Bleacher Report - Articles by Jon Altena

College Basketball's Early Season Mid Major Top 10

Jon Altena — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:20:50 -0500

The parity in college basketball may be at its highest point ever. Great teams from all over the nation are representing a host of different conferences now a days. This isn't like the traditional days where the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10, SEC, and Big East would make up the entire field in the sweet sixteen.

In recent years we have seen several occasions where at least three or four mid major squads advance past their first location. 2008-2009 is stacked with mid major talent. Here is how I rank them!

For some mid-major clarification. For this poll, mid major constitutes any team that is not in the BCS conferences or Conference USA. I would have named the article Non BCS Basketball top 10 but as you can see that's not very appealing.

1. Gonzaga (5-0) (Vs Major Conference teams 3-0)

Still considered a mid-major, Gonzaga may have their best team ever. This is no longer the team that consisted of Morrison, Stepp, and Dickau. Instead super stars Heytvelt, Downsand, and Daye lead the squad. However, unlike years past, this Gonzaga team is as balanced as its ever been.

Five players are averaging double digits and Pargo is closing in at 9.6 points per game. Gonzaga also just ran off three straight wins against Oklahoma State, Maryland, and No. 12 Tennessee. Look for the Zags to go deep into the tournament this year!

2. Xavier (7-0) (Vs Major Conference Teams 4-0)

Mid Major? I'm saying yes just because they aren't part of one of the big six. Xavier is the real deal. The Musketeers already have three quality wins this season including a 63-62 thriller over Virginia Tech, and a solid five point win against No. 12 Memphis. Xavier has all the tools again this year with B.J Raymond and Derrick Brown.

Although no one stands out in terms of scoring for Xavier, the defense has been solid only giving up 60 points per game. Xavier isn't done yet either, they have Duke, LSU, Butlerand, and Cincy remaining on their schedule. How well they do against these elite teams will determine if the Musketeers can be in the prime time seeding position come March.

If they keep finding a way to win they could make a deep tourney run.

3. Davidson (5-1) (Vs Major Conference Teams 0-1)

Let's not be fooled by their loss to Oklahoma. Davidson went on the road and challenged a very talented Oklahoma team in a hostile environment. An eventual four points loss brought us back to the pre conference schedule the Wildcats went through last year.

We also know that those close losses early produced great fruit in the tournament as Davidson was a last second shot away from the Final Four. Stephen Curry is leading the NCAA in scoring at 29.2 points per game and is getting help from the supporting cast of Lovedale (14.8 ppg) and Barr (11.2 ppg.)

Davidson's five wins this year could be considered cupcakes, but their schedule heats up from here as they play NC State, West Virginia, and Purdue in three of their next four games. Look for Davidson to make another run in the tournament this year.

4. BYU (7-0) (Vs Major Conference Teams 0-0)

It's debatable as to whether or not this team is a mid-major, but for the purpose of this article I will say they are. After a 27-8 campaign last season the Cougars are off to a hot 7-0 start. BYU is led in scoring by senior sensation Lee Cummard.

Cummard is doing it all for the Cougars so far this year averaging 20.6 ppg 6.6 rpg, and 2.4 apg, respectively. BYU has gone untested so far this year as their schedule has been rather weak. However BYU has a great opportunity at another respectable mid major, Utah State (5-0).

We will find out if BYU is the real deal later on in the holiday season as they play No. 19 Arizona State and No. 17 Wake Forest. BYU will make the tournament, but we will have to wait and see how they play against some major teams later on in the season.

5. Rhode Island (6-2) (Vs Major Conference Teams 1-2)

Rhode Island is a new team on the scene in NCAA basketball this season. Flying under the radar with an impressive 21 win season a year ago the Rams have already made a name for themselves in 2008 with a close game against ACC opponent Duke. Taking it to the last seconds the Rams lost to No. 5 Duke by three points, but landed themselves in the Mid Major Top 10.

Rhode Island is led by sharp shooter and son of the head coach, Jimmy Baron who shares the same name as his father. This kid can flat out shoot it from deep. Averaging just over 18 per game this year.

Baron is joined by Keith Cothran and Kahiem Seawright who are also averaging double digits. The Rams tough schedule only gets easier from here on out as they begin play in the A-10 conference. Top heavy with Xavier, and possibly Dayton, you can look for Rhode Island to challenge for a conference championship. NCAA tournament destiny..TBD

6. Western Kentucky (4-2) (Vs Major Conference Opponents 2-0)

After a slow 1-2 start the Hilltoppers are back to playing good basketball. Their last three games have consisted of wins over Southern Illinois, No. 3 Louisville, and Georgia.

Western Kentucky is led in scoring by A.J. Slaughter who is averaging 17.5 points per game. After missing two games his presence has turned the team's season around. Western Kentucky's conference should allow them to finish with a strong record and another chance to wear the slippers.

7. Dayton Flyers (7-0) (Vs Major Conference Opponents 2-0)

The Dayton Flyers are off to a great start in their second consecutive season. Last year the Flyers floundered after early season recognition and failed to make the tournament. This year they have knocked off a solid No. 25 Marquette team and also has a win against Auburn.

The rest of Dayton's schedule has been pretty easy so far this year. The Dayton vs. Creighton matchup will determine which team will be in the mid major top 10 next week. Is Dayton for real? We might need the whole season to find out.

8. Butler Bulldogs (5-0) (Vs Major Conference Opponents 1-0)

Butler is back. Instead of rebuilding it looks like the Bulldogs are reloading. Still a step away from a big time program, all Butler does is win. Five early season wins is good enough to land this team in the top 10.

Butler's biggest win of the year came against Northwestern who isn't considered to be much of anything. Until Butler loses a game though, I have to keep them in.

9. Illinois State (7-0) (0-0 Vs Major Conference Opponents)

Illinois State is coming off one of their best seasons in school history. After an embarrassing loss in the conference championship to Drake, Illinois State has not let it carry over.

The Redbirds are 7-0 this season and are beating teams by an average of 17 points per game. Illinois State will not be tested until January when they square off with Creighton. If the Redbirds don't keep winning big they can kiss the mid major top ten goodbye.

10. Utah Utes (5-1) (Vs Major Conference Opponents 2-0)

I struggled including Utah in this mix. Their play of late is what landed them the final spot in my mid major top ten poll.

After an embarrassing loss to a Division II school, Utah has rebounded with five consecutive wins. Impressive wins over Mississippi and Oregon has pulled this team back into the picture and has showed us first hand that the Utes will compete this year.

The Utes have four players averaging double digits which gives them many options to turn to. Luke Nevill is closing in on averaging a double-double which would really help this young team succeed.

Next Three In: Creighton, San Diego State, St. Mary's

College Basketball's Good, Bad, and Ugly in 2008

Jon Altena — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:08:22 -0500

The young college basketball season has already spoiled us with plenty of good action. We have seen upsets, blowouts, half court buzzer-beaters, sweet dunks, key injuries, and great early-season matchups.

So what do we make of all this excitement? The good, the bad, and the ugly!

10 Good Things

Plenty of success stories have graced our basketball minds so far this year. Here are some of them:

Michigan and Western Kentucky delivering the big upsets this year

Murray State is shooting a blazing 84.7% from the charity stripe.

Texas Tech scored 167 points...in a single game.

Blake Griffin is tearing up the NCAA single-handedly, averaging 25.7 PPG and 19.2 RPG.

Kurt Cunningham is shooting 85% from the floor (27 shots).

If your last name ends in "N," you have a great chance of being in the top five for scoring average in the nation. (Holston, Toolson, Harden, Griffin.)

There are still 27 unbeaten Division I teams. (12 in the Big East and ACC combined)

Cal is shooting 53%...from beyond the arc!

Don Meyer is on his way to a full recovery.

At least Notre Dame is good at one sport.

10 Bad Things

There has also been some pretty bad stuff in college basketball this year. Here is some of it:

Texas Tech gave up 115 points in a game.

Northwestern and Penn State's football teams may well win more games than their basketball teams.

Lute Olson leaving college basketball

Indiana basketball

Mississippi Valley State hasn't won a game this year (0-9) after making the NCAA Tournament last year.

Jimmy Patsos' game plan versus Davidson

Siena's play after the players ran their mouths in an article on ESPN.com prior to the season

Southwestern Athletic Conference (6-53 as a conference)

Loyola Marymount is more concerned with scoring in the fifties than they are with winning games. Scoring in games this year: 51,55,55,54,51,59,57.

The appearance taken on by any team who faces North Carolina

10 Ugly Things

Maybe my favorite. I give you the ugly:

Samford scored 22 points in a game

Winston Salem hasn't gotten out of the thirties in a third of its games.

Texas Tech gave up 115 points in a game

NJIT's 39-game losing streak

Memphis' jerseys with the white fronts and gray backs

Duke fans

St. Joseph's mascot. The Hawk doesn't stop waving his wings for the whole duration of a game. (Maybe more annoying than ugly)

University of Maryland-East Shore's shooting percentage (32%)

Thad Matta when he chews his gum

North Carolina's 116-48 win over UNC Asheville

What The Big Ten Needs to Win Their First Challenge

Jon Altena — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:52:27 -0500

One of the best times in college basketball is finally here.

The first weekend in December is often what people consider the real start to college basketball. Although this year has already featured some top-notch matchups, the Big 10/ACC challenge gives us 11 evenly matched games to watch in a three-day span.

As you may know, the Big 10 has not won an Big 10/ACC Challenge. So what do they need to do this year to accomplish the feat for their very first time?

Win the Games You're Favored.

The Big 10 has to be a bit worried with the matchups given throughout the challenge this year. Wisconsin already took care of business in a game they should have won. Despite being the underdog, Wisconsin pulled through in a must-win game for the Big 10. This win was a crucial start for the Big 10.

The only other Big 10 team I think should win is Minnesota. Not saying other games won't be won by the Big 10. I just think this is the only other game a Big 10 school will be somewhat heavily favored.

Slow It Down.

The style of play between the Big 10 and the ACC are very different in most cases. The ACC schools tend to get their games above 80 points on a regular basis, whereas a combined 110 points in a Big 10 game is not uncommon.

If three or four of the games stay in the 60-point range, I like the Big 10 to pull out at least two of them. Defense late in games will be crucial as to who can pull out a 'W'.

Upset City

The Big 10 needs an upset. An upset that could really change the Challenge would be something like Purdue over Duke, Michigan State over UNC, Indiana over Wake Forest, or Ohio State over Florida.

The good news for the Big 10 is that in any of these four games an upset could definitely occur. With the exception of Indiana, all three Big 10 schools could likely come away with a win if they bring their 'A'-game and their "D-fense".

Go 60/40 on Toss-Ups

Taking away my four upset games, we look at the rest of the field. Knowing Wisconsin has already won and assuming the Big 10 can pull off one of those upsets, the count stands at ACC—3, Big 10—2.

I feel like this could be a worse-case scenario for the Big 10 as one of them is bound to win an upset game. So the race to six wins comes down to the toss-ups.

These games include Penn State at Georgia Tech, Florida State at Northwestern, Michigan at Maryland, Iowa at Boston College, and Clemson at Illinois. It could also be argued that Purdue vs. Duke and Ohio State vs. Florida State are also toss-up games.

If you'd like to take that route, then feel free. A struggling Northwestern squad needs to toughen up at home and play their game, if they want a win. Penn State needs to take the Georgia Tech crowd out of things early and establish a slow down pace as well to keep the game close.

If they can keep it within five points with four minutes to play, I'd like the Nittany Lions playmakers to make something happen. Michigan needs to throw that nasty extended zone at Maryland.

Maryland has been very inconsistent the past few years and, if Michigan jumps on them early, they can be very tough to beat.

Iowa needs their young players to step up from the get-go. A team that is not very experienced, but has played pretty well away from home, will need everyone to step up for this big game.

I don't like the Hawks chances against Boston College's playmaker Tyrese Rice. For the final toss up game Illinois needs to jump on Clemson right away. Illinois has a great home-court advantage and can use their defense to stop Clemson early.

It's important to remember that Clemson hasn't been tested yet this year, so matching a team who is just as athletic may be something new for them.

If the Big 10 wins four of these six games, they win. Easier said then done, but on a game-by-game case, it could definitely happen!

My Prediction

Although I'm an ACC fan, I would love to see the Challenge come down to the last few games. However, I'm not optimistic that this is the year. Here are my Big 10/ACC Challenge Predictions:

Wisconsin Over Virginia Tech (already played)

Duke At Purdue—Duke 76 Purdue 71

Clemson At Illinois—Clemson 73 Illinois 76

Ohio State At Miami—Ohio State 64 Miami 71

Virginia At Minnesota—Virginia 59 Minnesota 71

Iowa At Boston College—Iowa 62 Boston College 77

North Carolina Vs Michigan State—North Carolina 90 Michigan State 78

Indiana At Wake Forest—Indiana 58 Wake Forest 80

Michigan At Maryland—Michigan 69 Maryland 71

Florida State At Northwestern—Florida State 65 Northwestern 52

Penn State At Georgia Tech—Penn State 71 Georgia Tech 78

FINAL—ACC 8 Big 10 3

Better luck next year, Big 10!

Top 10 Teams People Dont Know About.. Yet

Jon Altena — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:31:41 -0500

After having watched the first three weeks of the basketball season, there have been some pleasant surprises in the NCAA. Here are my ten teams to watch out for come March that people may not be talking about.

1. Dayton Flyers

Granted they did the same thing last year, this year could be different. Out to a hot start people are starting to wonder if the Dayton Flyers are for real. A 6-0 start and a quality stomping of Marquette has me thinking the Flyers could make the tournament this year. Hopefully they don't fold in the A-10 like last year.

2. Butler

One argument may be that plenty of people know about Butler. However after AJ Graves left, Butler fell off the map—a little bit. After another hot start though the 5-0 Bulldogs are proving that its becoming about reloading not rebuilding. The Bulldogs have a ways to go if they want to be a tournament threat, but are looking to achieve that goal.

3. Minnesota

After having been off the college basketball scene for the last few years the Golden Gophers seem to be back. The hiring of Tubby Smith has brought in quality recruits and the passion of basketball back to the barn. A fast 6-0 start has landed the Gophers at the number three spot on my poll.

4. Illinois

The Illini are back to 6-0 after a down year last year. Although they have struggled with some lower tier teams this year Weber has the boys winning again. Some confidence and experience could push these guys back into the tournament with the conference buddies, Minnesota.

5. Liberty

The Flames are off and rolling in 2008. After suffering a tough loss to UNC Asheville, Liberty came back with a big win over ACC opponent Virginia. The arrival of Seth Curry has lit a spark in this 4-1 team. While a majority of them are young the Flames will probably need an automatic bid by winning their conference.

6. Western Kentucky

A big win over No. 3 Louisville makes me a momentary believer. However as impressive as that win was, a 28 point loss to Murray State makes me wonder if they'll reach the .500 mark. Currently 3-2 I'll give the Hilltoppers a chance for two reasons. One, they have a sweet name and two, they were a very solid team last year!

7. Niagara

One of my favorite teams in the NCAA this year comes from the lovely state of New York. Niagara has had two key transfers who are going to show up big time for the Purple Eagles. Niagara is off to a 5-1 start, and has been blowing teams out. A tough loss to Villanova shows they have the confidence to hang with quality teams. If they can get past Siena in the conference tournament I wouldn't put it past this small school to pull of a Miracle in March.

8. Siena

Even though Siena is off to a 2-3 start we all know they have a host of potential. Three consecutive losses may mean the Saints need an automatic bid. However their tough schedule and experience could mean for a very tough team later this season. Look for the Saints in field of 65.

9. North Dakota State

The Bison are off to a mediocre 2-2 start but they return tons of talent. A team that has beat Wisconsin and Marquette in the last two years returns most of their players from that roster. If the Bison can learn how to play on the road they may make their first NCAA tournament in school history.

10. NJIT

The New Jersey Institute of Technology comes at number the number ten spot. Notice the headline says nothing about how good these teams are, instead it states people know nothing about them. What people may not know is that NJIT has a 38 game losing streak. However the Highlanders look better this year than last. Last year they lost by less than ten points just once. This year they have already played a game within ten points and have lost by 13 twice. I see the Highlanders winning two games this year but playing NO significant basketball in March.

The Perfect Thanksgiving: North Carolina "Stuffs" Asheville

Jon Altena — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:50:50 -0500

The North Carolina Tar Heels took a perfect 6-0 record into today's game against UNC Asheville. A team that had played North Carolina pretty close last year could not make the same statement this year.

The absence of big man Kenny George has plagued Asheville so far this year, as they came into today's action with a 3-3 clip. North Carolina walked away with a convincing win as they punished UNC Asheville 116-48.

Thats right, a 68-point difference. Coming into the game, Asheville was very relieved to see that Hansbrough was not playing.

After the game, they said the same thing, knowing that if he played, it might have been a 90-point game.

The Tar Heels held a 53-19 halftime lead and completed their historic performance by running off 63 second-half points while holding the Bulldogs to just 48 total points.

Ty Lawson led the Tar Heels with 22 points and was followed in double digits by Green, Thompson, Davis, and Ellington. Davis also grabbed a game high 10 rebounds. Asheville was led by three scorers who each contributed eight points.

The Tar Heels will resume action Wednesday against the sixth-ranked Spartans of Michigan State. Hansbrough is expected to play.

Maui Invitational: Final Predictions

Jon Altena — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:58:23 -0500

The luck of the Irish prevailed and, in doing so, ruined my perfect bracket. Instead of referring to it as luck, I'm going to call it skill. What a great team! So, in pursuit of an 11-1 bracket as opposed to 12-0, here I go. Enjoy the games!

Indiana vs. Chaminade—Indiana 59, Chaminade 56

St. Joe's vs. Alabama—St. Joe's 70, Alabama 65

Texas vs. Oregon- Texas 81, Oregon 67

UNC vs. Notre Dame—UNC 90, Notre Dame 80

Maui Invitational Round Two Predictions

Jon Altena — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:20:43 -0500

After having gone 4-0 in my first round predictions, the goal for a perfect bracket is not yet lost! Here are my second round predictions for the Maui Invitational on Tuesday.

St. Josephs vs. Indiana: St. Josephs 68 Indiana 60

Alabama vs. Chaminade: Alabama 84 Chaminade 62

Texas vs. Notre Dame: Texas 77 Notre Dame 74

North Carolina vs. Oregon: North Carolina 87 Oregon 73

Maui Invitational Predictions: Round One

Jon Altena — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:22:58 -0500

First Round Predictions

Texas Vs St. Josephs- Texas 81 St. Josephs 66

Indiana Vs Notre Dame- Notre Dame 74 Indiana 59

North Carolina vs Chaminade- UNC 96 Chaminade 61

Oregon vs Alabama- Oregon 75 Alabama 73

Minnesota Golden Gophers Program, Fair-Weather Fans Not Worthy of New Stadium

Jon Altena — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:51:46 -0500

After having attended the Minnesota Golden Gophers' last game in the Metrodome Saturday, there a few things that need to be discussed.

The Gophers' going-away party was crashed by their bitter out-of-state rival, Iowa. The Hawkeyes left Minnesota with a 55-0 win, marking the second-most lopsided victory in the history of the rivalry.

So, what’s my problem with Minnesota? The University of Minnesota is opening a new stadium beginning in the fall of 2009. But a beautiful stadium, with a beautiful view, is about to be spoiled by a horrific fanbase.

This stadium is expected to be a key proponent in the turnaround of this program.

First off, the Metrodome was completely full Saturday night with over 68,000 fans. How is that a horrific fanbase one might ask? Well, considering there were probably 30,000 Hawks fans there, that is rather pathetic.

Gopher fans were everywhere selling their tickets outside of the Metrodome, while their college team inside was fighting for its bowl lives. So, instead of going in to cheer on their team, they sell their tickets to the rival fans and allow Iowa to fill half the stadium.

Secondly, it’s a rivalry. It was my assumption that Gopher fans would be rocking and rolling after their loss in Iowa City last year. Once again, I was completely wrong.

As the Gophers ran out, I am confident in saying I have heard a Division III football game get louder than the ovation the Gophers received.

On the other hand, the Hawkeye fans didn’t disappoint. It sounded like they were going for a Big Ten title on the road.

Third, this program that I have heard so much about the last 12 weeks in terms of progress and potential has completely been flushed. The Gophers have lost four in a row and have no momentum going into bowl season (should they make an appearance).

They have one win over a team with a winning record. And that team plays in the MAC.

Finally, what does this have to do with the future of Gopher football? I have lost all faith in the future of this program.

The student section was half full at a rivalry game with major bowl implications. The stadium had about 32,000 fans left after the third quarter, 30,000 of which were Iowa fans.

How is a program going to build off a new stadium if there is no real base as far as a following goes?

Gopher Nation needs to understand that it all starts now. It needs to support the football team no matter what its record is, or how poorly it's doing.

That being said, maybe the fans should take a lesson from their neighbors to the south, whose team crushed the Gophers on Saturday. Or maybe they could continue doing what they’re doing and be content with 6-6 record and a bowl game every other year.

The choice is theirs.

North Carolina vs. Kentucky: Two Historic Programs, Two Different Directions

Jon Altena — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:15:59 -0500

It would be my belief that when North Carolina and Kentucky's athletic directors got off the phone they were rather excited for the fresh new rivalry of two basketball powerhouses.

The two teams have combined 74 regular season conference championships, 50 conference tournament titles, 89 NCAA tournament appearances, 30 final fours, and 12 national championships.

However, the rivalry between the two hasn’t been so amazing. Since 2000 North Carolina holds a slight advantage at 4-3 head to head against the Wildcats. Don’t bank on a close game, though! Kentucky’s three wins were by an average of 18 points. North Carolina’s four wins boast an average nine and a half point difference.

As for the direction of the programs, there is a distinct difference. Since the change of coaches in Kentucky they have gone a measly 18-14 including losses to Gardner Webb and Virginia Military Institute. The year before Gillispie showed up wasn’t anything great either as the Wildcats finished with a sub respectable 22-11 record.

The Tar Heels, on the other hand, are climbing the ranks of college basketball and are a lot of people’s number one. Carolina has won 86 games during All American Tyler Hansbrough’s stay in Chapel Hill. A year before that they won their fifth National title.

The dramatic change in each program has definitely taken two different roads. So what gives tomorrow when they play?

Kentucky needs Hansbrough, Ginyard and Frasor to sit if they want a chance. The Tar Heels took care of Penn in their season opener rather easily while Kentucky lost to VMI by eight. Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller really stepped up their performances in their collegiate debut’s while Kentucky’s DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller also had strong outings.

In order for Kentucky to keep it close they are going to need to slow down the Carolina offensive attack. While the Tar Heels wont score as many points as the run and gun Keydets they will have an easy time getting the ball inside against the Kentucky posts. Patterson and Stevenson are great post players for the Wildcats, but not enough to slow down the Carolina front court.

What I Expect

I don’t expect the Wildcats to come play like they did on Saturday. Gillispie will certainly not allow his Wildcats to underachieve for a second straight year. I look for them to come out strong and play with great intensity and Kentucky pride.

My Prediction

If Hansbrough and Frasor play, I could see a close first half. But, ultimately, the depth and size of the Heels prevails as they come out with an easy 88-72 victory. If Hansbrough and Frasor do not play, things could be interesting. If Kentucky can keep it within five for the first 28 minutes of the game they might have a chance. I’m still taking Carolina, 82-74.

North Carolina Basketball: 2008-09 Preview

Jon Altena — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:03:31 -0400

Roy Williams is notorious for starting his practices with the phrase, "It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood." With "Psycho T" announcing his return to college basketball Friday afternoon, there is no better way to put it.

The Tar Heels return a load of talent from the 2007-2008 season. Leading scorer and Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough (22.6 ppg 10.2 rpg) has decided to finish his college career in Chapel Hill, aiming for a national championship.

Hansbrough will be joined by veteran players Danny Green (11.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Deon Thompson (8.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Marcus Ginyard (6.9 ppg).

If Alex Stephenson dispels rumors of leaving for UCLA to be with his sick father, the depth only gets better.

With star players Wayne Ellington and Tywan Lawson declaring for the draft, the Tar Heels do have some holes to fill. Assuming Ellington and Lawson stay in the draft, the Tar Heels will have a huge void to fill at the point guard position.

Big name recruit Larry Drew will join the Tar Heels next year with no college experience. A point guard that has been deemed careless with the basketball may have a tough time making an impact for the Heels.

All-Americans Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller will also help solidify the North Carolina frontcourt. With the highly anticipated arrival of Davis and Zeller, Williams may face problems finding playing time between the five post players (six, if you include Copeland).

If Ellington and Lawson stick around, college basketball fans will be in for a treat. The Tar Heels will have 95.5 percent of their scoring and 95.6 percent of their rebounding back from last year.

With Kansas, Memphis, and Texas losing a majority of their talent to the draft, it will be hard to find a team that can compete with the Heels in 2008-09!

Cinderella Stories: The Best Low Seeds in This Year's NCAA Tournament

Jon Altena — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:49:54 -0500

With the NCAA tournament less than a month away, it's never to early to take a look at the field of 65. Although it's not even close to set in, it's always fun look and see who the next Valpo might be, or maybe even the next Hampton.

I've picked the teams I feel to be the best at each lower seed based on ESPN.com's Bracketology. Seedings from Bracketology will change and are by no means set as final.

I'll start with the 16th seed and work down to number nine.

Best 16 seed: Portland State

Portland State is currently 17-8 overall and 10-2 in Big Sky Conference play. The reason Portland State poses any kind of threat is due to their early season scheduling. While the Vikings took poundings from No. 2 UCLA, No. 6 Washington State, and Washington, these losses will only benefit them come tournament time.

Since their loss on Jan. 10 to Webert State, Portland State has rattled off eight straight wins. If they make the tournament they might be able to give the number one seed a run for their money due to experience against big time programs.

If you put confidence together with a long winning streak anything could happen!

Best 15 seed: UMBC

The University Of Maryland Baltimore County is currently 19-7 overall with an 11-2 record in the American East Conference. UMBC has never made the NCAA tournament but is showing great potential for a run this year. If the Retrievers make the tournament they could be dangerous for a few reasons.

UMBC is currently on a roll having won seven in a row and eight of their last nine. They have four losses that were by five points or less. Besides a the current seven game win streak, UMBC has proven they can hang with big time teams this year.

On Dec. 29 the Retrievers went to Ohio State and lost a tough nine point game in Columbus. Again, with a nice win streak and tons of confidence, the balanced scoring attack of UMBC could pose a threat for the two seed in store.

Best 14 seed: Winthrop

While some people might like Boise State at the 14 seed, I am going to have to say Winthrop is a bigger threat. With the combination of a tough schedule and experience Winthrop won't be scared.

Although the Eagles aren't as good as years past, Winthrop still has 18 wins, nine of which are conference. Winthrop tried to make a case early by scheduling teams such as Baylor, Missouri State, and Mississippi. Although the Eagles lost all three games they were able to hang in each and prove that they can play with some pretty good major conference teams.

On Friday Withrop has a big game against Davidson that will prove whether or not they are ready for a tournament run.

Best 13 seed: Virginia Commonwealth

The Rams were one of the big stories of last year's tournament after a huge opening round victory over college powerhouse Duke. The Rams will go for a repeat trip this year boasting a 20-6 record and plenty of returning talent.

While VCU has tough losses against Arkansas and Miami, they also have big wins against Maryland and at Bradley to cancel them out. Virginia Commonwealth also has a chance this weekend to solidify a tournament bid by beating Akron on the road and winning out after that.

The one thing that could plague the Rams down the stretch is a lack of depth and scoring off the bench.

Best 12 seed: Davidson

Davidson is currently 20-6 overall, 18-0 in the SOCON. While Bracketology currently has them as a 12 seed along with Syracuse and Oregon, I still feel Davidson has the best chance at winning an NCAA tournament game.

Currently the Wildcats are two-stepping through conference play and building momentum as they go. Four of the Wildcats' six losses are against major conference teams, three of which were ranked in the top eight in the country.

Some may argue the coulda should woulda when it comes to Davidson saying they should have beat UCLA, Duke, and North Carolina. Despite that, they lost all three games but have plenty of potential to show for it. With a long winning streak and one of the best scorers in the nation (Curry 25.8 ppg) the Wildcats have all the tools to make a possible sweet 16 run.

Best 11 seed: West Virginia

While the Mountaineers had a very poor showing tonight, West Virginia is still my favorite 11 seed. Under coach Bob Huggins, WVU has won 18 games and seems to be heading for an at-large NCAA tournament bid.

With the exception of blowouts against Cincy (23) and Nova (22) West Virginia has played well against teams such as Tennessee and Oklahoma. Besides those losses, WVU has big wins against Marquette and Syracuse (20 point win). If West Virginia can get over their inconsistent ways they too could possibly win a game or two in the tournament.

Best 10 seed: Arizona State

The Sun Devils won my vote for the 10 seed due to the fact that they have done what none of the other 10 seeds have done—won a big game.

Arizona State has three wins vs. the top 25 and has played very well against several other top 25 teams (one point loss to No. 6 Wash. St, three point loss to Cal). While Arizona State has also been plagued by inconsistency, they have tremendous athletes who can go off at any time in any game.

After looking at the 10 seeds I don't see much potential for any wins in this years tournament.

Best 9 Seed: Maryland

While Maryland has embarrassing losses to Ohio and American at home, the Terps have a huge win at UNC to help their cause. The Terps, who struggled with inconsistency early have been playing much better basketball lately. While they may be looking for another big win to solidify a tournament birth, the Terps are getting better with every game they play.

The only negative thing that could hurt the Terps is the fact that, despite the improvement, they have not been able to string together a long winning streak. A loss at home against Virginia Tech tonight could have the Terps down.

It will be interesting to see how they bounce back with three of their last four ACC games on the road. If Maryland plays consistently with confidence and poise the Terps might also have a shot at a win or two in the tournament.

Georgetown-Providence: Hoyas Respond

Jon Altena — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:00:41 -0500

The last eight days have been extremely tough on the Georgetown Hoyas. Having lost two of their last three, the Hoyas went into today's game against Providence looking to rebuild some confidence.

Georgetown came into today's game having lost two of the last three and winning a game on a controversial call against Villanova last Monday.

On the other side, Providence had some serious problems of their own. The Friars had lost seven of their last eight. Providence was also in need of some confidence as they are looking to built a strong case for the NIT tournament.

First Four Minutes: After winning the tip the Hoyas were out and running early. The Hoyas used their inside game to score four early points in the paint. Providence responded to the two early layups with a couple jump shots to tie the game. A Georgetown three ball gave the Hoyas an early 7-4 lead with 16 minutes left to play in the first half.

Second Four Minutes: Having built a 7-4 lead, the Hoyas went cold by missing their next three shots and turning the ball over once. After a providence three, Georgetown responded with a three of their own to retake a 10-7 lead. Two Mckenzie free throws pulled the Friars back within one at 10-9. A Georgetown free throw and a Providence jump shot tied the game at 11 with 12 minutes left.

Third Four Minutes: A Hoyas layup gave them a 13-11 advantage before the second official TV timeout at 11:21 left. Jessie Sapp scored six early points for the Hoyas but was challenged by Providences Weyinmi Efejuku, who had five. After an Efejuku jump shot ,the Friars tied the game at 13. A 7-0 Hoyas run was capped by a ridiculous ally oop with 9:04 left giving the Hoyas a 20-13 lead heading towards the eight minute mark.

Fourth Four Minutes: Providence started the next four minutes with a nice transition layup by Marshon Brooks to cut the lead to five. After a Hoyas turnover the Friars used multiple opportunities to get a jumper from the free line and McDermott cut the lead to tree. Georgetown responded on their next possession with a Roy Hibbert layup that pushed the Hoyas lead to 22-17 with 6:15 left. Efejuku continued his hot shooting by hitting a deep three, moving his point total to 10 and cutting the Hoyas lead to just two points. A Jeff Xavier three ball gave the Friars their first lead since 2-0. Then Wallace responded with a quick two on the other end to give the Hoyas the lead back at 24-23. Efejuku continued his dominating play making two free throws to give Providence another lead at 25-24 with 4:22 left in the first half.

Last Four Minutes: A Georgetown dunk was countered by a one of two effort at the free throw line by Marshon Brooks, tying the game at 26. Wallace and Efeujuku exchanged threes that brought the game back to a 29-29 tie, with just over two minutes left. The three point basket for the Friars gave Efeujuku 15 points in the first half. Jamine Peterson converted on one of two free throws to give the Friars another lead at 30-29, closing out the first half.

HALFTIME SCORE: Providence 30 #11 Georgetown 29

Fun Stat From the Game: Georgetown's Vernon Macklin went 0-2 from the free thrown line in the first putting his total for the year at 8-38. Macklin is now shooting just 21% from the free thrown line this year and 30% for his career. Efejuku's 15 points pushed him over 900 points for his three year career at Providence.

SECOND HALF

First Four Minutes: Providence started the half right, leaving off by slamming home an early dunk before the Hoyas responded with a Hibbert basket on the other end. Providence scored another basket in the paint and then switched up the defense on the other end by going to a 2-3 zone. Georgetown responded to the change by scoring four straight points that gave the Hoyas a 35-34 lead. Providence responded the mini run with one of their own by scoring four straight points in the paint and pushing the lead back to three.

Second Four Minutes: Providence sustained the run by draining a deep three that gave them a 41-35 lead forcing he Hoyas to use a timeout. Georgetown responded out of the timeout by scoring six straight points on two threes to tie the game at 41 with thirteen minutes left. The two teams traded baskets keep the tie going into the third four minutes

Third Four Minutes: Jonathon Wallace cashed his third straight three, giving the Hoyas a six point advantage and forcing a Providence timeout. The next three put the Hoyas on a 13-2 run, giving them a game high nine point lead. Providence answered with a huge three point basket to cut it to six, trying to regain some momentum.

Fourth Four Minutes: After two Hoyas free throws, Providence hit a three pointer to cut the lead to five with just under seven minutes left. The Hoyas' good luck continued the next possession when a loose ball bounced right to Roy Hibbert under the basket for an easy eight footer. Georgetown extended their run with two free throws pushing the lead back to nine. Georgetown scored another layup giving them a 6-0 run that was broken the next possession by two Friar free throws.

Last Four Minutes: Every possession in the last four minutes ran under 16 seconds on the shot clock for Georgetown, which snuffed any hopes of a comeback for the Friars. Georgetown outscored the Friars in the second half by eleven points to give the Hoyas a 68-58 win.

Georgetown improved to 21-4 with the win and moved to 11-3 in Big East, giving them sole possession of first place. The loss dropped Providence to 3-10 in the conference and 13-13 overall. The loss was the Friars eighth in their last nine tries.

ACC Basketball: Every Team a Winning Team?

Jon Altena — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:26:52 -0500

Despite the lack of dominant teams in the ACC this year, there is still a very good possibility that every team in the conference could finish with a winning record.

No other conference in the nation can boast the same accomplishment.

If Georgia Tech (11-13, 4-6) can play to their potential they could have a legitimate shot at finishing 16-14 overall.

Virginia (12-12, 2-9) is the other ACC school fighting to finish with a winning record.

The Cavaliers will have to play their best ball of the season down the stretch with a tough schedule remaining. They face Duke and Maryland at home, before playing Miami on the road.