This is a fantastic time of year for sports fans. MLB has their Playoffs. College Football, and the NFL are in the middle of their regular seasons. The NHL season has started, and NBA teams are preparing to tip-off for real.
We’re also now less than a month away until the beginning of the 2015-16 Men’s College Basketball Season. Locally, the University of Maryland Terrapins begin their year November 13th, when they host Mount St. Mary’s.
In the Baltimore-Washington corridor, expectations are exceedingly high for what the Terps might achieve. There are legitimate aspirations of Maryland getting to Houston next April for the programs third Final Four, and possibly adding a second National Title to the trophy case.
However, before Terps fans go booking travel to ‘H-Town’, an entire season awaits. Baltimore Sports and Life (BSL) has reached out to numerous College Basketball writers and analysts across the country to help preview not only Maryland; but a number of other programs who enter the season with high-level goals of their own.
BSL thanks all who participated in this preview.
(Discuss the Terps on the BSL Board here.)
(Discuss the rest of College Basketball on the BSL Board here.)
Before previewing MD, let’s take a look at some other contenders:
Arizona: Greg Hansen, Arizona Daily Star
Baltimore Sports and Life: Gabe York, and Allonzo Trier should be one of the better 2-3 combos in the country. Inside are two strong post options in Kaleb Tarczewski, and Dusan Ristic. Are the biggest questions what Arizona gets at the PG, and PF positions? Boston College transfer Ryan Anderson (Sr, PF) sat out last year. What were the reports on him in practice? Thoughts on what Jackson-Cartwright is capable of providing at the 1?
Hansen: I’d say the biggest question is the point guard spot, period. Cartwright is barely 5-8 and 170 pounds and has little experience.I think the rest of the roster has a ton of favorable options. Ryan Anderson at the 4, spelled by Dusan Ristic, is a really good situation. Ristic spelling Kaleb Tarczewski at center is a plus all the way. I think Anderson is the leader of the team already. Great personality and he’s much older than most except Tarczewski.
Cartwright is a smart kid, penetrates well and unafraid. His shooting range is a big question.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Arizona is a proud program which has had a lot of success under Lute Olson, and has seen that sustained under Sean Miller. How is Miller perceived in Arizona? As the Coach who has three Conference Titles, and three Elite 8 appearances in the last five years, or as the guy who has yet to reach a Final Four?
Hansen: Miller is highly popular. Lute really imploded his last 3 seasons and then it went to the bizarre mode under Kevin O’Neill and Russ Pennell. Except for getting to a Final Four, Miller has matched anything Lute did here. He just needs to sustain it now. I think the fans will be very patient with Miller. I don’t sense there is a “this guy can’t win the big one” sentiment.
California: Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle
Baltimore Sports and Life: Head Coach Cuonzo Martin has a really interesting roster as he heads into his second year with the Golden Bears. Not only does he have maybe the Pac 12’s best player in Tyrone Wallace (6’5, Sr, G), but he has brought in a highly regarded recruiting class headed by 6’7 Forward Jaylen Brown, and 6’11 Forward Ivan Rabb. What do you think the ceiling is for California this year?
Letourneau: The ceiling is high. Cal was picked second in the conference by media today, and I think a Pac-12 title is very much within reach. The Bears should be a preseason top-15 team, and they’ll arguably have the most talented starting five in the country. The big question will be how well those highly touted newcomers can meld with the returners. If chemistry isn’t an issue, this could be a Final Four-type team.
Baltimore Sports and Life: In addition to the aforementioned trio of players, Cal has two quality Junior Guards in Jordan Matthews, and Jabari Bird. What do you like about Matthews and Bird, and where do they need to improve?
Letourneau: Mathews and Bird are two players who have struggled to live up to their impressive high school pedigrees. Though they’ve shown flashes of their potential, both Mathews and Bird have struggled with consistency. I think having Brown and Rabb in the fold should take some pressure off them. They’ll be able to settle into complementary roles and focus on the little things. Mathews has improved his jump shot this offseason, and Bird has seemingly gotten more athletic. He is making dunks in practice he wouldn’t have attempted a year ago.
Connecticut: Dom Amore, Hartford Courant
Baltimore Sports and Life: The Huskies return 8 players, including 4 starters. They also have brought in two transfers (Shonn Miller, and Sterling Gibbs). Miller was a 1st team All-Ivy League player, while Gibbs was 2nd team All-Big East player with Seton Hall. Additionally scouting reports are glowing for Freshman Jalen Adams.
What do you think UConn is capable of this year?
Amore: They are certainly capable of reaching the Round of 16. They have a lot more depth than last year, and a lot of experience. The challenge will be getting a team with players coming in from other programs to buy into the UConn system and mesh as a group. Kevin Ollie seems to work well with older players, that should be an advantage in this process, and it will have to be a quick process, because in the post-Big East era, the Huskies have to begin building their tournament resume early, with Michigan, possibly Syracuse in the Bahamas, Maryland in New York, and Texas, Ohip State and Georgetown on their nonconference schedule.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Where can several of the returning players – Amida Brimah (7’0, Junior, Center… American Athletic Conference Defensive POY), Daniel Hamilton (6’7, Sophomore, G/F… AAC ROY), and Rodney Purvis (6’4, Junior, Guard… leading returning scorer) improve?
Amore: Brimah needs to progress offensively, with his footwork and his finishing at the rim, and on defense he needs to avoid those silly fouls that take him out of games. In Year 3, he should improve in these areas, it’s time. Purvis just has to shoot better, and play with more confidence. If that’s going to happen for him, it should happen now, similar to Brimah. If Hamilton makes a typical jump from freshman to sophomore year, he could be one of the top players in the country. He has all the skills, just needs to polish things up, especially ballhandling.
Duke: JD King, Duke Basketball Report
Baltimore Sports and Life: Does the starting backcourt figure to be Derryck Thornton (Freshman, PG) and Grayson Allen (Sophomore, SG) with Luke Kennard (Freshman), and Matt Jones in reserve? Thoughts on this group as a whole?
King: That seems like a good bet, but as you may know, Coach K tends to juggle people around and things can change a lot. So don’t be surprised if things turn out differently. Also, I think Jones will start in a three-guard offense. He’s a great defender and one of the few experienced guys back. He’s also a major leader of this group.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Despite Jahil Okafor’s jump to the pros, the front-court seems to be in good shape with Amile Jefferson, Marshall Plumlee, Sean Obi (Transfer, Rice) and Chase Jeter (Freshman). Who do you see as the most important big?
King: Good question. In one way I’d say Jefferson, though he’s not going to be a big stat guy. But he’s wicked smart and at Duke, Coach K likes to say he has three systems: offense, defense and communication. Jefferson is the best talker on the team. Plumlee has been around long enough to be a serious factor, and he’s turned himself into a huge guy. But Jefferson is the key I think. He was last year in a different way – his willingness to come off the bench made Duke’s title possible.
Baltimore Sports and Life: What figures to be the primary strength and weakness of the roster?
King: Big weakness: experience. That’s a huge issue. Big strength: perimeter. Duke has lots of guys. Brandon Ingram has huge potential. Thornton could be Duke’s next great defender – he and Jones and Jefferson are going to be a great trio to build on. Duke could have a huge D. Lots of guys can hit threes.
We’ll have to see where Jeter and Obi fit in. Both have a lot to offer but just how they’ll fit is a good question. At Duke you should always watch defense, communication and how the roles develop. The great outlier on this was Rasheed Sulaimon. He had trouble accepting a smaller role even though it was the best thing for the team – the title is proof. So back to the first comment. People will get moved around until the best group is on the floor. It probably won’t be what you – or I – expect it to be. But it probably will be a very effective rotation.
Georgetown: Michael Bohlin, Hoyas247 & Gene Wang, Washington Post
Baltimore Sports and Life: Leading scorer D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera returns. Let’s talk about the surrounding talent. Sophomores Isaac Copeland (6’9, Forward), and L.J. Peak (6’5, G/F) were both on the Big East All-Rookie team. What are you looking for from that duo this year? Where can they improve? Which of the other Sophomores (Paul White or Tre Campbell) is more likely to make a leap in their second year?
Bohlin: I fully expect for both Copeland and Peak to take on more of a leadership role on the Hoyas this season as, outside of the aforementioned Smith-Rivera, Georgetown will be forced to depend on their talented group of youngsters more so than they were this past year. We were fortunate enough to have the chance to speak with both Copeland and Peak prior to the team’s trip to Italy this past August and, to no surprise, both players seemed much more comfortable and confident heading into their sophomore season.
In terms of their running mates in the sophomore class, both White and Campbell will be depended on heavily this year. With the lack of depth on the perimeter, Campbell will have to be the one that takes his game to the next level, something I’m confident he can do, as he’ll be counted on to run the show for long stretches of time whether he’s sharing the floor with Smith-Rivera or not. Fortunately for Tre, he’s already proven himself capable of being dependable on the defensive end which should help his cause every time he takes the floor.
Wang: Defense always is a priority for Coach John Thompson III, so that’s the one area where Isaac Copeland and L.J. Peak could stand to improve. Peak did get a chance to work on his jumper too as part of the U19 national team at the FIBA world championships. Tre Campbell stands to make a bigger leap this season than Paul White, but White continues to have the more polished all-around game.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Coach Thompson brings in another quality recruiting class, which includes Jessie Govan (6’10, 270 lbs, Center), and Marcus Derrickson (6’7, Forward). Who is Georgetown counting on more to immediately produce?
Bohlin: I promise this isn’t an attempt to duck the question but I fully expect for all three freshmen to see meaningful minutes for this team early and often as Govan and Derrickson, as well as the lesser heralded Kaleb Johnson, have impressed since arriving on campus this past summer. Of the bunch, Govan seems to be the most likely to challenge for a spot in the starting lineup right out of the gate but there is no question that each of the freshmen that the Hoyas coaching staff brought in will be asked to contribute to the team’s success this coming season.
Wang: Jessie Govan probably will start from Day One, but Marcus Derrickson looked extremely impressive during the Hoyas’ summer trip to Italy, showing not just a nose for the ball but also three-point range.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Maryland will host Georgetown this year in the Gavitt Tipoff Games, and face Georgetown on the Hoyas home floor next year. Among fans from both fanbases, I see people who are either ambivalent about the match-ups, or people who are extremely enthusiastic. In-terms of the Georgetown program, how important do you think it is for them to go into College Park and make a statement? i.e. Do you perceive the Hoyas program is tired of hearing about the Terrapins resurgence, and expectations?
Bohlin: You want to win each and every time you take the floor and it will be no different when the Blue and Gray make the trip up 295 to play in College Park next month. This will be a great opportunity for Georgetown to make a statement against a team that is perceived to be one of the best in the country heading into this season and I fully expect for the Hoyas to put their best foot forward.
I don’t think that Georgetown is concerned with all of the positive press that their neighbors in College Park have received during the off-season. In my opinion, the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Mark Turgeon and the Terrapins as, at least in terms of the recently released Coaches Poll, the Hoyas will enter this game unranked despite the fact that they were picked as the second best team in the Big East heading into the season. It has been a long time since Maryland has been thought of this highly entering the year and if they underestimate what Georgetown is capable of in any way then they could be in for a rude awakening on their home floor.
Wang: JT3 and Mark Turgeon have great respect for each other, or else the Georgetown-Maryland game wouldn’t have gotten off the ground in the first place. Players on both sides certainly have a healthy competitive rivalry, but there isn’t the sense of complete distaste for one another.
Gonzaga: Jim Meehan, The Spokesman-Review
Baltimore Sports and Life: The Zags front-court is loaded with Kyle Wiltjer, Domantas Sabonis, and Przemek Karnowski. Tell me about the guards, particularly what you are expecting from Josh Perkins, and Eric McClellan?
Meehan: The backcourt is fairly unproven, though not quite as green as 2012 when Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. stepped in and became four-year starters. Perkins played in five games last year before suffering a broken jaw against Georgia. His injury prompted GU to pull Silas Melson’s redshirt. Melson played nearly 300 minutes so he should be a factor at shooting guard. Perkins, the heir apparent to Pangos at the point, is a capable scorer and distributer. McClellan is a senior who can be a game-changer with his open-court speed and defensive ability. The name everybody overlooks in the backcourt is senior Kyle Dranginis, who isn’t a big scorer but has proven he can contribute in a variety of ways (assists, rebounds, steals, etc.). Redshirt freshman Bryan Alberts is another candidate for time at ‘2’ or ‘3’. There are three jobs open with Pangos, Bell and Byron Wesley gone. The bulk of those minutes are expected to go to Perkins, McClellan, Dranginis and Melson.
Baltimore Sports and Life: For all of the success Coach Mark Few has had (438 wins, .810 winning %, 11 West Coast Conference COY awards, 16 Tournament Bids, 5 Sweet 16’s, 14 Regular Season Championships, 12 Conference Tournament Championships); how important was it for him that Gonzaga reached the S16 for the first time since 2009, and the Elite Eight for the first time since 1999 this past year?
Meehan: Gonzaga has been in the national picture pretty much since 1999 and expectations seem to rise every season. Few downplays a lot of the chatter, preferring to call seasons 6-month journeys instead of measuring it only on results in March. Still, it had to be a rewarding season personally for Few. The 2015 team is generally considered the best of Few’s tenure and the 2013 squad (32-3) wasn’t too far behind. This year’s squad has 30-plus win potential and the frontcourt should allow the new guard line to settle into their roles. Few probably takes the most pride in the fact that the program seems to be trending upward, no easy achievement given the run of success since 1999.
Indiana: Zach Osterman, Indy Star
Baltimore Sports and Life: In Maryland’s first year in the Big Ten, one thing that stood out to me was that there was less athleticism top-to-bottom vs. the ACC. One player that is as athletic as any player in any league is Indiana’s Troy Williams. How good can the 6’7, Junior Forward be? Where does he need to improve?
Osterman: Williams can be very good, and he’s probably already Indiana’s best NBA prospect right now. His defense and rebounding need to improve, but both took strides in the right direction last season. Incorporating a consistent jumper, inside or outside the 3-point line, into his offensive game would make Williams — already a tough match-up defensively — even trickier to handle. Knock down some open jumpers, and Williams will become even more dangerous.
Baltimore Sports and Life: The Hoosiers have a talented group of guards led by Yogi Ferrell (who lit up the Terps a couple of times last year). What are you expecting from Sophomore wing James Blackmon? What is the biggest question facing Tom Crean and Indiana as the season begins?
Osterman: Blackmon had a meniscus injury in the offseason, and while he returned by the start of practice, I’m curious to see how game-ready he is by November. He had an outstanding freshman season and should only get better this winter. He has the potential to be an elite scorer.
As for the biggest question facing Tom Crean, it’s probably a combination of defense and expectations. IU was the Big Ten’s worst defensive team by almost any measure last season, a reality that must change if the Hoosiers are to seriously challenge for a Big Ten title. So that feeds into the second issue, of expectations — the Hoosiers have the tools, but are they ready to make the jump from talented to contending?
Kansas: Rustin Dodd, Kansas City Star, and Tom Keegan, Lawrence Journal-World
Baltimore Sports and Life: Kansas has won the Big 12 eleven straight years. Two players were lost to the NBA Draft, but the top three scorers (Perry Ellis, Frank Mason III, and Wayne Selden, Jr) return. This summer, Kansas represented the US at the World University Games – beating Germany in Double OT for the Championship. There is experience, and pedigree. As the season prepares to begin, what is the biggest question facing Bill Self’s team?
Dodd: For the moment, freshman big man Cheick Diallo, a McDonald’s All-American, has not been cleared academically by the NCAA. The Jayhawks lack a true rim protector in the middle, and they struggled to find consistently interior scoring last year. Diallo is not a natural scorer, but he could be the best option to pair with Perry Ellis in the middle. Kansas coach Bill Self is hopeful he’ll know more in the coming weeks.
Keegan: The biggest question facing Bill Self’s team surrounds the eligibility of center Cheick Diallo, a 6-foot-9 sprinter blessed with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. The NCAA Clearinghouse has not ruled on the eligibility of the Mali native who was named MVP of the McDonald’s All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic. Kansas will be a top five team without him, my pick to win the national title with him. He projects as a disruptive force defensively, blocking shots, stealing and deflecting passes and using his speed to get back on defense so Kansas doesn’t allow easy buckets on the break.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Outside of the aforementioned Ellis, Mason, Selddn trio; who on the roster interests you the most? What are your thoughts on the Jayhawks post rotation?
Dodd: The frontcourt rotation could be interesting. Ellis will play 30 to 35 minutes per game, and if Diallo is cleared, he will see plenty of time. But the Jayhawks also have a trio of veterans — Landen Lucas, Jamari Traylor and Hunter Mickelson — who could all contribute in reserve roles. They also have freshman forward Carlton Bragg, who is a skilled stretch-four type. Self prefers to play no more than four bigs, so the competition will be a main story line entering the season.
Keegan: Outside of Ellis, Mason and Selden, I’m excited to see what type of sophomore season Kansas will get from Devonte Graham, a pass-first guard who shoots well from the outside, is extremely intelligent and a natural leader. He does everything well and will start in the backcourt with Mason, enabling Selden to move to the third ball handler, instead of the second.
Thoughts on Kansas rotation, assuming Diallo gains eligibility:
Starting five: Graham, Mason, Selden, Ellis, Diallo.
Bench post players in order of minutes: Carlton Bragg, Hunter Mickelson, Landen Lucas and Jamari Traylor.
Bench perimeter players in order of minutes: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Brannen Greene, LaGerald Vick.
Self said he plans to go with nine-man rotation. Vick is a candidate for redshirt. Brannen Greene, best pure shooter on the team, has a penchant for not hustling back on defense. If he continues that, he will walk his way out of the rotation. Traylor not a good rebounder, which will hurt his cause for playing time.
Kentucky: Jerry Tipton, Lexington Herald-Leader
Baltimore Sports and Life: Kentucky lost 6 players to the NBA Draft (7 players overall to the NBA), but expectations remain high. A lot will be asked of each of the three prized Freshman – PG Isaiah Briscoe, 2G Jamal Murray, and C Skal Labissiere. Of that trio, who has the most pressure to immediately produce?
Tipton: Labissiere. Kentucky’s front line is not as deep as normal. Not even close to last season. Plus, John Calipari’s defensive philosophy revolves around a shot blocker protecting the rim (Anthony Davis, Nerlens Noel, Willie Cauley-Stein in recent seasons). No one else on Kentucky’s roster has the potential as a defensive presence.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Among the returning players are Alex Poythress (returning from an ACL injury), PG Tyler Ulis, and F Marcus Lee. What’s the ceiling for this group? What will you be keying on for Kentucky as a whole prior to to their conference schedule?
Tipton: Poythress is seen as a difference-maker. He is the only player who combines size, athleticism and experience. If he plays well, it elevates the team.
Iowa State: Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register
Baltimore Sports and Life: Fred Hoiberg has moved on to Chicago to take over the Bulls. What changes in style of play are you anticipating under new Head Coach Steve Prohm?
Peterson: Coach Prohm isn’t changing anything as far as the offense. Iowa State still will run when the opportunity presents itself, and the Cyclones will continue to be bombs away from 3-point range. The biggest difference is attention to defense. This team will play defense, too. If there was a weakness with ISU teams of the past – and this might be nitpicking – it was that they didn’t play great defense. Prohm also has been working with Monte Morris to be more aggressive, so I’m anticipating improvement from his 11-point scoring average from last season.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Iowa State has three excellent players in PG Monte Morris, SF Georges Niang, and PF Jameel McKay. Who interests you most among the surrounding players? Is this the year a team other than Kansas wins the Big 12, and if so – are the Cyclones the team to supplant the Jayhawks at the top?
Peterson: Abdel Nader will be the most intriguing player on the team. He was good in spurts last season, but didn’t get a lot of playing time. He scored a career-high 19 points against Iowa, and scored 13 in the Big 12 title game against Kansas. He’ll be a starter this season. “He’s probably the most consistent guy we’ve had, to me, since I’ve got here,” Prohm said. “I think the stories I heard about him last fall at this time, and what I’m coaching right now — I think are two different men. I’m really excited about him.”
Is Iowa State good enough to knock off Kansas? History says no, but history also says Iowa State will give the Jayhawks a heck of a run. Oklahoma will be good, too.
Michigan State: Kyle Austin, MLive
Baltimore Sports and Life: West Virginia transfer Eron Harris (6’3, Junior) will join do everything 6’5 Senior Denzel Valentine in the Spartans backcourt. Looks like there should be good usable depth behind them with Senior Bryn Forbes, and the Freshman Matt McQuaid, and Kyle Ahrens. Do you expect Coach Izzo to utilize more smaller lineups this year?
Austin: Tom Izzo has always had big men involved in his offense, and still will to a certain extent going forward. But he’s also seen the way college basketball has gone in recent years, with a focus on the perimeter play and the new freedom of motion fouls. This roster is a reflection of that, with an extremely deep perimeter led by guys who can shoot and guys who can get to the basket. They still have the bodies to go big at times if they want to, but I would expect more smaller lineups this year than in past ones.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Matt Costello is coming off a solid year. What is expected from 6’9 Junior Gavin Schilling, and 6’10 Freshman Deyonta Davis?
Austin: Gavin Schilling had a great offseason by all accounts, with a pair of 17-point games on the team’s trip to Europe and strong practices through the summer. He’s always been one of the team’s top players physically, and if he can keep his confidence and stay out of foul trouble, he’s a candidate for a breakout year.
Seniors under Izzo have historically been at their best, and Matt Costello will look to continue that tradition. He spoke this summer about being more aggressive on the offensive end, something we’ve seen him do at times in the past but not with consistency.
Deyonta Davis is the team’s most talented freshman coming in, and should have an immediate impact as a defender and a shot blocker. Time will tell what he’s able to do on the offensive end, and if he’s up to Tom Izzo’s expectations as a rebounder.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Coach Tom Izzo’s Spartans teams seem to routinely factor in March due in-part to their willingness to rebound, and play defense. They also seem to regularly improve as seasons progress. As the season begins, what’s the biggest limitation which will have to be addressed during the year?
Austin: There’s questions at point guard, where Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn needs to provide more offense than last year, and the team is also coming off of a horrendous free throw shooting year. But I think the single biggest limitation this team will need to overcome is losing the scoring of guard Travis Trice and the rebounding of Branden Dawson, and finding players who can fill those roles.
North Carolina: Andrew Carter, The News & Observer / Charlotte Observer
Baltimore Sports and Life: The Tar Heels return four starters (and plenty of bench talent) from a 26 win team. Due to that expectations are high. Coach Roy Williams has been quoted as saying health, and North Carolina’s ability to close are things to watch. If you are picking nits, what is the biggest question you have with the roster?
Carter: I don’t really have any nits to pick with the roster itself. This team looks really good on paper. Good depth in the backcourt and frontcourt. Plenty of experience. A senior All-American candidate at point guard in Marcus Paige. A talented sophomore class that could be ready to take the next step.
You alluded in your question to the biggest concern surrounding this team. And that’s a concern about its toughness – mental and physical. Eight times last season UNC led in the second half and lost. It led by 18 points at Louisville points early in the second half and lost in overtime. It led by 10 at Duke with about three minutes to go and lost in overtime.
The Tar Heels were in great shape against Notre Dame in the ACC championship game and lost. Same thing against Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament. The roster is in great shape. The talent is there. The depth. The question is whether UNC has learned how to put it all together.
A lot of factors contributed to the issues in the second half last year. Sometimes the shooting went cold. Sometimes there were defensive lapses. Sometimes the other team just played out of its mind (Notre Dame comes to mind in the ACC title game).
The common thread, though, is that UNC lacked an ability to turn the momentum back once it got away. Williams attributed that to a lack of toughness and poise. With all the experience on this team, you’d think that wouldn’t be an issue this season but UNC has to prove it.
Baltimore Sports and Life: As you mentioned, the guard play with Marcus Paige figures to be strong. What do SF Justin Jackson, and F Kennedy Meeks need to provide for Carolina? Who do you see as the x factor for the team?
Carter: They need to play to their potential. Jackson can be one of the best sophomores in the country this season. Meeks can be one of the best big men in the ACC. They both have it in them. Expectations are high for both, though probably higher for Jackson. He played well at the end of last season, after it took him a while to develop some confidence. He went through some challenges during the first half of last season that are pretty common for freshmen.
Jackson isn’t the shooter that Marcus Paige is and, obviously, he’s not the inside scoring presence that Johnson and Meeks are. But UNC doesn’t have a player with an overall better inside-out game than Jackson. He can shoot. He’s adept at penetration. He thrives in transition. Meeks has had some real nice moments throughout his time at UNC but he has yet to come close to putting it together for an entire season. Will he this year? That’s the question for him. He has a nice soft touch around the basket and is a very skilled passer for a big man.
If Jackson and Meeks play to their potential UNC can win a national championship. As for the x-factor: I’ll go with Theo Pinson. He went through some injury problems last season, had foot surgery in the spring and should be good to go at the start of the season. Pinson should play the largest role in filling that do-a-little-bit-of-everything role that J.P. Tokoto played last season.
Oklahoma: Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman
Baltimore Sports and Life: Four starters return, including defending Big 12 POY Buddy Hield (Sr, G). Tell us about his running mates Ryan Spangler (6’8, Sr, F) and Isaiah Cousins (6’4, Sr, G). What do you like about their games, and where do you believe they need to improve?
Aber: Ryan Spangler is going to be an interesting case this year. He’s an excellent rebounder and is a solid defender. He has a grit about his game that makes him a favorite of Sooners fans but a menace to the rest of the league. His interior offense took a bit of a step back last season. Part of that was because of the offense that Tashawn Thomas provided on the interior, taking some of the pressure off Spangler and allowing him to step out and hit outside shots (Spangler was 10 of 33 from behind the 3-point line last year after attempting just 11 3-pointers as a sophomore). With Thomas gone and Khadeem Lattin expected to step into the starting lineup, Spangler is likely to need to be more of an aggressor on the offensive end this season. But Lattin’s emergence should take some of the defensive load off Spangler’s shoulders. As for Cousins, he set the tone for the Oklahoma defensively last season and sparked the Sooners into morphing back into the kind of defensive team that Lon Kruger’s squads have been known for. Cousins also became a much better outside shooter last season, picking up at times when Buddy Hield struggled from the perimeter late in the season. But Cousins tends to disappear for stretches and he did that against Michigan State in the Sweet 16. Once one thing goes wrong for Cousins, he can regress and become a liability on either end. If Cousins can find consistency and prevent one error from snowballing into awful games, he can be right there behind Hield on the list of the best Sooners on this team.
Baltimore Sports and Life: What’s the calling card for Coach Kruger’s team? How will they attempt to beat opponents? Where will they be vulnerable?
Aber: For most of Lon Kruger’s career, his teams have been known for tough defense. His style since he’s arrived in Norman has been a bit different but this figures to be the best defensive team he’s had. Isaiah Cousins was one of the top defenders in the Big 12 a season ago and fellow guards Buddy Hield and Jordan Woodard were strong on the perimeter as well. But the offense is still what’s going to make this team go. Hield’s shooting percentages took a hit last season after a fantastic sophomore year but he was able to make up for that by being more aggressive to the basket and getting to the line. He’s worked on his ball-handling over the offseason as he prepares for the next level. That likely benefits the Sooners as he should be able to take advantage more as defenses key in on him and leave vulnerabilities elsewhere. Still, opponents figure to key on Hield in a big way. Last year, the Sooners went as Hield did. That could be an issue again this season as Cousins was streaky offensively, point guard Jordan Woodard has yet to take a big step forward with his shot and Ryan Spangler doesn’t take over games on the offensive end. What could mitigate that is a much better bench than they had last season. They lose Frank Booker to transfer but the addition of Dante Buford — a 6-foot-7 forward who can play on the wing as well — after he had to sit out last season due to eligibility issues surrounding the high school he attended figures to be a big one. Buford could create matchup problems for plenty of teams. Incoming guard Rashard Odomes (6-7) figures to provide scoring punch off the bench.
Villanova: Mike Kern, Philadelphia Daily News
Baltimore Sports and Life: Villanova has to replace some perimeter athleticism and defense with the departures of JayVaughn Pinkston, and Dylan Ennis. That said, the Wildcats bring back Big East Co-POY Ryan Arcidiacono, and Big East 6th Man of the Year Josh Hart. They also have Baltimore’s Phil Booth, and incoming McDonald’s All-American Jalen Brunson. How do you evaluate the ‘Nova guards, and who of that quartet interests you the most?
Kern: You forgot about replace Darrun Hilliard, who probably should have been co-Big East Player of the Year instead of Arch. But Jay has played mostly through his guards before. He can do so again. And he sure has enough of them. Yes, he will be going small, especially if Hart is the power forward. But the addition of Brunson has to help a lot. And Booth should only get better. His presence could even make Arch better, since he might not have to do so much. If Jenkins could get better, and he was actually rated higher than Hart coming out of high school, it could really make their perimeter game go. I wouldn’t worry about Nova’s guards. They’ll do just fine.
Baltimore Sports and Life: The interior is led by another Baltimore native – Daniel Ochefu. Where can Ochefu improve, and who else can Coach Jay Wright look to for help inside?
Kern: With the bigs, they obviously don’t have a lot of them. But they never really have, for the most part. Daniel has to work on finishing, as evidenced by the early part of the game against N.C. State in which they got eliminated. He had a lot of good looks and couldn’t convert any of them. That can’t happen. Nobody questions his defense. He just needs to be a little better offensively. And stay out of foul trouble, because he can’t help from the bench. He’s one of the leaders, now he has to really show it with Pinkston gone. It didn’t help that Tim Delaney, an incoming freshman forward, is out for an indefinite period after undergoing hip surgery. Don’t know how much he would have contributed, but he was at least another big body. They have a shortage of them, so we’ll see.
Virginia: Kris Wright, The Sabre
Baltimore Sports and Life: The Cavaliers have had excellent back-to-back 30 win seasons. With 8 of the top 10 scorers back, expectations are high even without Justin Anderson and ACC Defensive POY Darion Atkins. Virginia figures to have another strong regular season. What will you need to see from the roster during the year to believe the Cavs will do damage in March? What do you question about the roster as the year begins?
Wright: Virginia certainly looks strong again on paper so it’s fair for expectations to be high for another regular season full of wins even though the non-conference schedule got beefed up with California, Villanova, and West Virginia in the mix in addition to Ohio State in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Cavaliers, regardless of whether they reach the 30-win plateau again, want more success in the postseason though so your question is a good one. I’d say 3-point shooting remains the biggest test as the season begins and when March arrives. In its four losses last season, UVa shot 2-17 (Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament), 5-16 (UNC in the ACC Tournament), 8-20 (at Louisville), and 3-13 (home vs. Duke) from 3-point range. Two performances below 30% in that mix – shoot like that against quality competition and it puts you in danger of losing. With that said, the always strong Tony Bennett defense will keep Virginia in games even on cold-shooting nights.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Sr. Malcolm Brogdon is receiving plenty of deserved attention after leading Virginia in scoring the past two years. Marial Shayok, and Isaiah Wilkins are said to have good athleticism. Who do you see as the roster’s wild card?
Wright: This is always one of the preseason questions for college teams, right? Who can step into a bigger role or into a new role altogether. When you look at Virginia’s roster, there are a lot of known factors – I’d say 8 of the 13 scholarship players have fairly defined spots going into the season. The other five are all wild cards: Shayok and Wilkins as you mentioned as well as Evan Nolte, Devon Hall, and Darius Thompson. Shayok, Hall, and Thompson are competing for some of the wing minutes lost with Justin Anderson’s departure, while Nolte and Wilkins are likely looking at the bulk of their minutes coming in the post. It’s anyone’s guess how that all works out, but Shayok could be the breakout star of the group. He just seems to have all the pieces to excel in this system with these parts around him. Nolte is the biggest question mark. He started in Anderson’s place on the wing last season so does he still get any wing minutes? And, if not, how much can he play post in a small ball scenario? Those five players will factor into UVa’s ceiling when it’s all said and done.
Wichita State: Paul Suellentrop, The Wichita Eagle / Kansas.com
Baltimore Sports and Life: Ron Baker, and Fred VanVleet are one of the Nation’s most experienced and talented tandems. Let’s talk about what surrounds them. Anton Grady transfers from Cleveland State, where he was on the All-Horizon League team. Freshmen Markis McDuffie, and Landry Shamet are well regarded. Who do you see as the Shockers third most important player?
Suellentrop: The Shockers need several of their big men to play more consistently and at least one or two to provide an all-conference level of production. Grady seems like the most likely choice. He will probably need time to adjust to WSU’s defensive approach. His experience and production at Cleveland State should help him contribute significantly quickly.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Wichita State is 35-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference the last two years. Do you think the Shockers will be pushed more in the MVC this year? Thoughts on the Out of Conference schedule (includes USC, Utah, UNLV, Seton Hall, Nevada, Tulsa, Charleston Southern)? Is it difficult for the Shockers to schedule Power Conference teams?
Suellentrop: The MVC doesn’t appear to have one team that will challenge the Shockers as much as Northern Iowa did last season. The Panthers split the regular-season series and climbed into the top 10 of the national rankings. But the MVC could be deeper through the top five with teams such as Evansville hitting a recent peak. Illinois State and Northern Iowa scheduled wisely and both could put themselves in the at-large conversation if they perform well in November and December. The bottom of the MVC is bad and shouldn’t offer much resistance. Going unbeaten is again a possibility and I would slot WSU for one or two Valley losses at most.
It is getting easier for WSU to schedule strong opponents, although it remains rare for Power 5 schools to play home and home. WSU has been able to play Tennessee and Alabama in home and homes, largely because the SEC is on a mission to improve its scheduling. Playing Utah is a great get. The Shockers usually play in the top exempt tournaments and that is a big help. Tulsa and Saint Louis are regional opponents that signed on for long-term deals and that makes sense for both teams. I would expect WSU’s future schedules to go heavy on schools in similar situations from the Big East, A-10, American and Mountain West, with a few series with mid-level Power 5 teams sprinkled in. That seems to be how things will work and that kind of schedule can get WSU an at-large bid.
Wisconsin: Jim Polzin, Wisconsin State Journal
Baltimore Sports and Life: With the departures of Frank Kaminsky, and Sam Dekker (along with Traevon Jackson, Josh Gasser, and Duje Dukan); what do you see as the upside for this year’s Wisconsin Badgers?
Polzin: They still have two really good players returning from a core group that made back-to-back trips to the Final Four: junior forward Nigel Hayes and junior point guard Bronson Koenig. Hayes played a complementary role to Kaminsky and Dekker for much of the past two seasons, but I think he’s eager to step into a lead role. Koenig might be one of the best point guards to play for Bo Ryan by the time career is over. It was no fluke that the team got better when he stepped into the starting lineup midway through the 2014-15 season.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Tell us about some of the guys who will surround Hayes, and Koenig. The trio of Zak Showalter (6’3, Junior, Guard), Jordan Hill (6’3, Sophomore, Guard), Vitto Brown (6’8, Junior, Forward) have experience in the program. Who do you like most out of that group? Do you see any of the Freshman bigs – Ethan Happ, Charlie Thomas, and Alex Illikainen being relied upon this year?
Polzin: There are so many unknowns beyond Hayes and Koenig. Showalter and Brown have played minor roles, but Wisconsin is really going to need both of those guys to grow up in a hurry. Ditto for Hill and Happ, who redshirted last year and were really impressive at times on the scout team. The coaches love Happ’s tenacity and he should be able to help out on the glass. The Badgers are going to need one of those two true freshman frontcourt players to provide some minutes this season. Thomas looks ahead of Illikainen at this point, but that could change over the next month or so.
Baltimore Sports and Life: What’s the current status with Coach Bo Ryan? Do you anticipate that he will retire, or are you of the opinion that 2015-16 will not be his swan song?
Polzin: It’s the question everyone in Wisconsin wants answered. People inside the program, including players, believe Ryan will coach beyond the 2015-16 season. But Ryan isn’t committing to anything at this point and would prefer to put all his focus on coaching. It’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Maryland Preview:
Helping to preview the Terrapins (and CBB) are Raphielle Johnson (NBC Sports / College Basketball Talk), and Matt Norlander (CBS Sports).
Baltimore Sports and Life: The University of Maryland will enter the 2015-16 season with their highest expectations as a program since beating Indiana for the National Title in April, 2002. MD won’t be sneaking up on anyone, and they will have to learn how to play with a target on their back in each game they play. Do you see this as the biggest question / adjustment MD will face this year?
Johnson: I think that’s part of it. There’s a difference in the pressure this group will face as compared to last season, when their head coach was a conversation point on basically every “hot seat” list. Now you’re expected to excel; how will you deal with the expectations and pressure that comes with that? Also fitting the new pieces together with the mainstays will be key, especially when adding in those expectations. I think they’ll be fine, but those are the two areas to keep an eye on throughout the year.
Baltimore Sports and Life: One of the reasons anticipation is so high for the Terrapins this year, is that MD has 12 useful players on the roster. While not exactly last year’s Kentucky’s ‘second starting five,’ Maryland has a lot to like with their reserves Brantley, Wiley, Nickens, Cekovsky, Dodd, Bender, and Ram. Of the first five mentioned, who interests you the most?
Norlander: Dodd, because I think he has the most room to grow. The starting five is arguably the best in the country, for sure, but Dodd’s size down low could be a secret weapon of sorts. He’s a valuable reserve because of his height and reliability in the paint. I spoke with a Maryland assistant over the summer who said Dodd had made strides over the previous five months.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Thoughts on incoming transfer Rasheed Sulaimon? We know he’s athletic, a good defender, a slasher. That he shot over 40% from 3 the last two years. We also know that his attitude was questioned at times at Duke. Did you like the addition all things considered?
Johnson: Yes, Sulaimon can help them out when it comes to the factors you mentioned above. And I personally don’t think there will be any issues with motivation. How much more do you need than getting booted from a team that went on to win a national title? I’d imaging that he views this season as a possible source for redemption in that regard. Maryland has guys who can get things done offensively, but it never hurts to add another capable guy to the mix.
Baltimore Sports and Life: After a year in the system, Georgia Tech transfer Robert Carter becomes eligible and will start at the 4. Carter can run the court, score inside, and help on the boards. Were there any major deficiencies in his game during his time with the Yellow Jackets? How do you view him compared to the best PF’s Nationally?
Norlander: Given his role and size, I don’t think he should be looking to shoot 3s. He took basically two per game during his sophomore season at Tech. Carter’s not a great ball handler, but certainly not the worst at the 4, either. I think Maryland fans might be getting a little ahead of themselves with the Carter love. He’s going to be very important, and certainly good, but I don’t spot him as a top-10 power forward in the country. He’ll get his touches, but by February I think he’ll be option No. 4 or No. 5 for this team.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Layman’s FG% increased from 40% to 47% from his Sophomore to Junior year. 3P%, and FT%’s also increased. Rebounding was also up. On the roster this past year, it made sense for him to be used as the PF. Clearly though his best production came with Wells out, and with him playing the 3 (and the offense running more through him). With Carter as the starting PF, Layman will get to reclaim his natural position. Is mental focus / sustaining his confidence the most significant issue of his game?
Johnson: I’d say that’s part of it, but toughness will also be key. In that West Virginia game, regardless of what some may say about WVU fouling “all the time,” they took control of that game from a toughness standpoint in the second half. Jake’s clearly skilled; we’ve all seen this throughout his time in College Park. What the Terps need him to be this season is what some on the basketball circuit refer to as a “m-f’er.” That kind of confidence and toughness can rub off on your teammates and carry them to heights that may go beyond what they think they can accomplish. Maybe moving back to the three will help from a comfort standpoint, and if it makes him a more aggressive player that works out for Maryland.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Teaming with Carter inside is consensus Top 5 recruit Diamond Stone, MD’s highest ranked recruit since Albert King in 1977. The primary weakness of the 2014-15 Terps was their interior play. With Carter, and Stone; that weakness figures to be a strength. MD’s pick and roll game should improve, as should the team rebounding, and room for shooters outside. Considering Stone will be adjusting to the College game (and have to share the ball); what are reasonable expectations for his production this year?
Norlander: Stone will probably have a few games where he’s outrageously good — but wait a good 10 or 15 tilts for that to come. He’s still raw, and he’s still coming along. The coaches know Carter and Layman are going to be bigger impact players to start the season. Stone has really nice natural talent. His adjustment to the college game is one of the more intriguing aspects heading into this season for any team. If I were to guess a stat line by year’s end for Stone: 8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 25 minutes per game.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Trimble had the best Freshman season for a Terrapin since Joe Smith, and was the clear catalyst for MD exceeding team expectations this past year. Is he a finished product, or do you see areas where his game can improve further?
Johnson: I think there’s more that he can accomplish skill-wise, even though he shot the ball well and was one of the best in the country at getting to the foul line. With Dez Wells gone I think Trimble will have to do even more when it comes to claiming ownership of the team, something that will also serve him well whenever he makes the move to the NBA. The numbers are there, it’s just about getting even better than he already is at running a team and putting his guys in the spots where they’ll be most successful at this point.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Out of conference, MD faces Illinois State and either Rhode Island / TCU in the Cancun Challenge. The Terps will head to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina in the ACC / Big Ten Challenge, and face UConn in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. At home, MD will host Georgetown in the Gavitt Games.
Thoughts on the OOC schedule? Best case scenarios for UConn, and Georgetown this year? Early thoughts on the match-up with UNC?
Johnson: In regards to Cancun, hopefully they get URI in the final because I’m not sure they’ll get much of a boost from TCU (Illinois State could be pesky in the first game). As for the other key non-conference slate, those are some very good challenges to prepare them for Big Ten play. I personally like UNC as the nation’s top team at this point in time because of their depth and skill, but the Tar Heels need to find a shooter to relieve some of the pressure on Marcus Paige. UConn and Georgetown will both be contenders in their respective leagues and could go deep in the NCAA tournament as well. The guard play on both of those teams should provide a good test for Maryland’s perimeter and in the case of UConn they’ve got some front court guys (Shonn Miller, Amida Brimah) who have the ability to compete with Carter, Diamond Stone and co. in the paint.
Baltimore Sports and Life: This past year the Big Ten was the 4th rated conference this year in-terms of RPI. Still, 7 teams were sent to the NCAAT, and two reached the Final Four. How do you see the league this coming season? Would you take MD or the field for the conference title?
Norlander: Certainly the field. The Big Ten is too strong to not take the rest of the group vs. just one. I expect the Big Ten to be tougher at the top, and an improvement from last season. Realistically, Maryland and Michigan State and Indiana can have Final Four expectations. As for the tourney, throw in Michigan, Purdue, Wisconsin and Iowa. Teams like Ohio State, Illinois, Minnesota and Northwestern will probably fall just short.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Final prediction for the Terps? What are you expecting from them this year? If they fail to reach your expectation, what do you think could hold them back?
Johnson: I think they get to the Final Four. Mark Turgeon’s navigated the rough waters so to speak, with last season producing a result in the team’s Big Ten debut that exceeded expectations. They’ve got talent at every spot you need to address in college basketball; now it’s just a matter of staying healthy and getting the job done.
Norlander: Expectations in college hoops is such a broad and vague concept. If Maryland ends the season with 29 wins but loses in the second round of the NCAA tournament as a No. 2 seed, is that coming up short of expectations? To a certain degree, yes, but playing well enough to get that 2 seed is living up to expectations. The NCAA tournament is such a beast that predicting ANYTHING in October is a dart throw. I’ll say this: Maryland ends its season with 31 wins and reaches the Sweet 16. Beyond that, we’ll see. Matchups mean so much.
General College Basketball Talk:
Baltimore Sports and Life: Nationally, what team do you see as over-hyped? What team are you higher on, vs. what you perceive as the general opinion at-large?
Johnson: Over-hyped, I’d take LSU right now although I believe they’re a tournament team. The additions are really good, and guys such as Jalyn Patterson, Tim Quarterman and Keith Hornsby returning on the perimeter will help as well. But personally I like Vanderbilt and Texas A&M more when discussing who could wind up challenging Kentucky at the top of the SEC. As for a team that may be underrated, I’m not sure how Oregon wasn’t ranked in the preseason coaches poll. Sure they lost Joseph Young but most of that rotation is back, and the additions of Tyler Dorsey, Dylan Ennis and Chris Boucher will help that team in regards to both depth and talent. And I think Dillon Brooks goes off this season, too.
Norlander: Teams I think are overvalued Iowa State, Gonzaga,Wisconsin. Teams I think are undervalued Villanova (even/especially after last season), Vanderbilt, Rhode Island
Baltimore Sports and Life: How do you rank the Power Conferences by expected overall strength, and expected watch-ability? Of the non Power Conferences, which league interests you the most?
Johnson: Strength-wise I think the Big Ten and ACC are the top two leagues. Top-end quality and depth being the reasons why. From there I’d likely go Big 12, Pac-12, Big East and SEC. Outside of those leagues, the American race should be fun, with SMU’s postseason ineligibility adding a variable that will be hard to gauge to it. SMU, UConn, Tulsa and Cincinnati (the final two are a bit underrated right now) should be the contenders, and keep an eye on Houston as a dark horse. The Mountain West race with its many question marks and Dave Rice’s hot seat status should be interesting as well.
Norlander: I’d rank the 10 multi-bid leagues like this:
ACC
Big Ten
Big 12
Pac-12
SEC
Big East
A-10
The American
Mountain West
WCC
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