Before you know it college basketball will be right around the corner. I thought it would be a good idea to start my college basketball preview. In the following weeks and months I will be breaking down the teams in each conference as well as the top players, freshman, coaches and much more.
Today I look at the Big 12; here are my power rankings for teams 12-16 in the Big East for the 2011-12-college basketball season
12. Rutgers– Starters Returning (2) Biruta, Miller
Head coach Mark Rice did an excellent coaching job in his first season with the Scarlet Knights; he got everything out of his players. Bad news he losses 3 of his 5 top scorers; goods news he brings in a talented freshman class. Dane Miller (9.2 ppg) is the Knights best all around player at small forward. He led them in rebounds and blocks, and was second on the team in assists. Gilvydas Biruta (9.6 ppg)was a top freshman in the Big East as a center; he is very skilled. Joining him in the backcourt will be the very talented freshman Kadeem Jack. Austin Jackson (4.5 ppg) and Mike Poole (5.6 ppg) are very solid backups off the bench. Freshman Greg Lewis and Derrick Randall will also compete for minutes. The question for Rutgers will be in the backcourt where they are very inexperienced. The point guard will likely be freshman Myles Mack, who has great speed. Backing him up will be another freshman Elijah Carter. At shooting guard look for freshman Jerome Seagears to start; he can get to the rim. His back up Austin Carroll (2.7 ppg) is solid off the bench.
13. South Florida – Starters Returning (4) Gilchrist, Poland, Robertson, Robertson
The good news, the Bulls return 6 of their top 7 scorers, and the bad news, those same players only accounted for 10 wins. Augustus Gilchrist (13.4 ppg) is the Bulls best player. He is a very skilled player for his size. Joining him upfront will be the very physical Ron Anderson Jr. (6.4 ppg), who led them in rebounding last season. Toarlyn Fitzpatrick (4.3 ppg)will be a solid back up in the frontcourt. Also providing depth will be freshman Jordan Omogbehin and JUCO transfer Andre Jackson, who both have great size. Hugh Robertson (8.3 ppg) will man down the small forward position for the Bulls. . Arizona State transfer Victor Rudd will add depth here. Leading the way in the backcourt is shooting guard Jawanza Poland (9.1 ppg). He does a little bit of everything for the Bulls. Backing him up will be Shaun Noriega (6.4 ppg), he is their best shooter. The questions will be at point guard. Look for JUCO transfer Blake Nash to start. The challengers will beLavonte Darity, who hardly played last season, and true freshman Anthony Collins.
14. Providence– Starters Returning (4) Council, Coleman, Batts, Dixon
New head coach Ed Cooley takes over the Friars program with the leading scorer in the Big East Marshon Brooks graduating. The Friars however, do return 4 other starters. Their best returning player is point guard Vincent Council (13. 7ppg). Council led the Big East in assists last season. Joining him in the backcourt will be Gerard Coleman (10.3 ppg). He really came on as a freshman last year. Bryce Cotton (4 ppg)also played quality minutes as a freshman. The depth will be a question in the backcourt, the players here will be two freshmen Kiwi Gardner and LeDontae Hinton. Gardner is really quick, and will likely see minutes as back up point guard. Kadeem Betts (7.1 ppg) and Bilal Dixon (5.7 ppg)both return as starters in the frontcourt. Both players provide toughness and great rebounding ability, but they need to improve offensively. The Friars really lack depth here. Sophomores Ron Giplaye (1.6 ppg) and Lee Goldsbrough (.6 ppg)hardly played last season, redshirt freshman Brice Kofane will also be in the mix.
15. DePaul – Starters Returning (4) Melvin, Kelly, Young, Faber
Oliver Purnell’s first season as head coach was rough only winning 1 Big East game. The good news is they return their top 5 scorers. Cleveland Melvin (14.3 ppg) leads DePaul in the frontcourt; he was the Big East Freshman of the Year. Melvin is a skill forward, who does a little bit of everything. Joining him up front is Krys Faber (7 ppg), who is a big body, and led the team in rebounds last season. DePaul will have inexperienced depth up front, Derrell Robertson and Montray Clemons are both true freshman. They will get a boost when Miami transfer Donnovan Kirk becomes eligible. Tony Freeland (9.6 ppg) will start at small forward; he is very athletic. Moses Morgan (5.1 ppg) is a strong back up here. Point guard Brandon Young (12. 6 ppg) showed tons of promise last season as a freshman. Shooting guard Jeremiah Kelly (7. 6 ppg) also returns. He is their best three point shooting threat. Freshman Charles McKinney and Macari Brookswill supply the depth in the backcourt; again they will be inexperienced. Brooks will likely see most of the minutes.
16. Seton Hall – Starters Returning (3) Theodore, Pope, Edwin
Head coach Kevin Willard did a good job with what he had to work with last year. Now though he will have a real tough coaching job losing 6 of his top 9 scorers, including leading scorer Jeremy Hazell. The Pirates best returning player is point guard Jordan Theodore (11. 0 ppg). He led the team in assists last season; he will likely score more without Hazell. Getting the nod at shooting guard should be freshman Aaron Cosby, who can shoot it. The Pirates really lack depth here, and they will be relying on three freshman Freddie Wilson, Haralds Karlis, and Sean Grennan. At small forward the Pirates are set with Fuquan Edwin (7.9 ppg), who is a great athlete. Up front the talented but troubled Herb Pope (9.8 ppg) returns. Patrik Auda (3.2 ppg) will join Pope up front, for being a big guy he is an excellent shooter. Once again the backups lack experience here.Aaron Geramipoor hardly played last season, and the other two back ups are both freshman they are Kevin Johnson and Brandon Mobley. Johnson has the best talent of the bunch.
Tags: Big East, DePaul, Providence, Rutgers, Seton Hall, South Florida
