Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -
OUTLOOK: The Conference USA will have a new look next season after many of its
members bolt for the greener pastures of the Big East and new schools roll in
to fill the voids. Multiple members of the C-USA took part in the coaching
carousel, which will lead to big changes on the floor. Memphis, which has been
a perennial powerhouse not just in the league but in the nation, is one of the
teams set to depart the C-USA at the end of the season.
The Tigers are heavy favorites to go out on top and repeat as regular season
champions despite losing last season's conference player of the year, Will
Barton. Josh Pastner still has the best collection of talent in the C-USA and
Memphis earned a No. 17 ranking in the preseason polls. The Tigers' top
competitor will be the team that they defeated in last season's C-USA
Championship Game, Marshall. Tom Herrion and the Thundering Herd made it to
the NIT last season and are in great position to take the next step.
Houston is just a tier below due to a strong recruiting class which could gel
nicely with James Dickey's team that finished .500 in 2011-2012. UCF would
have an outside chance had it not been inflicted with a postseason ban for
violation of NCAA rules. Tulsa took a gamble and hired Kansas great Danny
Manning to take over the helm of the program. Manning has some nice pieces
already in place on the Golden Hurricane's roster. Tulane was bit by the
injury bug early and often during its last-place finish last season, but Ed
Conroy and the Green Wave will be much more competitive with a healthy
rotation.
Southern Miss made a coaching change and hired Donnie Tyndall from Morehead
State, but the Golden Eagles have to rebuild after losing countless
contributors from their 2012 NCAA Tournament team. Texas-El Paso will
experience the effects of a transitional season as well as its players fill
new roles.
East Carolina, Rice, SMU, and UAB are all capable of being middle of the road
teams in the conference as well. The Pirates return the core of last year's
team that finished one game below .500. The Owls bring back the point guard-
forward duo of Tamir Jackson and Arsalan Kazemi that led them to 19 wins in
2011-2012. The Mustangs have a young lineup that needs experience, but having
Larry Brown could quicken the learning process. The Blazers are also under new
management and Jerod Haase's up-tempo style could really click with UAB's
current team.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Memphis
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1. Memphis, 2. Marshall, 3. Houston, 4. UCF, 5.
Tulane, 6. Southern Miss, 7. Rice, 8. Texas-El Paso, 9. East Carolina, 10.
Tulsa, 11. SMU, 12. UAB.
TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:
MEMPHIS - The Tigers have continued the tradition of being one of the most
successful programs in the nation since Josh Pastner replaced John Calipari as
head coach following the team's loss to Kansas in the 2008 National
Championship game. Pastner has compiled a 75-29 record and with 25 wins this
season will become the first head coach in school history to reach 100 wins in
his first four years. Memphis led the C-USA in scoring margin by outscoring
its opponents by an average of 11.6 ppg. Replacing Will Barton's scoring
prowess will be difficult, but guard Joe Jackson (11.0 ppg, 3.9 apg) and
forward Tarik Black (10.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg) both had double-digit scoring averages
alongside Barton. Memphis had high hopes for high school All-American Adonis
Thomas coming into last season, but the 6-6 swingman averaged just 8.8 ppg as
a freshman. Thomas has the athleticism and ability to become the team's new
go-to-guy. The Tigers have depth at guard with Chris Crawford (9.1 ppg, 3.8
apg) and Antonio Barton (6.6 ppg) returning. Newcomer Shaq Goodwin is expected
to use his 6-8, 235-pound frame and raw ability to battle inside. Once again
the Tigers are very deep, but it may take an initial step backwards without a
definite leader on the floor. Once Thomas gets comfortable as the team's
leader, Memphis will be a difficult opponent for anyone.
MARSHALL - The Thundering Herd made it to the NIT for the first time since
1988 last season. Marshall, which has not been to the Big Dance since 1987,
will be looking to end its NCAA Tournament drought this year. Tom Herrion led
Marshall to its third straight 20-win season last year. The Thundering Herd
made an unexpected run to the C-USA Championship game, but ran out of steam by
the time they reached the finals. Marshall has only won 20 games in four-
consecutive seasons once before in school history. Herrion is 43-26 in two
seasons in Huntington and his winning percentage could improve due to his
team's imposing front line. Dennis Tinnon (6-8, 225), Robert Goff (6-9, 240),
and Nigel Spikes (6-10, 237) helped MU finish eighth in the nation with 39.8
rebounds per game last season. Tinnon was one of just 21 players in the
country to average a double-double. While Marshall's big guys battle inside,
DeAndre Kane will make a solid case for C-USA Player of the Year. Kane
produced 16.5 ppg last season and was the heart and soul of the team's run in
the conference tournament. Marshall had an experienced floor general in Damier
Pitts running the show during that same run, but his graduation leaves a
glaring void in the team's backcourt. Freshman Kareem Canty will have to learn
the college game on the fly while starting at point guard for Marshall.
Canty's ability to come in and run the team right away could determine
Marshall's fate.
HOUSTON - The Cougars lost two talented players in Jonathon Simmons (14.7 ppg,
5.0 rpg) and Alandise Harris (13.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg), but there is still a great
deal of optimism surrounding the program. James Dickey's team had the second
highest scoring average and finished 15-15 overall last season. Now in its
final Conference USA campaign, Houston is in position to make a final run at
the league's championship. Joseph Young and TaShawn Thomas are back after
being named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team last season. Young is the team's
leading returner in scoring (11.3 ppg), while Thomas averaged a team-high 8.2
rpg as a freshman. Joining Young in the backcourt will be junior college
transfers Tione Womack (6-1, 170) and Brandon Morris (6-0, 185). Sophomore
J.J. Thompson (5.8 ppg) will see some time at point guard. Dickey had a busy
off season as Houston's recruiting class was its best in recent history. Five-
star recruit Danual House highlights the talented crew of newcomers. His open
court excellence will make a big difference, but the Cougars need to make a
joint effort to improve on the defensive end. Pittsburgh transfer J.J.
Richardson (6-8, 245) should provide an instant boost to the team's interior
defense.
UCF: The Knights saw their postseason hopes diminish in August when the NCAA
ruled they were ineligible for postseason play due to recruiting violations.
Coach Donnie Jones had to be disappointed with the ruling just one year after
his squad finished 22-11 and pulled off an upset of Connecticut. The Knights'
seniors were allowed to transfer to any school of their choosing without
sitting out for a season due to the postseason ban. Marcus Jordan's (13.7 ppg,
25.9 mpg) decision to give up his final season will be hard to overcome. UCF
also saw 6-9, 260-pound Josh Crittle transfer, which leaves it with a thin
front line. UCF managed to keep its most highly sought after player, Keith
Clanton (14.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.8 bpg), who has been named to an All-C-USA team
in two of his first three seasons. The talented power forward is a legitimate
contender for the league's player-of-the-year honors. Joining Clanton in the
frontcourt is Tristan Spurlock (6-8, 230), who causes mismatch problems with
his ability to score inside and out. Kasey Wilson and freshman Staphon Blair
could both see significant action. The backcourt returns one familiar face
with Isaiah Sykes (12.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg) back. Sykes relied on his slashing
ability for points his first two seasons, but he has developed his jump shot
to become a complete player. Sykes will have to carry the load until Oklahoma
transfer Calvin Newell is eligible in the second semester.
TULANE: The Green Wave return all five starters from last year's team that
jumped out to a 15-8 start before closing out the season on an eight-game
losing streak. Ed Conroy's team was not very deep and fell apart after
injuries sidelined star forward Kendall Simmons for the final 15 games. Seven-
footer Tomas Bruha was also lost to injury last season. When healthy, the big
man from the Czech Republic is a factor on defense due to his size (7-0, 230).
Tulane has a much deeper rotation and will be much more equipped for the long
journey this year. Timmons (13.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Bruha (7.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
will combine with Josh Davis (11.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg) to give the Green Wave a
formidable front court. Tulane's backcourt will be led by C-USA Freshman of
the year, Ricky Tarrant, and Jordan Callahan. Tarrant produced 14.9 points,
3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game during his impressive freshman
campaign. Callahan (11.8 ppg, 35.8 three-point-percentage) has made 71 starts
in 85 career games. Tulane has a few nice pieces intact, if Conroy can mold
them all together the Green Wave could be dangerous.
SOUTHERN MISS: The Golden Eagles are not expected to make a return to the NCAA
Tournament in Donnie Tyndall's first year with the program, but the new head
coach clearly knows how to win. Tyndall led Morehead State to two Ohio Valley
Conference Championships, a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament, and an upset
victory of Louisville in the Big Dance. USM finished 25-9 last season and was
second with an 11-5 mark in C-USA action, but it has lost three starters from
that successful unit. Junior Neil Watson (12.3 ppg, 4.4 apg) was a key
component of last season's success. Despite being just 5-11, the point guard
managed to be a fearless leader on the court as an underclassman. Newcomers
Davon Hayes (6-7, 190) and Jerrold Brooks (6-0, 205) will play meaningful
minutes in the backcourt until New Mexico State transfer Christian Kabongo
(14.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg) becomes eligible and provides a mid-season boost. Senior
forward Jonathan Mills (9.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) is the top interior threat despite
being undersized (6-5, 235) for the position. The whole front line is
undersized as Daveon Boardingham (6-7, 225) is the tallest player expected to
see considerable action. With an undersized group of forwards and a young team
overall, Tyndale will have his share of challenges in his first season in
Hattiesburg.
RICE: The Owls finished 19-16 and made it to the third round of the
CollegeInsider.com Tournament a year ago, but they will have trouble repeating
that success. Coach Ben Braun lost Dylan Ennis (8.5 ppg), Jarelle Reischel
(5.7 ppg), and David Chadwick (6-9, 220) after all three chose to transfer.
Ahmad Ibahim (6.2 ppg) also left the team to pursue a professional career in
Lebanon. When it was all said and done, Rice was left with just 10 players.
Only three of which were significant contributors last season. Forward Arsalan
Kazemi (12.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg) is an all-conference caliber player and double-
double machine. Senior guard Tamir Jackson (10.5 ppg, 2.9 apg) is the second
most reliable player in the lineup. He is a decent defender and floor general,
but needs to improve his outside shooting. Julian DeBose (3.7 ppg) started
eight games as a freshman last year. Freshmen Max Guercy (5-9) and Keith
Washington (6-1) will battle for minutes at point guard. Seth Gearhart (6-7,
208) and Ross Wilson (6-7, 205) are the only other forwards on the team
besides Kazemi. Rice's lack of depth will be hard to overcome throughout the
course of the season.
TEXAS-EL PASO: Tim Floyd went 25-10 in his debut season with the program
before the Miners' 15-17 finish in 2011-2012. Floyd is well-known for his
stern defensive-minded approach and his team's allowance of only 63.1 ppg
backed up his reputation. However, UTEP was weak offensively and on the
boards. The team's most dangerous offensive threat was Julian Washburn (11.2
ppg, 3.5 rpg), who has the versatility to play inside or out due to his 6-7,
205-pound frame. Jacques Streeter (7.2 ppg, 4.4 apg) and C.J. Cooper (3.2 ppg)
will see action in the backcourt. McKenzie Moore (6-6, 190) could take over
the starting point guard duties when he is eligible to make his collegiate
debut in December. Junior center John Bohannon averaged 11.5 points and 7.3
rebounds per game last season despite inconsistent play. Cedrick Lang (6.3
ppg, 4.8 rpg), Malcolm Moore (4.4 ppg), Hooper Vint (4.6 ppg), and freshman
Matt Willms form UTEP's incredibly deep frontcourt. With a lot of depth, the
Miners should be a solid defensive team once again. UTEP needs Washburn to
develop into an elite scorer for it to be a contender.
EAST CAROLINA: Jeff Lebo's team finished 15-16 overall last year despite going
5-11 in league action. The Pirates return all but one of their key components
from that team and have strong senior leadership. ECU struggled on the glass
and averaged 0.2 less rebounds per game than its opponents. Auburn transfer Ty
Armstrong (6-8, 235) should be able to immediately help the Pirates on the
boards. Center Yasin Kolo (6-10, 240) was raw last season as a freshman, but
his athleticism and size allow him to be productive. Maurice Kemp (10.5 ppg,
6.3 rpg) is the team's best interior scorer. Point guard Miguel Paul is the
clear leader of the team. The senior averaged 15.2 ppg and 5.1 apg last year.
Erin Straughn (6-6) has great ball-handling ability for his size and knows how
to attack with the dribble. Shamarr Bowden (8.3 ppg) is a three-point
specialist that can not be left alone, while Paris Roberts-Campbell (5.2 ppg)
showed promise during his rookie season in 2011-2012. The Pirates have a good
mold of players and a talented floor general. Paul will emerge as a star if he
leads ECU back to the postseason.
TULSA: Danny Manning's first year as a head coach is not expected to be a walk
in the park. The Golden Hurricane were a decent team last season and finished
17-14 overall, but several important contributors to graduation, retirements,
and transfer decisions. Among the players who opted out were leading scorer
Jordan Clarkson (16.5 ppg, Missouri) and talented guard Eric McLellan (8.5
ppg, Vanderbilt). Manning was left with just four scholarship players for his
inaugural year as a head coach. The team does have a legitimate scorer in
Scottie Haralson (11.1 ppg) to lean on. Junior Tim Peete is going to take over
the starting point guard duties after averaging 5.3 ppg and 2.1 apg as a
backup. Kodi Maduka (8.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg) is the best inside scorer and rebounder
on Tulsa. Freshmen forwards Zeldric King (6-7, 240) and D'Andre Wright (6-8,
220) both could see immediate action. The same goes for Rashad Ray (5-11,
175), Shaquille Harrison (6-3, 175), and Pat Swilling (6-2, 210) in the
backcourt. The timing of the departures of such a great portion of the team
was unfortunate for Manning, who will struggle immediately with such an
inexperienced roster. Tulsa could be successful down the road under Manning's
watch, but it is unlikely to happen in his first year.
SMU: Perhaps the biggest and most surprising hire of the college basketball
off season was Larry Brown at SMU. The legendary coach had not coached at the
collegiate level since cutting down the nets after leading Kansas to the 1988
NCAA title. Brown then had a long NBA coaching career which included an NBA
Championship with the Detroit Pistons. It was very surprising that such an
accomplished coach would take over a program that went 13-19 overall and just
4-12 in league action last season. SMU lost two key contributors in Robert
Nyakundi (14.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Jeremiah Samarrippas (6.9 ppg, 4.3 apg), but
it may have a new centerpiece in Kansas State transfer Nick Russell (6-4,
200), who is able to play both guard positions. Guard Ryan Manuel played in
all 32 games as a true freshman last season. London Giles (10.0 ppg) could be
an impact scorer if he fully recovers from his off season knee surgery. Cannen
Cunningham (6-9, 225) and Jalen Jones (6-6, 210) will see a lot of time in the
forward positions. Although Brown is a Hall of Fame level coach, SMU is hardly
a quick fix. The Mustangs are going to take a little while to get running as
Brown's new system settles into place.
UAB: First-year head coach Jerod Haase will be tested right away as he tries
to rebuild the Blazers program. UAB finished 15-16 last season before Cameron
Moore (16.1 ppg, 10.5 rpg) graduated and Ovie Soko (8.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
transferred to Duquesne. The Blazers were a solid team defensively last season
and finished second in the C-USA with only 61.5 ppg allowed. The ability to
shut opponents down will not come as easily this year with an inexperienced
frontcourt made up of Fahro Allhodzic (6-10, 240) and Rod Rucker (6-5, 220).
However, Haase has a run-and-gun style which favors talented guard play. His
backcourt is led by Jordan Swing (11.2 ppg), who has the ability to play any
position. Swing may play more forward in the up-tempo scheme and allow Robert
Williams (6-4, 210), Jekore Tyler (6-3, 185), and Texas A&M-CC graduate
transfer Terence Jones (13.7 ppg) to handle the perimeter action. Still, UAB
lacks the depth and size it will need to compete for the league title.
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