Big Ten Conference Preview

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2006-2007 SEASON, CLICK HERE

Player of the Year: Alando Tucker, SF, Wisconsin

Newcomer of the Year: Greg Oden, C, Ohio State

All-Conference Team:
G- Jamar Butler, Ohio State
F- Geary Claxton, Penn State
F- Alando Tucker, Wisconsin
F- Carl Landry, Purdue
F- D.J. White, Indiana

Second Team:
G- Kammron Taylor, Wisconsin
G- Dion Harris, Michigan
G- Adam Haluska, Iowa
G- Drew Neitzel, Michigan State
C- Courtney Sims, Michigan

Third Team:
G- Ron Lewis, Ohio State
G- David Teague, Purdue
F- Jamelle Cornley, Penn State
F- Brian Randle, Illinois
C- Brian Butch, Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin- While Ohio State and their highly-touted group of freshmen are getting most of the hype coming out of the Big Ten, Wisconsin should be the team to beat. The Badgers return four starters, get two players back that only played half of the team's games last year, and also bring in a solid recruiting class. However, any talk about Wisconsin has to start with All-America Alando Tucker. Tucker is one of the best scoring forwards in the country and could be the most versatile scorer in all of college basketball. He's not an outstanding shooter but he has excellent body control and creates mismatches with his size and scoring ability. Look for him to have an even better season than last year. Joining Tucker up front will be former McDonald's All-America Brian Butch. He has yet to live up to the hype he had coming out of high school, but he is a solid post player that developed as the season went on a year ago. Look for him to improve his numbers this season. Rounding out the frontcourt will likely be Jason Chappell. The returning starter is a good role player who provides good rebounding and defense. Off the bench will be Marcus Landry and Greg Stiemsma, who both did not play after the half-way mark of last season. Landry was suspended due to academics, but he could player a major role this year. He had shown flashes of excellence before his suspension, and could breakout this season. Stiemsma left due to personal problems, but he is a quality rebounder and a very good shot-blocker. Joe Krabbenhoft is a very good shooter on the wing. He is also a solid rebounder and passer. In the backcourt, Kammron Taylor leads the way. He is not a natural point guard but he plays that position for the Badgers. Taylor is a very good scorer and one of the team's best three-point shooters. He is also a decent defender and a good passer. His backcourt partner is Michael Flowers. The 6-2 junior played well down the stretch last season, and could carry that over to this season. He is a very good three-point shooter who is also a solid defender. Freshmen Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes will provide depth. Bohannon could be a big-time scorer for the Badgers. Prediction: NCAA

2. Ohio State- While the preseason publications and rankings are touting the Buckeyes as a Final Four contender, I don't think they are more than a Sweet Sixteen team at this point. However, once the young players develop, look out. The big man on campus is obviously Greg Oden. The 7-1 freshman has been mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing, Lew Alcindor, Hakeem Olajuwon, among others. He is expected to immediately dominate the college game. However, he injured his wrist in February and is not likely to play until January. His high school teammate, Mike Conley, also joins the Buckeyes. The 6-1 point guard could start immediately. He is a very good ball-handler and passer. Another McDonald's All-American, Daequan Cook, could make the biggest impact of any of the freshmen. The 6-5 wing is very athletic and is an outstanding scorer. He might have to be the go-to-guy in Oden's absence. Wing David Lighty is another impact freshman. He has a nice inside-outside offensive game. JC transfer Othello Hunter could start right away in the paint with Oden out. He is a very good all-around game and can excel at both ends of the floor. As for the returnees, the backcourt of Jamar Butler and Ron Lewis leads the way. Butler is one of the best point guards in the country and will have to step up his offense this season. He is an excellent distributor who was also a double-figure scorer last season. Moreover, he is a very good three-point shooter and a solid rebounder and defender. Lewis is a pure scorer that will step into the starting lineup after coming off the bench last season. He is a very good all-around point producer who can shoot from the outside as well as drive to the basket. Frontcourt role players Ivan Harris and Matt Terwilliger will have to play extended minutes with Oden out, but they don't do more than provide adequate production down low. Prediction: NCAA

3. Michigan- Is this the year that the Wolverines finally live up to expectations and make the NCAA Tournament? With the return of three starters from a team that made it to the NIT Championship, it looks like it could be. Although one of the starters lost is first-team All-Big Ten guard Daniel Horton, coach Tommy Amaker should be able to get this group to the Big Dance. Dion Harris leads the way. The 6-3 guard will move from the two to the point guard position this season with the loss of Horton. Harris is an excellent three-point shooter and a good scorer and rebounder. He played the point two seasons ago, and should be able to handle it this season. Lester Abram and Ron Coleman will likely start on the wings. Abram has missed the better part of two sason due to injuries, but he is an explosive double-digit scorer when healthy. Coleman was a part-time starter last season. He is an athletic, versatile swingman who can score and rebound well. Sophomores Jeret Smith and Jevohn Shepherd will provide depth. Smith can play the point if Harris can't handle it, while Shepherd is a good contributor. Up front, center Courtney Sims needs to play to his potential. He has the ability to dominate the interior, but has only done it in flashes. He has a variety of post moves and is also a decent rebounder and a very good shot-blocker. He could have a big season. Senior Brent Petway is very athletic and has a non-stop motor on the court. He can rebound and block shots. Off the bench, freshmen Kendric Price and DaShawn Sims will play. Price is a good all-around player, while Sims is an impact freshman. Prediction: NCAA

4. Illinois- The Fighting Illini are an interesting team to analyze heading into the season. Some could overrate them based on their success over the last several years, while others could underrate them as a result of the losses of Dee Brown and James Augustine. Even without those two, though, Illinois still returns ten players from last season. The backcourt will have to replace Brown at the point, but there are two viable options for that position. Chester Frazier saw minutes behind Brown last season, and demonstrated his ability to take care of the ball and be a ballhawk on defense. He is very quick who needs to control the tempo better if he is to start. Dayton transfer Trent Meachem is the other option. He is an outstanding three-point shooter who is also a solid distributor. The wing will feature two excellent long-range gunners. Senior Rich McBride played down the stretch and will develop into one of the go-to-guys this season. Jamar Smith started out hot last season, but cooled down as the year went on. The sophomore is still a prolific shooter. The frontcourt should be solid as well. Brian Randle could become the team's leader. He is an efficient shooter from the floor who does a little bit of everything at both ends of the court. He is a decent scorer and rebounder who is one of the best defensive players in the conference. Shaun Pruitt is a beast in the paint. He made the most of his minutes last season and could become a go-to-player down low. He is extremely efficient shooting the ball. Marcus Arnold is a solid role player who will provide depth. Warren Carter could have a big year. He creates matchup problems with his athleticism and 6-9 size. He can play both forward spots and will see plenty of minutes. Prediction: NCAA

5. Indiana- The Hoosiers come into the season as a team that could finish as high as third in the conference, or as low as eighth. That is because they lose three starters, including Marco Killingsworth and Robert Vaden. However, new coach Kelvin Sampson has plenty of weapons to work with. The go-to-guy will be D.J. White. He only played in five games last season, but should be healthy and ready to play this year. He is a very good interior scorer and a solid rebounder who is one of the best shot-blockers in the conference. He could be one of the best big men in the country this season. Joining him up front will be returnee Ben Allen and JC transfers Mike White and Lance Stemler. Allen is a good long-range shooter, while White and Stemler were JC All-Americans who will make an immediate impact in the frontcourt. The backcourt has several returnees that will fight over minutes. Point guard Earl Calloway played well in the NCAA Tournament, and could develop into a very good player this season. Junior A.J. Ratliff is a good shooter who plays solid defense, while Roderick Wilmont could become an all-conference player this season. He is an excellent defender and athlete who can score and rebound very well. Senior Errek Suhr and freshman Joey Shaw are excellent shooters from the perimeter. Prediction: NCAA

6. Michigan State- This might be the only year you will see the Spartans this low in the preseason, so take notice while you can. MSU loses four starters from last season, including NBA Draft picks Shannon Brown, Maurice Ager, and Paul Davis. However, Tom Izzo has some quality players returning and he also brings in a couple of impact freshmen. Drew Neitzel will have to become the go-to-guy for the Spartans. He has played point guard his entire career, but will need to score more this season if MSU is going to win games. He takes excellent care of the ball and is a very good passer. Moreover, he can shoot the three with efficiency. If he moves to the two, sophomore Travis Walton could run the point. He is a stout defender who is a solid passer and ball-handler. Freshman Isaiah Dahlman and sophomore Maurice Joseph will provide extensive minutes off the bench with the lack of depth MSU will have this season. Dahlman could make an immediate impact. Raymar Morgan will step in on the wing. The 6-7 freshman is a big-time scorer who can also rebound very well. Up front, part-time starter Marquise Gray returns. He is very athletic and is a good rebounder who will need to live up to his potential in order for the Spartans to compete. Centers Drew Naymick and Goran Suton were solid role players throughout their careers, but they will need to provide better rebounding and defense for the Spartans. Suton could be a surprise player this season if his scoring numbers improve. Prediction: NIT

7. Purdue- I pegged Purdue as a sleeper heading into last season, and I did the same again this season. However, once again, unexpected losses could hinder the team. Last year, the outstanding inside-outside duo of guard David Teague and Carl Landry were both lost due to torn ACLs, while point guard Tarrance Crump was suspended and freshman Nate Minnoy was injured halfway through the season. Moreover, Geno Parker and Marcus White were hampered throughout the season, and Korey Spates was kicked off the team. This year, nearly every contributor from last season returns, aside from Minnoy, who left the team before the season due to personal reasons. Landry, finally healthy, could return to his dominant form. He is an excellent scorer and a good rebounder who is one of the best post players in the country. Teague is a very good scorer and defender who can shoot the ball efficiently from deep. Crump will also be welcomed back into the fold. He is an explosive playmaker who can distribute and score at the point. Sophomore Chris Lutz is an excellent shooter who can move over to his natural shooting-guard spot this season with Crump taking over the lead guard position. Guard Marcus Green is another solid performer on the perimeter. Joining Landry up front could be Boston College transfer Gordon Watt. He is a good role player who needs to improve his production. Prediction: NIT

8. Penn State- This could be Penn State's best season in a long time. After several seasons of single-digit wins, the Nittany Lions finished .500 last year, and will likely do better this season. Most of the optimism centers around the forward tandem of Geary Claxton and Jamelle Cornley. Claxton, a 6-5 swingman, is one of the most underrated players in the country. He is an excellent all-around player who could become a first-team all-conference selection this season. He is a very good scorer and one of the best offensive rebounders in the nation. He can also block shots. Cornley was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season after posting very impressive numbers during his first year. He could be even better this year. Down low, part-time starter Brandon Hassell and sophomore Milos Bogetic will fight for minutes. Hassell might be the better candidate, but Bogetic is a solid scorer and rebounder. On the perimeter, starters Ben Luber and David Jackson return. Luber is a very good distributor and an outstanding three-point shooter who also takes care of the ball. Jackson contributes in a variety of ways and is a very important part for PSU. Sixth man Mike Walker also returns. He is a good scorer and distributor. Sophomore Danny Morrisey, who sat out lat season with an injury, also returns. Prediction: NIT

9. Iowa- After back-to-back seasons of at least 21 wins, the Hawkeyes will come into this season without three starters from a year ago, including Jeff Horner and Greg Brunner. As a result, they are being somewhat overlooked heading into the season. While I also think they will finish in the bottom half of the Big Ten, I think they could be a sleeper and be competitive every night. Adam Haluska is an excellent all-around scorer who could be poised for a huge year this season. He will be the go-to-guy this year because of the losses, and he could develop into one of the best players in the Big Ten. He is also a solid rebounder and passer. Mike Henderson and Tony Freeman also return on the perimeter. Henderson is an outstanding defender who is also one of the best three-point shooters in the conference, percentage-wise. Look for him to take the next step and become a double-figure scorer this season. Freeman will step in at the point. He is a very good defender and ball-handler who developed as the season went on. Freshman Tyler Smith is expected to have an immediate impact at the forward spot. He is an inside-outside scorer who will likely be one of the top two scoring options for the Hawkeyes. JC transfer Justin Johnson will help off the bench. Up front, JC transfer Cyrus Tate will start right away. He is an outstanding rebounder who will one of the top optins down low. Junior centers Kurt Looby and Seth Gorney will also fight for a starting job. Prediction: No Postseason

10. Minnesota- With the loss of five starters from last season, this could be the final season for Dan Monson with the Golden Gophers. Although he has a winning record with the club, he is seemingly always on the hot seat, and with a lack of proven players this year, it will be a tough go for him. The team's strength will be in the frontcourt. Returnees Spencer Tollackson and Dan Coleman had solid seasons a year ago, but will need to develop into go-to-guys this season. Tollackson is very efficient shooting the ball and is a solid scorer and rebounder, while Coleman is an inside-outside player who could be poised for a big season in the frontcourt. Also returning up front is sophomore Jonathan Williams, who will provide minutes down low. JC transfer Engen Nurumb could be a productive scorer and rebounder. Wings Jamal Abu-Shamala and Brandon Smith played well down the stretch last season. Abu-Shamala is a very good shooter, while Smith is a versatile defender who will fight for a starting job. Oklahoma transfer Lawrence McKenzie will start on the perimeter. He is an outstanding three-point shooter who can handle the ball and distribute if needed. JC transfer Limar Wilson will also fight for a starting job in the backcourt. Prediction: No Postseason

11. Northwestern- The Wildcats have improved the last couple of season, finishing only one game below .500 last season, but they lose the Big Ten's leading scorer Vedran Vukusic, as well as Mohamed Hachad. They don't return anyone that averaged over 8 points per game last season. Tim Doyle is the team's leading returning scorer, rebounder, and assist man. The 6-5 wing is a solid all-around player who needs to increase his scoring this season for the Wildcats. He is extremely versatile. Joining him on the wing will be Craig Moore, who is a very good three-point shooter and could become a go-to-guy this season. Sterling Williams played well throughout last season, but saw decreased playing time down the stretch. Freshmen Jeff Ryan, a 6-8 wing, and Jeremy Nah, a top-rated point guard, will fight for starting jobs on the perimeter. Up front, Ivan Tolic and Vince Scott will be the main returnees. Scott could develop into a serviceable player down low if he improves as expected. Freshman Kevin Coble should make an impact in the frontcourt as well. Prediction: No Postseason

Big Twelve Conference Preview

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2006-2007 SEASON, CLICK HERE

Player of the Year: Brandon Rush, SF, Kansas

Newcomer of the Year: Kevin Durant, SF, Texas

All-Conference Team:
G- Jarrius Jackson, Texas Tech
G- Acie Law, Texas A&M
F- Brandon Rush, Kansas
F- Cartier Martin, Kansas State
C- Joseph Jones, Texas A&M

Second Team:
G- Mario Chalmers, Kansas
G- Richard Roby, Colorado
F- Rahshon Clark, Iowa State
F- Julian Wright, Kansas
F- Mario Boggan, Oklahoma State

Third Team:
G- Russell Robinson, Kansas
G- Martin Zeno, Texas Tech
G- JamesOn Curry, Oklahoma State
G- Aaron Bruce, Baylor
C- Alexs Maric, Nebraska

1. Kansas- Like last year, the Big 12 is not going to have much of a title chase this season. However, this year will be dominated by the Jayhawks. Kansas is head-and-shoulders above the rest of the conference heading into the season. Moreover, it is a young team with room to improve over the course of the year. They are led by an excellent perimeter group. Brandon Rush, the preseason Player of the Year in the Big 12 and a bonafide All-America candidate, is the go-to-guy. He has the ability to be a star. He can create his own shot and is a very good scorer. However, he was too unselfish last season and deferred to his teammates too often. Fellow sophomore Mario Chalmers could be on the verge of a breakout season. He developed steadily as the year went on and was voted the Big 12 Tournament's most outstanding player. He is a good scorer who led the Big 12 in steals. Russell Robinson might be the best defender in the conference and is the leader for the young Jayhawks. He is an underrated point guard on a national level and can do a little bit of everything. Coming off the bench is Sherron Collins, a McDonald's All-American. He is a tough combo guard who will make an immediate impact. His athleticism and quickness will help right away. Up front, another sophomore, Julian Wright, leads the way. He is one of the more versatile players in the Big 12. The athletic Wright can play nearly every position on the floor. Furthermore, he is an outstanding passer and can finish in the lane. Sasha Kaun is the main man down low. He has an underrated all-around game, but will be out for much of the non-conference season with an injury. C.J. Giles would have stepped in for him, but he was dismissed for academic reasons. Freshman Darrell Arthur and junior Darnell Jackson will be the other two players in the paint. Arthur can play anywhere on the frontline and will make an immediate impact. He is very athletic and loves to run the floor. Jackson is a banger who is a solid contributor in terms of points and rebounds. Kansas has one of the most talented teams in the country, but also one of the youngest. If the newcomers live up the hype and the sophomores mature, the Jayhawks could be still dancing in April. Prediction: NCAA

2. Texas A&M- The team most likely to give Kansas a run during the regular season is Texas A&M. The Aggies improved as the season went on last year and look to carry some of that momentum over to this season. They are led by arguably the best inside-outside combos in the country. Point guard Acie Law is one of the top players at his position in the nation. He is extremely quick with the ball and loves to lead the fast break. He is a very good passer and scorer who is poised for a huge season. Post player Joseph Jones is a dominant inside performer. He is a load for opponents to defend in the paint with his size and variety of post moves. He is an excellent rebounder and is capable of taking over any game with his scoring ability down low. On the perimeter with Law is Dominique Kirk and Josh Carter. Kirk is an outstanding defender who can stroke the three with efficiency. He does a little bit of everything. Carter is the best shooter on the team, capable of getting hot at any time. Look for him to be a potential third option on the wing. Up front, Marlon Pompey and Antanas Kavaliauskas will fight for a starting job. The athletic Pompey started last season and deservedly so. He is a solid defender and rebounder who will also provide a handful of points every night. Kavaliauskas came on strong down the stretch and will get more minutes this year. He is a good scorer who can put up points both inside and outside. The 6-10 Kavaliauskas also provides size and rebounding. Freshmen Donald Sloan and Bryan Davis will produce off the bench. Sloan is an excellent athlete in the backcourt, while Davis will make an impact down low. The Aggies will live and die with Law and Jones. Without a proven third option, A&M needs both of them to have big games in order to win. If A&M develops complementary scorers, look out for them in March. Prediction: NCAA

3. Texas- The team with the best chance to be like last year's North Carolina or Kansas is Texas. They lost all five starters, and six of their top seven players. However, the Longhorns bring in one of the best recruiting classes in the country. The freshman will need to make an immediate impact if Texas wants to be a threat in March. It all starts with Kevin Durant. The 6-9 newcomer is my pick of National Freshman of the Year. He can play any position on the floor and has a chance to be a very special player this season. He's extremely talented and will make an impact at both ends of the floor with his athleticism, length, and scoring ability. His forward tandem will likely be another highly-touted freshman, Damion James. James is a similar player to Durant in that they are both very versatile and capable of playing multiple positions. James is a relentless player who can score both inside and outside and is also a good rebounder and passer. Rounding out the frontcourt newcomers will be centers Matt Hill, Dexter Pittman, and Harrison Smith. Hill is the most likely to start. He is a workhorse who is a solid rebounder and scorer. Pittman and Smith will provide post depth. The main newcomer in the backcourt is McDonald's All-America D.J. Augustin. He is an outstanding passer and loves to run the floor. He is also a good defender and a decent scorer. Justin Mason is another impact freshman. He is adept at driving to the basket and is also a very good defender. The only returnee expected to start is sophomore A.J. Abrams. He improved as the season went on, and could have a big year this season. He is a very good passer who takes care of the ball. Abrams can also score if necessary. Fellow returnees J.D. Lewis and Craig Winder provide depth in the backcourt, while Connor Atchley could see starting time early at center while the freshmen develop. Texas could take awhile to come together as a team with all of the fresh faces and inexperience. However, by the time March rolls around, the Longhorns will be a team no one wants to play. Prediction: NCAA

4. Oklahoma State- The Cowboys had a disappointing season a year ago, going from 26 wins two seasons ago to a 17-16 overall record and a 6-10 Big 12 record last year. However, with all five starters returning and a nice batch of role players also coming back, OK State could be back in the Big Dance again. The key to this team will be point guard play. Byron Eaton and Jamaal Brown split time at the lead guard spot last season, and will likely do so again this year. However, both were turnover-prone and need to improve on taking care of the ball if the Cowboys are going to reach their potential. Eaton is a powerfully-built player who can get into the lane, while Brown is more of a shooter. JamesOn Curry also returns in the backcourt. The All-Big 12 guard took a step back last year after a very impressive freshman season. However, he has excellent scoring ability and is one of the best three-point shooters in the conference. Sophomore Terrel Harris has excellent potential and could become a starter at some point. Freshman Obi Muonelo was a McDonald's All-American and will make an immediate impact. He is a big-time scorer who can also create opportunities for his teammates. Wing Marcus Dove is one of the best defenders in the conference. He is 6-9 and very long and athletic. He needs to improve his offensive production. Up front, All-Conference big man Mario Boggan returns. Boggan is a versatile scorer who can dominate in the low post and also step out and hit the jumper. He played extremely well down the stretch and could breakout this season. Forward David Monds is better equipped to play on the perimeter, but can also contribute on the block. He is a good scorer and rebounder. Kenny Cooper provides size and defense in the paint. Oklahoma State has a lot of talent and depth. If everything comes together, they could compete for 2nd in the league behind Kansas. Prediction: NCAA

5. Kansas State- If you are looking for a national sleeper in the Big 12, the Wildcats are your best bet. They had a decent campaign last season, going 15-13 overall. However, for the second season in a row, KSU started very strong in the non-conference before falling to the bottom half of the Big 12 during the conference portion. That should change this season with the welcoming of new coach Bob Huggins. He has a nice group to work with. A terrific forward trio leads the way for the Wildcats. Cartier Martin is an all-Big 12 player who is one of the best all-around players in the country. He is an outstanding scorer who can put up points from inside and outside. He is an excellent shooter and is also a good rebounder and defender. David Hoskins also returns. He is a difficult player to match-up with due to his size. Hoskins is also a solid rebounder and defender. He improved throughout the season and could be poised for a breakout season. The only thing that could potentially hold him back is the arrival of freshman Bill Walker. One of the top rated players in the 2007 class, Walker (O.J. Mayo's high school teammate) graduated high school early and will be eligible to play this season for Kansas State. He is extremely athletic and loves to run the floor. He is expected to play sometime in December. Rounding out the frontcourt are freshmen centers Jason Bennett and Luis Colon. The 7-3 Bennett is highly-touted newcomer who will make an impact on the defensive end, while Colon is a good rebounder and deceptively athletic. In the backcourt, JC transfer Blake Young should start right away. He is a terrific shooter who can play both guard spots. Akeem Wright and Clent Stewart return as starters on the perimeter. Wright is the team's best defensive player, while Stewart is a steady point guard. Double-figure scorer Lance Harris will likely be the sixth man again this season. If Walker makes his expected impact, the Wildcats will be extremely difficult to deal with up front. As long as Huggins finds a point guard to run the show (Young? St. John's transfer Jermaine Maybank?), the Wildcats will be dancing. Prediction: NCAA

6. Texas Tech- After a disappointing campaign a season ago, the Red Raiders will be looking to rebound in what will be a record-breaking season for Bobby Knight. He needs 11 victories to become the winningest coach in Division-1 history. When it comes depends a lot on Jarrius Jackson. The All-Big 12 guard is one of the best scorers in the country and is also a terrific three-point shooter. He is one of the five best point guards in the country. However, it was announced yesterday that he will be academically ineligible for at least the first semester. Tech needs Jackson if they are going to make a run at an NCAA bid. His backcourt partner, Martin Zeno, will have to pick up the slack in Jackson's absence. He is not a great shooter, but he is very good at getting points in the lane and when driving to the basket. He is also a solid rebounder and defender who can pass the ball. Charles Burgess will start at the point while Jackson is out. He is very quick with the ball and is an excellent passer. Wing Decensae White will also see immediate playing time on the perimeter. Guard Alan Voskuil will see time. Up front, Darry Dora and Jon Plefka return. Dora is a good inside-outside offensive player who can also distribute the ball and rebound. Plefka has good potential scoring and rebounding the ball. JC transfers Rodrick Craig and Jay Mitchell will fight for starting jobs at forward, while another JC transfer, 7-footer Esmir Rivic will likely step in down low as the starting center. Returnee Tanner Ogden will contribute. The loss of Jackson hurts the Red Raiders big-time, especially this late in the preseason. If they are able to survive without him, it could be one of Bobby Knight's best coaching jobs. Prediction: NIT

7. Baylor- After last season's rollercoaster season that saw them play only conference games, Baylor will be glad the new season is upon us. As a result of NCAA sanctions, the Bears were not allowed to play non-conference games last season. Baylor did show some signs of potential, though, with close losses late in the season. They should be much improved this year. One of the conference's best backcourts returns in Aaron Bruce and Curtis Jerrells. Bruce is an all-conference-caliber player who needs to return to his freshman form when he averaged over 18 points per game. He is a good scorer and an excellent three-point shooter who can distribute the ball effectively. Jerrells is a very good all-around player who is underrated on a national level. He is a good scorer and passer who is also one of the team's best defenders. The Bears also have several other solid perimeter options. Wing Patrick Fields is a very good three-point shooter who is a solid scorer, while guard Henry Dugat is a very productive player off the bench. Freshman Demond Carter is an outstanding scorer who will make an immediate impact. Up front, Tim Bush and Mamadou Diene return as starters. Bush is a solid performer who is one of the team's leaders, while Diene is one of the best shot-blockers in the country. Kevin Rogers might be the best player in the frontcourt. He came off the bench last season but will likely move into the starting lineup this year. Baylor has an excellent perimeter group but lack a go-to-guy player up front. If they find a consistently productive frontcourt player, they could surprise some people. Prediction: NIT

8. Oklahoma- With the loss of coach Kelvin Sampson and three starters, in addition to three stud recruits, the Sooners could be primed for their worst season in years. Several things need to go right if this team is going to make the postseason. Michael Neal leads the way. The Big 12 Newcomer of the Year will need to become a go-to-guy for Oklahoma. He is an outstanding three-point shooter but needs to develop a more well-rounded offensive game if he is going to increase his numbers from last season. Joining him in the backcourt will be David Godbold and Austin Johnson. Godbold is the ideal role player and can do a little bit of everything on the court. He is one of the best defenders in the conference. Johnson is a lanky point guard who was a part-time starter last season. Freshman guards Tony Crocker and Bobby Maze will see immediate playing time in the backcourt. Up front, Nate Carter and Taylor Griffin form a potentially solid forward combo. Carter is an inside-outside player who can create match-up problems due to his versatility. Griffin has a lot of potential and could be poised for a breakout season. Longar Longar will continue is role as a contributor off the bench, while freshman Keith Clark will make an impact right away. Oklahoma simply doesn't have the talent to compete in the Big 12 this season. New coach Jeff Capel will have to wait a few years ago before he goes to the Big Dance with the Sooners. Prediction: No Postseason

9. Missouri- The Tigers looked like a potential Big 12 threat early in the conference season last year, but went 2-11 in their final 13 games and fell short of the postseason. With the loss of three starters, including all-Big 12 wing Thomas Gardner, Missouri does not look like a team that will compete in the Big 12 this season either. Marshall Brown is the go-to-guy. He is extremely athletic and is one of the best dunkers in the country. He is excellent on the fast break and is very good when he is slashing to the basket. He could be poised for a breakout season. Another 6-6 forward, Glen Dandridge, will see an increase in playing time this season and could start. He is a versatile scorer who could become a nice second option if he plays to his potential. Down low, Kalen Grimes will start. Grimes is a banger who is a solid rebounder and defender. He needs to improve his offensive game but he is a space-eater and gives the Tigers some size. Leo Lyons provides depth. He showed flashes of potential last season and is athletic. In the backcourt, Jason Horton returns. He is a very good passer and a solid defender who is somewhat turnover-prone and is not much of an offensive threat. That's where JC transfer Stefhon Hannah comes in. He is very quick and athletic and could start immediately at the point. Senior Marcus Watkins is a solid role player, while freshman Keon Lawrence has the potential to be a big-time scorer. While the present is not overly optimistic, the future in Columbia looks bright thanks to new coach Mike Anderson and plenty of youth on the roster. Prediction: No Postseason

10. Iowa State- The Cyclones came into last season with high expectations after a solid finish to the 2005 season. However, they never seemed to get it together and ended up 16-14 with a 7th place finish in the conference. They did not even go to the NIT. While they will likely not make the postseason this year either, ISU could pull an upset or two sometime during the season. They are led by Rahshon Clark, who could be on the verge of a huge season. The 6-6 forward is one of the best athletes in the Big 12 and is an excellent all-around player. He can score and rebound very well and is a good defender due to his athleticism and length. He will be joined in the frontcourt by freshman Wesley Johnson and returnees Jiri Hubalek, Jessan Gray, and Ross Marsden. Johnson is an athletic forward who could start immediately. Hubalek is a solid big man who produces decent scoring and rebounding numbers, while Gray and Marsden provide depth inside. The backcourt is made up entirely of newcomers. JC transfers Corey McIntosh and Michael Taylor will likely start immediately. McIntosh is a very good point guard who can score and pass the ball well, while Taylor is an excellent long-range shooter. Freshman Dodie Dunson will see minutes. Prediction: No Postseason

11. Nebraska- The Cornhuskers had a very solid season last year, going 19-14 overall and finishing 6th in the conference at 7-9. Had they picked up a few more quality wins along the line, they could have been on the bubble heading into Selection Sunday. This season, they won't be anywhere near the bubble or even the NIT, for that matter. However, they do have one of the best players in the conference in center Aleks Maric. He is a double-double threat every night out and could have a big season this year now that he is the focal point of the offense. He was going to leave the team with the hiring of new coach Doc Sadler, but he returned and it could mean a few extra wins for Nebraska. Sophomore Kyle Marks will contribute up front. On the perimeter, Jamel White is the main returnee. He is a decent scorer who can also distribute the ball. Seniors Charles Richardson and Marcus Perry also return. Richardson takes care of the ball and is a good passer, while Perry can score. Freshmen Mike Smith and Sek Henry will fight for starting spots in the backcourt. Smith is extremely quick while Henry is a very good shooter. Prediction: No Postseason

12. Colorado- Like Nebraska, Colorado was very close to losing their best player for the upcoming season. While they won't make noise either way, the return of Richard Roby will mean the Buffaloes will be somewhat competitive. CU was on the bubble for much of the season last year, finishing 20-10 and 9-7 in the conference. Their lack of a big-name win or two ultimately did them in, though. Roby is the key returnee, obviously. He is an excellent long-range shooter who entered his name in the NBA Draft pool last Spring, but took it out eventually. He has good athleticism, but needs to develop his offensive game. Joining him on the perimeter will be returnee Dominique Coleman and freshmen Kalvin Bay and Xavier Silas. Coleman is a solid all-around player who will likely improve his numbers this season. Bay is a very good distributor and a decent scorer who will start right away. Silas is a good contributor. Up front, former Ohio State transfer Jermyl Jackson-Wilson is the go-to-guy. He is a versatile forward who can do a variety of things in the frontcourt. He needs to become more of a leader this season with such a young team. Freshman Jeremy Wiliams will likely start next to Wilson at forward, although freshmen centers Sean Kowal and Marc Van Burck will fight for time. Prediction: No Postseason

Missouri Valley Conference Preview

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2006-2007 SEASON, CLICK HERE

The Missouri Valley Conference was the best conference in the country last season outside of the "Big Six". It was ranked #6 in the RPI and had six teams in the Top 50 of the RPI. Wichita State won their last four games to win the conference by two games at 14-4. Five teams finished either 12-6 or 11-7. The race for the championship was one of the best in the country. The conference tournament demonstrated how wide-open it was. #5 seed Bradley beat Creighton and top-seed Wichita State to make it to the final to face #2 Southern Illinois. The Salukis won the MVC's automatic bid by defeating the Braves in a very ugly championship game. Several teams sweated out Selection Sunday. Wichita State was safely in, while Bradley and Northern Iowa slipped in with double-digit seeds. However, Creighton didn't make the cut, and more surprisingly, neither did Missouri State. The Bears set a record for the highest RPI not to make the NCAA Tournament. The MVC lived up to the hype in the NCAA Tournament, with Wichita State and Bradley both making runs to the Sweet Sixteen before falling. Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois fell in the first round. Expect another excellent season for the Valley. The title is once again wide-open, and the MVC has three legitimate Sweet Sixteen contenders this season.

Favorites: Wichita State has enough talent to repeat their 26-9 record of a year ago, including a 14-4 conference record, winning the regular season title. Moreover, the Shockers reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. However, MVC Player of the Year Paul Miller needs to be replaced. Stepping in for him will be either Ryan Bradley or Colorado State transfer Phillip Thomasson. Bradley has good size and is developing, while Thomasson is a decent role player. Whoever gets the starting job will have the opportunity to play alongside the best forward combo in the MVC. P.J. Couisnard had a breakout NCAA Tournament and could make the all-conference team this season. He is an inside-outside option on the offensive end who is also an excellent rebounder and defender. Kyle Wilson is a versatile offensive player who can shoot the three with efficiency and score down low. He could become a go-to-guy. In the backcourt, Sean Ogirri leads the way. He is an outstanding three-point shooter who could take on more of an offensive role this seaosn. Look for him to have a big year. Matt Braeuer returns at the point. He is a solid all-around performer. Karon Bradley is a good scorer off the bench, while freshman Gal Mekel from Israel is expected to make an impact. Creighton had a very good season last year, going 20-10 overall and finishing tied for second in the conference. However, they could be much better this year. It all depends on the return of injured guards Josh Dotzler and Nate Funk. Dotzler missed the latter part of the season with a torn ligament in his right knee, but should be ready by the start of the season. He is an excellent passer and defender who is an integral part of the Bluejays. Funk is a former All-America who missed all but four games last season due to a shoulder injury. He is an outstanding scorer who can get points in a variety of ways. He can drive to the basket as well as shoot the three. He is a candidate for MVC Player of the Year. Joining them on the perimeter will be Nick Porter. He is a potential double-figure scorer who is a match-up proble for defenders. Pierce Hibma and Kansas transfer Nick Bahe provide depth. Up front, Dane Watts and Anthony Tolliver return as starters. Watts is a solid all-around player who does a little bit of everything. Tolliver is an all-MVC performer could be a dominant player this season. He is a very good rebounder who is one of the best post scorers in the conference. JC transfer Ty Morrison a highly-touted recruit who will see minutes. Southern Illinois had another excellent season last year, going 22-11 overall and finishing tied for second in the conference standings. It was the fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance for the Salukis, who will look to continue that streak this season. Five starters return for SIU, including the all-conference backcourt of Tony Young and Jamaal Tatum. Young is one of the bst all-around guards in the conference, with the ability to make a difference on both sides of the ball. He is a good scorer and three-point shooter who is also a very good defender. Tatum is the best perimeter scorer on the team. He is an inconsistent shooter who could have a big year this season. He is a good defender and passer. MVC Freshman of the Year Bryan Mullins also returns in the backcourt. He led the league in steals and was one of the top distributors in the conference. Wing Wesley Clemmons provides depth. Up front, Randall Falker and Matt Shaw return. Shaw is a nice inside-outside option on offense, providing the Salukis with a double-figure scorer who can get it done in a variety of ways. Falker is one of the best interior players in the conference. He is an excellent defender who has double-double potential in the paint. Jamaal Foster and Tony Boyle will contribue off the bench.

Contenders: Missouri State was the biggest snub of last year's NCAA Tournament, and will look to make up for it this season with a bid to the Big Dance. The Bears were 22-9 last season and tied for second in the MVC, but will be motivated to do even better. They are led by sharpshooter Blake Ahearn, the best free-throw shooter in NCAA history. He is an all-conference guard who can carry the Bears with his offensive ability. His partner on the wing will be Tyler Chaney. He is a difficult match-up on the offensive end and he is a very good defensive player who can also rebound. Shane Laurie returns at the point guard spot, but will see competition from his brother, Spencer, a transfer from Missouri. Also on the wing will be Dale Lamberth, an outstanding and versatile shooter, and Deven Mitchell, who has loads of potential. Forward Nathan Bilyeu is a very good role player who can score if needed and is also an excellent rebounder. Down low, juniors Drew Richards and Sky Frazier will man the post. They both need to become go-to-players in the paint instead of complementary players. Northern Iowa loses two starters and coach Geoff McDermott from a program that has been to three straight NCAA Tournaments. The Panthers were 23-10 last season, but only tied for fifth in conference play. They are led by the post combo of Grant Stout and Erik Coleman, arguably the best low-block tandem in the league. Stout is a double-double threat every night out who is also one of the best shot-blockers in the conference. Now that he is a focal point of the offense, Stout could have a huge year. Coleman is a solid scorer in the paint who is also a very good rebounder. 7-1 freshman Jordan Eglseder will see minutes immediately. On the perimeter, point guard Brooks McKowen returns. He is a very good distributor but needs to improve his offensive game. Wings Adam Viet and Travis Brown, who were both role players last season, will need to step in and produce right away. Freshman Kwadzo Ahelegbe will fight for minutes.

Sleepers: Drake could see the biggest improvement in the conference. Although the Bulldogs went only 12-19 last season, finishing tied for seventh in the conference, they return four starters and get Klayton Korver back from injury. Look out for this team. Korver is a versatile wing who can shoot the three with efficiency. He is a good rebounder and is a nice inside-outside threat. Joining him in the frontcourt will be Ajay Calvin and Aliou Keita. Calvin is a good scorer and rebounder who is capable of having several big games. Keita is an excellent shot-blocker who needs to return to his sophomore season form. Brent Heemskerk was a part-time starter who will fight for minutes, while sophomore Jonathan Cox also started several games and is a good inside-outside option. Al Stewart leads the backcourt. He is an excellent distributor who also takes care of the ball and plays good defense. Wings Nick Grant and Chris Bryant also return. Grant is a good defender who is a solid role player, while Bryant is an efficient shooter from the perimeter. Evansville is in a similar situation to Drake. The Purple Aces had a poor season last year, going 10-19 and finishing tied for seventh in the MVC. However, they return all five starters, including a couple of players that could be potential all-conference performers. One of them is Jason Holsinger. The 5-11 point guard is a very good three-point shooter and is also one of the league's best passers. He will look to improve upon an impressive freshman campaign. The other all-conference candidate is forward Matt Webster. He is one of the most productive frontcourt players in the conference, averaging over 14 points and 6 rebounds per game. Joining Webster up front is Bradley Strickland. He had a strong finish to last season and could carry that over to this season. The wings will be comprised of Sky Ely and Kyle Anslinger. Ely is a good rebounder for his size who can also score, while Anslinger is a double-figure scorer who led the MVC in three-point shooting.

Rounding Out the Pack: Bradley will see the biggest drop of any team in the conference. The Braves are coming off of a 22-11 campaign, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance. However, four double-figure scorers are gone, including lottery pick Patrick O'Bryant and all-conference forward Marcellus Sommerville. The returnees are led by point guard Daniel Ruffin. He is the best passer in the MVC and is also a standout defender but will need to improve his scoring if the Braves are going to compete. Role player J.J. Tauai is a very important contributor who does not show up in the box score very often. Guards Will Franklin and Jeremy Crouch will get a chance to step in on the perimeter and produce on the offensive end. Franklin could be poised for a big season. Up front, Zach Andrews leads the way. He was very solid while starting for the suspended O'Bryant early last season. He will be the go-to-guy down low. Returnee Sam Singh and newcomers Xavier Crawford and Matt Salley will fight for minutes in the frontcourt. Illinois State went 9-19 last season, finishing tied for last place. The Redbirds lose four starters from that team, which could be a good thing or a bad thing. The go-to-guy will be Gregg Dillard. The 6-8 forward is one of the best all-around players in the conference. He is a double-figure scorer who can rebound and is one of the best shot-blockers in the league. 6-11 center Levi Dyer will likely start down low next to Dillard. He is a good inside-outside option who causes match-up problems with his size. Mike Vandello and JC transfer Anthony Slack will see minutes. Roberto Fortes and Brandon Holtz return in the backcourt. Fortes played well down the stretch and is a solid three-point shooter, while Holtz needs to improve his production. JC transfer Keith Richardson will start immediately at the point. He is a very good passer who can score. He will make the Redbirds better immediately. Fellow JC transer Dominitrix Johnson will battle for a starting job. Indiana State started out last season 8-0, but then all-conference performer David Moss got hurt and the Sycamores spiraled downwards. They were 0-8 without Moss and were 1-10 in conference play before the smoke cleared. With Moss and three other rotation players gone from last season, they will have trouble equaling the 13 wins they had last season. Guard Gabriel Moore leads the way. He is a very good passer and defender who can stroke it from long-range and score fairly well. Freshmen Cole Holmstrom and Marico Stinson will make an impact in the backcourt, while JC transfer Todd McCoy would start immediately on the wing. In the frontcourt, starters Trent Wurtz and Jay Tunnell return. Wurtz is a good rebounder and shot-blocker who has to become a better scorer. Tunnell could be poised for a big season up front due to his inside-outside offensive ability. Adam Arnold and Mick Yelovich will see minutes off the bench.

Prediction: Like last year, the Missouri Valley Conference will be the best league outside of the "Big Six" conferences. They have three legitimate Sweet Sixteen contenders in Wichita State, Creighton, and Southern Illinois, and another at-large candidate in Missouri State. WSU needs to replace MVC Player of the Year Paul Miller, but the forward combo of P.J. Couisnard and Kyle Wilson will be more than enough up front. Creighton gets Josh Dotzler and Nate Funk back from injury, and Anthony Tolliver also returns. SIU returns all five starters, including the backcourt of Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young. MSU is led by Blake Aheard, while Northern Iowa has Grant Stout and Erik Crawford on the interior. In other words, the MVC is going to be as competitive as last season and the top of the league will be even better. For now, I will give the MVC four bids with Wichita State winning the regular season title and Creighton the conference tournament title.

Player of the Year: Nate Funk, SG, Creighton

All-Conference Team:
G- Nate Funk, Creighton
G- Blake Ahearn, Missouri State
F- P.J. Couisnard, Wichita State
F- Grant Stout, Northern Iowa
C- Anthony Tolliver, Creighton

Second Team:
G- Jamaal Tatum, Southern Illinois
G- Tony Young, Southern Illinois
F- Kyle Wilson, Wichita State
F- Randall Falker, Southern Illinois
F- Erik Coleman, Northern Iowa

Mountain West Conference Preview

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2006-2007 SEASON, CLICK HERE

Last season, the Mountain West Conference did not get the recognition and press that it did two years ago when it had two first-round picks in Andrew Bogut and Danny Granger with both of their teams having successful seasons in Utah and New Mexico, respectively. However, it had a solid race for the title, and also featured three teams with hopes of going dancing in the NCAA Tournament heading into the conference tournament. San Diego State won the championship at 13-3, by one game over Air Force and BYU. UNLV was the only other team to finish above .500. The conference tournament nearly popped two bubbles when Air Force and BYU both lost in the quarterfinals. #7 seed Wyoming made a run to the title game, but fell to #1 seed San Diego State in overtime. With SDSU taking the automatic bid, Air Force received potentially the last at-large bid into the field as a #13 seed. They did not justify it in the NCAA Tournament, losing to Illinois in the first round. San Diego State was with #6 Indiana the entire game before faltering down the stretch and falling to the Hoosiers. This year will likely have the same three-headed race for the title, but don't be surprised to see the MWC get more NCAA Tournament bids this season.

Favorites and Contenders: San Diego State increased their win total by 13 games last season, finishing 24-9 and 13-3 in the MWC, good enough for the league title. They return four starters from that team, but the one starter lost is Marcus Slaughter. He averaged a double-double last season but entered his name in the NBA Draft, skipping his final college season. The Aztecs will be fine, though. Brandon Heath, one of the best guards in the country, leads the way. He is an outstanding scorer who is also a very good distributor and defender. He is the favorite for conference Player of the Year. Joining him on the perimeter will be Richie Williams and Kyle Spain. Williams is an extremely quick point guard who is a solid passer and defender who needs to improve his offensive game. Spain is a tremendous three-point shooter who will likely become a double-figure scorer this season. He is tough to guard. Louisville transfer Lorrenzo Wade will battle Spain for a starting job on the wing due to his athleticism and size. Up front, all-conference forward Mohamed Abukar is the go-to-guy. He is an inside-outside threat who is one of the most difficult match-ups in the conference. His partner down low will be JC transfer Jerome Habel. Habel was the nation's #2-ranked JUCO prospect last season. Air Force had another successful season last year, going 24-7 overall and 12-4 in the MWC, garnering an at-large bid. Four starters return for the Falcons, plus they get 2004 Player of the Year Nick Welch back from injury. He is a match-up nightmare opponents, due to his inside-outside game. He also has the ability to play solid defense and distribute the ball very well. Joining him up front is all-conference forward Jacon Burtschi, one of the best all-around players in the conference. He is a good scorer and rebounder who is also an excellent defender. On the wings are sharpshooters Matt McCraw and Dan Nwaelele. Nwaelele led the conference in three-point shooting, while McCraw is a solid scorer who can also rebound pass. Big man John Frye started every game down low for the Falcons, but will likely come off the bench this season. Tim Anderson will step in at the point guard slot to replace All-MWC pick Antoine Hood. BYU had a very surprising year last season, going 20-9 and finishing second in the conference. They were on the NCAA Tournament bubble, but did not have enough quality wins to garner legitimate consideration. The Cougars should get a bid this season. It all starts with Trent Plaisted, one of the best post players in the country. He has the potential to put up huge numbers and have a breakout season this year. He is very athletic and is tough to stop down low. Joining him up front is All-MWC forward Keena Young. He is extremely versatile and finished the season on a tear. Forward Fernando Malaman is another solid frontcourt player. He is a nice complement to Plaisted in the paint. On the perimeter, Jimmy Balderson leads the way. He is a double-figure scorer who could be poised for a big season. Lee Cummard is another 6-6 guard that produces. At the point, Rashaun Broadus returns. He is a very good passer who could become a double-figure scorer this year. Austin Ainge provides depth.

Sleepers: New Mexico fell a few notches last season after the loss of first-round pick Danny Granger, finishing 5th in the conference with an 8-8 record. With the influx of two impact transfers, the Lobos could move up. Those two newcomers are Kansas transfer J.R. Giddens and Penn State transfer Aaron Johnson. Giddens is extremely athletic and is also a very good three-point shooter. He has loads of potential and could become one of the MWC's best players if he lives up to his hype. Johnson led the Big Ten in rebounding two seasons ago and is a double-double threat every night out. These two combine for an excellent inside-outside combo. Another fresh face, JC transfer Jamaal Smith, will likely start at the point guard spot. He is very quick and athletic who will create opportunities for himself and his teammates. JC transfer Jeffrey Henfeld is another scorer on the wing. Tony Danridge is the best returnee from last season. He was a solid all-around player but needs to improve his production if he wants to keep his starting spot. Ryan Kersten and Blake Harden are role players on the perimeter, while Kellen Walter is a serviceable big man. Colorado State went 16-15 last season, but finished next-to-last in the conference with a paltry 4-12 record. They return four starters from that team, including Jason Smith, one of the best centers in the country. The 7-footer is an excellent scorer and rebounder who can also block shots. He is a candidate for conference Player of the Year. His partner down low was expected to be Michael Harrison, but he did not enroll at CSU in September and will not play. His replacement could be another 7-footer, junior Stuart Creason. He and Smith would form a terrific post tandem. Freddy Robinson will start at the small forward position. He is a very good defender who has shown flashes of his offensive game. On the perimter, Cory Lewis returns at the point. He is a very good distributor who controls the tempo for the Rams and is also a double-figure scorer. Sophomore Stephen Gilling is a decent scorer who will see more minutes this season. JC transfer Tyler Smith is expected to make an immediate impact--if he is eligible to play. He was arrested in July and it is not clear if he will play or not. UNLV had another solid season last year, winning 17 games and going 10-6 in league play, finishing fourth in the MWC. The Runnin' Rebels will have one of the league's best perimeter trios, led by Arizona State transfer Kevin Kruger. The son of UNLV coach Lon Kruger, Kevin took advantage of the new NCAA rule that allows fifth-year seniors to play their final year of basketball at any school. He is an excellent three-point shooter who is also a very good passer and defender. He is also a solid rebounder. Double-figure scorers Michael Umeh and Jo'Van Adams join him in the backcourt. Umeh is a potential all-league player when healthy, while Adams is one of the better on-ball defenders in the conference and is also a solid reboundet and passer. Wings Curtis Terry and Wendell White also return. Terry started last season and is a good all-around player, while White is a good rebounder. Up front, Joel Anthony will be the go-to-guy. He is a good shot-blocker who needs to improve his offensive game. Gaston Essengue and Joe Darger will also contribute.

Rounding Out the Pack: Utah snapped their streak of 20-win seasons last year, going only 14-15 overall and finishing 6th in the conference. The Utes return one of the better inside-outside combos in the conference in guard Johnnie Bryant and center Luke Nevill. Bryant is an outstanding three-point shooter who is poised for a breakout season on the perimeter. Nevill could be the conference's best center this season. He finished very strong down the stretch last year and will look to carry that over to this season. Also up front will be Shaun Green, who is a solid all-around player, and newcomers Daniel Deane and Misha Radojevic. Joining Bryant in the backcourt will be Ricky Johns, a solid guard with good potential, and sophomore Lawrence Borha, who is a contributor at both ends of the floor. Wyoming was one of the worst teams in the conference last year, going 5-11 in the MWC and only 14-18 overall. However, they finished the season on a high note, making a run to the conference tournament championship game before falling in overtime to #1 seed San Diego State. If they can carry some of that momentum over to this season, the Cowboys could win some games. Some of the reason for optimism in Laramie stems from the backcourt of Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones, both potential all-conference players. Ewing is an excellent all-around player. He is a big-time scorer who can also play good defense and distribute the ball. Jones is one of the best passers in the MWC and is a lockdown defender. The frontcourt is not as strong. Seniors Chris Anderson and Daaron Brown return, but they will need to improve their production if they want to start for the Cowboys. JC transfer Joseph Taylor is expected to start immediately up front. Freshman Travis Nelson is an inside-outside threat who will make an impact. TCU was, by far, the worst team in the Mountain West last season, and there won't likely be much of a chance this year. The Horned Frogs were an abysmal 6-25 overall and finished last in the conference with a 2-14 record. Moreover, three starters are gone. Wings Brent Hackett and Neiman Owens are the returning starters. Hackett is a solid all-around performer who will need to become a go-to-guy this season, while Owens is a versatile player who is a good rebounder and passer. Returnees Femi Ibikunle and Blake Adams anchor the frontcourt, with Adams potentially on the verge of a breakout season. JC transfer Alvardo Parker will see minutes immediately. The point guard vacancy will be filled by freshman Jason Ebie. He is extremely quick and will have a chance to make an impact from day one.

Prediction: The Mountain West Conference could have a very good season this year. They have three legitimate NCAA Tournament teams in San Diego State, Air Force, and BYU. Each of these teams is talented enough to win a game, and one of them could even advance into the second weekend. SDSU has the inside-outside combo of Brandon Heath and Mohamed Abukar, as well as plenty of other options on the offensive end. They could be a team to watch out for in the Big Dance. Air Force is difficult to prepare for and has a variety of versatile players that will make them tough to match-up with. BYU returns Trent Plaisted and a nice inside-outside balance. The MWC will have an excellent race for the title. I think that SDSU will pull it out, but AFA and BYU will both receive at-large bids.

Player of the Year: Brandon Heath, SG, San Diego State

All-Conference Team:
G- Brandon Heath, San Diego State
G- J.R. Giddens, New Mexico
F- Nick Welch, Air Force
F- Trent Plaisted, BYU
C- Jason Smith, Colorado State

Second Team:
G- Kevin Kruger, UNLV
G- Brandon Ewing, Wyoming
F- Jacob Burtschi, Air Force
F- Mohamed Abukar, San Diego State
C- Luke Nevill, Utah

Atlantic-10 Conference Preview

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2006-2007 SEASON, CLICK HERE

The Atlantic-10 Conference finished out of the Top 10 in the Conference RPI for the second straight season, but still received a decent amount of press last year. That is due to the fact that George Washington was the only one-loss team left in the country heading into the conference tournament and ran the table in the conference. They finished five games ahead of the second place team, Charlotte. Outside of those two, four other teams were above .500 in the conference and another four teams finished at .500. Only four teams were below the .500 mark. The conference tournament was a totally different story. GW did not even make it out of the quarterfinals, getting blown out by Temple. The same went for 2nd place Charlotte. The championship game featured #5 seed St. Joseph's against #10 seed Xavier. The Hawks were up by 10 with 7 minutes left, but the Musketeers came back and won on two free throws by Justin Doellmann with 5.1 seconds left. In the NCAA Tournament, #14 Xavier gave Gonzaga all they could handle before falling, while #8 George Washington came back from down by 17 against UNC-Wilmington to win before losing in the second round to #1 Duke. This season, don't expect any teams to run the table, with one favorite and five teams capable of finishing second. It should be a wide-open A-10 this year.

Favorite: Xavier did not have a very impressive regular season last year. They came into the season with decently high expectations, but struggled throughout the year and finished 8-8 in A-10 play. However, they righted the ship right after the season and made a run in the A-10 tournament to win the automatic bid and then nearly upset Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament. If they can carry some of that momentum over to this season, the Musketeers could be very good. Oklahoma transfer Drew Lavender is one of the main reasons for the optimism. The 5-7 point guard is extremely quick and can get to the basket on nearly any defender. He is also a solid three-point shooter who is a good distributor. Joining him in the backcourt will be all-conference guard Stanley Burrell. He is an outstanding shooter who is also a good passer and is a candidate for A-10 Player of the Year. Off the bench, returnees Johnny Wolf, a part-time starter, and B.J. Raymond, a match-up problem, as well as freshman Adrion Graves will provide depth on the perimeter. Up front, the forward trio of Justin Cage, Justin Doellmann, and Josh Duncan is as good as any in the conference. Cage is a good all-around player who is capable of increasing his scoring average by several points this season. Doellmann is an inside-outside player who is one of the more versatile players in the conference. His offensive and defensive abilities are very solid. Duncan could be on the verge of a breakout season. He is athletic and skilled. Senior Brandon Cole and explosive freshman Derrick Brown provide quality minutes off the bench.

Contenders: Massachusetts was not very good last season, going 8-8 in the conference and only 13-15 overall. However, with the influx of three transfers and a couple of impact freshmen, the Minutemen have the potential to be the best team in the conference. Oh, yeah, UMass also returns four starters from last season. One of those starters, Rashaun Freeman, is a favorite for Player of the Year. The 6-9 center is a double-double threat every night out and could improve his numbers even more this season. Down low with him is Stephane Lasme. The A-10 Defensive Player of the Year improved his offensive game over the summer, and could become an all-conference performer this season. Also returning up front are part-time starter Brandon Thomas and rotation players Dante Milligan and Lawrence Carrier. Their roles could be diminished, however, due to the addition of transfers Gary Forbes (from Virginia), Etienne Brower (Boston University), and Luke Bonner (West Virginia). Forbes is being mentioned as a potential Conference Player of the Year candidate due to his scoring ability. Brower is a versatile forward who can play a variety of roles due to his athleticism, while Bonner is a nice inside-outside option up front. In the backcourt, Chris Lowe returns at the point. He led the A-10 in assists but needs to improve his offensive game. He is not guaranteed to keep his starting job however. Freshman Tiki Mayben, a former Syracuse signee, is expected to make an immediate impact due to his passing abilities. Three-point gunner James Life, a double-figure scorer, and freshman Ricky Harris, will battle for minutes at the two-guard spot. George Washington had the season of a decade last year, going 27-3 and running through the A-10 unbeaten. The Colonials lose four starters from that team, though, and could struggle to return to the NCAA Tournament. Even with the losses, Karl Hobbs returns one of the best backcourt duos in the conference. Carl Elliot is an excellent point guard who does all the little things. He is a lockdown defender who is also a proficient three-point shooter. Moreover, he is a good passer but needs to become more of a go-to-guy. Maureece Rice is a big-time scorer who will increase his production even more this season now that he has moved into the starting lineup. Joining him on the wing will be Clemson transfer Cheyenne Moore. He is extremely athletic who is excellent on the fast break and is also a good defender. Travis King will provide depth on the perimeter. The frontcourt has plenty of question marks. Regis Koundija has the most experience of the returnees, and he will become a go-to-player down low. Dokun Akingbade and Rob Diggs will also see plenty of minutes up front due to their athleticism and length. Freshman wing Damian Hollis could become a good inside-outside option. Saint Louis had a quietly impressive season a year ago. The Billikens finished tied for third in the conference, going 10-6 in A-10 play and 16-13 overall. With four returning starters, SLU could push for an at-large bid this season. It starts with all-conference center Ian Vouyoukas, who is a potentially dominant player on offense. He is very efficient in the low post but needs to expand his offensive game in order to reach his full potential. Who will join Vouyoukas down low remains a question. Part-time starter Luke Meyer is a possibility, but he is better suited for the perimeter. Freshman Horace Dixon and returnees Justin Johnson and Obi Ikeakor are also candidates. The perimeter is in good hands with the duo of Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch leading the way. Liddell was the A-10 Rookie of the Year last season and could become even better this year. He is a good scorer and an excellent rebounder who can also distribute the ball fairly well. Lisch is a nice complement to Liddell. He is the team's best perimeter defender and is a very good three-point shooter. Dwayne Polk is the best bet to start at the point, although wing Danny Brown will fight for minutes in the starting lineup. Charlotte went 11-5 in conference play last season and won 19 games, but the 49ers lose three-time first-team all-conference forward Curtis Withers. If they can replace him, though, Charlotte could be a tough team. Leading the way is the wing combo of Leemire Goldwire and De'Angelo Alexander. Alexander is one of the best wing guards in the country. He is an excellent scorer that can stroke it from long-range and take it to the basket. Goldwire is a good three-point shooter who is a very solid complement to Alexander. Joining them on the perimeter is likely going to be JC transfer Carlos Williams. He is a very good passer who will create ample opportunities for his teammates. 6-9 wing Sean Phaler is also a potential starter. The JC transfer is a former UCLA signee who is a prolific scorer. Up front, E.J. Drayton, who redshirted last season, could be a go-to-guy. He is an inside-outside threat. Antwon Coleman and Courtney Williams also return in the frontcourt.

Sleepers: Fordham could have their best season in years. Four starters return from last year's 16-16 team that made a run to the A-10 Tournament semifinals. The main reason for optimism, though, is the return of forward Bryant Dunston. One of the nation's most underrated post players, Dunston is a dominant player on both sides of the ball.He is an excellent low-block scorer and is also one of the best shot-blockers in the conference. Providing outside production to complement Dunston inside is guard Marcus Stout. He is a very good three-point shooter who needs to become more of a go-to-scorer on the perimeter. Three more juniors will likely join the aforementioned duo in the starting lineup. Guard Kevin Anderson is a solid role player, while forwards Michael Binns and Sebastian Greene will combine with Dunston to give the Rams an excellent frontcourt trio. Freshmen David Boykin and Herb Tanner will fight for minutes at the point guard spot. After a string of successful seasons, Dayton struggled throughout last year, finishing 14-17 overall and tied for eleventh in the conference. Four starters return from that team, though, making the Flyers a potential sleeper team. Brian Roberts leads the way. The 6-2 wing is an outstanding scorer who can stroke it efficiently from outside as well as take it to the basket for points. With the influx of two newcomers to take over the point guard spot, Roberts could have an even bigger season. Those two newcomers are JC transfer Andres Sandoval and freshman London Warren. They will battle for the starting lead guard spot. Forward Monty Scott is a good second option to Roberts. He had an injury-prone year last season but still was a double-figure scorer and could increase his production this season. Another double-figure scorer, Norman Plummer, also returns in the frontcourt. He is a good all-around role player who is a very solid rebounder and a productive scorer. Returnees Jimmy Binnie, Charles Little, and Desmond Adedeji provide depth up front. St. Joseph's could see a significant drop after the loss of four starters from a 19-win team that was one victory from winning the A-10 tournament and going to the NCAA Tournament. Phil Martelli returns no one with extensive experience on the perimeter, but several newcomers will be counted on to make an immediate impact. The point guard competition will be between Jawan Carter and Darrin Govens. Carter was Delaware's all-time leading scorer and is a very good long-range shooter, while Govens is another combo guard that is a good distibutor and scorer. Shooting guard D.J. Rivera will likely start at the two. He is extremely quick and athletic and could be the go-to-guy on the perimeter. Garrett Williamson will see minutes. Up front, the team's lone returning double-figure scorer, Rob Ferguson, leads the way. He is a good inside-outside threat on the offensive end and could become an all-conference forward this season. Pat Calathes and Ahmad Nivins also return inside. Calathes finished strong last year and is difficult to guard on the offensive end. Nivins is a very good rebounder and shot-blocker. They form a solid frontcourt trio.

Rounding Out the Pack: This season, Temple enters a new era of Owls basketball. After 25 years with John Chaney at the helm, former Penn coach Fran Dunphy will step in and try to lead Temple back to the NCAA Tournament. He will have a rough start to his tenure in Philadelphia, as frontcourt starters Mark Tyndale and Wayne Marshall are academically ineligible for the first semester. Tyndale is good at getting to the basket and is also a solid rebounder, while Marshall is a very good big man who has potential. Dustin Salisbery will lead the way while they're out. He is a good three-point shooter who is one of the best defensive players in the conference. He will need to step his offensive game up. Dionte Christmas will also start on the wing with Tyndale out. At the point, freshman Luis Guzman will likely get the keys to the offense from the first day of practice. He is a good distributor who can also score. Up front, role players Dion Dacons and Anthony Ivory will see minutes. La Salle had a very surprinsing season last year, going 18-10 overall and finishing 3rd in the conference. However, they have to replace the school's all-time leading scorer in Steven Smith. He leaves a huge hole for the Explorers, but a nice mix of returnees and newcomers will do their best to fill his shoes. The best returnee is guard Darnell Harris. He is an excellent shooter who will have to become the go-to-guy with Smith gone. Joining him in the backcourt will be either junior Tabby Cunnigham or freshman Ruben Guillandeaux. The 6-5 Guillandeaux will likely start due to his length and athleticism. Forwards Paul Johnson and Mike St. John and wing Marshall Taylor return up front. Johnson is a good scorer who could have a big season, while St. John is a very good rebounder who will anchor the paint. Taylor was injured much of last season, but he provides decent number. Newcomers Yves Mekongo-Mbala, Brian Grimes, and Kimmanni Barrett will fight for starting spots in the frontcourt. Rhode Island finished .500 both in A-10 play and overall for the season. How they do this season will depend a lot on how their young players mature. Junior forward Will Daniels should become their go-to-guy, though. The lone returning double-figure scorer is an inside-outside threat who can score both down low and on the perimeter. He is a match-up problem. Joining him up front will be sophomore Kaheim Seawright who had a strong finish to the season and looks to carry that momentum over to this season. All-rookie selection Jimmy Baron will anchor the backcourt. He is a good three-point shooter who will likely increase his numbers this season. Jon Lucky and Parfait Bitee will also fight for starting jobs on the perimeter. Richmond did not have a very succesful season last year, tying for eleventh in the conference and going only 13-17 overall. However, they welcome in several new players and will look to improve on their record. The Spiders do return three starters from last season, though. Wings Oumar Sylla and Peter Thomas were role players a year ago but will become go-to-guys on the perimeter this season, while forward Gaston Moliva is an excellent defensive player who will also provide some rebounding and scoring. 6-9 Jarhon Giddings was a part-time starter at the point guard position and he is a solid distributor who is a difficult match-up. Drew Crank returns down low for the Spiders. The best of the newcomers is Steven Kendall, who could become a big-time scorer on the wing. St. Bonaventure increased their win total by six games last season, but still finished only 8-19 overall and 2-14 in the conference. It was the third season in a row that the Bonnies have had eight wins or less. They have a chance to break that streak this season. Leading the way is the forward tandem of Paul Williams and Michael Lee. Williams is a potential all-league performer who is a very solid player at both ends of the floor, while Lee could develop into one of the best forwards in the conference. Sophomore forward A.J. Hawkins is another solid player in the frontcourt. In the backcourt, Tyler Relph is the main man. He missed part of the season due to injury, but should bounce back to have a solid season this year. JC transfer Jermaine Calvin could make an immediate impact. Duquesne was one of the worst teams in D-1 last season, going 3-24 overall and only 1-15 in league play, finishing last in the Atlantic-10. However, going into this season, the more important issue at hand is the shooting of five of the Duquesne players at a party in September. The tragic situation could hang over the program's head throughout the year. Returning point guard Aaron Jackson leads the way. He is an excellent distributor who takes good care of the ball and does not turn it over very often. JC transfers Gary Tucker and Reggie Jackson will make an impact on the perimeter right away. Up front, Kieron Achara has a lot of potential but needs to stay healthy to demonstrate that. JC transfer Stuart Baldonado and Memphis transfer Almamy Thiero could fight for a starting job down low.

Prediction: The Atlantic-10 could be a very interesting conference this season. Xavier is one of the best teams outside of the Big Six conferences and could be a sleeper candidate come March. After them, there are several teams with a shot at getting an at-large bid. Massachusetts brings in plenty of talent in addition to four starters, including Rashaun Freeman. Saint Louis has Ian Tommie Liddell and Ian Vouyoukas, George Washington has Carl Elliot and Maureece Rice, while Charlotte and Fordham will also contend. However, none of the teams besides Xavier is a definite NCAA Tournament team. If one team separates themselves from the pack, the A-10 will get two bids. For now, though, I see only one bid for the conference, going to Xaver. The best bet for a second bid would be UMass--if all their talent meshes. That's a big "if", though.

Player of the Year: Rashaun Freeman, Massachusetts

All-Conference Team:
G- De'Angelo Alexander
G- Stanley Burrell, Xavier
F- Bryant Dunston, Fordham
C- Rashaun Freeman, Massachusetts
C- Ian Vouyoukas, Saint Louis

Second Team:
G- Carl Elliot, George Washington
G- Maureece Rice, George Washington
G- Brian Roberts, Dayton
F- Gary Forbes, Massachusetts
F- Justin Doellmann, Xavier

CAA Preview

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2006-2007 SEASON, CLICK HERE

The Colonial Athletic Association was the best mid-major conference in the country outside of the Missouri Valley. They had six teams finish with double-digits win in conference play, and had a great race for the regular season title. UNC-Wilmington and George Mason eventually tied for the championship at 15-3, while Hofstra finished one game back at 14-4. Old Dominion, Northeastern, and Virginia Commonwealth were all in the mix as well. The league tournament was wide-open, but it ended up being UNCW against Hofstra in the title game after the Pride defeated George Mason in the infamous Tony Skinn game. UNCW took control from the start against Hofstra and won the automatic bid. On Selection Sunday, George Mason and Hofstra both waited for their names to be called, but only George Mason's popped up onto the screen despite the Pride beating them twice in the final two weeks. We all remember the NCAA Tournament for the Colonial. UNCW lost to #8 seed George Washington in the first round, blowing a huge first-half lead. George Mason, though, took their #11 seed and rode it all the way to the Final Four, defeating the likes of North Carolina, Michigan State, Wichita State, and Connecticut before falling to eventual champion Florida. Will this season produce another Final Four team? Very unlikely. However, there are a couple of teams at the top with a shot at making some noise nationally.

Favorites: Hofstra could be one of the nation's top mid-major teams this season. After last year's disappointing Selection Sunday in which the Pride were left out in favor of George Mason, a team they beat twice in the final two weeks of the season, they will have enough motivation heading into this season. Coach Tom Pecora returns arguably the best three-man backcourt in the country in Loren Stokes, Antoine Agudio, and Carlos Rivera. Stokes is the preseason Colonial Player of the Year, and rightfully so. The 6-3 senior is one of the better all-around guards in the country and can carry the Pride. He is very difficult to stop when going to the basket and is efficient scoring the ball inside the arc. He is also a very good rebounder and distributor who racks up steals on the defensive end. Agudio is an outstanding shooter who could become the team's leading scorer this season. He is one of the top long-range gunners in the conference who also has a very good mid-range game. Rivera is the most underrated of the group. He is an excellent passer who takes care of the ball very well and can also score if needed. He did not commit a single turnover in the CAA Tournament last season. Greg Johnson provides depth in the backcourt. Up front, the Pride need to replace Aurimas Kieza and Adrian Uter, two dependable starters from a year ago. Chris Gadley and Mike Davis-Saab will get the first cracks. They were decent role players last season who need to step up their production this year. Arminas Urbutis and freshman Greg Washington will also fight for minutes in the frontcourt. George Mason had what will likely always be the best season in the program's history last year, receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and then making a Final Four run, beating some of the top teams in the country on their way there. While they are not likely to make a similar run this season with the loss of three starters, the Patriots could be a contender for the league championship once again. Will Thomas, the league's most dominant inside force, leads the way up front. He is a variety of moves down in the post that he uses to get points nearly every time he touches the ball. Moreover, he is a very good rebounder and one of the top defenders in the conference. Folarin Campbell is the other returning starter. The versatile 6-4 wing can play any of the perimeter positions with ease. He is a good scorer and rebounder who is capable of passing the ball and taking care of the ball-handling responsibilities. Likely to start in the starting lineup next to Campbell will be former All-Freshman selection John Vaughan, who sat out last season with a torn ACL. He’s a good shooter and scorer from behind the arc. Gabe Norwood is an outstanding athlete who will see plenty of minutes on the perimeter. JC transfer Andre Smith is expected to fight for a starting job at the point. Up front, returnee Sammy Hernandez and JC transfer Darryl Monroe will man the paint along with Thomas. Monroe could make an immediate impact.

Contenders: One team expected to make a jump from pretender to contender is Drexel. The Dragons finished tied for seventh in the conference last year, going 8-10 in the CAA and 15-16 overall. Bruiser Flint returns four starters from that team, and they could make a run this season. One of the better backcourts in the CAA leads the way. Dominick Mejia is an all-conference guard who is an excellent shooter. He is also very good at getting to the basket. Bashir Mason is an excellent defender and distributor who is able to score if needed. Scott Rodgers and Tramayne Hawthorne provide depth. Up front, Chaz Crawford and Frank Elegar return. Crawford is one of the premier shot-blockers in the country but needs to improve his offensive game, while Elegar is an athletic forward with a versatile offensive game. Randy Oveneke and Matt Stevenson will see time off the bench. Old Dominion came into last season with high expectations after winning 28 game two years ago. However, they started slow and only finished 4th in the conference, going 24-10 overall and 13-5 in the CAA. They did bounce back to make a run to the NIT Final Four, though. The backcourt of Drew Williamson and Brian Henderson form a solid tandem that needs to increase their scoring production this season. Williamson is an excellent distributor who is quick with the ball, while Henderson is a very good three-point shooter and on-ball defender. Abdi Lidonde and Brandon Johnson are good backups. Arnaud Dahi and Valdas Vasylius anchor the frontcourt. Dahi is coming off of an ACL injury but is a very good scorer and rebounder when healthy. Vasylius has potential as a scorer. 7-3 Sam Harris and 6-6 Jonathan Adams will also be counted on up front. UNC-Wilmington could take a step back after last season’s 25-8 record and league title. The Seahawks were the class of the CAA until the NCAA Tournament. They won both the regular season and tournament championships and received a #9 seed in the Big Dance. New coach Benny Moss will have two returning starters and several role players to build around. Guard T.J. Carter is an all-conference-caliber guard who could have a breakout season this year. He had a very strong second half last season and looks to carry that over to this year. Temi Soyebo will start at the point. He was a part-time starter last season and is a solid all-around that should excel in the up-tempo offense. John David Gardner and Daniel Fountain will fight for minutes on the perimeter. Look out for freshman Darryl Felder. Up front, Todd Hendley leads the way. He is a match-up problem due to his versatile offensive game. He can score both inside and outside and is also a solid rebounder. Space-eater Vladimir Kuljanin could start down low, although Dejan Grkovic and College of Charleston transfer Jeff Horowitz will get opportunities.

Sleepers: Virginia Commonwealth had a decent season last year, going 19-10 overall and 11-7 within the conference. However, they only finished sixth in the CAA and look to improve on that place in the standings this year. Three starters return, including the potential all-conference wing duo of B.A. Walker and Jesse Pellot-Rosa. Walker is a very good three-point shooter who can play both guard positions, while Pellot-Rosa is an excellent defender and solid rebounder who will likely be a double-figure scorer this season. Point guard Eric Maynor is an efficient distributor, while Jamal Shuler is a potentially explosive scorer on the wing. The frontcourt is not as loaded. Eric Davis is a solid player on the interior who needs to become more of a go-to-guy inside, while part-time start Sam Faulk returns at center. Redshirt senior Calvin Roland and Arizona transfer Will Fameni will also see minutes. Towson improved immensely last year from two seasons ago, increasing their win total by seven games and tying for seventh in the league standings at 8-10. With four returning starters, including Gary Neal, the Tigers could make some noise in the CAA. Neal is the nation’s leading returning scorer and he could have an even bigger season this year. He is an excellent outside shooter who is also extremely difficult to guard when he is going to the basket. He is one of the top shooting guards in the country. Tim Crossin was a member of the All-Freshman team last season and returns at the point. He is a very good passer. JC transfer C.C. Williams will push for a starting job, though. Joining Neal on the wing will be Marc Pratt and Rocky Coleman. Pratt is a solid all-around player, while Coleman is a decent scorer and passer who could come off the bench. Up front, Dennard Abraham is a potential all-conference player who is a very good scorer and rebounder and could have a breakout season. Winstonn Tubbs will likely start. Northeastern won 19 games last season, the third straight year in which the Huskies have won at least 19 games. They will be hard-pressed to repeat that feat this season with the loss of three starters, including Jose Juan Barea, who averaged 21.0 points and 8.4 assists a contest, and Shawn James, who led the nation in blocked shots with 6.4 per game. The backcourt will likely be comprised of seniors Bobby Kelly and Andre Martinez. Kelly is a hard-nosed player who is an excellent three-point shooter and a solid all-around performer, while Martinez needs to become more of a scorer this season. Chris Cyprian also returns on the perimeter. Bennet Davis leads the way up front. He needs to improve his efficiency inside, but has potential in the paint. Freshman Manny Adako could step in immediately in the frontcourt.

Rounding Out the Pack: Georgia State struggled during their first season in the CAA, going 7-22 overall and 3-15 in league play. Even though they lose three starters, the Panthers will be better this season with a year of experience under its belt. Their frontcourt is underrated and could be one of the better groups in the conference. Rashad Chase could be on the verge of a breakout season. He is a versatile offensive option who is also a solid rebounder. Down low, Justin Billingslea and Deven Dickerson form a solid duo. Billingslea is a good shot-blocker and rebounder who needs to improve his offensive production. Dickerson is one of the top shot-blockers in the league and could become a force in the paint. Leonard Mendez and Lance Perique are the top returning wings and will battle for a starting spot. The point guard position will be manned by newcomers Ron Larris and Trae Goldston. James Madison did not have an overly successful campaign last season, going 5-23 overall and finishing last in the conference with a 2-16 record. That was the third season in a row that the Dukes have won seven or fewer games. Even with the loss of three starters, JMU should be better this year. CAA Rookie of the Year Juwann James is a main reason why. He is a very good scorer and rebounder who will develop into an all-conference player this season. He should have a huge year. Kyle Swanston will join him at forward. He had a strong finish to the season and will need to carry that over to this season. Gabriel Chami will anchor the center position. In the backcourt, Lewis Lampley returns at the point. However, 6-5 Colbey Santos could push him for a starting job. Sophomore Joe Posey will add scoring to the wing. Several newcomers will see plenty of minutes. William & Mary was another one of the CAA bottom-feeders that brought the league down late in the season. The Tribe went 8-20 overall and finished tied for 10th in the conference, going 3-15. Moreover, they did not finish strong, going 3-16 in their last 19 games. Not the best way to end a season. However, with the return of three starters and several role players, they could move up a few spots. The forward duo of Corey Cofield and Laimis Kisielius leads the way. Cofield had a disappointing season last year after earning all-conference honors his first two seasons. He is an efficient scorer inside who is also a good rebounder. Kisielius is an inside-outside option in the frontcourt. He could have a big season this year up front. Peter Stein, Chris Darnell, and Alex Smith will see playing time. Nathan Mann and Adam Payton return in the backcourt. Mann is one of the best three-point shooters in the conference and also takes care of the ball. Payton is athletic and makes an impact at both ends of the floor, with his shooting and defensive abilities. Delaware is yet another CAA team welcoming a new coach into the fold this season. Monte Ross replaces David Henderson, who did not bring the Blue Hens the same success it enjoyed in the America East. Ross’ first order of business will be to replace all-conference forward Harding Nana, who averaged 19.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game last season. Even with Nana, Delaware only went 9-21 last season, finishing 9th in the league with a 4-14 conference record. Leading the returnees is the backcourt of Zaire Taylor and Calvin Cannon. Taylor is a good point guard who is a solid three-point shooter and an efficient passer who is also one of the best on-ball defenders in the league. Cannon is a gunner who is the team’s leading returning scorer. He is capable of big games, but is somewhat inconsistent and needs to develop more of a well-rounded offensive game. Wings Sam McMahon and Chris Prothro will see minutes, while freshman Brian Johnson could make an impact at the point. Up front, Herb Courtney and Henry Olawoye anchor the paint. Courtney is a solid scorer and rebounder who will improve his production this season, while Olawoye is a versatile athlete who will push for time. Raphael Madera is slow and methodical inside but he and Matt Hewson will provide size and defense.

Prediction: The Colonial will likely not have as memorable of a season as last year, but the CAA could be competitive once again. Hofstra is one of the best mid-majors in the country, led by the best three-guard backcourt in the country. Loren Stokes is a superstar for the Pride. Fresh of a Final Four appearance, George Mason will also contend with the combo of Folarin Campbell and Will Thomas. Don’t count out Drexel, who might have the best backcourt-frontcourt balance in the league. However, in the end, I think that Hofstra will take the automatic bid for the CAA. Their perimeter trio is just too talented. Watch out for them in the NCAA Tournament.

Player of the Year: Loren Stokes, SG, Hofstra

All-Conference Team:
G- Loren Stokes, Hofstra
G- Antoine Agudio, Hofstra
G- Gary Neal, Towson
G- T.J. Carter, UNC-Wilmington
F- Will Thomas, George Mason

Second Team:
G- Carlos Rivera, Hofstra
G- Folarin Campbell, George Mason
G- Dominick Mejia, Drexel
F- Arnaud Dahi, Old Dominion
F- Juwann James, James Madison