The NBA Draft Blog conference previews continue with the second part of the Big 10.  If you haven’t checked out Part I – find it here.  We are looking at some major teams here in Part II – including Final Four contenders Purdue and Ohio State, and some of the Big 10’s best players in JaJuan Johnson, Jon Leuer, Talor Battle, and William Buford.

 

 

 

Minnesota

 

The Good:     Tubby Smith’s plans for the Golden Gophers hit a road bump with the arrest of Trevor Mbakwe, but he has since been reinstated to the team.  Mbakwe is very strong and athletic, goes hard to the basket and knows how to finish.  Complimenting him on the perimeter is Blake Hoffarber, one of the best three-point shooters in the country.  Hoffarber should be much more effective with a solid presence in the middle.  He is also a decent defender, giving a strong effort, but not always capable of staying with his man.  Point guard Devoe Joseph is serviceable at the point, showing good ballhandling skills and the ability to get to the basket, though he needs to limit his turnovers and work a little harder on his perimeter defense.  The backcourt should receive a boost though from the return of Al Nolen, who was having a good season running the offense until declared academically ineligible in January.  Junior center Ralph Sampson III showed nice improvement last season, but still has a way to go to become one of the better big men in the Big 10.  Big-bodied freshman Maurice Walker should be able to contribute immediately on the boards, though his conditioning will be a question mark.

 

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  The main deficiency you will notice about this Minnesota team is that they are just not that athletic, though Mbawke will help that a bit.  The key for Minnesota to win relies on them controlling the tempo and not getting caught up in full-court sprintfests.  This also makes the offense reliant on hitting their perimeter shots, so if the jumpers aren’t falling, the Gophers aren’t winning.

 

 

The Question Mark:  After all of the negative publicity, is Mbakwe as good as advertised?  It’s been a long time since anyone has seen Mbakwe play in an actual game, though he was dominant at the junior college level.  Assuming he sakes the rust off quickly, Mbakwe will be a major player in the Big 10.

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  Unfortunately, the surprising run to the NCAA tournament will not be repeated this season.  The experience of Lawrence Westbrook and Damian Johnson will be missed and the improvement of the Big 10 as a whole will send Minnesota back down towards the bottom of the conference.

 

 

 

 

 

Northwestern

 

The Good:    While the news that Kevin Coble would not return for his senior year was a shock, Coach Bill Carmody still has plenty of talent and could make a legitimate run at a NCAA Tournament bid this season.  In Coble’s absence last season, John Shurna stepped up and became on of the best players in the Big 10.  A lanky forward, Shurna is reminiscent of Gordon Hayward as he is much tougher than he looks, with the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, or to operate in the post when necessary.  Shurna is joined by fellow returning starters Drew Crawford and Michael Thompson heading up the backcourt for the Wildcats.  Thompson is quick and does a good job taking advantage of the open space created by Carmody’s offense to get to the rim, or to roam around the perimeter and hit threes.  Crawford is at his best in the mid-range game, doing a great job finding openings in the defense to get his shot.  Big man Luka Mirkovic showed a lot of improvement last season, especially going strong to the basket and becoming a legitimate perimeter threat.  

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  Size is an issue, with Mirkovic being the only legitimate big man on the team, and even he is not completely at home playing in the post.  Shurna, a natural small forward, was actually the team’s leading rebounder, which is never a good sign.  Also, the bench is not that deep, so it is important for the starters to stay out of foul trouble.

 

 

 

The Question Mark:  For the first time in many years, people are expecting good things out of Northwestern basketball.  How will the team handle the expectations?  It helps that it is an experienced team with a coach who stresses disciplined play.  If Shurna can replicate last year’s breakout season, and there is no reason to think that he won’t, the team should be able to follow.

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  20 wins is a strong possibility again this season, and it would be a great story if the Wildcats got their NCAA invite.  I’m saying yes, this is the year we get to see Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament, with Shurna a strong possibility for Big 10 Player of the Year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ohio State

 

The Good:   National Player of the Year Evan Turner may be gone, but Coach Thad Matta has again brought in a phenomenal freshman class to help ease his departure and giving Buckeyes fans dreams of another Final Four appearance.  If that wasn’t enough, Matta returns 4 out of 5 starters from last year’s Sweet 16 team.  The backcourt of William Buford and Jon Diebler will pick up where they left off last season – Buford attacking the basket or nailing mid-range jumpers, Diebler camping out behind the 3 point line and making teams who try to stop the slashers pay.  Returning in the frontcourt are David Lighty and huge center Dallas Lauderdale.  Lighty, the best defender out of the returning Buckeyes and is capable of guarding multiple positions.  Lauderdale is a big presence in the middle, and excels as a help defender in the lane.  On offense, he doesn’t get many chances, but makes the most of them.  The best of the incoming freshman are forward Jared Sullinger and wing Deshaun Thomas.  Sullinger is an excellent post player, with great footwork, toughness and the ability to finish.  Thomas has a strong body and has the ability to score from the perimeter or the post.

 

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  The lack of size (Lauderdale is only 6’8 and Sullinger 6’9) could hurt them on the defensive end against skilled posts.  Also, besides Lighty, the perimeter defense is spotty, especially closing against shooters.  The team lacks a true point guard other than freshman Aaron Craft, and there is no one as skilled as Evan Turner to handle the duties like last season.

 

 

The Question Mark:  Can Buford become the go-to guy that Turner was last season?  Last season, any time a game was on the line, you knew Turner would have the ball and would be allowed to create either a hot for himself or his teammate.  At this point I’m not convinced that Buford is a skilled enough ballhandler to be charged with creating those big shots.

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  NCAA Tournament bid is assured, but I’m not entirely convinced that the lack of a true center and a go-to player will get them any further than last season’s Sweet Sixteen berth.  Sullinger is a candidate to leave after one year and be a lottery pick next June.  Buford is most likely a late first-round-early second-round pick, while Lighty, Diebler and Lauderdale will all have a chance to catch on with NBA teams.

 

 

 

 

Penn State

 

The Good:     Point guard Talor Battle is back for his senior year, and Penn State will need him to play even better than he has for Penn State to improve on last year’s 11 win season.  Battle did everything for the Nittany Lions last season, including being the leading rebounder at 6 feet tall.  Last year’s frontcourt starters are all back as well, including DJ Jackson and Jeff Brooks, two strong players who were effective at times around the basket.  Battle should receive some help on the perimeter from freshman shooting guard Taran Buie, a legit scorer who finds ways to get to rim and excels in transition.  Defensively, Penn State is very good at being physical and forcing a slow pace 

 

The Not-So-Good:  Besides Battle and Buie, they are not just that talented, though players such as Jackson and Brooks do play their heart out every night.  Obviously, rebounding is a major issue when your six foot point guard is the leading rebounder, though the frontcourt players do a good job putting a body on people.  Scoring is also a major issue, with only one player, Battle, accounting for about 1/3 of the scoring load. 

 

 

The Question Mark:  Can Buie become the second scorer the team needs to allow Battle a little more freedom to create as a point guard?  If Buie can come in and score, Battle has the quickness to draw defenses to him and get his teammates good looks.  Unfortunately, until now Battle has had to do the scoring on his own.

 

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  I would like to see Battle go out on a high note, but I can’t see any other team bringing up the rear of the Big 10 this season.  13 wins may be a bit generous.  If Battle can show more of his point guard abilities this season, I think he becomes an instant NBA prospect, though most likely a mid-second round pick at best.

 

 

 

 

Purdue

 

The Good:  The Big 3 from last season are back for the senior years, and with them in place, Coach Matt Painter will have a great shot at not only winning the Big 10, but reaching this year’s Final Four.  JaJuan Johnson had a shot at being a first round pick last year, but instead spent the summer playing with the US Select Team and turning himself into a dangerous scorer and defender.  While he still could stand to bulk up a bit, Johnson showed he was capable of being a legitimate post scorer, while also being athletic enough to get out in transition.  E’Twaun Moore does a good job running the offense, but he is even better as a scorer.  Moore can create his own shot, can get into the lane and is strong enough to finish.  He is also a great pressure defender, who does a good job forcing opposing guards into bad spots.  Robbie Hummel is a strong forward, capable of scoring in the post or from outside, is a strong rebounder and has excellent court vision.  Hummel may have been the team’s best player last year until his ended in late February with a torn ACL.  Kelsey Barlow has great size, is capable of playing either guard position, and does a great job getting into the lane.    

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  The bench is unproven, especially in the frontcourt.  The backcourt has some depth, with Lewis Jackson, DJ Byrd and Ryne Smith all back from last season.  Coach Painter will need to rely on redshirt freshman Sandi Marcius and freshman Travis Carroll to help in the post.  As a team, Purdue will also need to become more consistent from the 3 point line, having only shot 31% last season.  Moore should be able to get better looks if he plays more off-guard this season.

 

 

The Question Mark:  How will Hummel come back from his knee injury?  All signs are indicating that Hummel will return at 100%, but there is always that nagging feeling with knee injuries that something is missing.   Hummel is one of the few frontcourt players and they will need him to be able to handle the strain of playing down low.

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  3 senior stars will give Purdue a better shot than most to be a Final Four team, and if I was picking today, they would be one of my picks.  Matt Painter has brought a great work ethic to the program and his players respond well to him.  Johnson will almost certainly be a late lottery to mid first round pick, with Hummel and Moore most likely early to mid-second rounders.

 

 

 

Wisconsin

 

The Good:  Jon Leuer is back for his senior year and should be counted on to score more this year with the graduation of Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon.  Leuer has the ability to play in the post, or to face up and knock down the mid-range jumper.  He is also an underrated defender and showed the ability to block shots last year.  Jordan Taylor will run the point this season, and should show the spark he exhibited the second half of last year.  A true point guard, he is excellent at keeping the offense moving and is a lockdown defender.  Keaton Nakivil made great progress last season and should be able to do a great job drawing larger defenders out to the perimeter with his shooting ability.  Freshman Evan Anderson and Ben Brust should be able to contribute immediately with tough play and scoring ability.

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  Perimeter shooting is suspect with the loss of Hughes and Bohannon, and the best remaining shooters are big men.  Hughes also spurred the defense last year and it will be up to Taylor to show the same ability to be disruptive on the perimeter.

 

The Question Mark:  Will the Badgers be able to get production off their bench this season?  Last year, 5 players accounted for over 90% of the offense.  With two of those players gone, it will be time for someone to step up into a scoring role.

 

What Will March Bring?:  Coach Bo Ryan has the makings of a NCAA team, though I don’t think there is enough talent to be more than a middle of the road Big 10 team, and no more than a 1^st or 2^nd round appearance.  The loss of Hughes and Bohannon will dramatically alter the offense.  Leuer has the makings of a late first round draft pick.

 

That wraps up the Big 10, and make sure to check back tomorrow and Friday for my look at the Big 12.  As always, leave your comments, feel free to contact me, and follow NBA Draft Blog on Twitter - @NBADraftBlog

 

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The NBA Draft Blog Conference Season Previews continue with Part I of our look at the Big 10. This is easily the best the Big 10 has been from top to bottom in a few years, with three legitimate Final Four possibilities in Ohio State, Michigan State and Purdue, and another 6 or 7 teams that have a good shot at making the NCAA Tournament this season. Even Iowa and Indiana, which have hit hard times recently, should be tough match-ups for a lot of teams, and both are another year or two from heading towards the top of the conference again.

Part I will look at Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State, while Part II tomorrow will cover Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, and Wisconsin.

 

 

Part II is now available here.

 

Illinois

 

The Good: Coach Bruce Weber hit some good luck last April when Demetri McCamey withdrew his name from the NBA Draft. McCamey, a point guard reminiscent of former Illini guard Deron Williams, is an All-Big 10 performer and a future NBA player. Solidly built, McCamey has the ability to take a hit on his way to the rim, or step back and hit a perimeter jumper. An excellent passer, he does a great job penetrating and finding an open teammate. Along with McCamey, Weber has all of his starters back from last season. Joining McCamey in the backcourt is Big 10 Freshman of the Year DJ Richardson. Richardson is the team’s best perimeter shooter, but he also has a great first step and works well in isolation. The first guard off the bench is fellow sophomore Brandon Paul. Paul is a high-energy player who could be the Illini’s best defender. Anchoring the frontcourt is center Mike Tisdale and power forward Mike Davis. Tisdale is a classic low-post center who has impressed with his improved footwork and shooting touch. Davis is a strong rebounder who uses his strength to create space on both ends of the floor. If that wasn’t enough, freshmen Jereme Richardson, Meyers Leonard, and Crandall Head will join Bill Cole and help give Coach Weber one of the deepest benches in the conference.

 

The Not-So-Good: The perimeter defense isn’t that great and losing Jeff Jordan isn’t going to help that. Opposing guards had too easy a time getting into the lane and forcing the help defenders into tough spots. Depth was an issue last season, though Weber has done his best to remedy that this year. Look for last year’s turnover issues to also be fixed a bit with the returning experience.

 

The Question Mark: Last season, the Illini had trouble holding on to leads down the stretch. The major question is whether the experience will help the Illini avoid these breakdowns this season, or is this a group of players who just aren’t “clutch”? If I was to bet, I would say that these issues are in the past, and the Illini should win many of the games they would have lost last year,

 

What Will March Bring?: The NCAA Tournament, maybe even a few rounds deep, wouldn’t be a shocker from this team. McCamey should be a late first round-early second round pick, and Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale will both have a chance to catch on with NBA teams.

 

Indiana

 

The Good: Tom Crean continues his mission to rebuild the storied Hoosiers from the bomb Kelvin Sampson dropped on them, and this year he is one step closer to doing just that. He has been able to get players playing time right from the start, and it should start paying off. The team is led by the backcourt trio of Maurice Creek, Verdell Jones III, and Jeremiah Rivers will set the pace for the Hoosiers and should be capable of keeping the team in most games. Creek, a big guard who can score in a variety of ways, is back after an injury sidelined him for the season after 12 games last year. Once he went out, Jones showed his scoring ability, though he is more the slasher to Creek’s shooter. Setting him up is Rivers, a pure point guard who is always looking pass-first. They will be joined by power forward Christian Watford, a sophomore who led the team in rebounding last season. Watford is very athletic, with long arms and good finishing ability.

 

The Not-So-Good: Crean is still dealing with depth issues that have plagued him since he inherited Sampson’s mess. While he has put together a nice group of guards, he is still severely lacking in the front court behind Watford and Tom Pritchard. Seven-foot junior college transfer Guy-Marc Michel will try to reinforce the post, though I haven’t seen enough to know if he is ready. Defensively, the team needs to get tighter on the perimeter, especially closing on shooters.

The Question Mark: How will Creek look coming back this season? Obviously, he should come back as good as he was last year, but there is always going to be that questions until he is out there on the court in a game.

What Will March Bring?: Well, its not going to be a NCAA season yet, but Crean will have the team in a good position to make a major move in 2012 and 2013, assuming he keeps bringing in quality players.

 

Iowa

 

The Good: Fran McCaffery has headed out to the Midwest and will try and get the Iowa basketball program out of its downward spiral. Unfortunately, there are very few returning players who will make a difference. One who will is Matt Gatens, the only returning player who averaged double digit points (12.3). Gatens can shoot, rebound, has good court vision, and makes smart passes. As the focus of opposing defenses, he will need to find a way to get good looks, but that just happens to be his biggest weakness. If he can create good looks for himself, he has the ability to keep Iowa in games. Sophomore Eric May is a guard in the same mold as Gatens, though he is more athletic and a much better defender. A trio of freshmen will wings will have a chance to contribute early. Melshan Basabe, Zach McCabe, and Roy Marble Jr. Basabe is a very good offensive player with the ability to take the ball strong to the rim or score off of offensive rebounds. He needs to become a more consistent mid-range shooter and he also needs to add some muscle to handle the physical play in the Big 10. McCabe is an undersized power forward who finds ways to rebound and score against stronger opponents. Marble is the son of Hawkeye legend Roy Marble and he has skills that will remind many of his dad. He is a smooth scorer, and has improved the range on his jumper. Once he gets stronger and becomes a better perimeter defender, he could be a special player.

 

The Not-So-Good: There is no size on this roster at all. Only two players, Devon Archie and Andrew Brommer, are taller than 6’7, and both are only 6’9. Rebounding will be a major issue, as well as post defense. Also, as a team, Iowa will need to become more consistent perimeter shooters, though it may be tough with the lack of size to draw defenders to the post.

 

The Question Mark: McCaffrey has always been able to get the most out of his teams, so the question will be will McCaffrey adjust his style to his players, or will he try to get the players here to play his up-tempo style? McCaffrey is a very smart coach, and I am sure he will try to slow down the tempo considerably with the current roster and try to keep the scoring down.

 

What Will March Bring?: Another rebuilding season in Iowa while McCaffrey starts recruiting players best suited for his style of play. I would say another 10 win season is in order.

 

Michigan

 

The Good: John Beilein continues his rebuilding project in Michigan with a young, but talented group of players, though the loss of Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims, as well as Laval Lucas-Perry, may be tough to adjust to early in the season. The only 2 upper classmen on the roster are guards Zach Novak and Stu Douglass. Novak doesn’t do anything great, but he does a lot of the little things well, especially helping direct traffic in Belilein’s offense. He can hit the open jumper, which at least helps keep defenses honest, though he isn’t much of a scoring threat. He’s an average defender, though he is capable of grabbing a few rebounds. Douglass is a similar player to Novak, though he is a bit better shooter, especially his quicker release. Darius Morris should see much more time this season in the backcourt. He is an athletic scorer who should thrive with the cutting offense of Coach Beilein. He needs to work on getting stronger, so he can go stronger to the basket, as well as improving his jumper which is not good at all. Defensively, he uses his athleticism well, especially as a help defender. Two newcomers will supplement the backcourt – Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jordan Dumars (eligible in January). Hardaway has good size, gets to the basket easily and finishes strong. He needs to become more consistent with his perimeter jumper and his ballhandling can be sloppy. Freshman Evan Smotrycz will impress many with his toughness as well as his ability to score inside and out. Defensively, he will need to get stronger to be able to cover other power forwards.

 

The Not-So-Good: Defensively, the lack of size could be an issue for the Wolverines, especially against teams with a legitimate post threat. Look for Beilein to use multiple defenses to combat this and play to their strength, which is good size on the perimeter. Also, Beilein’s motion offense is dependent on strong passing, especially in the high post, so it may take some time for the young players to make the correct reads.

 

The Question Mark: Novak and Douglass have the experience, but Morris, Hardaway and Dumars are more talented. The question then is will Beilein sacrifice execution for talent, at least early in the season as the young players continue to learn the offense? Novak and Douglass have proven to be capable players and leaders, but the youngsters may be better served being thrown in the fire.

 

What Will March Bring?: The amount of talent is improving, but the all of the pieces aren’t in place yet. I would say another 15 win season would be generous, especially without a talented big like Sims in the lineup.

 

 

Michigan State

 

The Good: Even with the recent announcement that Chris Allen would not be returning to the program after a recent suspension and the summer fling between Tom Izzo and the NBA, the Spartans will be in great shape heading into Maui. Led by Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers, Michigan State will continue to play Izzo’s style of basketball – tough on-ball defense and making the defense work while on offense. Lucas was on his way to being a potential first-round draft pick last season before a late-season ankle injury shelved that possibility. Lucas did a great job running the offense last season, though the team went through big stretches where it had trouble finding the basket. Lucas will need to work on becoming more of a threat from the perimeter to prevent the defense from sagging. This in turn should open up some room for Summers to do what he does best - going strong to the rim. Summers also showed improvement from the perimeter last season, but still isn’t completely confident outside of 10 feet. The other player to keep an eye on is Korie Lucious, who did a good job filling in for the injured Lucas last season, and provides Lucas the opportunity to operate from the wing if necessary. Draymond Green provides some toughness in the lane and he has improved on both ends of the floor, especially controlling his body in traffic. Four talented freshmen will provide depth behind the experienced group, and Keith Appling and Adreian Payne both could log major minutes once the Big 10 season starts. You could include the other 2 freshman, Russell Byrd and Alex Gauna, though both will need to get stronger before they have an impact.

 

The Not-So-Good: Derrick Nix and Garrick Sherman both provide good size, though both will need to become much better at getting position down low, especially for rebounds. Nix has a huge body, but his footwork still needs improvement, while Sherman is skilled, but a bit awkward in the post. Injuries are also an issue for the Spartans, as they play such a physical game, that it is not unexpected that players, especially starters, will miss some time.

 

The Question Mark: Chris Allen was the best long-range threat for the Spartans last season. Who will step up and become that threat to open up the court for Lucas and Summers? Freshmen Appling and Byrd are both good shooters, though it is yet to be seen how they adjust to the college level. Summers himself is a capable shooter, though is shot selection could be a bit spotty. It may be up to the point guards, Lucas and Lucious to set the team up from the perimeter.

 

What Will March Bring?: A Final Four run isn’t out of the question anytime you have this much talent and an elite coach such as Izzo. If the team stays healthy, and one of the big men takes a major step up this season, this team could win the whole thing. Lucas and Summers will both be drafted next year, though it could be anywhere from mid-first to mid-second round for either one of them.

 

 

Make sure to check back tomorrow for Part II of the Big 10, as well as Part I of the Big 12 Season Preview.  As always, your comments are welcome, and make sure to follow me on Twitter - @NBADraftBlog - for all of your college basketball scouting needs.

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Last post we looked at seven teams in the Atlantic 10.  Make sure to check out Part I here.

Today we look at the rest of the conference - Rhode Island, Richmond, Saint Louis, St. Joe's, St. Bonaventure, Temple and Xavier.  Temple and Xavier have been Atlantic 10 powerhouses for some time, but Richmond and Saint Louis have a lot of talent and great coaching.

Make sure to leave your comments below and follow me on Twitter - @NBADraftBlog

 

 

Rhode Island

 

 

The Good: Coach Jim Baron is possibly facing a make-or-break year at Rhode Island, and how the season goes will depend on some players taking major step this season. Leading the way is senior Delroy James, a versatile forward, who showed an improved perimeter game last season to go along with strong presence in the lane. James is joined by fellow senior, point guard Marquis Jones. Jones is not much of a scorer, but he is extremely reliable and steady, and keeps the URI offense moving. Akeem Richmond had a great freshman season last year for the Rams, leading the team in 3 point shooting and providing a great spark off the bench.

 

 

The Not-So-Good: There is not a lot of talent in the post for the Rams and could be the reason they lose a few games this year. Senior Will Martell is a serviceable center, but you aren’t going to get much in the way of production from him. Baron has brought in an interesting project in 7’3 Blake Vedder, but he is not anywhere close to being ready for Atlantic 10 play. The loss of backup point guard Stevie Mejia will be felt, and it will be interesting to see who steps up to take the spot behind Jones.

 

 

The Question Mark: Besides the questions of who will emerge as the backup point guard and where post production will come from, the main question facing the Rams is what kind of season do they need to have to save Baron’s job? Will 20 wins and another non-NCAA season do it?

 

 

What Will March Bring?: I don’t see this being anything other than a 12-14 win season, and unfortunately, I think this may be the end of Jim Baron’s tenure with the Rams.

 

 

Richmond

 

 

The Good: Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Kevin Anderson is back to help try and lead Richmond back to the NCAA Tournament. Anderson, who is more of a scorer than a true point guard, showed the ability last season to take over games down the stretch, while showing improvements with his perimeter shooting and his on-ball defense. He is joined by returning starter Justin Harper, and Dan Geriot and Darrius Garrett, who split time at center last season. Harper has excellent size, can play with his back to the basket or can operate on the perimeter, and is a good shot-blocker. Geriot moves well and handles the ball well for his size. He has good footwork in the post and nice touch around the rim. Garrett is a raw offensive player, but is a shot-blocking machine, including an amazing 14 blocked shots in a game last season. Look for Coach Chris Mooney to find ways to have them on the court together this season.

 

 

The Not-So-Good: The 2 best shooters on last year’s team, David Gonzalvez and Ryan Butler, have graduated, and unless another shooter emerges, the offense may not be able to create the spacing it wants, especially the space Anderson needs to operate. Rebounding was one of the few deficiencies on last year’s team, and I don’t see much of an improvement this season. The big men will need to be more aggressive going after missed shots this season.

 

 

The Question Mark: Who will produce off the bench? There is not a lot of career production on the bench, so it will be necessary for 1 or 2 guys to step up their game. Kevin Smith and Francis Martel will most likely be 2 of the first players off the bench, but watch out for wide-bodied freshman Derrick Williams who can provide some much needed toughness down low.

 

 

What Will March Bring?: Without the perimeter shooting from last season, I don’t see the team having as much success as last year. A 20 win season isn’t out of the question, but I have a feeling the team will be a NCAA bubble team. Kevin Anderson could be a second round pick in next year’s draft, but he will most likely need to show more true point guard skills to be considered by a lot of teams.

 

 

Saint Joseph’s

 

 

The Good: Coach Phil Martelli is looking to get his Hawks back towards the top of the Atlantic 10 standings after an un-Martelli like 11 win season last year. With the two leading scorers from that team gone, it is going to be a true rebuilding year for the St. Joe’s program. Idris Hilliard is the leading returning scorer and one of the team’s top rebounders. An undersized power forward, Hilliard does an excellent job using his length to make plays around the rim. Defensively, he is an excellent help defender and has some shot blocking ability. Hilliard will be joined in the front court by center Todd O’Brien, who showed some good ability on the boards in his first While O’Brien is not a primary offensive option, he is active on the boards and creates opportunities for himself. The future is bright for the Hawks with the latest group of freshmen coming in, including big man CJ Aiken and wings Langston Galloway, Daryus Quarles, Pat Swilling Jr. and Ronald Roberts. Aiken and Galloway are polished enough to contribute immediately, though they need to add some muscle.

 

 

The Not-So-Good: The point guard position could be a source of angst for Martelli this season as sophomore Justin Crosgile will be given a chance to pick up where he left off as the starter. He is a decent scorer, but his decision-making needs work as well as his ability to run the offense. There is a lack of depth in the frontcourt behind Hilliard and O’Brien which may force Martelli to use freshman before they are ready.

 

 

The Question Mark: Does Carl Jones or Crosgile have the ability to step up and be the leader of this team? Neither has shown the ability to make consistently smart decisions and to keep the offense running smoothly. Hopefully, the summer has been kind and one of them will step up.

 

 

What Will March Bring?: The talent is here, its just not ready yet. Come back in 2 years and I see this group to be the best in the Atlantic 10, assuming they continue to develop. This year, I would be impressed if they win 12 games again.

 

 

Saint Louis

 

 

The Good: Rick Majerus returns all of his starters from last season’s 23 win team, and they are poised for great things this upcoming season. Led by point guard Kwamain Mitchell, the Billikens have no seniors, but a lot of experience. Mitchell is more of a scorer than a distributor, though he has shown the ability to run the offense well. Helping Mitchell in the backcourt is Kyle Cassity, a decent shooter, but more of a facilitator and a very good defender. The flexibility of both guards allows Mitchell the freedom to create plays for himself. The frontcourt is led by Willie Reed, a junior who made great strides on both ends of the floor last year. On offense, Reed was incredibly efficient and showed the ability to finish strong. If he could hit free throws, he may have been one of the league’s leading scorers. On the defensive end, he proved to be a strong rebounder and shot blocker. The front court is rounded out by Cody Ellis and Brian Conklin, two big bodies who do a great job rebounding, setting screens, and knocking down open shots. Majerus has also put together a strong bench featuring Christian Salecich and Cory Remekun, two sophomores who provide depth on the wings, and a strong freshman class led by big man Rob Loe and point guard Jordair Jett.

 

 

The Not-So-Good: There’s not much not to like about this team, though there are some issues they need to straighten out if they want to make the NCAA Tournament this season. Foul shooting plagued the team last season, and considering all the same players are back again this season, there is a chance of the same problem. The perimeter shooting also needs to be more consistent, especially from the 3pt line.

 

 

The Question Mark: With all his returning starters, some great returning role players and a very good freshman class, how does Majerus keep everyone happy with playing time? Also, if the Billikens get off to a slow start, will Majerus go to the talented freshman players?

 

 

What Will March Bring?: I think the expectations are high this season for Majerus and the Billikens, and while I think it is going to be a very good season, I am not sure if this is the year they make the NCAA Tournament. They will definitely be on the bubble though, and the possibility will be there to get in.

 

 

St. Bonaventure

 

 

The Good: Andrew Nicholson is back to build off his fantastic sophomore season, when he averaged over 16 points and 7 rebounds per game. Nicholson showed great ability to finish around the basket, with excellent footwork and a soft touch, while also being able to handle double teams and physical opponents. On the defensive end, Nicholson is a much better help defender than he is guarding the ball. Also returning is the backcourt of Ogo Adegboye and Michael Davenport. Adegboye is a solid and steady point guard, though he doesn’t do any one thing well. Davenport is a decent shooter, though he needs to get better at creating his own shot. He is a good rebounder and defender, and can help with ballhandling against pressure.

 

 

The Not-So-Good: Besides Nicholson, there isn’t a lot here, and there doesn’t seem to be much new talent coming in. Luckily, there is plenty of room for improvement, and the team should get better over the course of the season. Coach Mark Schmidt is doing what he can to rebuild this program and should, over time, be able to attract talent to the school.

 

 

The Question Mark: How good can Andrew Nicholson be, and will the losing hinder his continued development? Nicholson is obviously a very special talent, a future NBA player, but he is also important to the future of the St. Bonaventure program. Obviously, Nicholson is not going to quit on his team with continued losing, though frustration could be inevitable.

 

 

What Will March Bring?: The end of Andrew Nicholson’s St. Bonaventure career. He will declare for the draft at the end of the season and should be a mid-first to early-second rounder.

 

 

Temple

The Good: Coach Fran Dunphy should have high hopes with 3 returning starters from last year’s 29 win team. Leading the way for the Owls are point guard Juan Fernandez and power forward Lavoy Allen. Fernandez has great size, is a very good shooter, especially from 3 point range, and has excellent court vision. Allen is a strong presence in the lane, is incredibly active, and is one of the best rebounders for his size in the NCAA. Center Micheal Eric rounds out the returning starters. Eric provides some needed size, though his production needs to improve, especially on the boards. Ramone Moore is a very good all-around player, though he needs to become much more consistent from the perimeter.

 

 

The Not-So-Good: Dunphy has assembled some decent talent on the bench, though he should expect some more production this season, especially from forward Rahlir Jefferson and guard Khalif Wyatt. With the lack of any true size on the team, outside of Eric, freshman Anthony Lee may be called into important situations before he is ready.

 

 

The Question Mark: Who is going to step up and replace the scoring of Ryan Brooks? Fernandez is a capable scorer, though he will need to also facilitate the offense. Allen does a great job creating opportunities, but is not a pure scorer. Moore is the most likely candidate, though he will need to show consistency to stay on the floor.

 

 

What Will March Bring?: The tough Temple defense will keep them in every game, but a tough schedule and the loss of Ryan Brooks could be enough to put them on the bubble this season, unless someone on the bench steps up. I’m guessing 18 wins and one of the last teams in or out of the tournament.

 

 

Xavier

 

 

The Good: Jordan Crawford and Jason Love have moved on, but Coach Chris Mack is looking at another Atlantic 10 championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Point guard Tu Holloway will lead the way, and he should establish himself as one of the best point guards in the country. Holloway does a great job controlling the floor, is a capable scorer and can be a lockdown defender. He will be joined in the backcourt by returning starter Dante Jackson. Jackson is one of the top shooters in the conference and should get more looks this season with Crawford in the NBA. The frontcourt will be anchored by Jamal McLean who will fill Jason Love’s presence in the lane. McLean is very active and goes strong after rebounds. Center Kenny Frease provides some strong moments almost every time he is on the court, though Coach Mack often looks to go with a smaller lineup. Freshmen Justin Martin and Jay Canty will provide some scoring off the bench, which should ease the loss of Crawford.

 

 

The Not-So-Good: The interior defense may not be as good as recent years with the loss of Love. While McLean will eventually grow into the role, at this point he needs to get stronger to be as effective as Love. While Holloway is capable of being a leader, the team will need someone to have the same swagger that Crawford had last season. While Holloway may be that guy, I would look the freshman Martin to be the next Crawford at Xavier.

 

 

The Question Mark: Does Coach Mack have the bench to make a deep run in the Tournament this season? We’ve already discussed the freshmen, but also returning are guards Mark Lyons and Brad Redford, both who have provided valuable minutes The concern is depth in the frontcourt where Andrew Taylor is the only experienced reserve.

 

 

What Will March Bring?: Another NCAA bid is inevitable though I am not so convinced that they will win the Atlantic 10 this season. Either way, they will be near the top of the standings and should be safely off the bubble. Justin Martin could be A10 Rookie of the Year and may be a starter by the end of the season.

The NCAA Basketball Conferences Preview continue with a trip to the premier Mid-Major conference in the country - the Atlantic 10.  With perennial winners such as Xavier, Dayton and Temple, the always dangerous St. Joseph's and Charlotte, and revived squads such as La Salle, UMass and Saint Louis, the Atlantic 10 is always a competitive league, and this year will be no different.  Today's Part I will look at Charlotte, Dayton, Duquesne, Fordham, George Washington, La Salle, and UMass.  Part II will look at the rest of the conference, including Xavier and Temple.

 

Part II is now available here.

 

Charlotte

 

The Good:  New coach Alan Major starts with a veteran squad, including 3 returning starters in Shamari Spears, Chris Braswell and Derrio Green.  Spears is a beast of a man who does a great job using his strength to overpower defenders in the lane, has good touch around the rim and is an excellent offensive rebounder.  Defensively, he can be a step slow and is usually at a height disadvantage against his assignment, but again uses his strength well to make up for it.  Braswell has star potential, though that is dependent on him continuing to improve as much as he did last season.  He did a good job getting position on the blocks, added a few new moves to his repertoire, and showed the ability to finish strong.  Green is an excellent scorer, though his shot selection is spotty at best.  More of a slasher than a jump shooter, if he can become more consistent from the perimeter, it should open up the court for his teammates.  Transfer Jamar Briscoe is another lethal scorer, though, like Green, more of a slasher than shooter.  It is easy to see from this group, that points should not be hard to come by for the 49ers this season.

The Not-So-Good:  Interior size is an cause of concern - both Spears and Braswell are undersized, and role player Phil Jones is the only player over 6'9 on the roster.  Any foul trouble to these 3 players could cause Charlotte to be severely outplayed on the glass.  Perimeter shooting, as I discussed above, is also a problem facing the 49ers, and the addition of Briscoe doesn't alleviate that.  Look for Coach Major to try and alleviate the shooting issue by letting his guards try to push the ball to take advantage of the finishing ability.

The Question Mark:  Can Briscoe be as effective a point guard as he is a scorer.  With last year's lead guard Dijuan Harris gone, it will be up to Briscoe to facilitate the offense, though Coach Major won't want him to give up too much of his scoring prowess.  It will be up to Briscoe to develop the decision-making skills to recognize who has a better shot, him or his teammates.

 

What Will March Bring?:  There is some talent here in the starting lineup, though a suspect bench and lack of perimeter shooting may cause the 49ers to lose a few more games than you would expect.  I would expect anywhere from 18-20 wins and a decent chance at the NCAAs with a deep Atlantic 10 tournament run.

 

 

Dayton

 

The Good:  Last season's NIT champions are looking to not only make the NCAA tournament this season, but to win some games while they are there. Coach Brian Gregory's squad is led by forward Chris Wright, who was impressive playing with the US Select team this summer.  Wright is extremely polished playing around the rim, and has become a very efficient scorer when he gets the ball.  Add on to this that Wright is able to guard multiple positions and is a great rebounder, and you have a great foundation to a tournament team.  Joining Wright as a returning starter is junior Chris Johnson.  Johnson is an explosive athlete who never seems to tire.  An improved shooter, he has the ability to score in bunches, though last season he tended to settle for too many jumpers.  Joining the team this season, after sitting out after his transfer from Drake, is point guard Josh Parker.  Parker has the ability to be both a solid distributor and scorer, and he gives the Flyers another dangerous long-range shooter.  Add to this one of the best young coaches in the came in Coach Gregory, and you are looking at a program building for long-term success.

The Not-So-Good:  A major theme when looking at the Atlantic 10 teams is the lack of productive big men, and Dayton is no different.  Devin Searcy will most likely start in the middle for Dayton, though most of the positives you get from him are not found on the stat sheet.  He does a great job using his size to get his teammates open with hard screens, though he doesn't contribute much in the way of scoring or rebounding.  Sophomore Matt Kavanaugh may see more minutes this season, though at this point its not much of an improvement.

The Question Mark:  People have gotten flashes of how good Chris Wright can be, but the major question facing Dayton this season is whether Wright can bring that game night in and night out, especially when he is the focus of the opponent's defense?  The other question facing the Flyers is how to develop star freshman Juwan Staten, who has the ability to be one of the best point guards in the Atlantic 10, though he may not be ready to lead yet

 

What Will March Bring?:  I would be stunned if this team didn't make the NCAA tournament, and they have the personnel and coaching to make it out of the first round.  If Chris Wright continues to play like he did this summer, he could be a late lottery pick; if not, late first rounder.

 

Duquesne

 

The Good:  After a rough few years in Duquesne basketball history, the Ron Everhart era has been a massive turnaround.  Despite the loss of 3^rd leading scorer Melquan Bolding (Transfer to FDU), the Dukes are poised to again make a move toward the top of the Atlantic 10 standings. Damian Saunders is back for his senior year and is one of a handful in early discussion for Atlantic 10 Player of the Year.  Saunders is known as a defensive superstar, though if you pay attention, he can be an effective scorer as well.  Saunders also does a great job on the boards and plays a lot bigger than his 6'7.  Joining Saunders as returning starters are point guard Eric Evans and swingman BJ Monteiro.  Evans does a good job setting the tempo for the Dukes' offense, though there is little that is spectacular about his game.  Monteiro showed the ability to score quickly and in many different ways.  Both players need to become more consistent shooters this season to open up space for Saunders.  The best of the Duquesne shooters is senior Bill Clark, who has shown the ability to hit the 3 and to create his own shots in open space.

 

The Not-So-Good:  The biggest concern for Coach Everhart heading into the season is where production is going to come from outside of the 4 players listed above. Guard Sean Johnson can provide a spark off the bench, but had an inconsistent freshman season last year.  Sophomore Rodrigo Peggau and freshman Derrick Martin will provide support down low.  Another concern is the lack of interior size.  There is no player on the roster taller than 6'9 and none of the big men have any real experience.

 

The Question Mark:  Does Damian Saunders have enough talent to carry this team to a NCAA Tournament bid?   With a questionable bench and not much height, the returning starters from last season need to all play beyond last year's very good efforts, however, Saunders is the one most capable of breaking out big.

 

What Will March Bring?:  Ron Everhart does what was unthinkable just a few years ago and the Dukes finish Top 4 in the Atlantic 10 and go to the NCAA tournament.  Saunders has potential first round talent, though I am guessing he is a later first round-early second round pick.

 

 

Fordham

 

The Good:  New coach Tom Pecora left Hofstra to take over a Fordham program which won just 2 games last season.  Two bright spots from last season are back in Brenton Butler and Chris Gaston.  Butler is a good perimeter shooter, though last season saw him forcing shots in order to try and get the team going.  Gaston has good size, though he is playing out of position as a power forward.  Even so, he shows great footwork and nice touch when he is around the rim.  Look for him to play more from the perimeter this season, especially taking the ball strong to the basket.

 

The Not-So-Good:  Aside from Butler and Gaston, look for Pecora to open up the other starting spots to whoever earns them.  Pecora is essentially starting over and it will take a few years and classes to get this program back on track.

 

The Question Mark:  How will another 20 or so loss season go over with players who experienced it last season?  While the move to bring Pecora in is extremely positive, he is going to need time to develop his own players and team identity.  Until then, things are going to be rough in the Bronx.

 

What Will March Bring?:  Triple last years win total - Fordham wins 6 this year.

 

 

George Washington

 

The Good:  Coach Karl Hobbs is looking to improve on last year's 16-15 record, and it least some of the pieces are in place to do just that.  Coming off a freshman season where he was the team's second leading scorer, Lasan Kromah is poised to have an even better season this year.  Kromah is an excellent perimeter shooter, has good size for a guard, and has the ability to put the ball on the floor and go to the rim.  He also uses his length to be a disruptive defender. It would help if he got a bit stronger to help him finish at the rim.  He will be joined in the backcourt by Tony Taylor, an extremely poised, efficient point guard.  Taylor is not a great shooter, but he can find ways to score.  Jabari Edwards is a shot-blocking machine, though he plays limited minutes.  I would be interested in seeing what he can do with more court time.

 

The Not-So-Good:  Defensively, they are an average team, especially on the perimeter.  On the interior, there is some decent size with Edwards and Joseph Katuka, though neither is very strong and must rely on shot-blocking to stop their opponents.  Offensively, the Colonials are severely lacking in the post, and again, I'm not sure if Edwards or Katuka have what it takes to contribute on the offensive end, and the other options don't get me too excited either.

 

The Question Mark:  With Damian Hollis gone, will Kromah be able to thrive as the team's primary scoring option?  Kromah has the skills, though I am not sure if the physical maturity is there yet for him to be the main point producer.  Look for Taylor to look to go to basket more to try and make up for Hollis' departed points.

 

What Will March Bring?:  This is a decent basketball team, but there is just not enough talent to see anything more than another .500 season for GW.  I do say keep an eye on Kromah over the next couple of years as he has the potential to be a very special player.

 

 

 

 

La Salle

 

The Good:  Dr. John Giannini lost 3 of his top 4 scorers, but the one who is returning has the potential to be a star.  Aaric Murray has size, strength and the footwork to be a dominant center on both ends of the floor.  As the primary scoring option now, I'm hoping he worked on some new moves over the summer, as defenses will swarm to him.  He will be joined in the frontcourt by senior Jerrell Williams, a tough forward who is quick for his size and does a good job fighting for the ball.  His rebounding ability allows Murray a little more space to operate down on the blocks.  Rutgers transfer Earl Pettis is now eligible and should help stabilize a backcourt which lost leading scorer Rodney Green.  Freshmen guards Tyreek Duren and Cole Stefan also have the ability to contribute immediately.

 

The Not-So-Good:  Losing 43 points per game between Green, Kimmani Barrett and Yves Mekongo will be tough to overcome immediately.  Some of this could be made up with the return of Ruben Guillandeaux, who received a medical hardship after suffering a stress fracture in November last season.  Guillandeaux is a natural scorer, though time will tell if he regains his form of 2 seasons ago.  The only depth behind Murray in the middle is freshman Matt Lopez who has potential, though he still is a bit raw, especially on the offensive end.

 

The Question Mark:  How will Aaric Murray respond to being the focus of defense's attention?  Last season, Murray was able to establish himself in large part because defenses had to worry about Green and Barrett.  Now, Murray should see consistent double teams, especially during Atlantic 10 play, where not many teams have players to guard him one-on-one.  If Guillandeaux can regain some of his scoring form from 2 seasons ago, it should take some pressure off, though Murray will need to become more aggressive this season.

 

What Will March Bring?:  This largely depends on how Murray handles the pressure, but I have a feeling he does and he could average close to a double-double this season.  However, there just isn't enough here to make the NCAA this season, but they could definitely land on the bubble.

 

 

Massachusetts

 

The Good:  Coach Derek Kellogg will be without Ricky Harris, who averaged almost 20 points a game last season, but he has plenty of young players who got some great experience last season.  Terrell Vinson, Freddie Riley, and Javorn Farrell had very good, but inconsistent, freshmen seasons.  Vinson is a do-everything wing who can handle the ball well and is a above-average shooter.  He has the ability to guard multiple positions on defense which makes him extremely valuable.  Riley is the best perimeter shooter on the team, and with a year of experience, should be much better at creating his own shot this season.  Farrell is the best defensive player of the bunch and will most likely draw the toughest assignments this season.  He is extremely active guarding on the perimeter and should do an excellent job creating turnovers.  The team leader is Anthony Gurley, a veteran leader who provides a spark on both ends of the floor, especially on the boards.

 

The Not-So-Good:  The point guard position is a point of weakness for the Minutemen, with Gary Correia, last season's backup, most-likely taking over the position.  While he does a decent job running the offense, he doesn't offer much in the way of scoring and is just an average defender.  Of course, like most of the conference, the team could use more depth at the center position, with Sean Carter being backed only by senior Hashim Bailey.

 

The Question Mark:  Does the trio of Vinson, Riley and Farrell keep the momentum going that they had at the end of last season?  If they do, then we are looking at the beginning of a drive towards the top half of the Atlantic 10.  They are a talented trio and should do some excellent things this season.

 

What Will March Bring?:  Nothing this year, but looking towards 2012, the young talent should have matured enough by then to lead Coach Kellogg to the NCAA Tournament.

 

Make sure to check back in tomorrow as Part 2 will look at the rest of the Atlantic 10, including Rhode Island, Richmond, St. Joe's, Siant Louis, St. Bonaventure, Temple and Xavier.

Make sure to follow NBADraftBlog on Twitter for all of your NCAA Basketball needs.

As we get closer to the start of the NCAA season, we will take a tour around the country looking at what, and who, to watch for this season, conference by conference.  Yesterday, we took a look at the 6 ACC teams (for Part I, click here.)  Today we look at the rest of the ACC - Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Miami

 

The Good:  The backcourt of Durand Scott and Malcom Grant provides a solid foundation for Coach Frank Haith’s team.   Scott is an excellent passer and a versatile scorer.  He has a strong upper body allowing him to take contact going to the rim. He needs to become a more consistent perimeter shooter. Grant is not as talented as Scott, but he is the more natural playmaker of the two.  Both are strong defenders, and will pressure the ball out on the perimeter to create opportunities in transition.  The frontcourt features two very big bodies – Julian Gamble and Reggie Johnson.  Gamble showed great improvement from beginning to end of last season, especially in using his body on both ends of the floor.  Johnson is massive (over 300 pounds) but moves well and has a great scoring touch around the rim. 

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  The big men will need to become more aggressive defending the blocks, and need to go stronger after rebounds.  Also, the bench is unproven, especially if scorers are needed.  Shooting is also not a strong area for the Hurricanes entering the season, especially from 15-20 feet.  The presence of Dwayne Collins will be missed around the basket.     

 

 

The Question Mark:  The team’s identity will be the largest question heading into the season – 2 playmaking guards and 2 massive bodies in the middle.  Will the offense be more guard or big man-oriented?  The answer to this question leads easily into the next one – how many minutes is Johnson capable of playing per game?  If Coach Haith can get 20-25 minutes a game out of Johnson, and similar out of Gamble, opposing teams may find it very tough to get anything in the lane against the Hurricanes.

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  I like the Miami starters, though I need to see how the bench performs come ACC season.  I do think this is a NCAA tournament team, and after 1 more season, both Scott and Johnson are potential NBA players.  Look for an 18 or so win season and one of the last teams in the tournament.

 

 

 

 

North Carolina

 

The Good:  After last year’s un-Carolina like season, the Tar Heels are back with another stellar recruiting class looking to lead Roy Williams back to the top.  Power Forward John Henson will look to build off of the improvement he showed after Ed Davis’ season-ending injury last season.  While he still needs to become much stronger to be effective in the post, he showed excellent ability to use his length and athletic ability to separate himself from defenders.  These qualities also make him a potential force on the defensive end, where he can be a top-level shot blocker.  The big story, however, is the arrival of Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock, and Kendall Marshall to Chapel Hill.  Barnes has great size on the wing, is a great ballhandler and shooter, and is extremely smooth getting to the basket.  A decent on-ball defender, he will need to improve defending off-the-ball, especially against perimeter shooters.  Bullock and Marshall may be the starting backcourt by the time March comes around.  Marshall is everything that Larry Drew is not at the point – decisive, creative and a leader.  Bullock is the dead-eye shooter that the Heels were missing last season. Justin Knox transferred in from Alabama to help bolster the front court manned by Henson and Tyler Zeller.  Knox is the physical player the Tar Heels were missing last season and will help take pressure of Henson and Zeller on the boards. 

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  The ACC has some very skilled big men this season and the trio of Henson, Knox and Zeller will need to be prepared every night to battle in the lane.  Another major issue facing Coach Williams is the reliance on a lot of young players.  All three freshmen will receive major minutes and should all be starting by the time March rolls around.   The rest of the ACC contenders are experienced groups, so it is still to be determined how the young players will fare against the ACC.

 

 

The Question Mark:  We already discussed how the freshmen will fare with major minutes is a major question mark.  The other major question facing Coach Williams this season is will John Henson continue to improve as he did towards the end of last year?  Henson is very similar to Ed Davis, who also faced major expectations entering his sophomore year.  Davis did not seem to play up to those expectations, and many people in Carolina are hoping that Henson rises above them.

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  Carolina makes their way back to the NCAA Tournament, and it won’t be a quick appearance.  Barnes and Henson both perform up to expectations and enter the NBA as lottery picks, and Justin Knox proves to be a difference maker come ACC season.

 

North Carolina State

 

The Good:    Tracy Smith’s decision to come back to NC State for one more season ensured that they would be competitive this season.  The addition of CJ Leslie turned them into a team that people should be weary of playing.  Smith is extremely strong, and uses his strength well to overpower opponents in the post.  He has very good footwork and a nice shooting touch out to 10 feet.  Defensively, he does a good job holding his position and is a very strong rebounder.  Leslie will join Smith on the front line and will bring incredible athletic ability on both ends of the floor to the Wolfpack.  While he has been primarily a post-tyoe player, he is developing well as a potential wing player.  Javier Gonzalez will start the season at the point, but will be challenged early and often by freshman Ryan Harrow.  Harrow is lightning quick, though he definitely needs to add some muscle to his slight frame.

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  Gonzalez has done an average job as a point guard, but his decision-making is very poor.  Coach Sidney Lowe will need Harrow to show leadership skills quickly to establish himself as the team’s point guard.  Lowe’s bench is not that deep, and hopefully he will be able to snag some quality minutes out of Scott Wood and Richard Howell.

 

 

The Question Mark:  The Wolfpack are very strong on the interior, so the largest question is who will step up on the perimeter to keep defenses from sagging on Smith and Leslie.  Gonzalez and Wood are both decent perimeter shooters, though they don’t bring a lot else to the table.  Freshman Lorenzo Brown could be the answer. Though he is not a very consistent shooter yet, he has the ability to get to the rim in a variety of ways and should be able to draw the defense to him enough to free up Smith and Leslie.

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  Assuming the freshmen can establish themselves during the non-conference season, State will be securely on the bubble come March 2011.  Smith should be a 2^nd round pick next season, while Leslie is a future pro, just not next season.

 

  

 

 

 

Virginia

 

The Good:    Mike Scott is back as the team leader and the main post option for the Cavaliers.  He is a wide body with a solid back-to-the-basket game and the ability to out-muscle players on both end of the floor.  Point guard Sammy Zeglinski did a good job last season running Coach Bennett’s offense and the experience should show very well at this point.  It will be needed because Virginia is bringing in a huge recruiting class and a lot of freshmen should receive court time.  One freshman who should see a lot of time right away is KT Harrell, a shooting guard who can score in many ways.  What makes Harrell a great fit for Virginia is his perimeter defense.  He has the ability to be a game-changer on the defensive end and could help the Cavs if they choose to up their tempo.

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  Besides Scott, the Cavaliers have no other proven post players.  Freshman James Johnson could come in and contribute right away, though he needs to work on his defensive skills before he logs major minutes.  If he does get on the floor, he could provide the scoring punch the team needs after the loss of Sylven Landesberg. 

 

 

The Question Mark:  Can a team lose its leading scorer and become a better team?  In the case of Virginia, the answer is yes.  While Landesberg is very talented, he was a distraction to the team and his style didn’t exactly mesh with the Bennett system.  With Bennett bringing in 2 classes of his players, the ACC should start to see the hard-nosed style that Bennett brought to Washington State.

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  Look for an improved Cavs team this season, though not enough to make the NCAA Tournament.  That will be another year down the road.  However, do look for Virginia to knock off 1 or 2 NCAA bound teams this season as the freshman integrate into the system.

 

 

 

  

 

 

Virginia Tech

 

The Good:    Coach Seth Greenberg returns almost all of the important players from a team that should have made the NCAA Tournament last season.  Led by the ACC’s leading scorer Malcom Delaney and backcourt mate Dorenzo Hudson, Virginia Tech is not a team that has trouble scoring.  Delaney does a decent job running the offense, though is decision-making is a little suspect, and he is prone to selfish play.  Hudson is also a capable scorer, though he is much more of a slasher than a shooter.  Jeff Allen is a 3^rd capable scorer and also an excellent rebounder.  Playing much bigger than his size, Allen has a nose for the ball and does an excellent job cleaning up Delaney’s misses.  One of the better defenders and rebounder on the team is Terrell Bell.  Bell is a capable scorer in his own right, though you won’t see him taking too many shots.

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  While the Hokies have plenty of scoring, what the team is missing is shooting.  As a team, they take a lot of bad shots, and are far from efficient with the basketball.  This becomes even more of a problem with the loss of 6^th Man JT Thompson to an ACL tear.  Coach Greenberg has to continue to emphasize quality over quantity when it comes to shots, especially with Delaney.  The Hokies lack pure size and rely on players playing much bigger than they are.  At some point this just won’t do, especially against teams with multiple 6’10, 6’11 players.

 

 

The Question Mark:  With JT Thompson out for the season, who steps up to replace him as 6^th man?  Most likely it will be Victor Davila, a strong post player, who could also find himself playing in the starting five.  In the backcourt, look for Erick Green to get some increased minutes this season at either guard spot. 

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  Hokie fans will accept no answer here other than the NCAA Tournament.  I am glad to say that not only should the Hokies make the Tournament this season, but they have that perfect mix of veteran players, who can score and hustle, that I wouldn’t be surprised if they go more than a round once they are there.  Delaney could be a 2^nd round pick in the draft, though he will need to show more as a point guard to insure that teams notice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wake Forest

 

The Good:    With 4 starters gone and a new head coach in Jeff Bzdelik, the Demon Deacons will have a new identity this season.  The team leader will be point guard CJ Harris.  Harris was very effective last season playing both guard positions.  While he needs to improve his jumper, he does a great job getting to the rim and is strong enough to handle contact.  He is a decent defender, though he needs to close better on shooters.  Ari Stewart should become a much greater part of the offense this season, especially with his ability to hit the three.  He uses his size well and even has the ability to score inside.  Defensively, he needs to improve his footwork and keep his man in front of him.   The Wake freshmen class is going to be a very good one, led by JT Terrell and Travis McKie.  Terrell will provide instant offense, though he will need to make sure he operates within the team’s offense.  He has an excellent jumper and great range, though his shot selection is suspect.  McKie is a much more efficient scorer, taking the ball to the basket with the ability to finish.  He will need to add more muscle to be an offensive threat in college.

 

 

 

The Not-So-Good:  With the suspension of center Tony Woods, the Deamon Deacons are left without any experienced big men.  Look for Bzdelik to let the Demons push the ball a little more than he may be comfortable with.  Also, the perimeter shooting will need to become much more consistent, which may be tough without a big man anchoring the post.

 

 

The Question Mark:  Who steps up in the frontcourt in the absence of Woods? Freshmen Carson Desrosiers and Melvin Tabb are both very talented, though neither has the toughness yet to be effective at the ACC level.  Best thing Bzdelik could do is to play them from Day 1 and hope to see them develop by the end of the season

 

 

What Will March Bring?:  Unfortunately for Wake fans, this is not going to be a pleasant Spring.  Below .500 ACC record, though could put a scare into a few teams.

Tomorrow, make sure to come back for a look at the Atlantic 10, including All-American candidate Chris Wright of Dayton.  Remember, comments are welcome below.  Email me here, and or follow me on Twitter - here.

 

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