tournament title, securing an NCAA Tournament bid. That Saint Joseph’s team relied on their starters to play a lot of minutes and, as a result, this year’s team is quite inexperienced, as three key players depart. Coach Phil Martelli has a challenge this season, as he must find replacements for those players, but there is plenty of talent on the roster to fill those spots.

2013-14 Record: 24-10, 11-5
2013-14 Postseason: NCAA Tournament (Lost to Connecticut in Second Round)
Coach: Phil Martelli
Coach Record: 352-247 at Saint Joseph’s (352-247 Overall)

Who’s Out:
The Hawks have some big shoes to fill as three All A-10 players depart, led by Langston Galloway. Galloway, a First Team All A-10 selection, led the Hawks in scoring last season, averaging 17.7 points per game from his starting slot in the backcourt. Also departing will be two key frontcourt starters, Ronald Roberts Jr. and Halil Kanacevic. Roberts, a 3rd Team All-A-10 selection, was second on the team in scoring, 14.4 points per game, and rebounding, 7.4 per game. Kanacevic started alongside Roberts in the frontcourt and was a do it all man for the Hawks. The A-10 Tournament MVP and a Second Team All-A-10 selection averaged 10.8 points per game while leading the team in rebounding, 8.8 per game, and assists, 4.4 per game, last year. Forward Daryus Quarles, who averaged 2.4 points per game last season, has also run out of eligibility, while the trio of Colin Kelly, Kyle Molock and Eric Kindler also depart. Molock saw the most playing time out of the bunch, 28 minutes on the season, but he saw his career end after another knee injury.

Who’s In:
Saint Joseph’s has two players who are eligible to play after sitting out last season and four incoming freshmen recruits who will join the team for 2014-2015. Headlining the newcomers will be West Virginia transfer Aaron Brown. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 4.2 points per game at WVU as a freshman in 2012, but saw his numbers drop as a sophomore before transferring. He will be joined by 6-foot-9 forward Jai Williams, a local product who redshirted in his first season on campus. With a year under their belt in Martelli’s system, they may have a leg up on the other newcomers, but the four freshmen all come in highly regarded. All four were three-star recruits in the major recruiting rankings and could be in the mix for early playing time. Shavar Newkirk, a point guard from the Bronx, averaged 17 points and four assists as a high school senior, while small forward James Dempsey averaged 18 points per game at Northside Christian Academy in Greenville, North Carolina. The two remaining recruits, 6-foot-9 Obi Romeo and 6-foot-6 Markell Lodge, will bolster the frontcourt.

Who to Watch:
Just two starters remain from last season’s team, so some reserves will need to step up into bigger roles. The starters who do return are very talented and will be relied on this year. DeAndre’ Bembrey, last season’s Co-Rookie of the Year in the A-10, is back after averaging 12.1 points per game as a freshman, while point guard Chris Wilson returns for his senior season after averaging 9.1 points and 2.8 assists per game last year. All five Hawks starters played over 32 minutes per game last season, so reserve minutes were scarce, but some players played well in those minutes. Forward Isaiah Miles averaged 3.0 points per game while playing in 28 games off the bench, while forward Papa Ndao saw action in 32 games, including two starts, and averaged 2.5 points per game. Center Javon Baumann and guard Evan Maschmeyer both averaged less than two points per game last season, but could see their minutes rise this season, while Brendan Casper played in eight games as a freshman.

Final Projection:
The Hawks lose a lot of production off last year’s team and it will be tough to replace those key players. Bembrey showed his star potential as a freshman, but he will need some people to step up around him. The six-man class of newcomers could end up being key to the success of the team this season. If a couple of those newcomers can step up and combine with the returnee’s like Miles and Ndao to provide a solid supporting cast, the Hawks could have some success again this season.

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:
Chris Wilson, Senior, Guard, 9.1 points per game
Aaron Brown, Junior, Guard, DNP last season
Deandre’ Bembrey, Sophomore, Forward, 12.1 points per game
Isaiah Miles, Junior, Forward, 3.0 points per game
Papa Ndao, Senior, Forward, 2.5 points per game

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.6 (147th in nation, 8th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.6 (107, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.0 (43, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 42.0 (90, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.4 (70, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.9 (48, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 64.5 (325, 13)
Rebound Margin: 2.8 (93, 4)
Assists Per Game: 14.0 (81, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.4 (188, 7)

[Copenhagen]

#121 SIENA MEN'S BASKETBALL 2014-2015 PREVIEW

Joel Welser
Thu, 07/10/2014


2014-2015 Overall Rank: #121
Conference Rank: #2 MAAC

#121 Siena Men's Basketball 2014-2015 Preview

In Coach Jimmy Patsos’ first season at Siena, just two years ago, Siena went 8-24. They quickly boosted that win total up to 20 last season. The Saints only finished 11-9 in MAAC play and then they lost their opener in the conference tournament to Canisius. But Siena earned a berth in the CBI and they took full advantage. They beat Stony Brook, Penn State and Illinois State before taking two of three from Fresno State in the championship series. That run, a rare example of a tournament like the CBI doing good for a team, has propelled Siena to much higher expectations this year. With every player who was part of the regular rotation back, this is a Saints team looking for much more. And Rob Poole should once again lead the way. The 6-6 senior guard led the squad with 14.6 points per game last season and is a dangerous scorer from everywhere on the floor.

2013-14 Record: 20-18, 11-9
2013-14 Postseason: CBI
Coach: Jimmy Patsos
Coach Record: 20-18 at Siena, 165-153 overall

Who’s Out:
The only losses come from a couple players who just played a few minutes on rare occasions. The Saints return their top ten minute earners from a team that basically went nine deep on a regular basis.

Who’s In:
Despite the logjam of returning talent, there will be minutes for Patrick Cole. Cole started his collegiate career with a 25 point effort against USC when he played for Coppin State. During that 2012-2013 campaign, his only one with the Eagles, he averaged 10.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists. At 6-5, Cole is another big shooting guard who can attack the basket and help out on the glass. Freshmen Willem Brandwijk, Cameron Gottfied and Jimmy Paige will find minutes harder to come by. Brandwijk, a 6-8, 229 pound forward, has the potential to add some frontcourt depth right away.

Who to Watch:
Marquis Wright, Lavon Long and Brett Bisping will once again join Poole in the starting lineup. Wright had a very impressive freshman campaign and was a huge reason for the big Siena turnaround. He can create for his teammates and dished out 5.2 assists per game, while adding 8.7 points. His 3.1 turnovers per contest are a little high, but that will get better with experience. Long, a 6-7 wing, is another sophomore who did more than just show potential as a freshman. He started 36 games and averaged 9.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. Bisping, the power forward, can stretch the defense with his mid-range jumper and emerged as a consistent interior scorer. Bisping is also the most consistent rebounder on the team. The starting center spot is a little more up for grabs. Imoh Silas started most of the time in 2013-2014, but played just 16.8 minutes per game. He is strong on the glass and experienced, but will not add much of a scoring option. Javion Ogunyemi would be the other option. He has not proven to be a scorer either, although he is just a sophomore and has a higher ceiling.

Final Projection:
The amount of depth this team now has is going to be very nice for Coach Pastos. Evan Hymes was once a starter, turned into the sixth man last season and could find himself even further down the pecking order now. At the least he is a good backup for Wright at the point and could earn more minutes if his shot is falling. Ryan Oliver and Maurice White add even more backcourt depth, while Michael Wolfe will look for minutes in the post. This is a big, lanky team and they can score by attacking the basket. However, their outside shooting was quite poor most of last season. A year in the system and another year of overall experience, not to mention the addition of Cole, will need to boost their shooting percentage if Siena wants to seriously compete for a MAAC title. Otherwise it may be back to the CBI.

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:
Marquis Wright, Sophomore, Guard, 8.7 points per game
Rob Poole, Senior, Guard, 14.6 points per game
Lavon Long, Sophomore, Guard, 9.4 points per game
Brett Bisping, Junior, Forward, 11.5 points per game
Imoh Silas, Senior, Center, 3.8 points per game

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 69.3 (219th in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 70.1 (175, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.9 (286, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.4 (70, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.4 (329, 11)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.8 (NR)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.0 (100, 3)
Rebound Margin: 2.7 (98, 2)
Assists Per Game: 13.5 (103, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.8 (295, 8)

[Copenhagen]

#108 Delaware Men's Basketball 2014-2015 Preview

After a 6-7 start, Delaware won 19 of their next 21 games, including 13 straight to start the new year, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999 with a 75-74 victory over William & Mary. CAA Coach of the Year Monte Ross’s hard work paid off in his eighth season. After opening his tenure at Delaware with a 5-26 record in 2006-07, Ross’s teams have consistently improved. Last season, he featured a veteran team, as all five starters were upperclassmen, and the experience yielded his best season at the school. Now, Ross must try to win with a young group of players, as there are just two upperclassmen scholarship players on the roster.

2013-14 Record: 25-10, 14-2
2013-14 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Monte Ross
Coach Record: 90-131 at Delaware, 90-131 overall

Who’s Out:
Delaware had their own version of the big three last season. Bad news for the Blue Hens, all three are gone. Devon Saddler, Jarvis Threatt and Davon Usher all averaged at least 18 points per game out of the backcourt and were instrumental to the Blue Hens success. Saddler led the team in scoring, averaging 19.7 points per game, earning First Team All-CAA honors for the second consecutive season. He departs as Delaware’s all-time leading scorer with 2,222 points during his four-year career. Usher, a graduate transfer from Mississippi Valley State, joined Saddler on the All-CAA first team after averaging 19.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in his only season at Delaware. Usher set a Delaware record for points in a season in his lone year with the team, scoring 694. Threatt was supposed to be the team point guard this season, but he was kicked off the team after the end of last season. He averaged 18 points and 5.4 assists per game and while he didn’t earn All-CAA honors, he was named the MVP of the CAA Tournament. Joining the trio in departing is another key starter, Carl Baptiste. The 6-foot-9 forward was the team’s leading rebounder and fourth leading scorer, averaging 11.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season.

Who’s In:
Ross brings in a five man recruiting class that will look to help replace the departed production. Guards Kory Holden and Anthony Mosley will both be given the opportunity to earn early playing time in the backcourt. Delaware has no true point guard on their roster after Threatt’s departure, and if either of the players can step into that role, they could receive big minutes in their first season. Holden is more of a pure point guard out of the two, and he is the likely replacement for Threatt. Chivarsky Corbett, a 6-foot-5 forward, and a pair of 6-foot-9 forwards, Skye Johnson and Eric Carter, will look to bolster the frontcourt. With Baptiste gone, there are minutes to be had there, and any of theses three players could end up playing in that role.

Who to Watch:
Delaware returns just one starter in Kyle Anderson, and he will be counted on heavily this season. Anderson started all 35 games last season, joining the four departed players in double figures, averaging 11.0 points per game. The senior guard is a long-range specialist. Last season he led the team in both made three pointers, 85, and three-point field goal percentage, 37.6. Anderson needs to make just 14 more this season to rank first in school history in career three-pointers made. Marvin King-Davis started 19 games a year ago and should be a full-time starter this season. The 6-foot-7 forward, who averaged 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season, will be key in replacing Baptiste in the frontcourt. Forward Devonne Pinkard and guard Cazmon Hayes, who both played in at least 32 games last season, are two other options for the starting lineup. Pinkard averaged 2.4 points per game, while Hayes averaged 2.0. If Ross elects to stick with the three-guard lineup, Hayes is the man, or he can go with a small forward, in which case Pinkard would be the starter. Filling Batiste’s starting spot will likely come down to a battle between 6-foot-9 forwards Barnett Harris and Maurice Jeffers. Neither player saw very many minutes last season, but that should change this year. Harris played in 29 games, earning one start, while Jeffers played in 18. Both players averaged less than ten minutes per game and under a point per game. Sean Locke, Dylan Miller and Tom Allhouse will add depth.

Final Projection:
Finding a point guard is key for Delaware this season. Neither of the returning guards are true point guards and that could be a problem. Ross will likely need one of the two freshmen to step up and take control of the position. If that doesn’t happen, he will be forced to play either Anderson or Hayes in the role. That situation would be detrimental to the team, as Anderson, who is a tremendous shooter in the off guard position, would likely be the one taking over the point. Holden is likely the best option for Delaware at the point this season, and if he can put up solid numbers, they could have another good year. The talent isn’t at the same level as it was last season, but this is a young team and there is plenty of potential.

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:
Kory Holden, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Kyle Anderson, Senior, Guard, 11.0 points per game
Devonne Pinkard, Sophomore, Guard, 2.4 points per game
Marvin King-Davis, Junior, Forward, 5.1 points per game
Barnett Harris, Sophomore, Forward, 0.4 points per game

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 79.5 (19th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 75.7 (300, 9)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.4 (162, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 44.3 (202, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.2 (78, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.7 (150, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.1 (133, 1)
Rebound Margin: -2.9 (284, 9)
Assists Per Game: 10.8 (303, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 9.5 (8, 2)

[Copenhagen]

#103 LA SALLE MEN'S BASKETBALL 2014-2015 PREVIEW


Spencer Impellizzeri
Mon, 07/28/2014

La Salle Explorers

2014-2015 Overall Rank: #103
Conference Rank: #9 A-10

#103 La Salle Men's Basketball 2014-2015 Preview

For the past three seasons, La Salle has been dominated by guard play. The Explorers have had a guard lead their team in scoring each of the last three seasons, as Earl Pettis, Ramon Galloway and Tyreek Duren all averaged over 15 points per game to close out their careers over the last three seasons, respectively. That will likely change this season. La Salle loses all three starting guards from 2013-2014, paving the way for the frontcourt to shine in 2014-15. Forward Jerrell Wright and center Stave Zack return after very productive junior seasons. Wright was second on the team in scoring last season, averaging 13.3 points per game, while Zack nearly averaged a double-double, averaging 8.8 points and 9.5 rebounds. They will be relied on heavily this season, as coach John Giannini looks to find replacements in the backcourt.

2013-14 Record: 15-16, 7-9
2013-14 Postseason: None
Coach: John Giannini
Coach Record: 158-154 at La Salle, 283-265 overall

Who’s Out:
La Salle was hit hard by graduation, even though only four players depart. Tyreek Duren, Sam Mills and Tyrone Garland were instrumental in the Explorers program, playing key roles on the 2012-13 team that made it to the Sweet 16, the schools first berth in the NCAA Tournament since 1992. Last season, all three were work-horses for La Salle. Duren averaged 36.32 minutes per game, while Mills averaged 31.3 and Garland averaged 29.5. Duren and Mills, both shot over 40 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line, averaging 15.2 and 7.6 points per game respectively. Garland added 12.5 points per game. Departing along with them is a fourth guard, Taylor Dunn. Dunn ,played in 23 games, starting two, averaging 1.3 points per game in his final season as an Explorer.

Who’s In:
Giannini has found instant success by brining in transfers at the guard positions, and he will look to continue the trend this season. Cleon Roberts and Jordan Price, a pair of 6-foot-5 sophomores, will look to have an immediate impact and replace the lost backcourt production. Roberts averaged 8.6 points per game as a freshman at Georgia Southern, while Price averaged 5.4 points per game in his lone season at Auburn. Local product Amar Stukes will look to join Roberts and Price in making an impact after redshirting in his first season on campus. Stukes averaged nearly 20 points per game as a high school senior, earning All-City honors. Rounding out the newcomers will be a pair of incoming freshmen. Yevgen Sakhniuk, a member of the Ukraine U-20 national team, is a small forward who could step into a frontcourt role early in his career due to his scoring and rebounding ability, while guard Johnnie Shuler could see time at point guard in his debut season.

Who to Watch:
It will be crucial for La Salle to find replacements at the guard spots. There are some talented newcomers, but they will have to battle the returnees for playing time. D.J. Peterson is back for his senior season and should slide in on the wing after averaging 4.4 points per game last season, and Khalid Lewis figures to see an increased role after averaging 3.0 points per game. The real problem will be finding a point guard. La Salle has four on their roster, but none have seen much playing time over their careers. This could force Giannini to play an off guard, likely Khalid Lewis, at the point. O.J. Lewis and Hank Davis will look to see some of the time at the point, but they played a combined 16 minutes last season. Rounding out the group will be wing Rohan Brown and centers Jermaine Davis and Tony Washington. Brown saw the most extensive playing time last season, averaging 2.0 points per game in just under ten minutes a contest.

Final Projection:
Giannini is looking to get La Salle back into the tournament this season, but that could be a tough task with this roster. The frontcourt is solid with Zack and Wright, but there are so many questions in the backcourt. Things bode well for La Sale in the future, as the Explorers have a lot of young talent at the guard position. Coming off a year where La Salle greatly under achieved, Giannini will look to turn things around. To do so, Zack and Wright must have big senior seasons and a couple players must step up in the backcourt, especially at point guard. This season will likely come down to the production of the young guards for the Explorers. Price and Roberts will both be key. They had solid freshmen seasons at their previous schools, but they need to take that extra step for La Salle.

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:
Khalid Lewis, Junior, Guard, 3.0 points per game
Jordan Price, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season
D.J. Anderson, Senior, Guard, 4.4 points per game
Jerrell Wright, Senior, Forward, 13.3 points per game
Steve Zack, Senior, Forward, 8.8 points per game

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 67.7 (258th in nation, 12th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 68.4 (125, 8)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.3 (303, 12)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.6 (172, 9)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.7 (223, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.5 (240, 7)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.8 (144, 4)
Rebound Margin: 0.0 (192, 11)
Assists Per Game: 12.4 (194, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.6 (108, 4)

[Copenhagen]

#81 DUQUESNE MEN'S BASKETBALL 2014-2015 PREVIEW



Joel Welser
Tue, 08/19/2014

Duquesne Dukes

2014-2015 Overall Rank: #81
Conference Rank: #8 Atlantic 10

#81 Duquesne Men's Basketball 2014-2015 Preview
After winning just eight games during his first season with Duquesne, Coach Jim Ferry boosted his team’s win total to 13 last year. There is still a long way to go, but he has the Dukes program headed in the right direction. This should be his best season yet. The A-10 just keeps getting better and better though and this group is still a ways away from competing for a conference title. But, for now, continuing to improve is the goal and any trip to the postseason would provide this young team some great experience moving forward. Micah Mason had an amazing sophomore season and he is a great piece for Coach Ferry to build around. He was one of the most efficient players in the country, shooting 56.0 percent from beyond the arc. Asking him to keep that up is too much, but Mason can emerge as one of the A-10’s best scorers if he starts creating his own shot.

2013-14 Record: 13-17, 5-11
2013-14 Postseason: none
Coach: Jim Ferry
Coach Record: 21-39 at Duquesne, 166-176 overall

Who’s Out:
Losing Ovie Soko will take an adjustment though. The 6-8 forward averaged a team high 18.4 points and 8.0 rebounds during his senior season and the offense almost always went through the big man in the post. Tra’Vaughn White never reached his explosive potential during his time with the Dukes, but he was still a nice scoring option off of the bench and averaged 7.4 points per game and just 16.6 minutes. Jerry Jones, a 6-4 wing, wrapped up his collegiate career averaging 4.8 points per game.

Who’s In:
Jordan Robinson figures to be the most impactful of the four eligible newcomers. The 6-8, 255 pound power forward is a bruiser in the paint and that toughness is going to be a great asset from day one for the Dukes. He can back down most defenders and has some decent post moves. TySean Powell will add depth in the frontcourt. Unlike Robinson and his strength, Powell does his damage with his athleticism. His potential is through the roof, but he will need to develop some consistency during his freshman campaign before making a massive impact. The last of the incoming freshmen is shooting guard Eric James. When his shot is falling, Coach Ferry could use his shooting prowess off of the bench for now. Jordan Stevens comes to Duquesne from the junior college ranks. After White’s disappointing one year career with the Dukes after being a very highly regarded juco recruit, the expectations for Stevens are not on the heavy side. However, he is a solid ball handler who can attack the basket.

Who to Watch:
This team should pretty quickly turn their focus from the frontcourt to the backcourt. Mason will lead the way, but Derrick Colter and Jeremiah Jones will do plenty of scoring. Colter is a speedy point guard who averaged 9.1 points and 3.4 assists as a sophomore. He can get this team up and down the floor in a hurry and that worked great much of the time last year. He is also developing into a decent shooter and he could easily be a double-digit scorer with a bit more consistency on his jumper. Jones is a consistent player who may not be capable of scoring 20 points on any given night, but will play tough defense and occasionally finish around the basket. With the influx of talent, his minutes could decrease if his scoring does not get better, but there are more shots to go around now and he is capable of taking some of those. Desmond Ridenour showed some of his explosiveness as a freshman. He was used as the backup point guard in 2013-2014, but could be used as a secondary ball handler beside Colter more often this season, especially if his outside shot starts falling.

Final Projection:
The new star of the frontcourt will be Dominique McKoy. He is a very consistent and efficient interior scorer who shot nearly 60 percent from the floor. After averaging 9.7 points and 7.2 rebounds, McKoy will be asked to increase both of those numbers to help cover for the absence of Soko. That should not be a problem. Depth, however, is a bit of a concern. The Dukes may need more production out of L.G. Gill while the newcomers come around. And Gill is really a wing despite playing time at the four spot. Gill appears much stronger than he did last season, so playing at the four spot may not be an issue anymore. Either way, Gill can provide quality depth at one of the forward spots, but this season could come down to how quickly the frontcourt freshmen develop.

Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Derrick Colter, Junior, Guard, 9.1 points per game
Micah Mason, Junior, Guard, 10.6 points per game
Jeremiah Jones, Junior, Guard, 6.3 points per game
Dominique McKoy, Senior, Forward, 9.7 points per game
Jordan Robinson, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.3 (94th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 73.7 (266, 12)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.2 (175, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 45.6 (266, 12)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.3 (76, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.3 (84, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.9 (266, 9)
Rebound Margin: 0.1 (189, 10)
Assists Per Game: 15.2 (32, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.0 (57, 2)

[Copenhagen]

#63 GEORGE WASHINGTON MEN'S BASKETBALL 2014-2015 PREVIEW


Joel Welser
Sat, 09/06/2014

George Washington Colonials

2014-2015 Overall Rank: #63
Conference Rank: #6 Atlantic 10

Year three proved to be a great one for Coach Mike Lonergan at George Washington. The Colonials had won just 23 games in Coach Lonergan’s first two seasons at the helm and they ended up winning 24 games in 2013-2014. That resulted in a trip to the NCAA Tournament as a nine seed, where they lost a close game to Memphis. The expectations are quickly growing for this program, but it will be tough to live up to last year’s success. The good news is that there is just one senior on the roster, so a trip to the NIT this season would be a great building block towards better things in 2015-2016.

2013-14 Record: 24-9, 11-5
2013-14 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Mike Lonergan
Coach Record: 47-47 at George Washington, 173-115 overall

Who’s Out:
Maurice Creek and Isaiah Armwood both took full advantage of their second chance at GW. Creek, who spent most of his collegiate career at Indiana, led the Colonials with 14.1 points per game and connected on 40.0 percent of his 200 three-point attempts. Armwood averaged 12.7 points and a team high 8.4 rebounds. Nemanja Mikic stepped up his shooting a little bit during his senior season and averaged 4.8 points per game. The 6-8 forward was at least always a threat to stretch out the defense with his shooting ability. Miguel Caragena and Paris Maragkos are the other two departures.

Who’s In:
Coach Lonergan has plenty of new options in the frontcourt. Ryan McCoy is eligible after transferring in from Manhattan. McCoy did not see much action for the Jaspers, but he does have some experience. The expectations are higher for the star of the recruiting class, Matt Cimino. The 6-10 power forward may not be strong enough to make a huge impact offensively right away, but he is a solid rebounder and shot blocker. Yuta Watanabe is an interesting prospect with a lot of potential. The 6-8 forward from Kita, Japan will need some time to develop his overall game, but he does have some raw talent. Anthony Swan, a 6-8 wing, will have the opportunity to add size and depth to the squad. The backcourt adds Darian Bryant and Paul Jorgensen. Bryant is a decent slasher, while Jorgensen could turn into a decent shooter off of the bench as a freshman.

Who to Watch:
George Washington will build around three guards who were at least part-time starters during last year’s run to the NCAA Tournament. Kethan Savage played in just 19 games last season, but made a huge impact as a sophomore, averaging 12.7 points and 2.6 assists. The 6-3 Fairfax, Virginia native is a superb slasher and is a jump shot away from developing into one of the most potent scorers in the A-10. Patricio Garino will start beside Savage on the wing. The big 6-6 wing is another good slasher who can also help out on the glass and uses his length well on the defensive end. The point guard duties will be handled by Joe McDonald. He dished out 4.1 assists per game in 2013-2014 and nearly had a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. But McDonald is more than just a passer. He is emerging as a leader, a solid all-around scorer and one of the best rebounding point guards in the country. The problem in the backcourt is outside shooting. That is where George Washington hopes the newcomers and Nick Griffin can make a difference. Griffin averaged a mere 4.8 minutes as a freshman, but proved that he can knock down shots.

Final Projection:
The frontcourt has high hopes for Kevin Larsen. The 6-10 junior is a very good interior scorer and a solid rebounder, but now he will be the focus of the frontcourt. Without Armwood by his side, it remains to be seen how Larsen will respond. If Larsen gets help from John Kopriva, he could average 15 points per game after totaling 11.4 in 2013-2014. Kopriva is a far less proven commodity. It is unlikely he will put up big numbers, but he does need to be a threat to score in the paint and help relieve some of the pressure from Larsen on both ends of the floor. Overall, George Washington has some talent here, but a freshman or two will have to be ready to crack the regular rotation. Replacing Creek’s 80 three-pointers and Mikic’s 40 is the bigger concern. This team does not need to hoist up long ball after long ball, but they do need to open up space for Larsen in the paint and the slashers on the perimeter.

Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Joe McDonald, Junior, Guard, 8.3 ponits per game
Kethan Savage, Junior, Guard, 12.7 points per game
Patricio Garino, Junior, Guard, 12.1 points per game
John Kopriva, Senior, Forward, 1.8 points per game
Kevin Larsen, Junior, Forward, 11.4 points per game

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.2 (99th in nation, 5th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.0 (92, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.3 (67, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.6 (80, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.7 (228, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.4 (81, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 46.3 (67, 3)
Rebound Margin: 3.5 (61, 2)
Assists Per Game: 14.0 (83, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.0 (239, 10)

[Copenhagen]

#76 DAVIDSON MEN'S BASKETBALL 2014-2015 PREVIEW


Joel Welser
Sun, 08/24/2014

Davidson Wildcats

2014-2015 Overall Rank: #76
Conference Rank: #7 Atlantic 10


Last season Davidson did their usual thing, picking up a nice win or two during the non-conference slate and then dominating the Southern Conference. The Wildcats went 15-1 in conference play and entered the SoCon Tournament on a 12 game winning streak. However, Davidson lost an overtime thriller to Western Carolina in the conference tournament and had to settle for the NIT, where they lost to Missouri in the first round. There will be no 15-1 conference record for Davidson this year though. The Wildcats are still a strong program, but they are moving to the Atlantic 10 where the competition is about to get much, much tougher.

2013-14 Record: 20-13, 15-1
2013-14 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Bob McKillop
Coach Record: 472-292 at Davidson, 472-292 overall

Who’s Out:
Coach Bob McKillop does have three starters to replace too. De’Mon Brooks was a superb athlete who could attack the basket with ease. He led the Wildcats with 19.0 points and 7.1 rebounds. Tom Droney stepped up his game during his senior season and the 6-6 guard averaged 10.2 points and 3.3 assists per game. Chris Czerapowicz is the other lost starter. His shooting was inconsistent during the 2013-2014 campaign, but Czerapowicz still averaged 8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds. Little used Joe Aase is the only other departure.

Who’s In:
Coach McKillop brings in three versatile power forwards to help fill the void lost by Brooks. Peyton Aldridge is a surprisingly good passer for a 6-7, 205 pound forward and that ability is a great fit for this team. Of all the freshmen, Aldridge appears most ready to contribute. However, Nathan Ekwu could be the team’s best shot blocker from day one and can at least help out in that department this season. Oskar Michelsen has some international experience with Finland and is more of a big 6-9 wing that a true power forward. Davidson wants big guys that can shoot and Michelsen certainly falls into that category. The backcourt adds Rusty Reigel and Jordan Watkins. Watkins is a big time scorer and for now could emerge as a solid scoring option off of the bench.

Who to Watch:
Davidson does return a solid core of five players with significant experience. Brian Sullivan and Tyler Kalinoski are both prolific outside shooters who averaged double digits in the scoring column a season ago. Sullivan knocked down 90 three-pointers during his first year with the Wildcats after transferring in from Miami (OH). Kalinoski connected on an amazing 45.5 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc and led the team with 3.5 assists per game. Jack Gibbs and Jordan Barham spent last season coming in off of the bench. Gibbs had a very promising freshman campaign, averaging 6.8 points and 2.1 assists. Starting or not, Gibbs will see starter minutes. Barham is a good slasher and a quality rebounding 6-4 guard. Not a shooter, Barham does nearly all of his scoring around the basket. The only big man back with significant experience is Jake Belford. The 6-9 junior is a very good outside shooter, but will be asked to do more on the glass this time around.

Final Projection:
Davidson will be competitive in the A-10, but this is not the best team the Wildcats have had in recent years. There is a major lack of depth and experience in the frontcourt. In year’s past, this program could get away with playing small, but that is not going to fly in their new conference. Many opponents will be able to take advantage if Coach McKillop wants to put his best five players on the floor since his best five are generally short. Last year while running a four guard lineup, at least Davidson had the 6-7 Czerapowicz. Now they have freshmen.

Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Brian Sullivan, Junior, Guard, 12.9 points per game
Tyler Kalinoski, Senior, Guard, 11.0 points per game
Jordan Barham, Junior, Guard, 5.8 points per game
Peyton Aldridge, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Jake Belford, Junior, Forward, 6.0 points per game

By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 78.5 (26th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 72.8 (251, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.7 (20, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 46.8 (313, 11)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.3 (23, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.6 (53, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.6 (116, 4)
Rebound Margin: 0.1 (190, 6)
Assists Per Game: 13.7 (94, 2)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.5 (95, 2)