Media Coverage: Ball State @ Ohio

Pregame Notes:

Ball State
-Ball State is trying to recover from Saturday's 20 point home loss against Buffalo.
-Jontrell Walker was suspended indefinitely just hours before the Buffalo game. Has Ball State moved on mentally?
-If Ball State has the lead late, Ohio is in trouble. Ball State is shooting 75% from the line as a team. Ranked 54th nationally.
-This is Ball State's first Road Game in more than a month. The Cardinals now have six of their next eight on the road in MAC play.
-Ball State has now won nine out of ten following the loss to Buffalo on Saturday.

Ohio
-Ohio comes in feeling good after a win on Saturday over Northern Illinois 78-68.
-Ohio has picked up significant home wins this year, including a surprise win over At Large contender Western Kentucky on Dec. 10th
-Ohio is still hurting. Preseason All-MAC East Jason Carter remains out with a lower leg injury and has already missed 11 games. Also hurt is frontcourt Frosh Ben Vander Plas who figures to redshirt.
-Mike Laster is coming off of an outstanding performance against NIU where he had 31 Points on 10-12 FG shooting, including 5-6 from 3 Pt. range!

The main reason I am covering this game is to see how legitimate Ball State's NCAA hopes are. Tyler Persons was the hero in the upset over Notre Dame, but hasn't played as well lately. Let's see if the Cardinals get back in the win column tonight.

1st Half Notes:

-Sweet dish from Teyvion Kirk (Ohio) to Jordan Darvis for three to open the scoring.
-Trey Moses (Ball St) answers with a nifty layup down low.
-Another three for the Bobcats, this time from recently red hot Mike Laster.
-Nice steal and drive to draw a foul by Teyvion Kirk (Ohio).

First Media Timeout: Ohio 8, Ball State 4

-Nice offensive rebound and put-back by Kevin Mickle (Ohio)
-Trey Moses answers down low for the Cards.
-Sweet 16-footer is a swish for Laster, shot it in rhythm with his feet set before he caught the pass from Kirk.
-Moses quickly answers again. He is a matchup problem early on for Ohio. Don't be surprised if Ohio coach Saul Phillips switches to some zone soon.
-Zach Butler (Ohio) is in off the bench, comes in with a strong drive and layup  
Second Media Timeout: Ohio 16, Ball State 10.

-Deep three is good for Canadian veteran guard Francis Kiapway (Ball State).
-Strong drive to the hoop and finish by Jeremie Tyler. Tyler missed a lot of action this year and is still getting back in the swing of things.
-Good take by Doug Taylor (Ohio), used a quick slide step to the left to get by the defender and finish. 
-Laster with a nice bank shot from 12.-Persons has now scored on two consecutive possessions. Bobcats cant afford to let him get rolling.
Third Media Timeout: Ball State 22, Ohio 20.

-Sluggish play happening as both teams have been fouling each other, missing shots and turning the ball over.
-Tahjai Teague breaks the ice with a nice jumper.
-Laster answers for the Bobcats on the other end.
-Laster is enfuego! Hits a fade-away three ball from the corner and leaves his hand hanging.
-Persons drains another shot. He now has 11.
-Three point play opportunity coming for Teague. Too strong in the paint.
Fourth Media Timeout: Ball State 28, Ohio 26.

-Teague finishes the three point play for the Cards.
-Good ball movement on a long Ohio possession, but it ends in a missed three by Gavin Block.
-James Gollon hits a three as time expires to give the Bobcats a Halftime lead.
Halftime: Ohio 31, Ball State 29.

Halftime Notes

• Laster is leading Ohio again with 11 points, but is 4-9 from the field. Still decent, but not like Saturday's performance. Played 18 minutes.
• Persons had a three reduced to a two, he still has 10 and is a major weapon.
• Moses has 6 Points, 6 Rebounds.
• Very even first half: Each team has six assists, six turnovers, and Ball State has a slim 18-17 Rebounding edge.
• There has only been five total Free Throw Attempts. I imagine that will increase quite a bit in the second half.

2nd Half Notes:

-Doug Taylor rocks the rim with a powerful two hand slam to start the 2nd Half.
-Sweet dish from Kirk to Taylor for a lay in.
-Kirk again penetrates and this time finishes himself. Ohio now on a 9-0 run. Timeout Cards.
-Kyle Mallers (Ball State) makes a much needed three for Ball State.
-Dartis with a layup to answer for Ohio.

First Media Timeout: Ohio 39, Ball State 34.
-Moses draws a foul and makes one of two from the line.
-Mickle hits a nice little baby hook in the lane.
-Mallers with a solid baseline take, connects and draws the foul. Completes the three point play.
-Kirk with another layup in traffic after Laster got his shot blocked.
-Tyler comes in and drains a needed three for the Cards.
-Teague with a tough rebound down low and gets the putback to fall plus earns a trip to the line but misses the three point opportunity.
-Nice pass by Mickle to Butler, but Butler misses the open layup.
-Mallers with a big three and suddenly the Cardinals are on a roll. 10-0 Run.
-Saul Phillips (Ohio HC) is screaming at the officials about no calls.
Second Media Timeout: Ball State 48, Ohio 43.

-Moses gets great position down low and earns a trip to the line. Makes both FT's.
-Teyvion Kirk (Joliet,Ill.) is a fantastic frosh for Ohio. Great moves off the dribble and capable handles.
-Blocked shot by Doug Taylor, swats it Out of Bounds. Tyler responds by hitting a long two.
-Double Technical on Persons/Taylor. That's probably a fight that Persons doesn't want to pick.
-Persons is fired up. He muscles his way into the paint and finishes with a baby floater, then flexes to the Cardinal bench.
-Two quick three balls by Dartis and Ohio is right back in this!
-Gollon passes it away, stolen by Kiapway, but Ball State turns it back over. Crowd is getting into it.
Third Media Timeout: Ball State 55, Ohio 53.

-Persons draws a controversial foul call. Connects on both free throws.
-Laster is back in the mix with a Slam.
-Persons responds with a runner in the lane.
-Tyler drains another three ball - may get reviewed.
-Chippy foul on Persons, his fourth foul, the crows loves it. Persons is not liked in Athens.
-James Whitford (Ball State HC) is having a long discussion with the refs, its unclear why. Crowd is hating this.
-Taylor to the line for One and One. Makes both, Ohio is down by 5.
-Mallers picks up a Player control foul. Ball goes back to the Bobcats.
-Easy pass from Tyler to Teague for a Cardinals layin.
-Dartis answers with a layup.
-Moses draws a shooting foul. Hits both free throws. Moses has a very high arc on his foul shots.
-Kirk with a drive and draws a foul, heading to the line now. Ends up hitting one of two.
-Persons is back in and draws a foul, both teams in the Double Bonus. Ends up missing both.
Last Media Timeout: Ball State 66, Ohio 59.

-Mallers drains a jumper from the corner.
-Kirk is at the line again, makes both. He now has 12.
-Moses makes his way to the hoop and finishes with a one hand finger roll. 
-Mallers, Moses, and Persons all have four fouls for Ball State. They lead by 7.
-Mallers fouls out. Mickle to the line. He connects on both, lead is 5 for Ball State.
-Tyler drills another big three. But Kirk comes down and answers with a three of his own. Lead is still five.
-Ball State uses the entire shot clock and gets a violation after an airball by Sean Sellers.
-Laster misses a three. Kiapway makes both FT's on the other end. Ball State dribbles out the clock. Game Over.

Final Score: Ball State 75, Ohio 68.

Media Coverage: USD at Saint Mary's

2nd Half Notes:
-Great no look dish from Tyler Williams (USD) to Wright for a Layup.
-Three point play opportunity for Piniero, after nice agressive move to the hoop. He completes the 3 Pt. play.
-Nice give and go for Saint Mary's finished by Naar for a layup.
-Carter answers with a nice jumper.
-Londale gets back to the line again, what else is new? Floresca now with two fouls. They are piling up for USD.
-Wright again with a 3 point play opportunity, this guy can really play. Transfer from Utah. Wright finishes the three point play.
-Naar answers with a two from ten feet.

First Media Timeout: USD 43, SMC 37.

-Piniero gets back to the line and knocks down both free throws.
-Nice mini drive and jumper made by Gray.
-Neal back in for SMC, and gets back to the line. Makes one of two.
-SMC is now 0 for 7 on threes tonight, which is incredible. Nearly had one there after an in-n-out shot from Hermanson.
-There it is! The first three pointer with 12:20 to go. Made by Krebs. Great ball movement by the Gaels.

Second Media Timeout: USD 49, SMC 45.

-Naar with a sweet driving layup for the Gaels.
-Nice Blocked shot by Fitzner. Wright had to force a no good three. Good stop for SMC.
-Naar another sweet layup after a left handed drive. Game tied at 49. Timeout USD.
-Wright once again makes a move at the end of the shot clock and draws a foul. This time misses both free throws.
-Fitzner cleans up a Londale miss and SMC leads for the first time in a long while.
-Naar with another gritty layup and one. Goes to the line and connects to make the lead for the Gaels suddenly five.
-Piniero gets called for travelling. Tough call, one of those road team calls.
-Surprising offensive foul called against Londale, however it's just his first foul.
-USD playing a bit more timid offensively, crowd is very loud. When SMC makes baskets, its tough for USD to create.
-Flagrant foul on Wright after grabbing Neal's shorts from behind.

Third Media Timeout: SMC 54, USD 49.

-Neal makes both Flagrant Free Throws. Naar gets another crafty basket. Suddenly the lead is 9.
-Piniero gets back to the line and makes both shots.
-Neal has been a pest on defense, draws a charge here.
-Big three pointer by Gray. Cuts the Gaels lead to four. But Londale gets a quick answer to bring the lead up to six.
-Cameron Neubauer (USD) picks up his fourth foul. Floresca is back in. Neal ends up making both.
-Wright back to the line again, but only makes one of two. Gaels lead is five.
-Piniero with a nice 16 foot jumper, cuts the lead to three.
-Fourth foul now on Floresca as Londale continues to back down on any USD player. 

Fourth Media Timeout: SMC 62, USD 59.

-Piniero another big make, this time in the lane after a nice spin move.
-Londale answers with a baby hook down low.
-Neal with a griity drive and finish. Gaels now lead by 6.
-Wright misses a tough layup and SMC is beginning to milk some clock. Londale gets called for a moving screen.
-Naar eventually gets fouled, makes both. SMC lead is 8 with under a minute left.
-Piniero dribbles the ball off of his foot and things are looking dim for the Torreros.
-A few fouls back and forth here. USD trailing by 7 now. Under 30 seconds remain.
-SMC runs out the clock.

Final Score: Saint Mary's 70, San Diego 63.

1st Half Notes:
-Steal and Dunk for Isaiah Piniero (USD) to open the game, heck of a kickoff for the Torreros. 
-Calvin Hermanson (SMC) has a soft left handed touch, beautiful runner in the lane to get SMC on the board.
-SMC has 6 Australians on the roster and 3 of them start (Londale, Naar, Krebs). 
-Pretty sloppy beginning. Great block from behind by Hermanson on Piniero. Londale also with a nice block during that sequence.

SMC leads USD 6-5 at first Media Timeout.

-USD really playing strong defense and creating shots in transition.
-USD Halfcourt offense really relying on Isaiah Wright (USD)to create.
-Tanner Krebs (SMC) Airballed from straight away three land. Ouch.
-Londale is a force down low, USD doing all the can to keep him out of the paint. He got to the line once in this sequence.

USD leads 15-11 at the second Media Timeout.

-Tough offensive foul called aginst Evan Fitzner (SMC). Crowd boos.
-Piniero had a nice take to the hoop and finished.
-Piniero trying to lay into Londale defensively, one quick spin to from Jock and a dunk for SMC.
-Wright draws a foul while shooting a three, makes two of three.
-Nice looking jump hook shot for reserve forward Alex Floresca, good for two (USD)
-Wright gets to the line again and this time it's a 3 point play opportunity.

USD leads SMC 24-17 at the third Media Timeout.

-Great move by Piniero to get by his defender and draw a foul, then he made both free throws
-After a steal by Olin Carter (USD), he missed an open layup, and on the other end Hermanson finishes with a layup of his own.
-Next possession for SMC, Naar takes it to the hole and completes a three point play.
-USD had a nice stop, but Piniero got called with a ticky tack 2nd foul.

USD leads SMC 26-22 at the fourth Media Timeout.

-Piniero picks up another tough foul and he now has three. Londale giving USD issues inside as expected.
-Wright has a very strong left hand dribble, gets into the lane and dishes to Juwan Gray for two.
-Lamont Smith, USD Head Coach throws his jacket off after another call goes the Gaels way. Londale has made 4 Free throws in the last 30 seconds.
-Huge answer by Gray with a Three pointer.
-Cullen Neal (SMC) gets a three point play opportunity and connects. Great back and forth happening right now.
-Neal again uses some fancy footwork to get into the lane and finishes.
-McKeon Pavilion gets incredibly noisy!
-Wright calms the crowd down with a nice driving layup.

Halftime: USD 33, Saint Mary's 31.

Pregame Notes:

This should be a great clash between Saint Mary's highly effective offense, and USD's nationally recognized defense.

- USD's Third Straight Road Game.
- USD is #1 Nationally in 3 pt. Defense (23.6%)
- USD is #2 Nationally in effective FG% Defense (41%)

- St. Mary's has the #3 Nationally ranked Effective offense according to KenPom
- St. Mary's shoots 41% from 3 pt. range - 11th in the Nation.
- St. Mary's is 7th nationally in effective FG% Offense. (59.2%)

Should be quite the clash tonight!

Diamond Head Classic Predictions

Our final Preseason Tournament of the College Hoops season is full of intrigue. Will USC finally live up to expectations? How good is Middle Tennessee? Can Miami continue to dominate? Was the Princeton upset at USC a fluke? Will New Mexico State make some noise? It's all broken down in the predictions. 

8. Akron - The Zips bring a 6-2 record to Honolulu, but have not won a game away from home yet. Their most notable wins are against Fort Wayne and Chattanooga. I expect Akron to be pretty competitive here and can see them getting a win in the losers bracket. Daniel Utomi is off to a huge start, averaging over 20 points and 7 rebounds per game. He will be fun to watch.

7. Davidson - Live by the 3, die by the 3. That's how Bob McKillop's bunch rolls. They also really take care of the basketball. At last check, Davidson is the NCAA leader in Assist to Turnover ratio. If the Wildcats get hot, they can upset anyone in this field. They are a bit small though, and I see them having matchup problems in the opener against NMSU. I think they salvage a victory over Akron to leave Hawaii on a high note.

6. Princeton - The Tigers enter this tournament feeling amazing after the upset overtime win at USC on Tuesday. Tigers have to turn around and face a tough Middle Tennessee team in the tournament opener. Princeton loves to run back cuts and use the shot clock effectively (sounds familiar right?).  Expect all of their games to be tight ones, but I ultimately have them finishing 6th.

5. Hawaii - Hawaii is always tough to beat at home, and they love to knock off Power teams in this tournament. They have their chance right off the bat against Miami. It would be a huge win for Hawaii to win that, I think it stays close but they fall short. Hawaii will bounce back in a strong way by knocking off Davidson and Princeton. 

4. New Mexico State - Texas Southern transfer Zach Lofton has been a blessing this season for the Aggies. He is doing it all, averaging 19.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Lofton will look to lead the Aggies on a great run in this tournament, but ultimately they will fall short after winning the opening game over Davidson. 

3. USC - I've had the opportunity to see a lot of USC already this season and I am at the point where I don't feel comfortable picking them to reach the Championship Game. We all know they have the talent, but something is off with this bunch right now. This is a big opportunity for the Trojans to come together and get the season back on track. But I think running into Middle Tennessee is the type of team that will really frustrate USC. I expect them to finish here and take care of NMSU in the finale.

2. Middle Tennessee - The Blue Raiders come into this tournament with two wins over the SEC, four road wins, and a sweep of FGCU. Both of their losses were close ones to Auburn and Belmont. Middle Tennessee in recent years has really risen to the occasion in tournaments or games against "bigger" programs. I expect no different here. Be sure to watch the Semifinal game against USC (baring upsets).

1. Miami - Jim Larranaga's group has been laser focused this season despite potential FBI distractions. The Canes bring a perfect 9-0 record to the Diamond Head Classic. Five players (Dewan Huell, Dejan Vasiljevic, Bryce Brown, Jr., Lonnie Walker IV, and Ja'Quon Newton) all average in double figure scoring.  Miami as a team is fourth in the nation defensive efficiency. The Canes will be really challenging to beat and they are my pick to take home the trophy.

Great Alaska Shootout Predictions

This is sadly the final year of the Great Alaska Shootout. So many great teams have played here and now it's the forgotten tournament. I have many great memories of watching these games around Thanksgiving. Let's hope it's a great Title Game!

8. Alaska-Anchorage - This just feels mean to put the Seawolves in last place in the final Great Alaska Shootout. But unfortunately this isn't a very strong UAA squad. I expect them to fight hard, but still likely lose every game between by between 8-20 points.

7. Sam Houston State - Bobkat fans are not going to like this projection. The tough part is they have only faced one Division 1 program thus far, a 9 point loss at Idaho. SHSU opens with Central Michigan in what should be a close game. I then have them turning around and losing another close game before beating UAA for 7th place.

6. Santa Clara - This Broncos team comes to Alaska pretty thin. They really only go 7 deep right now and that is not good for this format. KJ Feagin can really light it up, if he gets hot then SCU can make a run. I see them losing a tough one to Idaho in the opener and then bouncing back against UAA before settling for 6th place.

5. Cal Poly - Donovan Fields leads this Mustang club into Alaska on a two game winning streak including an impressive road win at Santa Clara. And funny enough, I am predicting a rematch this Saturday in the 5th/6th Place game between the two. I think Cal Poly may make Charleston sweat a bit in the opener. Charleston has looked sluggish and they had to travel a very long ways to get to Alaska. That's one to keep your eye on. Otherwise I see Cal Poly bouncing back with two wins after a close lose to the Cougars.

4. Central Michigan - I was impressed by the effort CMU gave at Michigan last week. But maybe Michigan isn't as good as we thought either. I still think this CMU team, led by Shawn Roundtree and Luke Meyer can compete with anyone in this field. Roundtree needs to cut down on his turnovers though. I see the Chips escaping the Sam Houston opening game, before losing twice and finishing 4th.

3. Cal St. Bakersfield - This team is a pretty veteran club who starts three Seniors. They have a young Freshman in Jarkel Joiner that is having a lot of success early on in the season. Senior Shon Briggs is the leader of this team though, and they are capable of winning this tournament. I see them falling just short in the Semi's, before taking out CMU for 3rd.

2. Idaho - I'm taking the Vandals to make a run in Anchorage and not being shy about it. This is the most promising team Idaho has had in some time. It will be crucial to get the opening win over Santa Clara, so Idaho can have the off day on Thursday. Vandals rotation is only 7-8 guys deep. I think they then have what it takes to knock off Bakersfield in the Semifinals, before losing the Title Game.

1. Charleston - On paper this is the best team in the field, no question. The preseason pick to win the CAA Regular Season and CAA Tournament titles. But on the court, they have struggled thus far. This trip to Alaska will either help them get on track or could derail them further. I am going to stick with my preseason analysis and take Charleston to win the Great Alaska Shootout. Watch out for Joe Chealey, he can flat out score, he had 29 points on 19 shots in their last game against Charlotte.

Enjoy the final Great Alaska Shootout everyone!

Battle 4 Atlantis Predictions

8. Western Kentucky - WKU should be happy that they are finally just down to playing basketball. A crazy off-season, which saw them recruit 5 star center Mitchell Robinson multiple times and only to see him quit the team to work with a trainer. What's left on the roster is still a middle of the pack Conference USA team, that only goes about 7-8 deep. Not good news for a tournament with this format.

7. Northern Iowa - Ben Jacobson is a fantastic coach and I fully expect this years Panthers club to get stronger as the season progresses. They are led by Seniors Bennett Koch and Klint Carlson. Freshman Tywhon Pickford stands at just 6-4, but can really rebound well - he had 14 rebounds in their last game. I expect UNI to battle hard in all three games and leave the Bahamas with a win over WKU.

6. NC State - Good news for NC State? Braxton Beverly won his appeal and the Wolfpack are deeper now. The bad news? They face Arizona right out of the gate. I anticipate a great losers bracket game between NC State and UNI before falling short in the finale against...

5. Tennessee - The great mystery team of this tournament is the Volunteers. They have enough talent to upset Purdue early, but they also have not been tested and that makes them tough to predict. I am going to play it safe and predict a 5th place finish. The Vols have had 8 days off since their win over High Point and come to the Bahamas fresh. They go 9 deep, so they are setup well for this tournament. Will be an interesting team to watch.

4. SMU -  Much like Tennessee, SMU has not been really tested to this point. But they have at least played 4 games, so they have shown consistency with blowing out inferior opponents. Shake Milton and Ben Emelogu can stroke it from distance, defenses will need to be concerned about them. Emelogu is the only senior and the Mustangs have four freshman in the rotation. I think they run into trouble after getting past UNI in the opener.

3. Purdue - Many college basketball fans want to see Villanova vs. Arizona in the final, so I will comply. However, I can certainly see Purdue knocking off Nova in the Semi's. That should be a great game. Purdue has been impressive early, already rocking a blowout win at Marquette on their resume. Dangerous team here.

2. Arizona - Tough to decide between Arizona and Villanova. That game is virtually a toss up. I love the PG play of Brunson for Nova, and that's my tiebreaker here. Arizona will put on a show in the Bahamas. Allonzo Trier is probably the best player in the tournament and will prove that, Deandre Ayton is the best Freshman in the tournament. And Arizona can go 10 deep easily, so they are setup for success. Championship will be a classic if it happens.

1. Villanova - As mentioned above, I am going with Villanova to win this tournament. They should have no trouble against WKU in the opener and be well rested for the big Semifinal matchup against Purdue. I think that gives them the edge in Round 2.  The title game against Arizona should come down to the final possessions or perhaps go overtime. I expect Jalen Brunson to make clutch plays down the stretch and carry Nova to an impressive tournament championship.

Maui Invitational Predictions

8. Chaminade - This is is a sad ending to Chaminade being invited to the main bracket. The Silver Swords have been a staple in this tournament and have unforgettable upsets (Ralph Sampson and Virginia being the most recognized). Hopefully this decision is reversed in the future. Unfortunately, I don't see Chaminade winning a game in this tournament.

7. California - The Cal Bears are in rebuilding mode besides Kentucky transfer Marcus Lee. Wyking Jones is in his first year at Cal and many predicted the Bears to finish at the bottom of the Pac-12. They had an ugly season opening loss to UC Riverside, but have bounced back with wins against Cal Poly and Wofford. Showing improvement from game to game. So I think this Cal team will put up a fight against the VCU/Marquette loser. But unfortunately wind up in 7th and leaving the islands without a Division 1 win.

6. VCU - The Rams are adjusting to another new coach Mike Rhodes and some fresh faces. I think by the time A10 play begins, they will be in the hunt for another League title and League tournament title. However, Virginia exposed a few weaknesses last Friday. And I think VCU will lose a couple of tough games in the opener against Marquette and in the 5th/6th place game. However they won't come home empty handed, as I see them taking care of business against Cal on Tuesday.

5. LSU - This LSU team came in with low expectations this season and they have ignored them. A solid Samford club got waxed in Baton Rouge last week. So I'm curious to see how LSU does here. Particularly against Michigan in the opener. I can see them winning. I'll pick LSU to lose that game in a close one and then beat Chaminade and VCU to finish in 5th.

4. Marquette - Marquette ran into a tough Purdue team last week and really struggled. I had Marquette as a First Four team preseason, so I will stick with that notion and pick them to beat VCU in the first round. Then I think they struggle again in the Semifinals and the 3rd/4th Place game to finish in Fourth.

3. Michigan - This team has really struggled the past two games but managed to pull out wins over Central Michigan and a bad Southern Miss team. This trip to Maui can really help this team come together. If they can get by LSU in the first game, they are in great shape to finish in 3rd Place.

2. Notre Dame - I like this Irish team. They are setup this season to once again overachieve. Bonzi Colson is an All-American and PG Matt Farrell can really make this offense tick. I think they cruise past Chaminade and handle Michigan before losing to...

1. Wichita State - The Shockers have come flying out of the gates in their Maui tune up games.  Landry Shamet looks recovered from his injury and Shaq Morris is a load down low. This is one of my favorite teams to watch, and they should create a fun Maui experience this year. I fully expect them to win this and impressively. Look for a great Championship game against Notre Dame.

Cayman Islands Classic Predictions

8. Richmond - The Spiders come to the Islands really hurting after a 33 point home loss to Jacksonville State. They have had a full week to prepare for this three day event. Unfortunately for the Spiders there are too many flaws to overcome. I see them losing three straight.

7. South Dakota State - The preseason favorites to win The Summit League has much higher hopes than 7th place for this tournament. I see them finishing here after close losses in their first two games. Mike Daum is the real deal, and is a load to defend against, watch out for him in the Caymans.

6. Buffalo - Juniors Nick Perkins, Jeremy Harris, and C.J. Massinburg lead the Bulls and their 2-0 record into the Caymans.  With the weather beginning to get cold in Buffalo, I'm sure they are happy to get some sun for a few days. Buffalo is a contender this season in the MAC. They face a tough draw against Cincinnati, but I see them bouncing back with a Tuesday win over Richmond before finishing in 6th.

5. Louisiana-Lafayette - The Rajun Cajuns are one of the stronger Sun Belt teams and should give Iowa a run for their money in the opener. ULL Starts 2 seniors and 3 juniors and have a spark of the bench with Freshman Guard Cedric Russell. Fun team to watch. They had a rough loss in the season opener at Ole Miss, but are now 2-1. I see them bouncing back nicely after the Iowa game and finishing 5th.

4. Wyoming - It's been a week since the tough road win at3. Oregon State and I'm sure the Wyoming players are ready to get back on the court. I imagine Hayden Dalton is, he had a sensational game in the win at OSU. I think the Cowboys get past S. Dakota. St. in round one, before losing two tough ones, and end up in 4th. But watch out, this team is capable of reaching the final.

3. UAB - So far so good for UAB as they come into this tournament 3-0 and an average winning margin of over 30 PPG. Now the competition stiffens. They draw Richmond, which should be a win, but then run into the favorites Cincinnati in the Semi's. I see them losing there, but turning around and getting a hard fought win over Wyoming to finish in 3rd.

2. Iowa - Fran McCaffery's bunch has had a breeze of a schedule so far. Playing against the #341, #342, and #344 ranked teams out of 351. I had Iowa as a tournament team preseason, and now this will be there first of plenty of chances to prove that. I see them beating Louisiana Lafayette and Wyoming before losing in the final. None of the three will be easy.

1. Cincinnati - Cincy is the class of this tournament coming in. I would be pretty surprised to see them not win this. But with three games in three days anything can happen. The Bearcats have been going with a 10 man rotation, so that should bode well to be fresh throughout the event. Enjoy the tournament!

Paradise Jam Predictions

8. Quinnipiac - First year Head Coach Baker Dunleavy is going to do great things for this Quinnipiac program. Talent is on the way. Unfortunately it's too soon for them to have much success in this competitive tournament and they will have to struggle in three straight losses.

7. Drexel - The Dragons come to Lynchburg, VA a little banged up. To make matters worse, they have to face a formidable Houston squad in Round 1. Fortunately for Drexel, they will get to take out some frustration in the 7th place game against Quinnipiac.

6. Drake - Hard to not love what Niko Medved did as the Head Coach at Furman. Completely turned that program around and almost won the SoCon title last season. Now in his first year at Drake, he looks to repeat the same formula. And they open the Paradise Jam against a struggling Wake Forest team, which could be interesting. I see them falling short, but turning around and beating Quinnipiac before again falling short on Monday.

5. Mercer - The Mercer Bears are a sleeper team to win this tournament. They have a tough draw against the red hot hosts - Liberty. That should be a fun game to watch on opening day. Whoever loses that game is in the drivers seat to take 5th place. Since Liberty is at home, I am going to say Mercer takes 5th.

4. Wake Forest - This team is reeling after home losses to Georgia Southern and Liberty. Coach Danny Manning will bring his team to Lynchburg in search of answers. Luckily they face a rebuilding Drake team to get their confidence going. But after that I think the struggles will resurface and I see them finishing here.

3. Houston - Houston has a quality roster, led by talented Sophomore Armoni Brooks to go along with 6 Juniors and Seniors. This team tasted some success last year but fell short in bigger match-ups. It would do wonders for their confidence to win this tournament. I'm going on a limb and saying they will get stunned in the Semifinals and rebound to finish in 3rd place.

2. Liberty - Here is my boldest pick of the month so far. With Liberty hosting the tournament and coming off a road dismantling of Wake Forest, I see them coming in with a high level of confidence. Enough so to pull of upsets of Mercer and Houston. Let's see how this plays out.

1. Colorado - I've got the Buffaloes winning this tournament despite being the team that had to travel the furthest. I like that they draw Quinnipiac in the First Round which should allow them to keep their guys fresh. In the Semi's I see them handling Wake Forest, before knocking off Liberty in the Final. Overall, any of my top 5 here can win the Paradise Jam.

Islands of the Bahamas Showcase Predictions

8. James Madison - James Madison heads to the Bahamas still licking their wounds after losing by 16 at home against former arch rival Old Dominion. This JMU program is in rebuilding mode, and maybe this trip will help them grow as they look toward an uphill battle in the CAA later this season.  As for predictions, I see them unfortunately losing on three straight days this weekend.

7. UTSA - Head Coach Steve Henson inherited a program last year that finished dead last in the nation in Team Defense. Given that, you'd have to consider last season a major success. The Roadrunners went from 351st in Defense up to 134th.  This year they are off to a quick 2-0 start including a road win at Texas State. I see this team hanging tough throughout the tournament and leaving the Island with a 7th place win over JMU.

6. Weber State - This Wildcat team is hungry after just falling short in overtime last year while knocking on the door of the NCAA Tournament. They enter the Bahamas with a 2-0 record and ready to take on a tough test in Iona. Should be a heck of an opening round battle, but I see Weber State falling just short. Saturday, I think they handle JMU before again losing a tough game on Sunday against... 

5. Bradley - This Braves team is finally maturing after two rebuilding seasons. We will learn a lot about how far along they are by the time this weekend is over. They open up with a rough draw vs. Vermont in what I think will be a highly competitive game. I see them responding well after a tough loss to Vermont and leaving The Bahamas with a Two game winning streak in hand.

4. Coastal Carolina - Coastal comes into this weekend after losing a tough road game at Lamar. A game that was tight throughout and they just let it slip away at the end. I do believe the Chanticleers have enough fire power to take down UTSA on Friday. However, the road gets much tougher after that and I have them finishing here.

3. Iona - Coach Tim Cluess has been known to win preseason holiday tournaments in the past, and it would not surprise me if he won this one. Iona comes in pretty frustrated after close loses at Albany and at Syracuse. I believe here they beat Weber State in a close opening game, lose a heartbreaking Semifinal, and finish out Sunday with a win over CCU.

2. Northern Kentucky - It's hard not to like this Northern Kentucky team. They return the majority of their cast from last year's NCAA Tournament team including their leader Drew McDonald. NKU is off to a fast 2-0 start with a couple of blowouts. This is a great opportunity to get a couple of quality (75-150 RPI) wins. I see them winning a great battle in the Semifinals over Iona.

1.  Vermont - This is Vermont's tournament to lose. They have a quality roster led by Anthony Lamb. Aside from Lamb they have a stud off the bench in Drew Urquhart and key contributors Payton Henson, Trae Bell-Haynes, and Ernie Duncan. Look for the Catamounts to sweat in the opener against Bradley, breeze past Coastal, and win a real good Title game over NKU.

Gildan Charleston Classic Predictions

8. Ohio - The Bobcats are certainly no slouch. This is a Mid-Tier tournament across the board and someone has to finish in 8th. I see Ohio losing three consecutive close games in Charleston. I still expect Ohio to be a top half of the MAC team this season.

7. Indiana State - Coming off their very impressive 21-point win at Indiana, it was difficult to pick ISU 7th in Charleston. That result was directly due to red hot 3-point shooting (16-25 66% from deep). My prediction is they wont be able to get that hot in the early game (11:30am EST) vs. Auburn and again playing in the afternoon on Friday. If the Sycamores stay hot, watch out - they could win this thing.

6. Dayton - Anthony Grant's debut was a thriller as Dayton beat Ball State by one point at the buzzer. Once again they should be in quite a battle as the Flyers open up against Hofstra in Round 1. I see Hofstra squeaking that out and then Dayton taking care of in-state foe Ohio, before eventually landing in 6th after losing to....

5. Old Dominion - I really like this Old Dominion team thus far. They go 8-10 deep which is great for  three day tournament, and play a verteran lineup led by BJ Stith. I see the Monarchs losing a heart breaker in Round 1, but then bouncing back to win two straight over Indiana State and Dayton to leave Charleston feeling good.

4. Hofstra - The Pride got a nice draw here by drawing Dayton in the opener. Dayton is still trying to find themselves, whereas Hofstra has a deep bench and really strong leadership behind Senior's Rokas Gustys and Joel Angus. I see Hofstra getting a nice win over Dayton before running into too much talent against Clemson and Auburn.

3. Auburn - Despite having the most talented roster in the field, I just couldn't pick Auburn to win this tournament given the turmoil. Wiley and Purifoy remain suspended and Bruce Pearl is busy covering his tracks. It's a tough time to focus on getting three straight wins, but could also serve as the perfect getaway, we shall see.

2. Temple - The Owls have still not played a game this year! So I have to stick with where I had them preseason and that would be the 2nd best team in the field. Temple could easily land in any place 1-8 based on the parity of this tournament.

1. Clemson - Dear Clemson, you get to play this tournament in your home state against a slate of teams that you should beat. Please do not ruin this golden opportunity. I'm reluctantly choosing Clemson to beat Ohio, Hofstra, Temple to take the tournament. That would be a nice draw for the Tigers. Enjoy the games!

Puerto Rico Tip-Off Predictions

8. Appalachian State: Given the fact that the Mountaineers have only faced Toccoa Falls and Bridgewater thus far, it is practically impossible to know how good or bad they are thus far. We will learn more during this tournament. For now, I am sticking with my preseason prediction which had them as a bottom half Sun Belt team and that unfortunately means three straight losses in Myrtle Beach.

7. UTEP - I shouldn't doubt Tim Floyd's Miners. I know better. However, I have them losing two close games to Boise State and Illinois State before taking out some aggression and salvaging a win over Appalachian State. But don't be surprised to see UTEP do much better than this prediction.

6. Western Michigan - Thomas Wilder is the best player in this tournament and will be a treat to watch. In the Tip-Off tune up game at South Carolina he had 21 Pts, 6 Steals, and 5 assists. The Problem? They still lost to South Carolina by 18. With Wilder on the court, the Broncos are capable of hanging with anyone. I have them losing a tough one to Tulsa, then beating Appalachian State, followed by a loss to Illinois State. 

5. Illinois State - The Redbirds may in fact be the 2nd best team in this field. We will know more in a week. Unfortunately, they draw virtual hosts South Carolina in the opener.  The 1-2 punch of Keyshawn Evans and Phil Fayne will be the tandem to watch. They combined for 52 points in their opening loss at FGCU. I see Illinois State bouncing back nicely after their Opening day loss to South Carolina by beating both UTEP and WMU respectively.

4. Tulsa - I was really thrown for a loop when Tulsa lost their opener at home vs. Lamar. That loss raised some serious concerns. This tournament will be an opportunity for Frank Haith's club to come together and figure out their chemistry for the rest of the year.  They draw WMU to begin with, and I have a hunch they will get that win, and then run into a team also searching for an identity - the Iowa State Cyclones and lose close. Then I see them running out of gas in the 3rd place game.

3. Boise State - The Broncos come into this tournament feeling good after coasting to an easy 2-0 start. There's a lot to like about this team. They start three seniors (Chandler Hutchison, Lexus Williams, Christian Sengfelder) and they are getting great efficiency from Junior Zach Haney and Sophomore's Alex Hobbs and Justinian Jessup. On paper, they can make a run and win this thing.  The reason they won't win it is because they will run into South Carolina in a virtual home game in the semifianal. Despite falling short there, I predict the Broncos to bounce back with a nice win over Tulsa for 3rd.

2. Iowa State - This was a painful pick. When you look at the bottom half of the bracket, good luck successfully picking a team to make the final! The Cyclones certainly haven't earned this prediction after getting thoroughly beaten by both Missouri and Milwaukee. Sometimes, these tournaments act as a chance to getaway from distractions and just focus on your team and playing Basketball. Steve Prohm is a proven Head Coach and I am banking on him getting the team to gel out in Myrtle Beach. I think they have enough firepower to beat Appalachian State and Tulsa, but it wont be easy at all given the state of the team.

1. South Carolina - Many of us had doubts in South Carolina during the offseason after losing so many pieces from the Final Four team last year, and many predicted the Gamecocks at the bottom of the SEC. Well guess what? In two games against Wofford and WMU, South Carolina has cruised to easy victories at home. This tournament is essentially at home as well. And I like the way that Frank Martin has distributed minutes early.  Based on the limited information we have, South Carolina has to be the pick to win this.