February 19, 2012

Four matchups to watch... and an "A10 Plus" look ahead

Ian Nolan, A-10 Columnist

Two weeks remain in the regular season. Two more weeks for teams to wrestle each other for seeding heading into Boardwalk Hall. With a first round bye or a home game handed out to each of the top eight finishers, every contest becomes critical. With that said, let's take a peek at some of the most important games of this week as the final year on Boardwalk Hall approaches.

Tuesday

Xavier (8-4) at UMass (7-5): What a weekend both of these teams had... Xavier did what they always do at home against rival Dayton (that's win folks), downing the Flyers in overtime while UMass nearly used a buzzer-beating jump shot to force overtime against La Salle; but Terrell Vinson's foot was on the three point line and UMass was point short against the Explorers. Now, Xavier enters Amherst just one game ahead in the standings and, with this being the only meeting of the two squads, the winner will come out ahead in the standings with the all important head-to-head tie breaker. UMass has lost two straight, and they'll need to rebound with a huge home win against Xavier or face the prospect of slipping down a few spots in the standings. Both teams need wins to build their post-season "resumes" as well.  

Wednesday 

Temple (10-2) at La Salle (7-5): Last time these two clubs met, La Salle gave Temple all it could handle on the Owls' home floor but the Cherry and White escaped with a 76-70 victory. In that game, Jerrell Wright was in foul trouble the entire night and Temple big man Michael Eric was still in a golf shirt on the Temple bench nursing his knee injury. Let's see how Wright, a freshman, attacks the senior Eric at Tom Gola Arena where La Salle is 13-1. Temple is riding a 10 game winning streak that dates back to January 18th and looks the part of the clear favorite down in AC. The Owls are just a half game up on Saint Louis for first place, while La Salle has fallen to sixth place with St. Bonaventure nipping at their heels. This game is features some of the best guards in the league in Temple's Moore & Wyatt... and Galloway of La Salle.  

Saturday

St. Bonaventure (7-5) at Charlotte (4-8): Mark Schmidt's club has two winnable road games this week: at Fordham and at Charlotte on Saturday. If the Bonnies can sweep two victories away from Olean they will sit at 9-5, and be in position for a fifth, or possibly fourth, place finish. That said, winning back to back road games in this league is no easy task, regardless of the opponent. Ask Charlotte, which has just lost back to back road games and now returns to Halton Arena to play George Washington and the Bonnies. SBU senior Andrew Nicholson has been red hot of late (scoring 32, 19, 21 and 24 points in his last four while grabbing 50 total rebounds) and looks ready to carry his team to a big week away from western New York. St. Bonaventure had hopes of finishing in the league's top four in the fall; they can do just that with some hot play in the final two weeks. 

Temple (10-2) at Saint Joseph's (8-5): Generally when these two clubs meet it is at the historic Palestra. This weekend however, Saint Joseph's will play host to its city rivals on their home floor at Hagan Arena. The Hawks have found their second wind in previous weeks (five wins in their last six) and have climbed the standings all the way up to fourth place. In order to stay there and earn that last first round bye, they're going to have to down the hottest, and most talented team in the league. When the two clubs met back on January 28th, Temple handed the Hawks an 18 point beat down on Broad Street. Temple shot 60% from the field and 53% from three in the win. If Phil Martelli's club is going to snap Temple's double digit winning streak, it will have to start on the defensive side of the ball. This game features two of the league's top shooters in Langston Galloway and Ramone Moore. 

Shifting of the guard may be ahead in A-10

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Doug Tifft, A-10 Columnist

Here it is mid-February, with the conference season at it apex and precarious bubbles floating through the air.

But, the excitement is tempered in some corners, mostly places in which the losses have piled too high and the 2011-12 calendar has already been flipped. For those fans the optimism has turned to 2012-13. And, with a peek ahead, the Atlantic 10 may be primed for an overhaul. In the modern era of the conference you could begin the year by putting Temple and Xavier on the top two lines and shaking out the conference from there. And, while neither team will exactly take its licks in 12-13, there may be some new faces in the winner’s circle. Let’s take a look at an insanely, obscenely early rundown of where teams may fall based on what is coming, going and shaking out heading into the summer.

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1. Saint Joseph’s

Going: N/A
Coming: A pair of three-star recruits: PF Isaiah Miles and PG Kyle Molock
Staying: PG Carl Jones (15.9 ppg., 3.5 rpg., 3.2 apg.), SG Langston Galloway (15.4 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 2.3 apg.), SF Daryus Quarles (4.7 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), PF Ronald Roberts (11.3 ppg., 6.1 rpg.), C C.J. Aiken (11.2 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 3.8 bpg.), PF Halil Kanacevic (7.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg., 3.4 apg.), PG Chris Wilson (3.5 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 2.8 apg.), F Pap Ndao (1.6 ppg., 1.5 rpg.), G Evan Maschmeyer (1.1 ppg)

Outlook: This will be the best team Phil Martelli has had since 2003-04, when Saint Joseph’s ran the table in the regular season. He will have the best frontcourt in the league, with Aiken anchoring what should be an elite defensive team. Jones and Galloway are both great scorers and off the ballscreen, and the core seven-man rotation will be in its third year of practice together. The only downside will be depth. Still, I would put the Hawks as the slight favorites heading into 12-13.

2. Saint Louis

Going: PF Brian Conklin (14.3 ppg., 5.2 rpg) and SG Kyle Cassity (4.3 ppg., 2.1 apg.)
Staying: PG Kwamain Mitchell (11.8 ppg., 3.7 apg.), SG Jordair Jett (6.4 ppg., 2.6 rpg., 2.3 apg.), SG Mike McCall (6.7 ppg., 1.8 apg.), SF Dwayne Evans (7.3 ppg., 6.8 rpg.), PF Cody Ellis (10.6 ppg., 3.7 rpg.), C Rob Loe (5.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg.), PF Cory Remekun (1.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg.), SG Jake Barnett (1.5 ppg.), C John Manning (0.6 ppg), F Grandy Glaze (0.3 ppg)

Outlook: Conklin’s loss will leave a hole in the middle, and might initially change the way SLU plays offense. If either of the Kiwis—Loe or Ellis—develops a stronger back-to-the-basket game then SLU will be able to space the floor more efficiently. Beyond the low block uncertainty, this should be Rick Majerus’ best SLU club yet, with Mitchell serving as the senior leader on a team with a host of perimeter talent.

3. La Salle

Going: G Earl Pettis (14.5 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 2.3 apg.)
Coming: Transfer: 6-foot-1 Tyrone Garland averaged 4.6 points and 1.3 assists as a sophomore at Virginia Tech. Transfer: Dalton Pepper via West Virginia. Recruit: C Jermaine Davis
Staying: F Jerrell Wright (9.3 ppg., 6.0 rpg.), C Devon White (6.0 ppg., 4.5 rpg.), PG Tyreek Duren (13.6 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 4.2 apg.), SG Ramon Galloway (14.7 ppg., 4.7 rpg., 3.1 apg.), G Sam Mills (11.4 ppg., 2.3 rpg., 2.6 apg.), C Steve Zack (1.5 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), G D.J. Peterson (3.4 ppg., 2.0 rpg.), G Taylor Dunn (1.7 ppg.), F Rohan Brown

Outlook: La Salle was expected to take a step back this year after center Aaric Murray transferred to West Virginia, but thanks to a strong backcourt led by Duren and Galloway, the Explorers will likely be playing somewhere in the postseason. The only departure will be Pettis, a solid defender and scorer. Mills will likely see a larger role, along with the transfer Garland. La Salle will still be battling a size disadvantage on the blocks unless Zack makes some leaps after his freshman year, meaning the Explorers will lean even more heavily on Wright for scoring and rebounding.

4. Temple

Going: PG Juan Fernandez (11,0 ppg., 3.8 apg., 2.6 rpg.), SG Ramone Moore (18.8 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 3.2 apg.) and C Michael Eric (7.7. ppg., 7.8 rpg.)
Coming: A trio of three-star prospects: SF Quenton DeCosey, PF Daniel Dingle and C Devontae Watson
Staying: F Scootie Randall, SG Khalif Wyatt (16.7 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 3.3 apg.), PF Anthony Lee (5.5 ppg., 6.3 rpg.), G Aaron Brown (7.5 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), G Will Cummings (1.7 ppg, 0.5 apg.), F Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (8.7 ppg., 6.7 rpg.), G T.J. DiLeo (2.8 ppg., 2.0 rpg., 1.1 apg.)

Outlook: Randall’s return is the biggest shot in the arm for Fran Dunphy’s club, but this still does not look like a typically imposing Temple team on paper. Wyatt has developed into a reliable scorer and will be the primary offensive option, but the success of the team will mostly depend on how well Brown, DiLeo and Cummings can fill the holes left by Fernandez and Moore. Down low, the Hollis-Jefferson, Randall, Lee lineup will get a lot of work, with the possibility of freshman class providing a brief spell.

5. Dayton

Going: SG Chris Johnson (11.8 ppg., 6.3 rpg.), SG Paul Williams (8.4 ppg., 2.7 rpg.), G Josh Parker (8.6 ppg., 2.0 rpg., 2.0 apg.) and F Luke Fabrizius (6.6 ppg., 2.6 rpg.)
Coming: Transfers Lee Sanford (a 6-foot-3 guard who averaged 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in 6.6 minutes per game as a sophomore at Georgetown) and Matt Derenbecker (a 6-foot-7 forward who averaged 6.5 points and 2.1 rebounds as a freshman at LSU). A trio of three-star prospects: PG Jevon Thomas (a top-150 prospect), PF Devon Scott and PF Jalen Robinson
Staying: PG Kevin Dillard (12.7 ppg., 5.8 apg., 2.5 rpg.), C Josh Benson (10.9 ppg., 5.2 rpg.), PF Matt Kavanaugh (9.2 ppg., 5.8 rpg.), F Devin Oliver (3.8 ppg., 4.3 rpg.), F Alex Gavrilovic (4.3 ppg., 2.6 rpg.), F Ralph Hill (1.7 ppg., 2.2 rpg.)

Outlook: Dillard will likely enter the season atop some Preseason Player of the Year ballots in the conference, with a decent cast around him. The biggest help will be the return of center Josh Benson, who went down in December with a leg injury. The most pressing question will be how effectively Sanford and Derenbecker—along with Brian Gregory holdovers Devin Oliver and Ralph Hill—fill the wing spots vacated by Johnson and Williams. If that group can provide spot-up jump shooting and some help on the glass, Archie Miller’s squad could end up an NCAA Tournament team.

6. Massachusetts

Going: C Sean Carter (7.8 ppg., 6.3 rpg.)
Coming: Partial qualifier: Jordan Laguerre. Recruit: PF Tyler Bergantino
Staying: PG Chaz Williams (15.6 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 6.0 apg., 2.1 spg.), F Raphiael Putney (10.0 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 1.4 apg.), F Jesse Morgan (9.7 ppg., 2.5 rpg., 2.4 apg.), F Cody Lalanne (6.7 ppg., 5.6 rpg), F Sampson Carter (8.6 ppg., 3.9 rpg.), F Terrell Vinson (9.2 ppg., 5.5 rpg.), F Javorn Farrell (5.9 ppg., 2.6 rpg., 2.4 apg.), G Freddie Riley (7.6 ppg., 1.9 rpg.), F Maxie Esho (4.4 ppg., 3.1 rpg.)

Outlook: It has been a long time coming, but this may be the UMass team that gets back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years. Williams will put up impressive numbers again, and the once-promising class of Carter, Vinson, Farrell and Riley will be in its final go-round, alongside promising frontcourt players Putney, Lalanne and Esho. The Minutemen will have the talent to make some noise, but optimism always seems to be tempered in Amherst.

7. Xavier

Going: PG Tu Holloway (16.6 ppg., 5.6 apg., 3.5 rpg.), PF Andre Walker (5.6 ppg., 5.9 rpg., 2.0 apg.) and C Kenny Frease (8.6 ppg., 5.8 rpg.)
Coming: A four-man recruiting class that ESPN.com ranks No. 14 in the country: PG Semaj Christon, SG Myles Davis, PF James Farr, PF Jalen Reynolds. Plus forward Isaiah Philmore, who averaged 15.3 points and seven rebounds per game in 2010-11 at Towson and Division II transfer Erik Stenger.
Staying: SG Mark Lyons (15.8 ppg., 3.5 rpg., 2.8 apg.), SF Dez Wells (9.8 ppg., 5.2 rpg.), PF Travis Taylor (5.7 ppg., 4.3 rpg.), SG Brad Redford (4.0 ppg), PF Jeff Robinson (3.9 ppg., 2.5 rpg.), SF Justin Martin (3.4 ppg., 2.5 rpg.), PG Dee Davis (2.2 ppg., 1.1 apg.), C Griffin McKenzie (0.2 ppg.)

Outlook: The thought entering the 2011-12 season was that the pieces had come together for Xavier to make a deep NCAA Tournament run, with Holloway and Frease in their final year and Lyons prepared for a breakout penultimate season. Yet, after some missteps this season, the 2012-13 campaign could become rocky, as Xavier will likely have the largest collection of talent in the conference, but be short on experience. There is a lot of uncertainty heading into the offseason, too, with Lyons earning his undergraduate degree and the potential for Xavier to be active in the transfer market once again. Even assuming no changes occur with the projected roster, the frontcourt will remain in flux, with Philmore possibly seizing the power forward spot and the center position becoming a position battle between Robinson and the freshmen Farr and Reynolds. If the frontcourt is solved and the backcourt remains a rotation of Davis and Christon at point guard, alongside Lyons, Wells and Redford, the Musketeers will be a top of the league factor again. But that may be a lot to ask.

8. Charlotte

Going: F Javarris Barnett (12.2 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 1.5 apg.) and G Derrio Green (7.0 ppg., 2.0 apg.)
Coming: SG Shawn Lester, F Willie Clayton, F Darion Clark
Staying: F Chris Braswell (15.1 ppg., 7.3 rpg., 1.3 apg.), G Pierria Henry (7.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 3.3 apg., 2.8 spg.), F DeMario Mayfield (10.7 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 2.5 apg.), G Jamar Briscoe (7.8 ppg., 2.3 rpg., 1.1 apg.), F Terrance Williams (2.6 ppg., 2.8 rpg.), F E. Victor Nickerson (3.1 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), F K.J. Sherrill (3.0 ppg., 1.5 rpg.), G Luka Voncina (3.0 ppg.)

Outlook: Alan Major was dealt a sour hand when he came to Charlotte, but this will essentially be his first real chance to compete with a group of players he has brought in—plus a notable holdovers in Braswell and Briscoe. Braswell will be the best offensive post presence in the conference, and with plenty of pieces returning beside him, the 49ers should crack the top-100 in the RPI and explore some postseason play.

9. Richmond

Going: C Darrius Garrett (5.1 ppg., 6.7 rpg., 3.5 bpg.), F Francis-Cedric Martel (5.4 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 1.3 apg.) and C Josh Duinker (3.9 ppg., 2.0 rpg.)
Coming: Red-shirts: G Trey Davis, C Luke Piotrowski, F Alonzo Nelson-Ododa. Recruits: PF Terry Allen and PF Deion Taylor
Staying: G Darien Brothers (13.7 ppg., 2.7 rpg., 1.8 apg.), G Kendall Anthony (13.3 ppg., 1.4 rpg., 1.6 apg.), G Cedrick Lindsay (11.5 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 4.0 apg.), F Derrick Williams (11.1 ppg., 5.5 rpg.), G Wayne Sparrow (2.9 ppg., 1.1 rpg.), F Greg Robbins (3.2 ppg., 2.3 rpg.)

Outlook: Chris Mooney made a bit of a down payment toward his program’s future by holding Nelson-Ododa, Davis and Piotrowski out this season. Nelson-Ododa should step into some of the minutes vacated by Martel and Garrett, while Piotrowski will be expected to occupy a front line that trends to the thin side. Davis will join a crowded backcourt, with three solid guards returning in Brothers, Lindsay and Anthony.

10. St. Bonaventure

Going: F Andrew Nicholson (15.6 ppg., 7.8 rpg.) and PF Da’Quan Cook (7.6 ppg., 5.0 rpg.)
Staying: SG Demitrius Conger (11.9 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 2.1 apg.), SG Michael Davenport (5.8 ppg., 1.8 rpg., 1.8 apg.), G Matthew Wright (7.4 ppg., 3.0 rpg., 2.9 apg.), G Charlon Kloof (5.2 ppg., 2.2 rpg. 2.3 apg.), G Eric Mosley (7.1 ppg., 2.5 rpg., 2.0 apg.), F Marquise Simmons (2.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg.), C Youssou Ndoye (2.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg.), G Chris Johnson (7.0 ppg., 2.0 rpg.), G Jordan Gathers (1.2 ppg.), F Jake Houseknecht (1.1 ppg)

Outlook: Well, the Bonnies do lose the best player the program has seen in about four decades. Other than that, things are looking up. Facetiousness aside, Mark Schmidt has brought enough talent to Olean to keep the team competitive without Nicholson. The 12-13 squad will be aided by the return of Davenport and Simmons from injury, along with a solid backcourt of Wright, Mosley and Kloof. A lot depends on how well Ndoye matures in his first collegiate summer, but if he can provide 20-25 quality minutes—filling a production void left by Cook—the Bonnies could sniff the top-half of the conference.

 

11. Rhode Island

Going: C Orion Outerbridge (12.2 ppg., 6.9 rpg.), G Anthony Malhoit (1.6 ppg., 1.9 rpg.)
Coming: F Jordan Hare
Staying: G Billy Baron (14.1 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 2.4 apg.), G Mike Powell (8.6 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 3.7 apg.), F Jonathan Holton (10.3 ppg., 7.9 rpg.), F Nikola Malesovic (11.7 ppg., 2.7 rpg.), F Andre Malone (9.3 ppg., 2.6 rpg.), F Levan Shengelia (2.2 ppg., 1.7 rpg.), G T.J. Buchanan (3.7 ppg., 2.3 rpg., 1.3 apg.), F Dominique McKoy (2.8 ppg., 1.8 rpg.), F Rayvon Harris (1.3 ppg.), F Ryan Brooks (2.6 rpg.)

Outlook: The Rams are young this year, and will still be young next year. In optimistic terms, the Rams might hope to chart a path similar to what Saint Louis has been able to do in developing a crop of young talent together. Yet, looking for more than 15 wins next year (which would be a healthy plus 10 at this point) seems optimistic; a home game in the A-10 Tournament appears to be a best case ceiling.

12. Fordham

Going: C Kervin Bristol (5.1 ppg., 7.9 rpg.) and SG Alberto Estwick (4.0 ppg., 2.0 rpg.)
Coming: N/A
Staying: PF Chris Gaston (16.7 ppg., 10.2 rpg.), G Branden Frazier (11.8 ppg., 4.0 apg., 2.6 rpg.), G Bryan Smith (10.4 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 1.7 apg.), G Devon McMillan (7.8 ppg., 3.2 apg., 2.6 ppg.), G Jeffrey Short (), F Marvin Dominique (3.2 ppg., 3.1 rpg.), F Ryan Canty (1.5 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), F Luka Zivkovic (0.8 ppg.)

Outlook: Gaston will be back for the final season in an unusual career. In 30 years, someone will pick up the Fordham media guide and read off Gaston’s numbers and then flip to the postseason records, expecting to corroborate. But without much help up front, Gaston will see plenty of double-teams and need the plethora of guards to hit a high percentage of threes to space the floor.

13. Duquesne

Going: F B.J. Monteiro (14.9 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 2.3 apg.) and G Eric Evans (9.6 ppg., 2.4 rpg., 2.7 apg.)
Coming: F Shaheed Davis, F Donovan Jack, G William Moore
Staying: G Sean Johnson (14.6 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 1.4 apg.), G T.J. McConnell (11.8 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 5.8 apg.), G Mike Talley (7.5 ppg., 1.3 rpg., 2.0 apg.), F Andre Marhold (5.5 ppg., 4.2 rpg.), F Jerry Jones (6.4 ppg., 3.5 rpg.), F Kadeem Pantophlet (3.2 ppg., 1.8 rpg.), F Mamadou Datt (2.0 ppg., 2.3 rpg.), F Derrick Martin (0.5 ppg.), C Martins Abele (0.3 ppg.), G P.J. Tores (1.6 ppg.)

Outlook: Duquesne’s search for a viable post presence continues. Jones, Marhold, Datt, Pantophlet, Abele, Martin, Davis and Jack will all rotate down low, giving Ron Everhart more bodies than he has had in recent years. Yet, unless three of them elevate enough to provide consistency—and stave off huge rebounding disadvantages—a solid Dukes backcourt will be overshadowed by struggles.

14. George Washington

Going: PG Tony Taylor (13.6 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 4.5 apg.), G Aaron Ware (5.6 ppg., 3.2 rpg.) and C Jabari Edwards (3.3 ppg., 4.1 rpg.)
Coming: Transfer: Isaiah Armwood, a 6-foot-9 forward, averaged 2.5 points and 3.6 rebounds as a sophomore at Villanova. Recruits: SF Patricio Garino, PG Joseph McDonald, SG Kethan Savage
Staying: G Lasan Kromah (11.0 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 2.5 apg.), F Nemanja Mikic (8.4 ppg., 2.5 rpg.), F Dwayne Smith (5.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg.), F David Pellom (9.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg.), G Bryan Bynes (4.5 ppg., 2.0 rpg., 1.7 apg.), F John Kopriva (3.0 ppg., 2.2 rpg.), G Dan Guest (0.6 ppg.)

Outlook: The Colonials have relied heavily on Taylor the past two seasons, and the shift to a new floor general may be rocky. With the offense already sputtering as it is, and no clear heir apparent on the current roster, Foggy Bottom could be a sad spot in 12-13.

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Photos courtesy of  George Washington Athletics, Saint Joseph's University Sports Information, Temple University Athletic Communications/ Mitchell Leff Photography, Rhode Island and Charlotte Athletic Media Relations.