College Hoops Notebook
By Bruce Marshall
Already, the 2015-16 college hoops season can be marked by what seems to be an absence of a dominant team. Nothing, certainly, like last season's Kentucky outfit that stayed unbeaten until the Final Four, as confirmed recently by none other than HC John Calipari. "We don't have that same whip this season," said Coach Cal recently, comparing his new UK version, which is plenty good and could be very good by March, with last year's edition.
And that great Kentucky team didn't even win the national title. Instead, Duke was the winner, but the Blue Devils are also rebuilding on the fly and have tasted early-season defeat. And then there is last April's national finalist Wisconsin, also gutted by graduation and a very far cry from last season, too. And now without its great coach, too, as Bo Ryan accelerated his retirement plans that were expected to wait until the end of the season. After a labored win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi this past Tuesday that pushed Wiscy's record to a modest 7-5, Ryan decided to hang 'em up right then, with assistant Greg Gard promoted to the top spot. Gard will have the interim label for the remainder of the season with every chance to earn the job on a full-time basis, though there are some candidates who will probably draw the interest of AD Barry Alvarez. (More on those Badger coaching possibilities at the end of this piece.)
While the top level of the polls continues to adjust as we enter the holiday season, we are more intrigued than usual by the early surprise packages that are still flying a bit beneath the national radar. Some of these squads have earned notice because of success vs. lesser non-conference foes and could be exposed once they enter conference play. Others, however, could be the real deal. Following is a quick look at some of these "teams to watch" in the upcoming weeks. Straight-up records are thru December 16.
College of Charleston (7-2)...Picked near the bottom of the Colonial after a bumpy 2014-15 campaign in which HC Earl Grant got the job late (in September) after Doug Wojcik's dismissal, with the Cougars winning just nine games, it was easy to overlook Charleston entering this term. But the Cougars shocked LSU 70-58 at home on November 30 and have continued to punch above their weight, with the only losses very respectable close decisions against Davidson and Coastal Carolina, both Big Dance entrants a season ago. Rick Barry's son Canyon, a 6-5 junior guard, is a chip off the old block, taking almost twice as many shots as any other Cougar, but he's scoring 21.4 ppg and creates matchup problems on the perimeter. In fact, Charleston presents several potential matchups problems with a big backcourt but relatively small frontline, with no starter taller than 6-7 frosh PF Jarrell Brantley, who has emerged as the main inside scoring threat. At some point that lack of size could end up hurting the Cougars, but the Colonial is not a league with a lot of quality bigs, and Barry should be able to shoot Charleston into plenty of games this season.
Duquesne (9-2)...Living in the bottom half of the Atlantic 10 for several years, the Iron Dukes could be forging a breakthrough for HC Jim Ferry, who entered the campaign feeling some heat after recording a 33-58 mark the past three years. But an early-season blowout of Penn State down the hill from campus at the NHL Penguins' Consol Energy Center opened some eyes. Duquesne is scoring 84 ppg, hitting better than 50% from the floor and almost 40% beyond the arc, and owns one of the A-10's best 1-2 scoring combos in sr. Gs Derek Colter (18.6 ppg) and Micah Mason (16.2 ppg), who also ranked seventh nationally in three-point shooting percentage (44.7%) last season. Another sr. G, 6-3 Jeremiah Jones (10 ppg), adds even more seasoning to the lineup. Ferry's team is not big, however, with no starter over 6-7, and for all of its good field-goal shooting, it hits only 62.5% from the FT line. And it was outclassed again by crosstown Pitt a few weeks ago. But the go-go lineup could cause a lot of problems for A-10 foes once conference play commences.
Fordham (9-1)...It's been a l-o-n-g time since the Rams were worth watching (they haven't made the Big Dance since 1992). But Vin Scully's alma mater is off to its best start in years under new HC Jeff Neubauer, who has shaken off any culture shock with his move from Eastern Kentucky to The Bronx and immediately turned around a program that had sagged to a 44-106 mark the past five seasons under since-dismissed HC Tom Pecora. Mostly, it's been all holdovers who have led the recovery, paced by sr. G Mandell Thomas, who does a bit of everything on the floor and is now scoring at a career-best 18.8 ppg, while the one newcomer who has made an immediate impact, Quebecois Joseph Chartouny, has been able to relieve Thomas of PG duties so Thomas can concentrate more on his scoring while Chartouny is averaging a hefty 5.4 assists. Once-ballyhooed recruit Jon Severe, a 6-2 G whose three-point shooting dipped alarmingly to 24% a year ago, is canning triples at a 44.1% thus far. Fordham's only loss is looking better in retrospect, an opening-night 5-point setback to a UT-Arlington side that appears to be one of the best in the Sun Belt, and the 73-57 romp past St. John's suddenly impresses a bit more after the Red Storm took out Syracuse this past weekend.
Nevada (7-3)...Word this week that 6-9 C AJ West, a potential double-double machine in every game, was leaving the program for personal reasons might cause many to completely discount the Wolf Pack. But new HC Eric Musselman has already forged a turnaround in attitude and conditioning with his players, and West's departure will simply mean more time for 6-8 frosh Cameron Oliver, who had originally signed with Oregon State but did not play for the Beavers after HC Craig Robinson was dismissed. Oliver appears to be one of the "finds" of the still-young season, dominating Drake last Saturday when scoring all of his 17 points in the second half and completely distorting proceedings in a 79-71 Nevada win. West's departure does leave Nevada thin with just nine scholarship players remaining (several transfers, including ex-Missouri State star G Marcus Marshall, are siutting out this season), but already Musselman has forged upgrades for several players, including 6-4 sr. G Marqueze Coleman, now the unquestioned leader of the team and almost doubling his previous scoring-best year while at 17.6 ppg. With the Mountain West looking downgraded this season, Nevada could easily become a factor in the league race.
Northwestern (9-1)...Almost every year, we seem to get a false alarm on the Wildcats, who have often fared well in pre-league play but are still looking for their first-ever Big Dance invitation. Might this be the year? Former Coach K aide Chris Collins appears to have his best team at Evanston, with a veteran core of Gs in soph Bryant McIntosh and Tre Demps (both 15.6 ppg) and 7-0 sr. C Alex Olah (11.8 ppg), a legit post threat who can also float to mid-range and can jumpers. New blood in the form of electric 6-8 frosh Aaron Falzon, a shooter given the green light by Collins and hitting almost 40% beyond the arc, has added a new dimension to the Cats, scoring these days at 78 ppg, a far cry from the Princeton-style years under Bill Carmody. Now, can the Cats sustain their momentum into Big Ten play, which has often been their undoing? Wins of note were close ones over rebuilding Missouri and Virginia Tech, while NU lost its most-serious test against North Carolina by 11 in Kansas City in late November. The Cats were catching the Tar Heels off a loss at Northern Iowa, so that result doesn't seem too bad in retrospect. Still, NU is going to need to pick up at least a handful of quality wins in the Big Ten if its wishes to break its 0-for-forever Big Dance drought.
South Carolina (9-0)...They're starting to take notice in Columbia, where the Gamecocks' slow rebuild under fourth-year HC Frank Martin might finally be turning the corner. Like Martn's old Kansas State teams, this SC edition attacks from all angles, with five double-digit scorers and a pair of Lithuanian scoring threats on the frontline (6-7 F Mindaugas Kacinas at 13.3 ppg and 6-11 C Laimonas Chatkevicius at 13 ppg) capable of providing points in the post that even some SEC contenders lack. Experience abounds with F Michael Carrera and Gs Sindarius Thornwell and Duane Notice all veterans of past SEC wars, while 6-7 frosh swingman PJ Dozier, a touted McDonald's All-American, scored in double digits in recent wins over Drexel and South Florida. Martin, however, has scheduled carefully, with Tulsa probably the top victim to date. We'll get a better idea about SC in Friday's game vs. in-state rival Clemson, though full vetting of the Gamecocks might have to wait until SEC play begins next month.
UA Little-Rock (9-0)...Here's one if the nation's real surprise packages. Already the Trojans have claimed some impressive scalps, with wins over San Diego State, Tulsa, and DePaul, all away from home. To say the quick start is a surprise would be an understatement of the highest order after UALR finished well up the track and in eighth place in last year's Belt race that cost coach HC Steve Shields his job. New HC Chris Beard arrived from Division II Angelo State and immediately heated up the rails, landing transfers from Mississippi State, Florida A&M, and Wake Forest, plus a collection of high-profile jucos. One of those JC stars, PG Marcus Johnson, Jr., has been a catalyst while scoring 15 ppg in the early going, while another juco (via Central Arkansas), swingman Jalen Jackson, has caused plenty of matchup problems on the perimeter. Yet another juco, 6-11 Lis Shoshi, has emerged as a force in the paint. Mostly, however, Little Rock is controlling the pace and winning with defense, while also managing to hit an eye-opening 81.3% of its FTs in the first nine games. As long as the Trojans can continue to play at their tempo, they'll be tough to beat in the Belt.
Meanwhile, Ryan's abrupt departure from Wisconsin earlier this week already has the rumor mill whirring as to Ryan's eventual replacement, who might already be in place (the promoted Greg Gard). But speculation is running rampant in Madison, and following are some of the names most prominently mentioned to be coaching Wiscy next season.
Greg Gard, Wisconsin interim HC and Ryan's assistant...If it were up to Bo, Gard would already be his permanent successor. Ryan wanted Gard to be Wisconsin's coach-in-waiting, similar to the way Mike Hopkins has been lined up at Syracuse, but AD Barry Alvarez was cool on the idea. Big Ten sources say that Ryan knew the timing of this announcement would force Alvarez to at least let Gard coach through a Big Ten schedule, and that maybe Gard could do enough in that chair to convince Alvarez to give him the job full-time. Gard effectively has a three-month audition for the job.
Tony Bennett, Virginia head coach...This is the dream hire for Wisconsin fans. Bennett is a native son, though an alum of UW-Green Bay where he played for papa Dick Bennett, who would eventually coach the Badgers with Tony as an aide. The younger Bennett was born in the state, played college basketball in the state, and his parents still live in the state. He's twice been National Coach of the Year, as well as Pac-10 and ACC Coach of the Year. He's won the past two ACC regular-season titles; his Cavaliers are ranked eighth in the AP poll now. But would he leave a very good Virginia job?
Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa head coach...Jacobson's chops are firmly established, as his UNI teams have won at least 20 games in six of the past seven seasons, which include a 31-win campaign last year. He hails from North Dakota and coaches in Iowa, meaning he's familiar with the region. Jacobson might be the fall-back option if Gard doesn't impress Alvarez and Bennett can't be tempted away from Virginia, but he would make lots of sense for Alvarez to hire right off the bat, too.
Chris Mack, Xavier head coach...Mack supposedly thought long and hard about the Cal job that eventually went to Cuonzo Martin prior to last season. Wisconsin would probably pay more than Cal, and the cost of living in pleasant Madison is much less than in the trendy Bay Area, so if contacted, Mack would probably take a look. But he has turned away several suitors in the past and has a good thing going with the Musketeers, who again are one of the best in the Big East and a threat to make a deep run in March. That Mack has stayed put despite those many past offers suggests he is very comfy at the X, but he will be worth a call by Alvarez.
Archie Miller, Dayton head coach...Sean's younger brother has made quite a name for himself at Dayton. Where, like Mack at nearby Xavier, Miller has shown no inclination to leave despite being courted often the past couple of years. But no Big Ten jobs have come calling, and sources say Miller would not dismiss out of hand any possible move to Madison. Though some believe Miller fears that the Badger job, not historically good until Dick Bennett and Ryan arrived, might regress, and the moment his long-term prospects at Dayton might be better. Regardless, sources believe Miller would at least listen to Wisconsin should Alvarez call.
Wayne Tinkle, Oregon State head coach...Tinkle has impressed everyone at Corvallis since his move last year from Montana, where he guided the Grizzlies to the Big Dance in 2010, 2012 and 2013. The Beavers are 6-2 this season thanks largely to the play of Tres Tinkle and Stephen Thompson, Jr., sons of Tinkle and his assistant Stephen Thompson, respectively. Both are freshmen, so both could, theoretically, also make the move to Wisconsin with the dads. Tinkle, by the way, was born in Milwaukee.
Bryce Drew, Valparaiso head coach...Drew has turned down major jobs before, and was reportedly a finalist at Iowa State last spring before Steve Prohm was hired. Drew has coaching in his blood after dad Homer was an institution on the bench at Valpo, where Bryce once starred as a player for his dad. Bryce picked up much of the shrewdness and game-management skills of his dad and is destined for a bigger job than Valpo...if he ever wants to take one, that is. Drew also knows Big Ten country, and if he ever leaves Valpo, a job like Wiscy would seem a proper destination.
Rob Jeter, UW-Milwaukee head coach...Jeter, son of former Iowa football hero and Green Bay Packer DB Bob Jeter, has been a fixture at Milwaukee for ten years, with some high moments at a school that once featured Ryan and Bruce Pearl as its coaches. Jeter also worked for Ryan when Bo coached at UW-Platteville, has made the Big Dance a couple of times, and was once the Horizion Coach of the Year. Might be a bit down the list but should be on the Alvarez radar if Wisconsin looks away from gard next spring.
Saul Phillips, Ohio head coach...Phillips would be a deep fall-back option, but does have ties to Ryan and the program, as Phillips is a Wisconsin native who played for Ryan at Platteville, then worked for him at Wisconsin. He's also a two-time Summit League Coach of the Year while at North Dakota State. Though since Alvarez has thus far balked at Ryan's suggestion to make Gard the permanent coach, one wonders if the AD is not going to look for another branch of the Ryan tree to lead the program into the future.
Stay tuned...
