Bluenotes

Sizing Up the Competition

Evaluative Capsules of the Non-conference Opponents

Continued…

The final 3 Old Spice Classic teams.

Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. 2008-09 Record: 25-10 Postseason: NCAA 2^nd Rd

Marquette is reloading. Having graduated/lost 4 starters will hurt. PG Acker has decided to graduate in Dec. 09 – will not play. Hayward is the only returner with significant PT. The Warriors (GE‘s) bring in a top recruiting class and do retain some experienced players. Their system will remain the same as the new coach is a longtime assistant at the university, but the learning curve for the new arrivals will be steep. Several of the new recruits can expect to see PT, of those Jerone Maymon, Buycks, and Junior Cadougan may impact. The Warriors (GE‘s) will take a step back from the Top 25 this year.

Returning Players: PF Lazar Hayward, PG Cubilan, Ctr Chris Otule, SF Joe Fulce, and Juco (Sr.) SG Jimmy Butler, Ctr 7′ Liam McMorrow.

New Recruits: 7 recruits – Three 4-stars PG Cadougan, PF Maymon, & SF Erik Wms. 7′ Ctr Mbao, PF Bret Roseboro, Jucos AA PG Dwight Buycks and SG Darius Odom-Johnson.

<!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } Creighton University Bluejays, Omaha, NE. 2008-09 Record: 27-8 Postseason: NIT 2^nd Rd

The Bluejays will probably be seeded 6^th or 7^th in the OSC. The 6^th seed being most likely so as not to be paired against Xavier in the 1^st Round. For Jays fans who love to think we can still ‘sneak up’ on folks – here’s your opportunity to ‘sneak’. Losses – Sr Gds Woodfox & Sitzman graduated, So PF Walker transferred. Impact Recruits: Runnels, Ashford, Bock.

Probable matchups – 1st Round: Baylor; 2^nd Round: #18 Michigan; Finals: FSU or # 21 Xavier.

Returnees: C–Lawson, Fds–Millard, Harriman, Carter, Gds–P’Allen, Vel, KK, AY, JJ, & 2 w/o Fds.

New Recruits: Cali PGs 4-star Andrew Bock and Greg Allen, Tx Juco SG 3-star Darryl Ashford, SF Ethan Wragge, and OK Juco AA PF Wayne Runnels. Add 2 walk-on Gds.

Iona University, Iona, NY. 2008-09 Record: 12-19 Postseason: None

The Gaels are by default the hosts of the OSC. They are in the midst of rebuilding and although will compete, do not have the horses to contend for the tourney crown. The Gaels play 10-12 players deep, with 8 having 14 or more minutes per game. Gary Springer (MAAC 3^rd Team) & Devon Clarke graduated. This will be a great learning experience for their team. Pelcher & McGill will impact team.

Returning Players: Scott Machado – MAAC Rookie of the Year.

New Recruits: Ctr 6′ 9” Chris Pelcher (#45 ESPN), SF Rashard McGill, and SG Ben Mockford.

Well that’s it for the 2009 Old Spice Classic field. Now…Who will win it?

My best guess is the University of Alabama team. However, this isn’t the UA blog…

The Creighton University Bluejays will win this event, as they truly ‘sneak’ up on the field, play their normal sterling complete games on neutral courts, and surprise the experts, pundits, and the naysayers. Creighton wins the 2009 Disney/ESPN Old Spice Classic.

Whaaaa, you were thinkin’ Bellevue College, College of St Marys’, Doane? C’mon…git (mo) with the program.

Luv,

gtmo

Sizing Up the Competition

Evaluative Capsules of the Non-conference Opponents

Continued…

More Old Spice Classic teams.

Baylor University, Waco, TX. 2008-09 Record: 24-15 Postseason: NIT Finals

The team has a chip on its’ shoulder and is out to prove folks wrong about the level of their program. This Bears team is talented and can play. Went to the postseason NIT finals last season. Leading scorer Curtis Jerrells graduated. Rogers, Carter, & Dunn are dbl digit scorers. Dennis and Jefferson could be Impact Frosh. Baylor is tough, they play quick, not big. The Bears have enough juice to possibly crack the Top 25. Baylor is the most likely 1^st round pairing for the Jays in the Old Spice tourney. Coach Scott Drew won’t play very deep into his bench, but the Jays will have their hands full with this team.

Returning Players: Fwd Kevin Rogers, Gds Carter, Dunn, & developmental Ctrs Lomers, Diene.

New Recruits: 6 total – Three 4-stars – SG Dennis & McLaughlin, PF Jefferson, 2 3-stars SF Givon Crump, PG Walton, & a Croatian Ctr Dragan Sekelja.

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. 2008-09 Record: 25-10 Postseason: NCAA 1^st Rd

The Seminoles are a very talented team who finally began to live up to expectations last season. FSU is a potential Top 25 team. They have size and skill across the board and are a very dangerous type of team to play early. One possible weakness is the numbers of new kids into the program and the amount of time required to figure out how to play together/develop team chemistry. Lost 21 ppg PG Toney Douglas. With their talent level they can win while beginning to build internal team chemistry – win by hustle. I wouldn’t want to see this team in the 1^st Round of any tournament. All their newcomers are impact players.

Returning Players: All Acc Frosh Ctr Solomon Alabi and PF Chris Singleton, Ctr X. Gibson, Fwd Deividas Dulkys. PG Luke Loukes, SG scorer Derwin Kitchen, and SG defender DeMercy.

New Recruits: Cali AA 5-star SG Michael Snaer, Fwd Terrence Shannon. Possible – Ctr 7′ Jon Kreft.

also in the Old Spice Classic –

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. 2008-09 Record: 18-14 Postseason: None

A very, very talented and deep team. They are talented enough to be ranked in the preseason polls, but won’t be due to media bias. On paper this team can beat anyone and should have beaten the bulk of their opponents played over the last 2 seasons. New coach Anthony Grant will turn this team around this season. ‘Bama is deep, talented, and athletic, the Tide will contend for the SEC crown this season. They will be competitive in the OSC, but will not be playing together well enough in November, in order to win the Orlando tourney. The Tide lost 3 Srs., of which SF Alonzo Gee will hurt the most. Sr. PG Ron Steele quit the team prior to last season. Green was SEC All-Frosh Team, Hillman led team in steals @ 1.78 gm. Coleman and Knox started over 30 games each. The Tide didn’t make the NCAA field and opted out of the lesser post seaon tourneys.