Sizing up the Competition – continued

On By @gtmoblueIn college basketball 365

Sizing Up the Competition

Evaluative Capsules of the Non-conference Opponents



Old Spice Classic

Thanksgiving Weekend

27-29 November 2009

Walt Disney Sport Complex – The Milk House

Orlando, FL



University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. 2008-09 Record: 21-14 Postseason: NCAA 2nd Rd

UM overachieved last season. And with the return of SF Manny Harris, GD Lucas-Perry, and PF DeShawn Sims this years squad – a year more seasoned, will have expectations for greater achievements. They return 4 starters, 90% of scoring and 87% of their rebounding. Wolverines lost SR PG C J Lee and So Gd Kelvin Grady. While I am not convinced that Beilein is that good of a coach, results cannot be argued with.

The Wolverines will be a good, scrappy team – probably a bit cocky after their NCAA success and battling Oklahoma in the 2nd Rd.. Many of the preseason polls have them ranked, between # 11 & # 19 ( most as # 18). They will probably be the 1 or 2 seed at the Old Spice Classic, in Orlando, over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. Jays should see them in the 2nd round of that event. They have the talent to run, but Belein teams like half court sets and the 3 ball. If they play Belein ball, it plays into CU’s defensive hands and the Jays will win handily on the neutral court.

Returning Players: SFs Manny Harris & Tony Wright, PF DeShawn Sims, Ctrs Zack Gibson & Ben Cronin, SG Laval Lucas-Perry, and So. role players SF Novak and PG Douglass – both 3 pt specialists. Douglass also sported a 2:1 Ast/TO ratio. PG Morris and Vogrich could impact right away.

New Recruits: LA’s PG Darius Morris 6′ 1”, Chicago SG Matt Vogrich, Ill. Gatorade POY, Fwds Jordan Morgan & Blake McLimans. Ctr Cronin & Gd Person are R-Fr this season.

Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. 2008-09 Record: 27-8 Postseason: NCAA Sweet 16

The Musketeers. What can I say that hasn’t been said by others with better prose? Their system works…change the coach and yet they keep winning. This year will be more of the same. They also lost 3 players to graduation/draft, BJ (Raymond), CJ (Anderson) & Derrick Brown, but most expect Xavier to reload. Brown was expected to be the lead guy this season – but off to the draft. X is ranked in many pre-season polls (#18 – #21) and will be the 2 or the 1 seed at the OSC. Due to their familiarity with & recent playing history against the Jays, I believe the Musketeers will opt to avoid a pairing with CU until the finals of the tourney. Why risk the loss in the early going – allow the teams who are not familiar with CU to see for themselves.

Returning Players: Ctr Kenny Frease, Fwds Jason Love, Jamel McLean, Big PG Jackson – Little PG Holloway (both are TO prone).

New Recruits: So Transfer (Indiana) SG Jordan Crawford

Sizing up the Competition – Non-conference Opponents

On By @gtmoblueIn Pre-season Basketball, Sports - Men's

 

Sizing Up the Competition

Evaluative Capsules of the Non-conference Opponents

It’s July already. Time for prognostications, predictions, and for we pundits to put the old Waggoneer in gear. While waiting for the opportune moment to spring my annual fearless predictions for the Jays Basketball season, I thought I’d provide a bit of light fare with my evaluations of the slate of known opponents, thus far, in the non-conference portion of the schedule. As more tilts are inked in and confirmed, I will add the appropriate capsulized evaluations. I will attempt to do these chronologically, as best as possible, given there are still holes in the non-conference slate.

Having said all that, I will go out on the limb of my Kool-Aid tree, and state without qualification:

The 2009-10 Season is going to be a Banner Year in the History, Legacy, & Traditions of Creighton Basketball.


You heard it here First…from gtmoBlue, the old Blue Kool-Aid swiller himself.

Sizing Up the Competition

Evaluative Capsules of the Non-conference Opponents

Team Capsules

November 2009



University of Dayton, Dayton, OH. 2008-09 Record: 27-8 Postseason: NCAA 1st Rd

I was expecting to play this one in mid to late December, then I read on Wildjays site that this is the opener…WOW! This is not the way to open the season. How about 1 or 2 tuneup games 1st. This is the game which concerns me most of any on the non-conference slate, and now even moreso. UD @ Dayton is always an exciting game, Dayton Arena is a tough venue to play, and their crowd is a voracious, diehard crew. If the Jays were to lose any nonconference game, this is the one I’d pick, especially if we are ranked by the date of our visit to UD-which will not be the case in November. The Flyers lost Brian Roberts, but return a veteran laden and very athletic team. Win, lose, or draw – this will be one tough game for the Bluejays. This is why the offseason has to have the serious, strictly business tone this year. It will be tough ‘out of the gates’ and will continue thru November. The Jays will earn their non-conf record this season

Returning Players: Ctrs Huelsman and Jr. Devin Searcy, Fwds Chris Wright & Luke Fabrizius, Sgs Marcus Johnson & Paul Williams, and Pgs – athletic London Warren and speedy Rob Lowery.

New Recruits: Local 3-star PF Matt Kavanaugh.



Mississippi Valley State Univ, Itabena, MS. 2008-09 Record: 7-25 Postseason: None

The boys from Itabena will be at it again this year, swingin’ for the fences as the most traveled team in Division 1. As is well known now, their basketball program will take a game anywhere – in the name of supporting the rest of the Delta Devils sports slate. This season will be no exception in that regard. After a splendid 2007-08 and a NCAA berth, MVSU lost 5 Srs. and were in rebuilding mode last season. Rebuilding will continue this season as well, as the Devil’s lost Eric Petty and Dwayne Harmason to graduation. The Delta Devils are nearly as well traveled as the Harlem Globetrotters. I don’t expect to see D’ play much, but it will be good to see him again. Seeing as how it is early in their road slate when they arrive in Omaha, we could expect a good game with the Bluejays.

Returning Players: Jr Ctr Shannon Behling, F Orlando Smith, Mike Clark, & Gds Newsome & McReynolds are the key returnees.

New Recruits: 8 newcomers – 2 6′ 6” frosh, 6 Jucos incl – DeAngelo Jackson (former Jay) and 2 Cochise CC, AZ players – Jason Holmes 6′ 9” – Chicago & Mike Mayo 6′ 3” – LA.

Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA. 2008-09 Record: 8-23 Postseason: None

Southern has CU connections, as their Asst. AD is a former Jays Athletics staffer. The Jags lost Sr. Gd Chris Davis – leading scorer, but return most of their starters. They competed well against the Jays on their homecourt last season, but don’t look for a repeat performance this season. The Jays will look to put the Jaguars away early at the Qwest Center.

Returning Players: Barry Honore, Stefon Wiley, Ernest Jones, and Jazz Williams bring experience back. Juco Transfer McCall Wollman should see more time this season.

New Recruits: None

University of Arkansas – Little Rock, AR. 2008-09 Record: 23-8 Postseason: None

The Trojans of UALR are a good team by any standard, and have been a good midmajor club for a few years now. They won 20+ games last season, the 2nd straight year of making that accomplishment. UALR should again contend for the Sun Belt West Division Crown and the league title. Moore, Edwards (1st Team All-Sunbelt), & Mouzy are dbl digit scorers. Fwd Fowler is Defensive POY. As we all remember, they beat the Jays in Little Rock last season. While I don’t expect a repeat win on their part, the men of Troy will be competitive for at least the 1st half, in Omaha.

Returning Players: PG Steve Moore, Gds Brandon Patterson, Matt Mouzy, Fwd Shane Edwards, John Fowler.

New Recruits: 8 newcomers incl: 3 Star – 6′ 10” Will Neighbour, Birm, AL

-More to come-