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SCS.com Hoops Preview '05 Home Within this preview: ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE PREVIEW LEAGUE OVERVIEW
Lipscomb returns all five starters from a balanced team. The backcourt of Brian Fisk and James Poindexter may be the best in the conference. Shawn Durant and Cameron Robinson are the low-post guys, while Eddie Ard could develop into an excellent third scorer. Mercer is carried by an outstanding trio. Will Emerson is one of the top post players in the conference, while Damitrius Coleman was the nation's leading assist man a year ago. Swingman Jacob Skogen is a very dangerous scorer, going for almost 15 points per game. Stetson needs all their talent to come together. If it does, look out. E.J. Gordon and Anthony Register comprise an outstanding backcourt that combined for almost 31 points and 11 rebounds last season. Karl Hollingsworth is a decent forward, while Will Holloman is another solid backcourt player. Jacksonville could have been a contender for the crown had Haminn Quaintance not left the team recently. He is a huge loss. They have a deep stable of guards, including starters Antonio Cool and Jesse Kimbrough. If they can find an inside presence, the Dolphins can make some noise. Florida Atlantic has a solid duo in guard Quinton Young and forward Rodney Webb. Kahleaf Watson is a good point guard and distributor. Campbell didn't win a conference game a season ago, but they should this season. All five starters return, including Ruell Pringle and Maurice Latham, as well as Comerlee Poole, a very good rebounder. North Florida and Kennesaw State are making the jump from Division II. Neither team will make any sort of impact on the conference, although North Florida has some decent players in NAIA Player of the Year Alain LaRoche and guards Derrick Scott and Chris Timberlake. PROJECTED STANDINGS
(1) Gardner-Webb ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
G - Tim Smith - Senior, East Tennessee State POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS
NCAA: Gardner-Webb LEAGUE OVERVIEW
Birmingham Southern is the best of the muddled pack that is below the aforementioned group of teams. They lost three starters, but return a decent inside-outside duo in guard James Collins, and all-conference candidate Thomas Viglianco. Sredrick Powe sat out last season, but he is back this season, as are perimeter players Bucky McMillan and Arnold Gore. Virginia Military Institute has won seven games in two seasons since moving in from the Southern Conference. They should come close to matching that total this season. Reggie Williams was the league's best freshman a year ago, and Matt Coward led the conference in assists at nearly five a game. Levar Joseph joins them on the perimeter in what is one of the best trios in the Big South. Preston Beverly needs to improve his production inside. Liberty has one of the league's top players in Larry Blair, who averaged 17 points and 5 boards a year ago. He will miss his partner-in-crime David Dees, who transferred over the summer. He is going to need some help if Liberty is going to stay out of the cellar. Newcomer Damien Hubbard is expected to make a big impact. Charleston Southern returns a very talented and deep cast of perimeter players. The three returning starters are guards Terrell Brown, Thomas Harrison, and Mario Williams, while Donnell Covington and Chris Moore came off the bench but saw extensive minutes. However, they also possibly the best newcomer in the league in 6-3 Dwayne Jackson. With all the backcourt players, the Buccaneers need to find some post players to make noise within the conference. Ferdinand Cain and Trent Drafts are the best options down low. High Point returns a lot of young players that need to develop. Arizona Reid and Issa Konare are the frontcourt mainstays, as Reid was an all-freshman pick. Scott Akeem is a good scorer and defender in the backcourt, while Landon Quick runs the point. Mike Jefferson, a JC transfer, is expected to contribute immediately. PROJECTED STANDINGS
(1) Winthrop ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
G - Torrell Martin - Junior, Winthrop POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS
NCAA: Winthrop LEAGUE OVERVIEW
Northern Arizona may have the most talented offensive team in the league, but it didn't translate to wins last season, as they finished 11-17 overall and 4-10 in the conference. That should change this season. Ruben Boykin is one of the premier forwards in the conference, and provides a go-to-option down low. The perimieter trio of Steven Sir, sixth man extraordinaire DeJuan Stevens, and Kelly Golob can compete with any backcourt in the league. All three are capable of putting up big scoring numbers. Kyle Landry is another above-average player in the frontcourt. Weber State loses the best player in the league in Lance Allred, but return three starters and several other players that can keep them in the hunt. A deep perimeter that includes All-conference candidate Coric Riggs; role players Brett Cox and Jamaal Jenkins; and super sub Terell Stovall, leads the way. Stovall could move into the starting lineup this season, while Cox is a solid three point shooter. In the frontcourt, versatile David Patten will need to step up his production, while JC transfer Dan Henry should have a big impact. Eastern Washington lost three starters from a 8-20 team, but they should be improved anyway. Henry Bekkering and Jake Beitinger form a good forward tandem, while Deuce Smith could develop into an all-conference-type player in the backcourt. 6-10 Paul Butorac is expected to improve as well, and newcomer Rodney Stuckey could have a decent impact on the perimeter. Portland State lost their three best players from a year ago, including the Big Sky player of the year in Seamus Boxley, and the nation's leading assist man in Will Funn. Jake Schroeder is a decent scorer in the backcourt and Scott Morrison should develop into a solid option down low. Two transfers, Anthony Washington (Washington) and Ryan Sommer (JC), are expected to pick up some of the scoring slack. Idaho State finished last in the conference a season ago, and lose three starters. However, they do return an all-conference player in Antoine Killien and last season's Freshman of the Year Logan Kinghorn. Those two will carry the Bengals. David Schroeder is a big-time scorer who hasn't been able to contribue to his full potential in three years because of injury. A myriad of transfers, including Tim Henry (Wyoming); Kyle Hopkins (Arizona); and Jamal Holden and Akbar Abdul-Ahad (JC) are expected to shore up what is going to be a very deep perimieter corps. PROJECTED STANDINGS
(1) Montana State ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
G - Jason Harris- Senior, Sacramento State POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS
NCAA: Montana State LEAGUE OVERVIEW
Cornell has one of the best players in the league in swingman Lenny Collins He fills up the stat sheet and can also shoot the three. Point guard Graham Dow is an excellent defender and makes this team go. Khaliq Gant provides accurate three-point shooting on the wing. Inside players Ryan Rourke, who could develop into a solid low-post option, Andrew Naeve, Jason Hartford, and Ugo Ihekweazu should give the Big Red balance on offense. Brown loses star guard Jason Forte, but returns the other four starters. Luke Ruscoe is going to become the new go-to-guy for the Bruins. The backcourt is in decent shape with returnees Damon Huffman and Marcus Becker anchoring it. Expect improved production from both of them. There are also several guys that played supporting roles last season that are going to get more minutes this year, including guards Mark McAndrew and Keenan Jeppeson; and forwards Mark MacDonald and Sam Manhanga. Dartmouth had a decent season within the conference a season ago, going 7-7 and finishing in third. They return the best sixth man in the league from a year ago in Mike Lang, who should develop into an all-conference guard. Two returning starters anchor the frontcourt. Calvin Arnold and Chuck Flynn are solid scorers and rebounders. Johnathan Ball is another solid player on the wing. Two incoming freshmen, Marlon Sanders and Alex Barnett are expected to contribute immediately. Yale return one of the best big men in the league in Dominick Martin, who is a very good scorer and rebounder. Casey Hughes produces in a variety of aspects, and could become an all-conference players this eason. Forwards Sam Kaplan and Caleb Holmes are solid bookends, while guard Eric Flato is ready to step up in the backcourt after a very good freshman season. Columbia was the worst team in the Ivy last season and they lose their two best players from that team. However, a decent inside-outside combo does return in guard Brett Loscalzo and Dragutin Kravic. Ben Nwachukwu and John Baumann are solid contributers in the frontcourt. Mark Montomery is a returning starter on the wing. PROJECTED STANDINGS
(1) Pennsylvania ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
G - Lenny Collins - Senior, Cornell POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS
NCAA: Pennsylvania LEAGUE OVERVIEW
Loyola can really sneak up on some teams this season. They return four starters, but it is the addition of two transfers from Maryland that give them the potential to make noise. Guard Andre Collins might develop into one of the best players in the league, while Hassan Fofana provides the Greyhounds with a legit post player. Charlie Bell and Shane James are two solid scorers that return on the perimeter, while Brad Farrell, Freddie Stanback, and Sean Corrigan form a good trio in the frontcourt. This team could be dangerous late in the season. Rider loses its best player from a year ago in Jerry Johnson as well as several other important players. However, they return a solid quartet that will keep the Broncs in the hunt. Forwards Jason Thompson and Edwin Muniz could comprise the best forward duo in the conference by the end of the year, while Paul Thompson also will be a major player in the frontcourt. On the perimeter, Terrance Mouton should increase his production and become a go-to-guy player in the backcourt. The newcomers are also expected to make an impact. St. Peter's has the best player in the conference and the best scorer in the country in 5-9 Keydren Clark. However, he is basically all that the Peacocks have. When he's off, St. Peter's stands no chance of winning. Clark is trying to become the nation's leading scorer for the third straight season. Fairfield has a very good perimeter trio in All-Conference performer Terrence Todd, DeWitt Maxwell (his eligibility is uncertain, however) and Michael Bell. If someone in the frontcourt like Alvin Carter steps up and starts producing major numbers in the paint, the Stags will beat some teams. Niagara loses the best player in the league in Juan Mendez, and won't be able to replace him easily. Guards Lorenzo Miles and James Mathis will have to pick up some of the slack left by the departing seniors, while forward J.R. Duffey also returns as a starter. Kent State transfer Clif Brown is expected to make an impact. Siena has one of the top players in the league in 6-6 forward Michael Haddix. A stable of guards contribute on the perimeter. Al Fisher returns as a starter, but Antoine Jordan, Kojo Mensah, Tay Fisher, and David Ryan all are decent producers in the backcourt. PROJECTED STANDINGS
(1) Iona ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
G - Keydren Clark - Senior, St. Peter's POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS
NCAA: Iona MID-CONTINENT CONFERENCE PREVIEW LEAGUE OVERVIEW
Western Illinois does not have any go-to-star, but they have an abundance of players that will make the Leathernecks tough within the conference. Guard David Jackson is a very talented guard, while fellow perimeter players Troy Okeson and Nathan Koster are also solid. Fred Oguns, NaVonta Kentle, and Eliz Cepeda comprise a decent forward trio. Freshman Marlon Mahorn, son of Rick Mahorn, is expected to have a big year for WIU. Eze Samuel and Chris Gonzales are two more newcomers that will see a lot of playing time. UMKC lost the majority of the team that nearly won the regular season title. However, they do return guard Quinton Day, who should be an all-conference pick. Tim Blackwell is his sidekick in the backcourt, and they make up one of the best backcourts in the conference. The Kangaroos don't have a proven frontcourt player, though. JC transfer Kyle Spears needs to have a big season inside. Oakland made an improable run in the conference tournament a season ago, but don't expect the same this season. The inside-outside duo of Rawle Marshall and Cortney Scott are gone, leaving the Golden Grizzlies with lots of holes. Guard Brandon Cassise and forwards David Carson and Patrick McCloskey are all solid returnees, but it is the addition of several newcomers that will make or break the season. Freshman Keith MacKenzie and Rutgers transfer Calvin Wooten might start next to each other in the backcourt, while Ohio State Ricardo Billings and Wright State transfer Vova Severovas are also expected to make impacts. Southern Utah doesn't return anyone that would jump out at you, but they do have a decent cast of players. Guards Rand Janes and Steve Barnes form a good backcourt, while Nate Janes and Lubor Olsocsky anchor the frontcourt. The addition of 7-foot freshman Fernando Bonfim could be huge. He will immediately step in at center. Chicago State has a decent backcourt in Royce Parran and Kevin Jones, and a couple of average frontcourt players in Marin Mulin and Nate Carter. A couple of newcomers need to pick up some of the slack left by early-entry Deji Akindele. Centenary has an all-conference player in guard Tyrone Hamilton, who could develop into a star by the end of the season. He has absolutely no supporting cast, though. JC transfer Larry Logan will get the chance to become a go-to-guy in the frontcourt. PROJECTED STANDINGS
(1) Oral Roberts ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
G - Ken Tutt - Junior, Oral Roberts POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS
NCAA: Oral Roberts Photos Courtesy: etsubucs.com, libertyflames.com, montanagrizzlies.com, collegesports.com, gojaspers.com, mid-con.com |
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