There’s nothing like Parsippany, NJ on a cold Tuesday–especially when you live in Virginia. Anyway, apologies for the work stoppage here. The work I do to pay for things like food, clothing, and a high speed connection took precedence.
Quickie today as I head out for the airport, courtesy of Brian Mull. Apparantly Wake transfer Kevin Swinton will never suit up as a Seahawk. He’s been dismissed from the team for carrying a firearm.
What can I say, vaccuming isn’t overwhelmingly exciting.
I’ve added to the linky lines at the right Yoni Cohen’s Yoco Hoops. Two years ago it was a must-read. Last season he seemed to want to contribute but never found the time nor mustered the effort. But everyone has a personal life, and we’re not grudge-holders.
(As a note of clarity–Yoni and I have spoken on two or three occasions and traded a handful of emails, all at least one year old. I don’t really know him, so don’t read anything into the personal life comment. Speaking from experience, though I truly enjoy what we do here–and I imagine so does Yoni over there–when something has to suffer because of real life, it is this thing.)
If Yoni is back blogging it is worth your click.
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Also in the linky lines is Making the Dance. Seems to follow recruiting and the guy was decent enough to both ask for a link and provide one. So I gladly oblige.
I can tell the season is upon us. Fans are furiously overanalyzing intrasquad scrimmages (here, and here); they are hanging the very balance of their lives on the status of a power forward’s injured toe; and they are finding this site with all manner of search terms.
Trae Goldston, Justin Billingslea captain, Charles Jenkins Hofstra, Abdullai Jalloh, Matt Mc Fadden, and TJ Carter were all used to get here. So was Kent Culuko, but I’m not touching that one. Welcome new folks.
Traffic here is at record levels for preseason. That bodes well for the season-season.
As for me, I had my annual preseason lunch with Da’ Commish and his loyal henchmen. It is always entertaining and enlightening. We’ll deal with that next week.
To sate your weekend, though, here is a tidbit from CAA Number Monger Rob Washburn: the CAA has had six different teams go to the postseason in the past two years, winning a combined 10 games. I don’t know the list of conferences that can match that–surely there is a number cruncher among you to find out–but when you step out of the BCS, I’m betting the list that matches that achievement isn’t long.
And let’s not forget that the NIT is a different animal now than it used to be. You need more than friends in low places to make that tourney–and fewer teams make it.
Enjoy your weekend. I need to vaccum the floor and head out for Stella. With all the rain, indoor activities will take precedence this weekend.
The CAA has four teams ranked in the first “Mid Major Top 25″ poll over at College Insider. Hofstra and The Dub land in a category that is my favorite argument starter, the Others Receiving Votes.
Also of note, The Dagger is on the preseason list of Wooden Award candidates. (See the entire list here, thanks to the VCU website.) Only 50 college basketball players make the list.
From Dustin Dopirak in Harrisonburg, a profile of JMUs Abdulai Jalloh. This is part one of two, and it is very good.
For the past few weeks, I have been slowly getting opinions on the toughest place to play in the conference. The plan was not to check with fans–we all have our favorite places. No, I surveyed coaches–head honchos and assistants–on the condition that there would be no names. We’d do it Sports Illustrated style.
Last night, I decided to sit down and re-review my work on the CAA preview for Blue Ribbon. (Side note: C+ work, at best. Egad, some of that writing is miserable.) I also used that re-review to check schedules against one another in hopes of combining games to plot road trips. And this morning, I got an email from EP himself, in part containing a query: are you geeked for the season?
Uh, yes. Very much so.
Anyway, that combination led me to choose to release what I have on the whole “toughest venues” subject. Seems like it is the day for this.
Of course, I got more than one version of: ”all of them. There isn’t an easy place to play in the entire league.” You know how coaches are.
I also got the expected responses, so we’ll skip the coachspeak and give you the three items that stood out:
1. Drexel’s DAC was mentioned most, for reasons running the gamut from sharing a staircase to how close everything is in relation to the floor.
2. UNCWs Trask was not mentioned; Mason’s Pat Dome only once.
3. The surprise answer: “James Madison was surprisingly tough. Not crowded but tough. That little student section behind the basket was clever and they seemed to do their research.”
…the season actually starts. I can practically taste it. Can’t you?
Side note: they sure can taste the season over at the CAAZone. Some of those nutballs are in midseason form. Love it.
Link it up:
Brian Mull reports on a UNCW intrasquadder. TJ Carter poured in 38 big ones, but relax, Dub fans. That’s impressive (Mull says so) but remember: there was either little defense being played, or you need to understand that was one of your guys (not) covering him.
Rich Radford hits an ODU practice or five, giving us the interesting nugget that Marsharee Neely may be redshirted. To me, that’s a wow note. First, Taylor has lamented on more than one occasion he wished he could’ve given Neely more PT last year. Second, Neely can shoot and score, which isn’t exactly ODUs primary strength. But third–and perhaps most important–is that Taylor considering Neely for a redshirt may mean that Abdi Lidonde is playing very, very well.
So I’m going back and writing the update chapter for the paperback version of Cinderella, and of course went to old blog posts for info, perspective, and data points. I have a difficult enough time remembering what I had for lunch last Thursday, much less what was going through my gourd in March. I found some very humorous stuff, including this Duke riff way before they drew VCU.
Love irony.
As I try to do my part in extending the brand (that’s CAA hoops, knucklehead), nuggets of opportunity uncover themselves. I was fortunate enough to be asked to contribute mid major hoops coverage to Storming the Floor. No clue on the number of times I’ll do a guestie, but the site is a good one. It’s been added to the linky lines on the right, and I will cross-post my contributions over there. Check it out.
Side note: my initial contribution goes live today. Not sure on the time, but I have a weekend to begin.
Enjoy yours.
Apologies to Dean Keener and Bill Coen. I’m tired of these previews and ready for the season to start. Does this foreshadow a tie in the standings?
INDEX
James Madison
Place Range: 6th to 12th
Gutsy Pick: 9th
Why I Like Them Here: It’s about arguments. There’s no doubt in my mind the Dukes will be better. How much better remains to be seen. Abdulai Jalloh and Dazz Thornton will certainly add a dimension to them (pure scorer and toughness), as will Pierre Curtis being a sophomore. It’s also about depth–Dean Keener has, for the first time, multiple options. How can I tell? Juwan James is the fourth name written in this preview. Used to be his was the only name listed. As for the arguments, I can’t bring myself to put JMU ahead of Northeastern or UNCW. Before Tommy Breaux was injured, the same held true for Towson. The fact that we’re making arguments for JMU is something.
Why I Could Be Wrong: I refer you back to options. JMU has some pieces and parts, that f they weren’t coming off of a seven-win season, people would be touting highly. Four players averaged double figures last year. They have a pure shooter (Posey). They have a workhorse (James). They have a bruiser (Thornton). They have a swagger/scorer (Jalloh). They have a director (Curtis). They have a jack-of-all-trades (Carter). And Kyle Swanston gets to play with no expectations.
Oh Schedule-Maker, Why Doth Thou Curse Us: Keener must’ve made someone angry. We’re back to Happy New Year with a Jan. 2 homer against VCU, followed by a roadie at Hofstra, roadie at W&M, home to The Dub, at ODU, home with Mason. Then they all return in Feb.: @UNCW, @VCU, home Hofstra, home ODU.
Outlook: The CAA coaches and media picked JMU seventh and nobody raised an eyebrow. It’s mainly due to the talent they have on offense. But there is a big ol’ but. JMU was dead last in the conference last year in scoring defense, field goal defense, and three point defense. They gave up 80 or more points seven times. You don’t magically become a great defensive team.
Guesstimate: 4-14 to 8-10.
Northeastern
Place Range: 5th to 10th
Gutsy Pick: 6th
Why I Like Them Here: Two-bit, pointless analysis aside, I simply think this team has more talent than last year’s 9-9 team. It’s as simple as that. Nor’Easter is going to be big and athletic, and even Captain Matt has added strength and bulk. Manny Adako went the other, changing his body to adapt to the rigor of the season. Eugene Spates can shoot on take it to the rim, and he’s 6-8. Chris Alvarez averaged more than four rebounds per game at Dayton. Finally, I’m buying into Chaisson Allen. I don’t follow recruiting but those who do like this guy.
Why I Could Be Wrong: Though I haven’t ripped the three seniors that graduated (Bobby Kelly, Adrian Martinez, Bennett Davis) I have stated they weren’t much more than role players. I stick by that, but I could be wrong. Davis was a key cog, and I wasn’t in the locker room so I don’t know the leadership skills of Kelly or Martinez. If those three are not replaced, Nor’Easter could slide to a double-digit seed.
Oh Schedule-Maker, Why Doth Thou Curse Us: Seven of the first eight and 10 of 12 games have the @ symbol. And they aren’t playing the Boston Culinary Institute. As for the conference season, they play a bit of ping pong in late January, but otherwise it isn’t horrific. After hosting Drexel on Jan. 12, the Huskies travel to Mason and travel to W&M. Back home for Delaware and then three days later they hit the beach and The Dub. Then it’s right back home for Hofstra before heading to Delaware.
Outlook: Outside of Captain Matt, it’s a bunch of guys you’ve never heard of. Yet. Plus, they go 6-4, 6-5, 6-8, 6-8, 6-8 to start, and have 6-9 Allen Aragbaye waiting. That should solve last season’s rebounding woes. Plus, there are more options on offense. When you combine talent with increased athleticism, you get better shots. Nor’Easter’s 41% field goal accuracy (11th) will improve, as will its 62 ppg (also 11th). When you think of home court advantages, you always hear Trask, Siegel, The Ted, and The DAC. I dare you to head to Mathews one time.
Guesstimate: 7-11 to 10-8.
Courtesy of WRHU (Hofstra) and WRAS (Atlanta)
Blaine Taylor, on his placement of third: “We’re one of five or six schools where you’re not sure. (I think) we’re picked higher because we’ve had some pretty good players recently.
Also: “I’ve always said if you can be one of the top three or four teams in our conference, you can beat anyone in the land.”
Rod Barnes, on his team: “We’ve got to have proven players on the roster. We have some pieces. We’ve got to be tougher than any other team. We’ve got to believe more than any other team.”
Deven Dickerson is injured but will return.
Jim Larranaga, shunning the five starters being a huge advantage question: “We’re happy we have a veteran team that works very hard.”
Coach L, shunning preseason #1 prediction, also gave his love to VCU: “They are returning four of their top six players and won 16 of 18 conference games. We were 9-9. In my mind they are really the preseason favorite.”
But he did finish in very Coach L style, noting nobody really cares about the preseason poll: “We just want to be playing our best basketball in March and representing the CAA in the NCAA tournament.”
He also provided a very nice scouting report on Kansas State, a game near Thanksgiving. Love that guy’s geekiness.
Finally, his note on Darryl Monroe’s toe surgery: “I doubt Darryl will be in uniform (for the season opener).” Larranaga noted that they are looking more towards end of November/first of December for his return, and that means, in Larranaga’s words, “not just back in uniform but back in shape.”
Anthony Grant, panning preseason #2: “It doesn’t give me any comfort saying we’re preseason #2 just like it didn’tcause me any concern last year being preseason #6.”
