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| | Wednesday, November 8 East Coast hoops ... from the ACC to 'Z' | |||||
| By Bill Doherty Special to ESPN.com Are you tired of all the talk about exit polls and BCS polls? Rather hear about Dickie V than George W? Well, believe it or not, the 2000-2001 college basketball season starts Thursday night in the Big Apple when the Coaches vs. Cancer Ikon Classic tips off with traditional heavyweights UCLA, Kansas, St. John's and Kentucky. If you're like most East Coast college hoops fans, the start of the season probably snuck up on you and you're probably in dire need of a quick refresher course. Here it is. Below is an "A-to-Z" look at some of the players, coaches, issues and leagues that will be making East Coast college hoops headlines in 2000-2001. A ACC: All of the "What's Wrong With the ACC?" sniping will cease this season. The reason? The ACC is home to three legit national title contenders in Duke, Maryland and North Carolina. All three powerhouses return the bulk of their starting lineups and will be threats to reach the final weekend in the Metrodome, if they stay healthy. Duke's Shane Battier, Maryland's Terence Morris and North Carolina's Joseph Forte and Brendan Haywood could all be NBA lotto picks next spring. Plus, Wake Forest and Virginia are preseason top-25 teams. If either Duke or North Carolina win the ACC, they're likely the No.1 seed in East, which means a punched ticket to the Sweet 16 with the first two rounds of the Big Dance right in their backyard in Greensboro, N.C.
Big East freshmen: Big East commish Mike Tranghese is sporting an ear-to-ear grin these days. And why not? His league is loaded with top-notch freshmen. Seton Hall is a preseason top-10 team, thanks to the arrival of super frosh Eddie Griffin, Andre Barrett and Marcus Toney-El. UConn's Jim Calhoun has re-stocked the Storrs' shelves, landing two McDonald's All-Americans in 6-foot-1 floor general Taliek Brown and 6-8 wing forward Scott Hazelton, as well as one guy who probably should have been a Mickey D's All-American in 6-7 Caron Butler from Maine Central Institute. St. John's welcomes 6-1 passmaster Omar Cook, who many New York City high school coaches think is the best point guard prospect out of the Big Apple since Stephon Marbury. And if that weren't enough first-year flashes, Miami (Fla.) has added 6-10 frosh Darius Rice, a prep All-American out of Mississippi blessed with a sweet J and great athletic bloodlines (he's the nephew of NFL great Jerry Rice). C Colonial Athletic Association: This will be the last season as we know it for the nine-team CAA. East Carolina is bolting to Conference USA. American U will leave to join the Patriot League after this season, while Richmond will head to the Atlantic 10. The CAA powers-that-be have decided that the three lame duck programs won't be eligible for the conference tourney, which means the postseason CAA party will now be a six-team affair. The top two seeds will get byes. So, what does the future hold? Many expansion scenarios have been discussed, including the additions of current America East programs Delaware and Hofstra to make the CAA an eight-team league starting in 2001-2002. D Duke's Shane Battier: Battier (17.4 ppg) deserves considerable credit for waiting his turn at Duke, while more heralded offensive players took the prime spots in the Blue Devils' hierarchy. For his first two years, Battier played great defense, passed the ball and said all the right things. Last season, he developed into an offensive threat, showing skills from all over the court and leading the team in scoring. Now a senior, Battier should be ready for a National Player of the Year-style performance. He's a great athlete with superior instincts, drive and leadership ability. He can also pass well, hit the outside shot and make his free throws. Battier's a first-team All-America type with a big upside who should benefit greatly from staying in school for the duration. "This is his year," one NBA scout says. "I thought he was overrated his first two years, because I don't like guys who flop to get charges. He improved his shooting last year and brought up his entire offensive game, because (Duke) needed it." E Esherick: Craig Esherick has been mediocre (27-25) in his first couple years of replacing John Thompson as the Hoyas' head man. But G-town could be Big Dance-bound if center Ruben Boumtje Boumtje is 100-percent healthy after offseason foot surgery and guard Anthony Perry (14 ppg as a soph, just 8.7 ppg as a junior) can find his lost shooting touch. Boumjte Boumjte (12.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and 6-11 senior Lee Scruggs (10.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg) pace a deep Hoya frontcourt. Scruggs could be a 2001 first round draft pick, if last year's late-season tear (including a 27-point, 10-rebound Big East tourney gem vs. UConn) is any indication. If Perry can improve his aim (34.7 FGs), he'll join Kevin Braswell (14.8 ppg) to form a quality backcourt. F Forte: The Tar Heels would have been lost last year without Joseph Forte (16.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg), who gave them instant perimeter scoring pop and a much-needed go-to guy during the NCAA Tournament. Although he displayed the same maddening tendencies as typical freshmen (bad shot selection, too many turnovers at times), Forte also showed a wide range of skills and proved to be a consistent, reliable scorer. He made 35.9 percent of his three-pointers, was good from the free throw line and rebounded well. "He is the best freshman in the land," said then-Tulsa coach Bill Self after Forte burned his team for 28 points in last year's NCAA tourney. "He makes tough shots and makes them look easy." G Goodman: The America East schedule has been adjusted to accommodate the devout Jewish faith of Towson's promising freshman Tamir Goodman. Towson won't play any Friday games and all of the Tigers' Saturday games will start at 8 p.m., or well after sundown. H Howie Dickenman: Being a hoops coach in the same state as two guys named Calhoun and Auriemma, ink is tough to come by for Central Connecticut State's Howie Dickenman. But, he's done quite a reclamation job at Central Connecticut State. Three years ago, the Blue Devils were 4-22. The past two seasons, Dickenman has guided the Blue Devils to 19-13 and 25-6 records. Last year's 25-win team went to the NCAAs and scared the bejeezus out of No.2 seed Iowa State before falling, 88-78. Another ticket to the Big Dance next March is possible, thanks to the return of 6-5 wing man John Tice (15 ppg in 1999-2000) and 6-9 wide body Corsley Edwards (12.2 ppg). I Impact transfers: Whether we're talking ACC, Big East or A-10 ball, there are transfers coming into the leagues who will make headlines and an impact. At Maryland, Gary Williams adds Tulane transfer Byron Mouton, a 1997 prep All-American, to an already potent lineup. The loss of Temple scoring wing Mark Karcher to NBA early entry will be eased somewhat by the 11th hour addition of David Hawkins, who initially signed with Tulane. Elsewhere in the A-10, GW's Tom Penders thinks the addition of 6-9 University of New Mexico transfer Attila Cosby (who was cleared of sexual assault charges in July) will strengthen his frontline, while St. Bonnies has Miami (Fla.) transfer Kevin Houston penciled in as their starting small forward. Kentucky transfer Michael Bradley and Monmouth transfer Alpha Bangura will be immediate starters at Villanova and St. John's, respectively. J Jason Williams: The 6-2 Williams was just the third true freshman to begin his career as Mike Krzyzweski's starting point guard at Duke and he performed well. Williams should be even better this time around, since the arrival of Chris Duhon allows him to slide to the two-spot from time to time. Williams (14.5 ppg, 6.5 apg) gets to the basket well and has good range on his shot. He finds his teammates when they're open and can play aggressive, productive defense. His performance against Florida in last year's NCAA tourney (13 points, 20 shots) shows that he has a two-man's instincts. He'll get to show those instincts more often this year with Duhon in the fold. K Karim Shabazz: If Providence is to improve on its 11-win season, 7-2 senior center Karim Shabazz (10.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg) has to become one of the league's better pivots. To do so, Shabazz needs to become more of an offensive force (7-2 guys must shoot better than .435 from the field). If he can shoot closer to 50 percent, then PC coach Tim Welsh will have a nice one-two punch with the return of Shabazz and senior forward Erron Maxey (14.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg), the team's go-to guy who should challenge for all-league honors. L Lonny Baxter: After earning first-team all-league honors in one of the nation's premier conferences, Baxter would be the Big Man on Campus at most major Division I schools. Not at Maryland though, where most of the media glare is focused on either 6-9 senior-to-be Terence Morris, who turned down certain NBA millions to return to College Park, or the Terps' skinny-as-a-Q-tip shooting star Juan Dixon, who has overcome the AIDS-related death of both his parents to become one of the nation's most prolific two-guards. The lack of attention isn't anything new to Baxter, who enrolled at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy after leading Anacostia (D.C.) High to the 1997 city championship at Maryland's Cole Field House. Several times last season, Maryland coach Gary Williams told the story of how most college coaches, when they visited Hargrave, were there only to see Baxter's teammate, Korleone Young. While Young has become an IBL player, Baxter (15.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg in 1999-2000) has blossomed into one of the best down-low players in the ACC. M MEAC Team to Watch: A new MEAC power appears to be emerging in Hampton, Va., where coach Steve Merfeld is accepting more transfers than the New York City Transit System. His starting point man Marseilles Brown (16 ppg) started his career at Richmond (where he was a former CAA Rookie of the Year) and Hampton's starting three-man is the well-traveled 6-6 senior LaSean Howard (10.3 ppg), who has had previous stops at Syracuse and Long Beach State. Even with this talented twosome, Hampton will be in a dogfight with reigning champ South Carolina State for MEAC supremacy. By the way, S.C. State's best player is Vincent Whitt, who spent three years at Clemson. N Notre Dame's Troy Murphy: Even though Murphy (22.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg) couldn't have been thrilled with Matt Doherty's decision to leave South Bend for Chapel Hill, the power forward has to admit he made a good decision by returning for a third year of college play, rather than entering the NBA draft. A highly-effective baseline scorer, Murphy can hit the mid-range jumper and occasionally step out and nail the trey. Murphy is tough inside, can get on the backboards and has a great skill package for someone his size. "He is probably as skilled a four man as you can find," one NBA scout says. "He has the ability to hit short jumpers and post up. Obviously, his lack of athleticism is a concern, but his skill level can make up for it." O O'Kelley: Wake Forest guard Robert O'Kelley struggled with his shooting touch last year. He hit barely 35 percent of his shots last season, including .299 shooting from three-land. If O'Kelley, a former ACC Rookie of the Year, can't regain his old form, then Wake's postseason invite could read NIT, not NCAAs, once again come March. After his scoring average dipped from 17.5 points per game as a sophomore to 13.0 last year, O'Kelley will be one of the nation's most watched players in 2000-2001, along with Kansas big man Eric Chenowith -- who, like O'Kelley, had big expectations, but who struggled mightily last winter. P Patriot Games: As it has the past couple years, the Patriot League title chase figures to be a two-horse race between Navy and two-time defending champ Lafayette. Navy, coached by Don DeVoe, returns four of five starters (led by Chris Williams) and is the preseason favorite to win the whole enchilada. But never underestimate Lafayette coach Fran O'Hanlon, one of the country's most underrated X-and-O men. O'Hanlon will lean heavily on his all-senior backcourt of Tyson Whitfield (12.7 ppg) and Tim Bieg (8.1 ppg), while his re-tooled frontcourt gels. Q Quincy Wadley: Wadley entered Temple as a total non-qualifier four years ago, but graduated late this summer. In the past, the NCAA had allowed partial qualifiers who graduate on time to get back their fourth year of eligibility, but had no rule that allowed academic non-qualifiers who graduate in four years that same right. That changed this past spring and the rule change allows Wadley to return for a fourth year as a player in 2000. Wadley (12.8 ppg), the 2000 Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP, will join baby-faced sniper Lynn Greer (12.3 ppg), Pepe Sanchez's replacement at the point, in one of the East's best backcourt duos. Sweet-shooting sophomore Ronald Blackshear, a Prop. 48 last season, and junior Alex Wesby, and freshman David Hawkins will provide even more perimeter juice for what should be another John Chaney-coached NCAA tourney qualifier. R Ruland: Even though Iona lost MAAC Player of the Year Tariq Kirksay and two other starters, coach Jeff Ruland is excited about his Gaels' chances in the always crazy MAAC race this year. He thinks the additions of Rutgers transfer Earl Johnson and 6-8 sophomore Courtney Fields (whom Ruland calls "a poor man's Lamar Odom") to a cast that already includes third-team all-league performer Dyree Wilson (14.6 ppg) might be enough to win the MAAC crown over Niagara's guard-driven attack, led by senior Desmond Stewart (22.9 ppg). S SirValiant Brown: If the A-10 was a 6-foot-3-and-under league, George Washington (15-15 last year) would be the team to beat. The Colonials feature 6-1 sophomore scoring machine SirValiant Brown, 6-3 sophomore "power" guard Chris Monroe and 5-8 passmaster Bernard Barrow. The shot-happy Brown (24.6 ppg) is one of the nation's most prolific scorers, but he must improve his shot selection. Sure, at 24.6 ppg, he was just one-tenth of a point behind Fresno State's Courtney Alexander for the nation's scoring title. But, he hoisted a mind-bending 668 field attempts and made just 33.2 percent of them -- including just .264 from 3-point land. T Troy Bell: Because Boston College struggled so mightily last year, it's tempting to dismiss Bell's big freshman season as a byproduct of the Eagles' inability to score the ball. Take away his 18.8 ppg, and the team managed just 47.5 ppg. That's awful. Despite being given a season-long green light, Bell proved to be more than just a gunner. He shot well (39.9 percent) from three-point range, made his free throws and played creditable defense. At 6-1, however, he needs to evolve from a scorer into somebody capable of running a team. As BC gets better (Eagles fans hope), Bell will get that opportunity. "He's quick and evasive," one NBA scout says. "He's a combo guard for the future, but it would be better for him if he showed some playmaking skills. Now, he's on a bad team, and they need him to score, but I think he can be a penetrator type. He hasn't been asked to do that." U Ugonna Onyekwe: With the late-summer defections of Princeton's feared twosome of 6-10 Chris Young (who signed a lucrative baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates) and 6-6 swingman Spencer Gloger (who transferred to UCLA), the team to beat is Pennsylvania. The reason? Onyekwe, last year's Ivy League Rookie of the Year, is truly something special. His shooting from behind both lines (.579 FT, .286 3-point) still needs work, but Onyekwe (11.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg) can score both inside and outside. "It's scary when you can do what he does inside (.504 FGs) and then can step out and make threes," says Penn coach Fran Dunphy. Even scarier is the fact that Onyekwe has three more years to terrorize Ivy League foes. V Virginia: The Cavaliers are probably one burly post player away (they're hoping to convince Oak Hill Academy's 7-footer DeSagna Diop to sign on the dotted line soon) from challenging with Duke, North Carolina and Maryland for ACC supremacy, but this team bears watching both now and in the future. Four starters return from last year's 19-win NIT qualifier. This time around, Pete Gillen's club figures to go to the Big Dance, especially if they play slightly better defense (their 75.4 ppg allowed was last in the ACC last year) and shoot their free throws more accurately (they shot just 67% from the free throw line as a team in 1999-2000). W Will Solomon: Simply put, the 6-1 Solomon knows more ways to score than Austin Powers. Last season, Solomon led the ACC in scoring (20.9 ppg) and was a first-team all-conference selection, a pretty remarkable feat considering that he was starring on last-place Clemson. Making Solomon's sudden emergence on the ACC scene even more amazing is the fact that he barely averaged six points per game as a freshman and then scored almost a third of his team's points last year, despite the fact that every opponent's defense was geared to stop him. "Will had an incredible season for us," said Clemson coach Larry Shyatt. "He did more than just score, he led us in assists, playing time, had a strong year on defense and was a strong rebounder at 6-1." X Xavier's David West: David West is the next great power forward in the Xavier pipeline which includes Tyrone Hill, Brian Grant, Derek Strong and Aaron Williams. The 6-8, 225-pound West led the entire A-10 in rebounding (9.1 rpg), setting freshman school records for total boards (301) and rebounding average in the process. And after a summer of intense weight room work, West (11.7 ppg) should be even more rugged as a sophomore. "Before he's through, David's got a chance to join the pantheon of great power forwards this school has produced," said Xavier coach Skip Prosser. Y Young ACC Point Guards: The national title hopes of the three best teams in the ACC -- Duke, Maryland and North Carolina -- will literally be in the hands of freshmen and sophomores. Freshman Chris Duhon and sophomore Jason Williams will run the show at Duke. Sophomore Stephen Blake is in charge at Maryland, while and freshmen Adam Boone and Brian Morrison -- and perhaps sophomore two-sport star Ronald Curry -- will replace Ed Cota by committee in Chapel Hill. Z Zelimir Stevanovic: The top foreign player in the juco ranks last year was the 6-7 Stevanovic or "Z" as he was affectionately known at Gulf Coast Community College. "Z" was a marked man at GCCC last season. Yet, despite seeing every junk defense imaginable, the 6-7, 200-pound Stevanovic averaged 30.3 points and 11.4 boards per game last year. No wonder Utah, Miami (Fla.), USC, Providence, New Mexico, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Cleveland State offered full rides. He won't average a double-double at Pittsburgh (that's Ricardo Greer's job). But "Z" provides Pittsburgh coach Ben Howland with a proven deep threat, which could open up things inside for Greer and Isaac Hawkins. Bill Doherty, a freelance writer from Bethlehem, Pa., and covers East Coast men's basketball for ESPN.com. | ALSO SEE There's more to West then No. 1 Arizona Forde: All hail the ACC Morrissey: Illini may have ingredients to follow Spartans' championship recipe ESPN.com Preseason Top 25 | |||||
