Early season and pre-conference offer profitable opportunities. The following observations are not to be taken as to which teams are top ten or conference winners, etc.- they should only be considered as games with potential should certain factors fall into place.
Good Luck on All Bets!
Makers
American East While everyone is well aware of Taylor Coppenrath and slick P.G. Sorrentine. Maine with an experienced Vet. squad, esp. should Jackson remain healthy could be the conference surprise. Terrific FT shooting club that bodes well when facing the upper echelon of the conference.
Boston College 11.9 and Rhode Island 11.26 would be worth circling!
Horizon League Looking beneath the surface of a season that included a 23 game losing streak Cleveland State was hampered by injuries and personal problems that should be less of a factor in 2005. Losing 11 games by 7 pts. or less and the continued improvement of Omari Westley 6'7" senior 14.8 ppg/8.6 rpg makes this a team worth watching. Akron and Kent State are up in early December, again worth a look.
Metro Atlantic The tremendous Juan Mendez will assure Niagara the opportunity to unseat Bobby Gonzalez's high flying Jaspers. The overlooked team in this fun conference could well the deep veteran Broncos of Rider Smooth shooting Jerry Johnson 18.7 ppg should get a lift from a vastly improved Robert Taylor. Drexel on 11.27 followed by U. Mass 12.23 should test the line!!!
Memphis "The best club I have had" according to Calipari may want to remove that quote from their scrapbook before they take the floor 11.20 against Arkansas State featuring the best unknown backcourt in the NCAA. Dewarick Spencer and J.J. Montgomery will light you up, esp. when facing a club not known for defensive intensity outside of conference USA!
Big Ten Illinois and Wisconsin (both losing to Northwestern last year) may want to hide their relief that leading scorer Young has graduated as transfers Seacat and Doyle along with former 6'10" Duke recruit and High School AA Michael Thompson should take this club even beyond the already high expectations. Expect more athleticism and tempo!
Notes
Keep a watchful eye on the weak inside game of Memphis, TCU and Washington State as opportunities should be presented the entire season. An example would be when Washington State hosts the huge talented front line of Oregon 01.15
San Diego State Picked to finish 5th in the Mountain West returns near 80% of all facets!!!
MAC Has an abundance of quality/veteran backcourts. Very similar to early NCAA rounds guards can dominate early season play.
Nevada Not only lost Snyder but 2 other quality backcourt players and are still picked to finish first. ???
New Mexico(picked to finish 4th) The terrific Danny Granger 19.5/9.1
has a more experienced cast plus a healthy Mark Walters which can only mean good things for the Lobos!
A bit of wind here in South Florida delayed and shortened my yearly early season exercise, I would hope to add to this over the coming weeks.
Good Luck on All Bets!
Makers
American East While everyone is well aware of Taylor Coppenrath and slick P.G. Sorrentine. Maine with an experienced Vet. squad, esp. should Jackson remain healthy could be the conference surprise. Terrific FT shooting club that bodes well when facing the upper echelon of the conference.
Boston College 11.9 and Rhode Island 11.26 would be worth circling!
Horizon League Looking beneath the surface of a season that included a 23 game losing streak Cleveland State was hampered by injuries and personal problems that should be less of a factor in 2005. Losing 11 games by 7 pts. or less and the continued improvement of Omari Westley 6'7" senior 14.8 ppg/8.6 rpg makes this a team worth watching. Akron and Kent State are up in early December, again worth a look.
Metro Atlantic The tremendous Juan Mendez will assure Niagara the opportunity to unseat Bobby Gonzalez's high flying Jaspers. The overlooked team in this fun conference could well the deep veteran Broncos of Rider Smooth shooting Jerry Johnson 18.7 ppg should get a lift from a vastly improved Robert Taylor. Drexel on 11.27 followed by U. Mass 12.23 should test the line!!!
Memphis "The best club I have had" according to Calipari may want to remove that quote from their scrapbook before they take the floor 11.20 against Arkansas State featuring the best unknown backcourt in the NCAA. Dewarick Spencer and J.J. Montgomery will light you up, esp. when facing a club not known for defensive intensity outside of conference USA!
Big Ten Illinois and Wisconsin (both losing to Northwestern last year) may want to hide their relief that leading scorer Young has graduated as transfers Seacat and Doyle along with former 6'10" Duke recruit and High School AA Michael Thompson should take this club even beyond the already high expectations. Expect more athleticism and tempo!
Notes
Keep a watchful eye on the weak inside game of Memphis, TCU and Washington State as opportunities should be presented the entire season. An example would be when Washington State hosts the huge talented front line of Oregon 01.15
San Diego State Picked to finish 5th in the Mountain West returns near 80% of all facets!!!
MAC Has an abundance of quality/veteran backcourts. Very similar to early NCAA rounds guards can dominate early season play.
Nevada Not only lost Snyder but 2 other quality backcourt players and are still picked to finish first. ???
New Mexico(picked to finish 4th) The terrific Danny Granger 19.5/9.1
has a more experienced cast plus a healthy Mark Walters which can only mean good things for the Lobos!
A bit of wind here in South Florida delayed and shortened my yearly early season exercise, I would hope to add to this over the coming weeks.
