NCAA Hoops: 2007-08 Big East
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Big East Basketball Preview: 2007-08
Georgetown
The Hoyas are off a strong 30-7 SU, 21-11 ATS season. Georgetown uses its outstanding frontcourt to play tough defense, allowing just 57 ppg (20-13 under the total). The frontcourt is athletic and awesome with 7-2 senior Roy Hibbert. Hibbert flirted with the NBA but decided to come back for his senior season. He helped Georgetown win the BIG EAST regular season and tournament title and advance to the Final Four. Hibbert was a first team All-BIG EAST selection after averaging 12.9 points and a team-best 6.9 rebounds per game.
Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III led the Hoyas to one of its most successful seasons in recent memory. Frontcourt star 6-9 Jeff Green is off to the NBA, but there are good role players alongside Hibbert with 6-8 sophomore DaJuan Summers (9.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg), while senior Jonathan Wallace (11 ppg) and assist leader junior Jessie Sapp run the backcourt. There is balance in this lineup, with Hubbert (12.7 ppg) and Wallace (11.4 ppg) first and third in scoring.
That big front line is why they lead the Big East in shooting (52%) for the second straight season. They were also one of the top three-point shooting teams, so you can't just double the big guys down low. The Hoyas had a dominating 76-58 victory over a very strong Marquette team, as Georgetown's size trumped Marquette's speed. The Hoyas also hosted Pitt in a showdown in January, but Pitt won at home 74-69.
They were 4-0 against the spread as a dog and went 9-3 SU/ATS on the road! This is a talented team that knows the value of defense. Two years ago Georgetown went on a 5-0 run under the total, holding St. John's to 41 and DePaul to 44! That was the same season they had an 87-84 upset of No. 1 Duke as a +8 home dog. They lost at Duke last season, 61-52 as a +10 dog. Sports bettors take note: After going 18-10 under the total two years ago with that strong defense, Georgetown was 20-13 under the total last season. They are good enough to top the 20 win mark again.
Louisville
Rick Pitino guided the Cardinals to a 24-10 SU, 17-12 ATS record last season, a No. 16 national ranking in the final Associated Press poll (No. 20 ESPN/USA Today) and a tie for second in the BIG EAST Conference with a 12-4 league mark. Louisville, which won eight of its last 10 games and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, will return four starters and its top seven scorers this season. Center 6-11 senior David Padgett (11.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg) anchors the frontcourt and is team captain. Padgett has been the Cardinals' starting center each of the past two seasons.
He earned All-BIG EAST Conference second team honors last season while recovering from knee surgery. Padgett led the Cards in field goal percentage last season, making 59.7 percent (fourth in the BIG EAST) while averaging 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds. The political science major has scored in double figures in 30 games over the past two seasons and has grabbed seven or more rebounds on 24 occasions. He scored a career-high 27 points against Connecticut as a sophomore.
He gets help up front with 6-8, 245-lb senior Juan Palacios (9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and 6-6 senior Terrence Williams (12.4 ppg, 7 rpg) anchoring a deep and experienced front line. The backcourt returns sophomore Edgar Sosa (11 ppg), who was second in scoring, plus sophomore Jerry Smith and senior Andre McGee.
Preston Knowles, a 6-1, 170-pound guard from George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, Ky. Comes to Louisville. Knowles averaged 21.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 steals as a senior last season in leading Clark County to a 26-8 record and the Region 10 title. Knowles shot 49 percent from the field, including 38.1 percent from the three-point line, and made 71 percent of his free throw attempts. George Goode, a 6-8, 205-pound forward from Raytown (Mo.) South High School and Clarence Holloway, a 7-1, 270-pound center from Chicago, also come aboard.
Reginald Delk, a 6-4, 175-pound guard who has started in the backcourt for the past two seasons at Mississippi State University, will transfer to the University of Louisville for the final two years of his collegiate playing career. Delk averaged 9.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and connected on 35.5 percent of his three-point attempts as a sophomore last season as Mississippi State. Delk will practice with the team over the next year before being eligible to play with the Cardinals as a junior in the 2008-09 season. Louisville should be a Big East force and they were a stellar 6-2 SU, 7-1 ATS on the road!
UConn
It was a frustrating season (17-14 SU, 10-16 ATS) for coach Jim Calhoun because he had an inconsistent team stacked with youth. The plus side is that everyone is back. 6-7 junior Jeff Adrien (13.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg) led the Huskies in rebounding and was second in scoring, and of their ten top scorers all were freshmen and sophs! That explains why UConn went 2-8 SU/ATS on the road and 0-8 SU/ATS as a dog!
Connecticut freshman center 7-foot-3 Hasheem Thabeet announced that he will return to UConn for his sophomore season in 2007-08. In 2006-07, Thabeet started all 31 games and averaged 6.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots per contest (No. 3 nationally and No. 1 in BIG EAST). He blocked 119 shots, ranking behind only one other freshman in UConn history, as Emeka Okafor totaled 138 blocks in 2001-02. He had seven or more blocked shots in six games this season and had two double-doubles on the season. He matched the UConn single game record of 10 blocked shots in the win over Texas Southern, equaling the mark held by Emeka Okafor and Donyell Marshall.
The backcourt is stocked with experience now. Junior Jerome Dyson (13.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg) led the Huskies in scoring, while senior A.J. Price (9.4 ppg, 3.6 apg) led in assists. Junior Doug Wiggins adds backcourt depth. Georgia Tech smothered the Huskies in a 65-52 defeat, as they shot 30.9 percent, made 12 of 21 free throws and were 6-for-19 on three-pointers. It was UConn's another dud offensively alongside the 49 points in a 17-point loss at LSU Jan. 6. It was an offensive stretch where UConn shot below 40 percent in 10 of 13 games, going 4-9 SU/3-10 ATS.
But this season promises to be much better with so much returning talent and experience. It was not surprising they struggled when you realize how much talent they lost from two year's ago: 6-9 Rudy Gay (15 ppg, 6.7 rpg), 6-10 Josh Boone (10 ppg, 7 rpg), 6-11 senior Hilton Armstrong Jr., senior guard Rashad Anderson and junior point guard 6-3 Marcus Williams. Last year UConn was 0-8 SU/ATS as a dog, got smoked at LSU (66-49) and lost 8 of 10 beginning with a 10-point loss at West Virginia. This group should be a threat to top 20 wins in a bounce back campaign.
Marquette
While Big East rivals Pitt and Georgetown are about inside power, Marquette (24-13) prefers speed in the backcourt, like recent alumnus Dwyane Wade. Three junior guards lead the Golden Eagles in scoring in Dominic James (14.9 ppg), Jerel McNeal (14.7 ppg) and Wesley Matthews. James claimed 2006-07 Associated Press All-American honorable mention and All-Big East Conference first team honors after averaging a team high 14.9 points per game and 4.9 assists per game.
Despite all that guard speed, Marquette was not a great shooting team from the field (44%), three-point land (33%) or the free throw line (67%). The team was outstanding in all those categories two years ago. The top rebounders are back in senior forwards 6-10 Ousmane Barro (8.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and 6-9 Dan Fitzgerald are role players on the glass, along with 6-6 sophomore Lazar Hayward. Marquette played well as an underdog at 5-6 SU/ATS. In fact, the last two years Marquette is 17-11 ATS as a dog. Marquette's uptempo attack is why they went 16-11 over the total.
Marquette had impressive wins over Duke (73-62) on a neutral court, at Louisville and at Pitt (77-74). Two years ago Marquette was also great as an underdog at 12-5 ATS, losing 77-71 at Pitt as a +10 dog, and 72-67 at Villanova as a +12 dog. The biggest win was a 94-79 thumping of UConn as a +10 dog! The Golden Eagles are a strong, veteran team with a deadly backcourt that should carry them close to the 20-win mark again. And they have a great home court edge at 17-4 last season.
Notre Dame
The Irish (24-8 SU, 14-12 ATS) were the Big East's highest-scoring team (81.5 ppg) behind senior guards Russell Carter (17 ppg) and Colin Falls (15 ppg). Offense kept them in most games, but it's a retooling season with 2 starters gone. They were the top scorers, too. The frontcourt will be the strength of the team, with two strong low post players in 6-9 senior Rob Kurz (13 ppg, 8.5 rpg) and 6-8, 250-pound sophomore Luke Harangody (11 ppg, 6 rpg). Throw in 6-9 senior Zach Hillesland ( 5.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and the top three rebounders return.
Overall Notre Dame prefers to run the court behind their guard play, but the backcourt lacks experience for this season. The good news is senior guard Kyle McAlarney returns after chipping in 10 points per game, while leading in assists with 5.4 per contest. Junior G Tory Jackson will get a chance to start after playing in 32 games. Notre Dame is 14-3 against the spread as an underdog the last two seasons!
Notre Dame junior center/forward Luke Zeller adds frontcourt depth and is a former McDonald High School All-American and Indiana Mr. Basketball. As a sophomore at Notre Dame, he appeared in all 32 games and averaging 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per contest.The Irish were 18-0 at home, but a poor 4-5 SU, 3-5 ATS away from home. They also struggled in close games, losing to Butler, St. John's and DePaul by a combined 7 points. They lost to Georgetown in the Big East tourney, 84-82. Teams slowing the pace down have had success, too, as the Irish scored just 63 points in a loss at South Florida as a 6-point favorite. They are big and talented enough to have another 20-win season, though.
West Virginia
The Mountaineers (26-9 SU, 19-11 ATS) had another great season, but Coach John Beilein left for greener pastures. So Bob Huggins is the new West Virginia coach, returning to his alma mater after compiling a 590-211 (.737) record in his 25 seasons. He ranks sixth in total victories and eighth in winning percentage among active Division I head coaches. His squads have won 20 or more games in all but four of his 25 campaigns, including 30 or more twice. This past season, Huggins led Kansas State to 23 victories, the Wildcats' most wins in 19 years. He is a great recruiter and knows how to teach defense.
It's also no secret that Mountaineer sports teams have a history of playing well at home, going 18-1 SU, 11-4 ATS at home last season. You don't have to convince then-No. 2 UCLA, as the Bruins got upset 70-65 at West Virginia. They also beat UConn 81-71 as a home dog. West Virginia has a decent frontcourt punch in 6-8 junior Joe Alexander (10.3 ppg) and 6-7 sophomore Da'Sean Butler (10 ppg). Three starters return, including junior guard Alex Ruoff (10.3 ppg).
They lost some frontcourt depth with and 7-footers Jamie Smalligan and Rob Summers but know how to play defense: They held UCLA to 38.7 percent shooting and the Bruins were just 6 of 23 from 3-point land. The offense averaged 72 ppg as West Virginia was 20-11 over the total! The Mountaineers were second worst in the Big East at getting to the free throw line, something that the new coach will work on. Huggins also needs to improve the team's road play, which was 4-6 SU/4-5 ATS. Overall there is a good mix of talent and experience on this year's squad, and Huggins knows good basketball. He has players in the weight room to bulk up, which can only help with all the physical play in the Big East.
Villanova
Villanova (22-11 SU, 17-13 ATS) lost its dynamite backcourt from 2006 (a 28-5 team) with its three-guard attack of 6-4 senior guard Randy Foye (20 ppg), senior guard Allan Ray (18.9) and Mike Nardi. But coach Jay Wright's Wildcats impressed with a new cast, especially down the stretch, winning 22 games. Sophomore guard Scottie Reynolds (14.8 ppg, 4.0 apg) returns to lead the backcourt, along with 6-6 junior Dwayne Anderson (9.2 ppg) and 6-5 soph Reggie Redding.
Freshman PG Corey Fisher is a terrific prospect who will see plenty of time, a solid ball distributor. They must replace two starters, but return two good rebounders up front in 6-8 junior Dante Cunningham (8.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and 6-7 junior Shane Clark (4.0 rpg). Cunningham provided frontcourt relief as a freshman, logging heavy minutes in NCAA Tournament victories over Arizona and Boston College. He made four starts, averaged 19.1 minutes, 2.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per outing.
The defense allowed fewer points on the road (63 ppg) than at home (65 ppg), an impressive mark. Villanova had an impressive December win at Oklahoma, 67-51, as a +2.5 dog, then in January won at Georgetown 56-52 as a +5.5 dog, and won at home over Texas, 76-69. Just as impressive is a 9-4 SU, 7-4 ATS road record. This group doesn't cave in away from home! Two years ago, Villanova reached the Elite Eight, before falling to the eventual NCAA champion (Florida) for the second straight year, so Jay Wright runs a fine program. This is a retooling season, but there is still talent and depth on the Cats.
Pitt
Pitt enjoyed a BIG season, at 29-8. Now their top two big men are gone in 7-foot, 270-pound senior center Aaron Gray (14 ppg, 9.6 rpg) and 6-9 senior Levon Kendall. So the frontcourt, the heart of the team, is gone. They will look to 6-6 sophomore Sam Young (7.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and 6-8 junior Tyrell Biggs, but neither are close to Gray and Kendall in size or production. Pitt allowed 62 ppg and has reached at least 10 wins in Big East play for a school-record sixth consecutive season.
At least the backcourt has some key returning pieces, led by veteran guard senior Mike Cook (10.5 ppg), junior Levance Fields and senior Ronald Ramon. They all averaged over 8 points in this balanced lineup. They picked up the defense after New Year's, going on a 9-3 run under the total. While starting 22-3, two of those three losses were in overtime at Oklahoma State and at home to Marquette. This veteran team didn't scare easily, playing great on the road, including a perfect 5-0 start in Big East road games. Pitt was just 1-4 SU/against the spread as an underdog last season, however.
Pitt is the only Big East Conference school to win 20 or more overall games and 10 or more league contests in each of the last six seasons. The Panthers have had some embarrassingly early exits from the tournament the last two seasons. Pitt's season ended swiftly three years ago, losing 67-58 to Villanova in the Big East tourney, then 79-71 to Pacific! Two years ago it was more of the same, with a 72-66 loss to Bradley. Last March they barely beat VCU in OT before losing to UCLA. Losing the talented frontcourt means rebuilding time for this season.
Syracuse
Syracuse is off 23-12 and 24-11 seasons, capturing the Big East title with a memorable March run in 2006. This is a bit of a rebuilding year, though, for coach Jim Boeheim, losing 3 senior frontcourt pieces, including 6-8 Demetris Nichols (18.9 ppg). At least the backcourt has stability behind 6-4 junior Eric Devendorf, who averaged 14.8 points and led the Orange with 4.1 assists per game. Also 6-5 sophomore Paul Harris was outstanding as a freshman, with 8.6 points per game and 7.1 rebounds.
The frontcourt needs work and will look for more from sophomores 6-8 Mike Jones and 6-9 center Devin Brennan-McBride. Syracuse led the Big East in steals two years ago with over 10 per game, and was second in blocks, but with so much frontcourt muscle gone, that is less likely. Junior Arinzi Onaeuku is coming off rehab knee surgery along with Brennan-McBride (shoulder trouble), so it's not clear how effective they will be.
So they will look for the kids to lead them, much like their 2002 title team. Freshman Johnny Flynn and Donte Green are both prep and McDonald's All Americans. Freshman Nick Jackson and Antonio Jardine are all highly sought after prospects. Syracuse was 18-4 at home. This is a rebuilding season, so there will be growing pains in the rugged Big East.
Providence
A Providence team off a 12-15 season improved to 18-13 SU, 12-14 ATS last year because of a lot of returning players. They lose 6-10 center Herbert Hill (18 ppg), their top scorer and rebounder, but return 4 starters and most of the bench. The frontcourt still has a decent one-two punch in 6-7, 240-lb senior Geoff McDermott (9.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg), who has led the team in rebounding the last two years, plus 6-8, 245-lb senior Jonathan Kale (7.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg).
Providence will play two more neutral site contests versus long-time rival Boston College and SEC foe South Carolina. The Friars will face BC on December 1 at the Hall of Fame Challenge at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. ESPN Classic will televise the game. On December 6, PC will play South Carolina in the BIG EAST/SEC Invitational on ESPN2 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.
The backcourt welcomes back senior 5-10 Sharaud Curry (15 ppg, 4.4 apg), their second leading scorer and top assist man, plus 6-5 senior Weyinmi Efejuku (14 ppg). Throw in junior guard Dwain Williams off the bench, and there is a ton of returning experience. Providence had a decent offense (79 ppg at home), but they went 2-8 on the road. They are 16-9 and 15-12 OVER the total the last two years! A winning season is in the cards with so much experience and balance.
DePaul
It was a tough offseason for the Blue Demons, off a 20-14 season, losing their top two players to the NBA. Guard Sammy Mejia (14 ppg) was a senior and 6-8 Wilson Chandler (14 ppg, 7 rpg) left after his junior season. DePaul returns eight letterwinners including three starters. The backcourt will carry the day behind senior guard Draelon Burns (11.6 ppg) and 6-4 junior Jabari Currie anchoring an experienced backcourt.
The frontcourt is a bit thin, and will lean on 6-6 senior Karron Clarke, who slipped to 6 ppg after a strong sophomore season where he averaged 10 ppg, 5.2 rpg. They will ask more of 6-9, 295-lb senior center Wesley Green manning the frontcourt. The backcourt adds Decatur Christian standout freshman Mario Stula. A native of Zagreb, Croatia, Stula is a 6-7, 210-pound small forward who averaged a team-best 13.3 points per game for a Decatur Christian team that featured eight NCAA Division I recruits last season. Prior to coming to coming to the United States, Stula was a member of the Croatian national team.
Stula joins DePaul's 2007-08 recruiting class of Michael Bizoukas, a 6-1, 175-pound guard from Munster, Indiana, Nayal "Mac" Koshwal, a 6-9, 240-pound forward from Chicago's Boys to Men Academy, Darquavis Tucker a 6-5, 205-pound guard from Saginaw, Michigan's Arthur Hill High School and Matija Poscic a 6-9, 240-pount junior college forward from Opatija, Croatia who is playing at Highland Community College in Freeport, Illinois. DePaul was just 5-9 SU, 7-7 ATS on the road. This group is 17-13 ATS as a dog the last two years, but this looks like a retooling season.
Cincinnati
The good news is 4 starters are back. The bad news is it was a difficult year for the Bearcats (11-19 SU, 10-15 ATS). They lost coach Bob Huggins two years ago and struggled under35-year old Mick Cronin. Cronin served as head coach at Murray State the previous three seasons. The appointment reunites the Cincinnati native with his alma mater and the school at which he launched his coaching career.
The team will have a young look in the backcourt with sophomore guard Deonta Vaughn, who led the team in scoring as a freshman (14.5 ppg), plus pulled down 3.4 boards per game and led the team with 3.5 assists per contest. 6-3 Marvin Gentry is a guard who was the conference's player of the year at McLennan Community College two years ago. Gentry averaged 7.7 points in his first year at Cincy.
Up front, 6-8 senior Marcus Sikes (9.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) played well, along with 6-6 senior John Williamson (13.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg), who led the team in rebounds and was second in scoring. Senior Jamual Warren adds depth to the backcourt. Cincy was 10-8 at home and 0-9 SU, 2-6 ATS on the road. They are 3-16 SU, 5-13 ATS the last two years on the road. They don't have the depth or frontcourt for a winning season.
St. John's
St. John's has been a money-burner under the last two seasons, at 12-15 SU/8-15 ATS two years ago and 16-15 SU/11-15 ATS last years. That's 19-30 ATS! 2 starters return, but they lose their top big man in 6-10, 240-lb Lamont Hamilton, who averaged 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, both leading the team. Up front they will look for more from 6-6 junior Anthony Mason Jr (12 ppg, 5.9 rpg). This is a below average frontcourt and they need to improve a 2-8 road record.
The young backcourt got a lot of experience last season which bodes well for the current campaign. They have senior G Eugene Lawrence (7.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.6 apg), a dazzling assist man, while sophomore Larry Wright adds depth. St. John's is a slow-down, defensive team, scoring and allowing 65 ppg. St. John's is 13-9 and 15-12 UNDER the total the last two years. A winning season is a possibility, but 20 wins is not.
Seton Hall
The Pirates (13-16) shot 42% under head coach Bobby Gonzalez, as he enters his second season at Seton Hall. Predicted to finish 15th in the grueling BIG EAST Conference, Gonzalez guided the Pirates to a near .500 record at 13-16 overall and a 13th place conference finish in his first season at the helm. This is not a tall team, so the guard run the show. The backcourt will lead the way this season behind senior guard Jamar Nutter (12 ppg), junior Paul Gause (8.7 ppg) and 6-5 senior G/F Brian Laing. Laing led the Pirates with 16.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
For the frontcourt, Gonzalez adds 6-foot-9, 225-pound Brandon Walters (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Walters is a long forward who excels in rebounding and shot blocking, but runs the floor like a guard. A First Team All-PSAL selection as a senior, he averaged 11.0 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks per game. Walters' signing helps fortify a Seton Hall frontcourt that was depleted by injury last season and graduation in May. Walters, coupled with the 6-foot-10 Austin Okosun, 6-foot-6 Mike Glover and 6-foot-11, 255-pound Mike Davis will provide the Pirates with some much needed size on the inside this year.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Chris Smith also joins the team. Smith is the younger brother of JR Smith of the NBA's Denver Nuggets. Gonzalez likes the depth he'll provide the Pirates' backcourt. "Chris is a major sleeper," Gonzalez said. "He was one of the best unsigned guards in America and it was a steal for us to get him. He's very athletic, has great pedigree and he's a local kid who always wanted to go to Seton Hall. Chris has huge upside and we're looking forward to his arrival." An explosive scorer, Smith with join BIG EAST All-Rookie Team selection Eugene Harvey as the second Pirate to benefit from the coaching of former Seton Hall great Danny Hurley at St. Benedict's. An athletic talent with great range, Smith averaged 18.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.8 steals per game last season.
Seton Hall was 1-13 SU, 4-9 against the spread as an underdog. They averaged 75 ppg and were 19-6 over the total! With so many question marks in the frontcourt, a winning season in the Big East will be a challenge.
South Florida
South Florida is off a 12-18 SU, 9-14 ATS season and loses three starters. They also have a new coach who is great at rebuilding. Stan Heath, whose brief head coaching career at the collegiate level has already included multiple postseason appearances, takes over. Heath, 42, arrives at USF after serving as head coach at the Arkansas for each of the previous five seasons. While with the Razorbacks, Heath guided the program to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2006, 2007) and an overall record of 82-71. UA posted 20-win campaigns in each of the previous two seasons and 2006-07 was highlighted by a run to the championship game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament and subsequent participation in the NCAA's.
The backcourt returns some talent with junior Solomon Bozeman (9.6 ppg), 6-4 senior Jesus Verdejo (7.0 ppg) and 6-3 junior Chris Howard. South Florida adds prep standout a 6-7, 195-pound Orane Chin, who will have four seasons of eligibility with the Bulls. The Miramar High School graduate captured first team all-state accolades this past season after averaging 25.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 3.0 assists per game, helping the squad to an overall record of 22-7 and an appearance in the state tournament regional quarterfinals.
South Florida also adds junior college standout Mobolaji Ajayi. Ajayi, a 6-9, 225-pounder, will arrive on campus this summer and have two seasons of eligibility with the Bulls. The Kano, Nigeria, native competed for Palm Beach Community College in 2006-07, where he was a First Team All-Region VIII selection. He helped averaged 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. Ajayi began his career at Crichton College in Memphis, Tenn., which competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). He was named to the TranSouth Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team in 2005-06 after contributing 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He shot 47.2 percent from the floor and helped the team to an overall record of 18-12. South Florida was just 2-10 SU, 2-8 ATS on the road. Heath has a lot of work to do, but he does know how to teach defense, so lower scoring games might be in the cards.
Rutgers
Coach Fred Hill needs to try and pump some offense into slow-down Rutgers after a 10-19 season where the Knights averaged 60 ppg. They also ended last season on a 2-12 run, so there is work to be done. Two of their two three scorers are gone, so they are building around 6-9 senior J.R. Inman (12 ppg, 7.3 rpg). He led Rutgers in scoring and rebounding. But can they get him some help? 6-7 senior Jaron Griffin gets a chance to score up front. 6-7 senior Ollie Bailey, who played three seasons at Rutgers University, has transferred to Oklahoma City University.
The backcourt has senior guard Anthony Farmer (7.8 ppg), who led the team with just over 3 assists per game. A trio of Rutgers men's basketball players, junior Anthony Farmer, junior Jaron Griffin and freshman Michael Coburn got some playing time over the summer representing the Scarlet Knights overseas. Griffin and Farmer played in Holland and Belgium with the East Coast All Stars, while Coburn went on an 11-day tour of China with his Mount Vernon High School squad. Rutgers went 3-13 in the Big East and 2-9 on the road. Don't look for a winning season.
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