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Showing posts from 2023

Houston Basketball Preview

2022-23 Record: 33-4, 17-1 AAC (1st) Coach: Kelvin Sampson, Tenth Season Departures: Marcus Sasser, G (Draft) Jarace Walker, F (Draft) Tramon Mark, G (Transfer) Reggie Chaney, F (Graduation, also RIP) Arrivals: LJ Cryer, G (Transfer from Baylor) Damian Dunn, G (Transfer from Temple) Kordelius Jefferson, G (Freshman) Joseph Tugler, F (Freshman) Jacob McFarland, C (Freshman) Projected Starting Lineup PG: Jamal Shead SG: LJ Cryer SF: Damian Dunn PF: Terrance Arceneaux C: J'Wan Roberts Roster Breakdown Kelvin Sampson has turned the Cougars into a machine and one of the most consistent teams in the nation. They've made the tournament every year since 2018, and haven't lost double digit games at any time in that span. They have lost two first round draft picks in Marcus Sasser  and Jarace Walker , but the show goes on, and there's plenty of reason of optimism for the Cougars, starting with their returning talent. Jamal Shead  is back and he'll run the show for the Coogs t...

Cincinnati Season Preview

2022-23 Record: 23-13, 11-7 AAC (4th) Coach: Wes Miller, Third Year Departures: Landers Nolley, F (Graduation) David DeJulius, G (Graduation) Mika Adams-Woods, G (Transfer) Jeremiah Davenport, W (Graduation) Kalu Ezikpe, F (Graduation) Rob Phinisee, G (Gradiation) Jarrett Hensley, F (Transfer) Arrivals: CJ Fredrick, W (Transfer from Kentucky) Simas Lukosius, W (Transfer from Butler) Aziz Bandaogo, C (Transfer from Utah Valley) Jamille Reynolds, C (Transfer from Temple) DaVeon Thomas, G (Junior College Transfer) Jizzle James, G (Freshman) Rayvon Griffith, W (Freshman) Projected Starting Lineup PG: Jizzle James SG: CJ Fredrick SF: Simas Lukosius PF: Viktor Lakhin C: Aziz Bandaogo Roster Breakdown Another newcomer to the Big 12, the Cincinnati Bearcats have a proud basketball history, with great coaches such as Bob Huggins and Mick Cronin having patrolled the sidelines, and great players like Oscar Robertson and Kenyon Martin having graced the court. Wes Miller is entering his third seaso...

BYU Season Preview

2022-23 Record: 19-15, 7-9 WCC (5th) Coach: Mark Pope, Fifth Season Departures: Rudi Williams, G (Graduation) Gideon George, F (Graduation) Tanner Toolson, W (Transfer) Arrivals: Dawson Baker, G (Transfer from UC Irvine) Aly Khalifa, C (Transfer from Charlotte) Projected Starting Lineup PG: Dallin Hall SG: Jaxson Robinson SF: Spencer Johnson PF: Fousseyni Traore C: Aly Khalifa Roster Breakdown The Cougars are coming into the conference from the WCC, and they'll have to raise their game to keep their high level of success with their move to the Big 12. The good news for Mark Pope is he has a lot of returning production to help the transition to the new conference. While two of their top four scorers depart, the Cougars do bring back seven of their top nine scorers. Leading the returners is big man Fousseyni Traore , who led the team in scoring last season. He put up 12.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks, and his rebounding and block numbers were actually down from hi...

Baylor Season Preview

2022-23 Record: 23-11, 11-7 Big 12 (3rd) Coach: Scott Drew, 21st Season Departures: Adam Flagler, G (Graduation) Keyonte George, G (Draft) LJ Cryer, G (Transfer) Flo Thamba, C (Graduation) Dale Bonner, G (Transfer) Arrivals: RayJ Dennis, G (Transfer from Toledo) Jayden Nunn, G (Transfer from VCU) Ja'Kobe Walter, W (Freshman) Miro Little, G (Freshman) Yves Missi, C (Freshman) Projected Starting Lineup PG: RayJ Dennis SG: Jayden Nunn SF: Ja'Kobe Walter PF: Jalen Bridges C: Jonathon Tchamwa Tchatchoua Roster Breakdown Scott Drew has transformed Baylor into a powerhouse in the Big 12, and he'll look to continue that success with the new look conference in 2023-24. However, he's got to navigate some roster turnover, specifically in the backcourt. Adam Flager  graduated, Keyonte George  was one and done, and LJ Cryer  transferred to new conference rival Houston. Plus, backup guard Dale Bonner  has gone onto Ohio State. There will be a lot of new faces, but Langston Love ...

Wake Forest Season Preview

2022-23 Record: 19-14, 10-10 ACC (8th) Coach: Steve Forbes, Fourth Season Departures: Tyree Appleby, G (Graduation) Daivien Williamson, G (Graduation) Bobi Klintman, F (Pro) Davion Bradford, C (Transfer) Lucas Taylor, W (Transfer) Arrivals: Hunter Sallis, G (Transfer from Gonzaga) Kevin "Boopie" Miller, F (Transfer from Central Michigan) Abramo Canka, W (Transfer from UCLA) Efton Reid, C (Transfer from Gonzaga) Parker Friedrichsen, G (Freshman) Aaron Clark, W (Freshman) Marqus Marion, W (Freshman) Projected Starting Lineup PG: Hunter Sallis SG: Cameron Hildreth SF: Domari Monsanto PF: Andrew Carr C: Matthew Marsh Roster Breakdown Steve Forbes will be looking to make his first NCAA Tournament since moving to Winston-Salem, and he's got a good returning core to help him do it. Four of the top six scorers return, and I would expect all of them to start. Cameron Hildreth  and Domari Monsanto  will man the wings while Andrew Carr  and Matthew Marsh  are back in the front ...

Virginia Tech Season Preview

2022-23 Record: 19-15, 8-12 ACC (11th) Coach: Mike Young, Fifth Season Departures: Grant Basile, F (Graduation) Justyn Mutts, F (Graduation) Darius Maddox, G (Transfer) Arrivals: Mekhi Long, W (Transfer from Old Dominion) Robbie Beran, F (Transfer from Northwestern) Tyler Nickel, F (Transfer from North Carolina) Brandon Rechsteiner, G (Freshman) Jaydon Young, G (Freshman) Projected Starting Lineup PG: Sean Pedulla SG: Hunter Cattoor SF: MJ Collins PF: Robbie Beran C: Lynn Kidd Roster Breakdown After back to back NCAA Tournament appearances, the Hokies took a step back last season, finishing in the bottom 5 in the ACC last year. They'll look to bounce back this year, and will be lead by returning guards Sean Pedulla  and Hunter Cattoor . Both guards over elite floor spacing, with Cattoor shooting 41.8% from deep over his four years in college, he's actually been over 40% every year, and Pedulla at 37.3% over his first two seasons. Both guys are also crafty scorers around the rim...

Virginia Season Preview

2022-23 Record: 25-8, 15-5 ACC (1st) Coach: Tony Bennett, 15th Season Departures: Armaan Franklin, G (Graduation) Jayden Gardner, F (Graduation) Kihei Clark, G (Graduation) Ben Vander Plas, F (Graduation) Kadin Shedrick, C (Transfer) Francisco Caffaro, C (Transfer) Isaac Traudt, F (Transfer) Arrivals: Dante Harris, G (Transfer from Georgetown) Andrew Rohde, W (Transfer from St. Thomas) Jacob Groves, F (Transfer from Oklahoma) Jordan Minor, F (Transfer from Merrimack) Elijah Gertrude, G (Freshman) Blake Buchanon, F (Freshman) Anthony Robinson, C (Freshman) Projected Starting Lineup PG: Reece Beekman SG: Isaac McKneely SF: Andrew Rohde PF: Ryan Dunn C: Jordan Minor Roster Breakdown The Cavaliers have won the ACC regular season championship in four of the last six years, and Tony Bennett will be hoping to maintain that level while losing some program stalwarts, like Kihei Clark  and Jayden Gardner . Four of the five starters from last season have departed the program, but point guard ...

Syracuse Season Preview

2022-23 Record: 17-15, 10-10 ACC (8th) Coach: Adrian Autry, First Season Departures: Joe Girard III , G (Transfer) Jesse Edwards, C (Transfer) Symir Torrence, G (Transfer) Arrivals: JJ Starling, G (Transfer from Notre Dame) Kyle Cuffe Jr, G (Transfer from Kansas) Chance Westry, W (Transfer from Auburn) Naheem McLeod, C (Transfer from Florida State) William Patterson, C (Freshman) Projected Starting Lineup PG: Judah Mintz SG: JJ Starling SF: Benny Williams PF: Chris Bell C: Naheem McLeod Roster Breakdown After coaching the Syracuse Orange for a staggering 47 seasons, Jim Boeheim has retired and there will be a new man on the sidelines in the Carrier JMA Wireless Dome. Former Syracuse player and assistant coach Adrian Autry takes over a team that has been somewhat middling in recent seasons, and he'll look to rejuvenate the program. He has managed to hold on to the entire 2022 recruiting class, which looks like it will be the building blocks of the program for the next few years, es...

Pittsburgh Season Preview

2022-23 Record: 24-12, 14-6 ACC (3rd) Coach: Jeff Capel, Sixth Season Departures: Jamarius Burton, G (Graduation) Nelly Cummings, G (Graduation) Greg Elliott, G (Graduation) Nike Sibande, G (Graduation) John Hugley, C (Transfer) Arrivals: Ishmael Leggett, G (Transfer from Rhode Island) Zach Austin, F (Transfer from High Point) Jaland Lowe, G (Freshman) Carlton Carrington, G (Freshman) Pape Kante, C (Freshman) Marlon Barnes, W (Freshman) Projected Starting Lineup PG: Carlton Carrington SG: Ishmael Leggett SF: Zack Austin PF: Blake Hinson C: Federiko Federiko Roster Breakdown Jeff Capel made his first NCAA Tournament at Pittsburgh last season, and he's looking to keep that momentum going this year, even though he loses a lot from last year's team. Most of the starting backcourt is gone, but Blake Hinson  and Federiko Federiko are back in the front after combining for 62 starts last season. Hinson paced the Panthers in points with 15.3 a game in his first year in the program. He h...

Notre Dame Season Preview

2022-23 Record: 11-21, 3-17 ACC (14th) Coach: Micah Shrewsberry, First Season Departures: Nate Laszewski, F (Graduation) Cormac Ryan, G (Transfer) Dane Goodwin, G (Graduation) JJ Starling, G (Transfer) Marcus Hammond, G (Graduation) Ven-Allen Lubin, F (Transfer) Arrivals: Julian Roper, G (Transfer from Northwestern) Kebba Njie, F (Transfer from Penn State) Tae Davis, F (Transfer from Seton Hall) Markus Burton, G (Freshman) Braeden Shrewsberry, G (Freshman) Logan Imes, G (Freshman) Carey Booth, F (Freshman) Projected Starting Lineup PG: Markus Burton SG: Julian Roper SF: Tae Davis PF: Carey Booth C: Kebba Njie Roster Breakdown After a disastrous last year in the Mike Brey era, which was luckily overshadowed by an even more disastrous year at Louisville, Notre Dame has moved onto a new era, led by Micah Shrewsberry, who is fresh off an NCAA Tournament appearance at Penn State. Unfortunately, it looks like tough sledding in Year One. All seven players who played double digit minutes for t...

North Carolina State Season Preview

2022-23 Record: 23-11, 12-8 ACC (6th) Coach: Kevin Keatts, Seventh Season Departures: Terquavion Smith, G (Draft) Jarkel Joiner, G (Graduation) Jack Clark, F (Transfer) Greg Gantt, F (Transfer) Ebenezer Dowuona, C (Transfer) Dusan Mahoric, F (Transfer) Arrivals: Michael O'Conner, G (Transfer from Stanford) Jayden Taylor, G (Transfer from Butler) DJ Horne, G (Transfer from Arizona State) Kam Woods, G (Transfer from North Carolina A&T) MJ Rice, W (Transfer from Kansas) Ben Middlebrooks, F (Transfer from Clemson) Mohamed Diarra, C (Transfer from Missouri) Dennis Parker Jr, F (Freshman) Projected Starting Lineup PG: DJ Horne SG: Jayden Taylor SF: Casey Morsell PF: MJ Rice C: DJ Burns Roster Breakdown One staple of the Kevin Keatts era at North Carolina State has been hitting the transfer portal for talent, and none of that changes this season. In fact, the top seven or eight guys in the rotation could all be transfers. There's a strong transfer class this year, but Casey Morsel...