Click here for full story on GoMocs.com.
GoMocs.com is running a weekly series on each of the newcomers to the Mocs roster this year. Each week, when the story posts on Monday, I will give my reaction to each player, and give my opinion on how much they will contribute in 2011-12.
Trey Brown is exactly the sort of player that John Shulman looks for. He has found an athletic, tweener of a player who can play the three. This is what the Mocs had Goffney a few years back, and it is something that Shulman looks for in his threes.
The Mocs don't have that exactly right now. Sure, Wattad and Taylor can play that position, and they play it well, but they do not really have the athletic skills combined with the size that Goffney had. They also do not appear to have the athleticism/size combination that Brown appears to have.
When reading the article on GoMocs, Shulman makes it clear that Brown needs to work on getting to the hole better, but that he can shoot well, and is long and a great defender. If he can play great defense, he will get a shot to play this year with the Mocs. Shulman has made that clear in the past as well.
A 6-7 three in the SoCon? That could be a weapon. I hope that they keep him at three, and don't try to shove him into the four hole like Early has been. I don't think Brown has a big enough frame to play four really- but he probably can in a pinch. I'd prefer to keep him at three, where his athleticism can really be utilized.
Looking at the roster, it looks to me like Brown has about 40/60 shot of being redshirted. Personally, I think he is probably ready to play, based on the highlight reels and looking at the depth chart. I think there will be three redshirts of the six new guys, and I think Brown has about a sixty percent chance of being one of those redshirts. I think he could be a nice back-up at the three spot, and a very good player in a couple of years.
Of course, we'll know nothing until practice opens in a few months, but I really like Brown. I like him as much as I like any of the newcomers (outside of Mason), and think that he could contribute. He might need a year of seasoning and then be ready for a big redshirt freshman season in 2012-13. If he does not redshirt, though, I expect him to play a fairly big role in the coming season.
GO MOCS!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
24 Hours Later
After the most disappointing moment of this offseason to date, I've had time to sleep. Manny Ochenje is not going to be playing for the Mocs next year. He won't be redshirting either.
Initially, the reaction to this was only negative. It made me feel a little sick inside. And I began to feel like things were never going to break the Mocs way.
But then I thought more about it. Could Ochenje still come to the Mocs next year? Absolutely. From a "glass half full" perspective, he can absolutely still show up on the Mocs roster in 2012-13. His academic problems should be taken care of.
What is the biggest flaw in Ochenje at the moment? It's that he is thin and has not grown into his body yet. He needs at least a year to grow into his body. At least, that's how it appears from where I am sitting. With a year off, he will have time to grow into that large body. He will have time to hone his skills more. That's why it would have been good to redshirt him a year. If he still comes next year, then it will be like he redshirted this year, without having him on scholarship or redshirting him this year.
On top of that, Ochenje could also redshirt next year- and then will play in 2013-2014 as a redshirt freshman. That means he could have two more years to grow into that body and get his game refined.
Of course, the positives here are hinging on whether or not Ochenje still signs here in the fall. I hope he does. I think he could. But we'll have to wait and see. That is the only negative. But it sure is a massive negative. A really gigantic negative.
But, here about 24 hours later, the world looks a little bit brighter than it did. Maybe this can work out.
Maybe.
GO MOCS!
Initially, the reaction to this was only negative. It made me feel a little sick inside. And I began to feel like things were never going to break the Mocs way.
But then I thought more about it. Could Ochenje still come to the Mocs next year? Absolutely. From a "glass half full" perspective, he can absolutely still show up on the Mocs roster in 2012-13. His academic problems should be taken care of.
What is the biggest flaw in Ochenje at the moment? It's that he is thin and has not grown into his body yet. He needs at least a year to grow into his body. At least, that's how it appears from where I am sitting. With a year off, he will have time to grow into that large body. He will have time to hone his skills more. That's why it would have been good to redshirt him a year. If he still comes next year, then it will be like he redshirted this year, without having him on scholarship or redshirting him this year.
On top of that, Ochenje could also redshirt next year- and then will play in 2013-2014 as a redshirt freshman. That means he could have two more years to grow into that body and get his game refined.
Of course, the positives here are hinging on whether or not Ochenje still signs here in the fall. I hope he does. I think he could. But we'll have to wait and see. That is the only negative. But it sure is a massive negative. A really gigantic negative.
But, here about 24 hours later, the world looks a little bit brighter than it did. Maybe this can work out.
Maybe.
GO MOCS!
Ochenje Out
Manny Ochenje was declared academically ineligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse. This is bad news.
Ochenje was one of the best recruits in many years for the Mocs and now he's gone. The Mocs could still sign him again, and that would be ideal, particularly if the Mocs get him next year.
This leaves the Mocs dreadfully thin at the 5 position. Zlovaric will be the starter. Bryant and Mason can both play back-up 5, I think. We'll see.
We'll let this play out and find out if Ochenje will still consider the Mocs. I'm down. Turns out I was right in my previous post- it is raining on my parade in a big way.
Glad to still have Bareika and Burroughs. They will be very valuable next year, like I said. But Ochenje was going to be one of the most important players on the team for four years. Here's hoping he will still consider.
GO MOCS!
Ochenje was one of the best recruits in many years for the Mocs and now he's gone. The Mocs could still sign him again, and that would be ideal, particularly if the Mocs get him next year.
This leaves the Mocs dreadfully thin at the 5 position. Zlovaric will be the starter. Bryant and Mason can both play back-up 5, I think. We'll see.
We'll let this play out and find out if Ochenje will still consider the Mocs. I'm down. Turns out I was right in my previous post- it is raining on my parade in a big way.
Glad to still have Bareika and Burroughs. They will be very valuable next year, like I said. But Ochenje was going to be one of the most important players on the team for four years. Here's hoping he will still consider.
GO MOCS!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Raining on My Parade
So there is some rain on my parade.
The Mocs roster was really shaping up in a way that I really liked. The addition of Mason really had the Mocs looking like they may be over the top.
Now, the news comes out that one Moc is leaving- without knowing which one. We have to wait until tomorrow morning to find out. Or maybe until around midnight tonight when it will be posted on-line in the Times-Free Press.
Look- I don't want anyone gone. But if there must be someone on scholarship gone, then I would choose Martynas Bareika or Jamal Burroughs. Burroughs provides depth at the 4 spot, which is a similar position to what Mason provides. So, where does Burroughs fit now? Bareika sounds very athletic and would get minutes as a redshirt freshman. But he would get minutes at the 1 and 2 spot. With Rico White and Xavian Rimmer coming in as true freshman, Bareika could be left out.
Of course, I was hoping that Bareika would be there to provide depth at that spot, and that Rimmer or White could redshirt.
If anyone else leaves, I really feel sick to my stomach. Early? Bell? Wattad? Taylor? Surely not. Can we possibly lose one of those guys? I can't imagine. What about one of the recent recruits? Could one of them be leaving? I just can't see it- although maybe one did not qualify for some reason.
That leaves Bareika and Burroughs. I don't want either one to leave. I think both are important to next years team. The problem is that there doesn't seem to be anyone else that would be even OK to leave for the shape of the program.
So who leaves? All I know- after a couple of weeks of feeling pretty good about the situation the Mocs find themselves in, I'm going to have a sleepless night. Either that, or sit around updating the Times-Free Press site until I get the article that announces the answer.
Let's all hope for the best...whatever that is.
GO MOCS!
The Mocs roster was really shaping up in a way that I really liked. The addition of Mason really had the Mocs looking like they may be over the top.
Now, the news comes out that one Moc is leaving- without knowing which one. We have to wait until tomorrow morning to find out. Or maybe until around midnight tonight when it will be posted on-line in the Times-Free Press.
Look- I don't want anyone gone. But if there must be someone on scholarship gone, then I would choose Martynas Bareika or Jamal Burroughs. Burroughs provides depth at the 4 spot, which is a similar position to what Mason provides. So, where does Burroughs fit now? Bareika sounds very athletic and would get minutes as a redshirt freshman. But he would get minutes at the 1 and 2 spot. With Rico White and Xavian Rimmer coming in as true freshman, Bareika could be left out.
Of course, I was hoping that Bareika would be there to provide depth at that spot, and that Rimmer or White could redshirt.
If anyone else leaves, I really feel sick to my stomach. Early? Bell? Wattad? Taylor? Surely not. Can we possibly lose one of those guys? I can't imagine. What about one of the recent recruits? Could one of them be leaving? I just can't see it- although maybe one did not qualify for some reason.
That leaves Bareika and Burroughs. I don't want either one to leave. I think both are important to next years team. The problem is that there doesn't seem to be anyone else that would be even OK to leave for the shape of the program.
So who leaves? All I know- after a couple of weeks of feeling pretty good about the situation the Mocs find themselves in, I'm going to have a sleepless night. Either that, or sit around updating the Times-Free Press site until I get the article that announces the answer.
Let's all hope for the best...whatever that is.
GO MOCS!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Zaccheus Mason Transferring To Mocs
Zaccheus Mason is an Ole Miss Rebel. Or at least he was, according to his Twitter account.
He tweeted this yesterday: "With that being said I committed to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.....I'm a Moc now!!"
Now, this is an interesting development, seeing as that he is currently a tight end at Ole Miss. He's listed at 6'5, 267 pounds. He was interested in the Mocs during his recruiting back in 2008-09, but chose to go the football route.
Now, it appears that he is looking to come to Chattanooga and play basketball. It looks like he has three years of eligibility, and that he will be immediately eligible, since he is switching sports.
So what does this mean? Plenty. He will probably be a little raw, given that he has not played organized basketball in two years. That being said, he appears to have the body to play at the four spot as the Mocs power forward. Would this be good? I like it, because it gives the Mocs more bodies to throw at the 4 and 5 positions. It may enable the Mocs to redshirt more of these incoming freshman.
On top of that, if he proves very capable, maybe Early could move to play the three spot some, which is clearly his natural position. That is an unlikely move, but it could work out.
Ochenje, Bryant, Zlovaric, Early, Watson, and Mason all can play the 4 or 5 spot.
I'm going to say it again- this team just really has a special feel to it to me. It may take some time, but this team should be very good by conference time. The starters should be able to keep the team together before that. The back-ups should make the team great by conference time.
GO MOCS!
He tweeted this yesterday: "With that being said I committed to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.....I'm a Moc now!!"
Now, this is an interesting development, seeing as that he is currently a tight end at Ole Miss. He's listed at 6'5, 267 pounds. He was interested in the Mocs during his recruiting back in 2008-09, but chose to go the football route.
Now, it appears that he is looking to come to Chattanooga and play basketball. It looks like he has three years of eligibility, and that he will be immediately eligible, since he is switching sports.
So what does this mean? Plenty. He will probably be a little raw, given that he has not played organized basketball in two years. That being said, he appears to have the body to play at the four spot as the Mocs power forward. Would this be good? I like it, because it gives the Mocs more bodies to throw at the 4 and 5 positions. It may enable the Mocs to redshirt more of these incoming freshman.
On top of that, if he proves very capable, maybe Early could move to play the three spot some, which is clearly his natural position. That is an unlikely move, but it could work out.
Ochenje, Bryant, Zlovaric, Early, Watson, and Mason all can play the 4 or 5 spot.
I'm going to say it again- this team just really has a special feel to it to me. It may take some time, but this team should be very good by conference time. The starters should be able to keep the team together before that. The back-ups should make the team great by conference time.
GO MOCS!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Schedule 2011-12 Starts To Come Together
One thing needs to be announced before we get into the schedule. Joe Lunardi has announced his first bracket for next year. Davidson is the SoCon pick and expected to get the 14th seed in the bracket. I would think the Mocs would be the preseason favorite and expected to get either a 13 or 14 seed, but I can respect anyone who picks Davidson. That is the other legitimate claim to the SoCon title for next year at this point. Western Carolina, Appalachian State, College of Charleston, and maybe even UNC-Greensboro are the other legitimate title contenders for next year.
So, with all that being said, four games have been announced for out of conference games on next year's schedule. All of them are road games- and all of them are doozies.
The Mocs will travel to the state of Indiana to take on the Hoosiers and the two time reigning national runners up Butler Bulldogs. These two opponents appear to be a part of a similar tournament to the one that the Mocs played in this year, when they visited Marshall, Louisville, and Florida International, while hosting Jackson State. This will not be an easy task by any means. Butler, minus their two leading scorers from this year's team, will be less than they are this year, but they are a top notch program. Indiana has been one of the worst teams in the Big Ten in recent years, but they are clearly on the rise.
The Mocs also will complete their contract when they head to Knoxville to take on Tennessee. This will not be an easy task either, but the Vols will be slightly depleted after some of the defections from the program now that Bruce Pearl has left. The Mocs have a shot in this one- maybe. They'll need some help along the way for sure, but it can be done.
But, in the most exciting news, the Mocs will be coming to my city. The Mocs are coming to Lexington to take on Kentucky in Rupp Arena. Kentucky could legitimately be one of the greatest college basketball teams of all-time next year if Terrance Jones and Brandon Knight both come back, like it is starting to look like they will. I'm excited to hear Chris Cross, Mike Cameron, and Matthew Laurance of the Sports Huddle talk Mocs basketball, at least for part of one day. KentuckySportsRadio can ignore the Mocs all they want, but they will at least garner us a couple of mentions. I'd love to talk Mocs basketball with anyone here in Kentucky that would like to. Of course, it will only happen when we get closer to the game. But I'm getting ready early. Of course, no one should expect a Mocs win in this one. After all, Kentucky will probably be beating most SEC teams by 20+ points next year. So they should beat the Mocs bad.
But a person can dream right?
What do I hope for from the rest of the schedule? I'd love to see Belmont, East Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, a SWAC team, Marshall, East Carolina, a BracketBuster game (which I know Coach Shulman is opposed to), a non-D1 and Auburn on the schedule. That would be thirteen out of conference games, which is the same number as last year. I think that would be a nice schedule for this team. A challenging schedule, but one that can lead this team to success and give them a tough enough schedule to get a decent seed with success possible heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Of course, this is just me throwing stuff out there and seeing if any of it sticks. None of it will. It's just my dream schedule.
GO MOCS!
So, with all that being said, four games have been announced for out of conference games on next year's schedule. All of them are road games- and all of them are doozies.
The Mocs will travel to the state of Indiana to take on the Hoosiers and the two time reigning national runners up Butler Bulldogs. These two opponents appear to be a part of a similar tournament to the one that the Mocs played in this year, when they visited Marshall, Louisville, and Florida International, while hosting Jackson State. This will not be an easy task by any means. Butler, minus their two leading scorers from this year's team, will be less than they are this year, but they are a top notch program. Indiana has been one of the worst teams in the Big Ten in recent years, but they are clearly on the rise.
The Mocs also will complete their contract when they head to Knoxville to take on Tennessee. This will not be an easy task either, but the Vols will be slightly depleted after some of the defections from the program now that Bruce Pearl has left. The Mocs have a shot in this one- maybe. They'll need some help along the way for sure, but it can be done.
But, in the most exciting news, the Mocs will be coming to my city. The Mocs are coming to Lexington to take on Kentucky in Rupp Arena. Kentucky could legitimately be one of the greatest college basketball teams of all-time next year if Terrance Jones and Brandon Knight both come back, like it is starting to look like they will. I'm excited to hear Chris Cross, Mike Cameron, and Matthew Laurance of the Sports Huddle talk Mocs basketball, at least for part of one day. KentuckySportsRadio can ignore the Mocs all they want, but they will at least garner us a couple of mentions. I'd love to talk Mocs basketball with anyone here in Kentucky that would like to. Of course, it will only happen when we get closer to the game. But I'm getting ready early. Of course, no one should expect a Mocs win in this one. After all, Kentucky will probably be beating most SEC teams by 20+ points next year. So they should beat the Mocs bad.
But a person can dream right?
What do I hope for from the rest of the schedule? I'd love to see Belmont, East Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, a SWAC team, Marshall, East Carolina, a BracketBuster game (which I know Coach Shulman is opposed to), a non-D1 and Auburn on the schedule. That would be thirteen out of conference games, which is the same number as last year. I think that would be a nice schedule for this team. A challenging schedule, but one that can lead this team to success and give them a tough enough schedule to get a decent seed with success possible heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Of course, this is just me throwing stuff out there and seeing if any of it sticks. None of it will. It's just my dream schedule.
GO MOCS!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Rico White Commits
Rico White from Knoxville has committed to the Mocs. He's expected to be a shooting guard for the Mocs.
Tony White played at Tennessee in Knoxville. He is his father. Tony White Jr. played at College of Charleston and is the brother of White.
So the kid has pedigree. There's no doubt about that. His team was the state runner up in Tennessee.
He seems to have a decent stroke and seems to have athleticism.
Let's look at the recruiting class very quickly:
1- Rimmer
2- White
3- Stokes, Brown
4- Bryant
5- Ochenje
Come on. Tell me that class doesn't get you excited. It almost has to. This class has turned into something truly special. I believe that the class is the foundation for a top line run in the conference in a couple of years. Imagine- in 2013-14, these guys will be juniors. They could really be special by then.
I'm so excited about this recruiting class. We'll look forward to the rest of the conference announcing their commits, and seeing where the Mocs rank in the conference recruiting.
GO MOCS!
Tony White played at Tennessee in Knoxville. He is his father. Tony White Jr. played at College of Charleston and is the brother of White.
So the kid has pedigree. There's no doubt about that. His team was the state runner up in Tennessee.
He seems to have a decent stroke and seems to have athleticism.
Let's look at the recruiting class very quickly:
1- Rimmer
2- White
3- Stokes, Brown
4- Bryant
5- Ochenje
Come on. Tell me that class doesn't get you excited. It almost has to. This class has turned into something truly special. I believe that the class is the foundation for a top line run in the conference in a couple of years. Imagine- in 2013-14, these guys will be juniors. They could really be special by then.
I'm so excited about this recruiting class. We'll look forward to the rest of the conference announcing their commits, and seeing where the Mocs rank in the conference recruiting.
GO MOCS!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Potential Signees: Lance Stokes & Jared Bryant
So, according to sources, there are two new signees:
I'll start with the more confirmed of the two.
Lance Stokes is rated two stars by ESPN.com, and is a given a score of an 87, which is the same rating that Emmanuel Ochenje has. So, needless to say, this looks like a good find.
Watch this video. It is Lake Highland's highlights. Stokes is number 23. If there is one thing that jumps out at you it has to be this- he has a very quick first step, and he looks like the best athlete on the floor whenever he makes a move.
ESPN says that he has a very impressive wingspan, which is true, and that he has focus and desire that drives his team. He scored 11.1 points per game, and had 6.3 rebounds per game. The rebounds were a team high. Jeff Turner, a former Magic player and current head coach of Stokes, talks about how athletic he is.
This is the highlight reel on the school's website. Seriously- watch it. He looks like an athlete. He could be fun to watch play- even though he only averaged 11.1 points per game. I'm really looking forward to seeing him as a Moc.
Jared Bryant is a power forward. He might want to add a little bulk to his body, but he's got ability. ESPN comments that he is not an athlete. That's not the best thing to hear, but he is a solid rebounder. Look- this guy may or may not be a truly valuable player. In the long run, Bryant may be a back-up at the 4 spot. Or he may become a starter and be a great player.
This is a nice player on the roster.
Combine these two with Trey Brown, Xavian Rimmer, and Emmanuel Ochenje, and it's easy to say that this recruiting class appears to be the best that John Shulman has ever brought in. All five are freshman. Throw in Zlovaric and Bareika, both of whom redshirted last year, and the Mocs should be much more athletic and a much more dangerous team than they were just a year ago.
We'll see if these two actually sign here in a couple of weeks.
GO MOCS!
I'll start with the more confirmed of the two.
Lance Stokes is rated two stars by ESPN.com, and is a given a score of an 87, which is the same rating that Emmanuel Ochenje has. So, needless to say, this looks like a good find.
Watch this video. It is Lake Highland's highlights. Stokes is number 23. If there is one thing that jumps out at you it has to be this- he has a very quick first step, and he looks like the best athlete on the floor whenever he makes a move.
ESPN says that he has a very impressive wingspan, which is true, and that he has focus and desire that drives his team. He scored 11.1 points per game, and had 6.3 rebounds per game. The rebounds were a team high. Jeff Turner, a former Magic player and current head coach of Stokes, talks about how athletic he is.
This is the highlight reel on the school's website. Seriously- watch it. He looks like an athlete. He could be fun to watch play- even though he only averaged 11.1 points per game. I'm really looking forward to seeing him as a Moc.
Jared Bryant is a power forward. He might want to add a little bulk to his body, but he's got ability. ESPN comments that he is not an athlete. That's not the best thing to hear, but he is a solid rebounder. Look- this guy may or may not be a truly valuable player. In the long run, Bryant may be a back-up at the 4 spot. Or he may become a starter and be a great player.
This is a nice player on the roster.
Combine these two with Trey Brown, Xavian Rimmer, and Emmanuel Ochenje, and it's easy to say that this recruiting class appears to be the best that John Shulman has ever brought in. All five are freshman. Throw in Zlovaric and Bareika, both of whom redshirted last year, and the Mocs should be much more athletic and a much more dangerous team than they were just a year ago.
We'll see if these two actually sign here in a couple of weeks.
GO MOCS!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
A Final Four Of Hope
Butler is in their second straight Final Four.
VCU is going to the Final Four.
One of them will play for the national title.
And this gives me hope for the Mocs yet.
Look- I know that the Mocs are not perfect. I know that there are plenty of imperfections. What I also know is that Keegan Bell is a top grade point guard, Omar Wattad is an excellent shooter, Ricky Taylor and Chris Early are nice pieces, Drazen Zlovaric is a talented center, Emmanuel Ochenje is a very solid recruit, Xavian Rimmer should be a good point guard, and there may be three more top recruits coming in this year.
Are there warts? Sure there are. But that doesn't mean that there isn't hope.
Watching VCU and Butler over these last two weekends has reminded me why there is always hope for a college basketball program like ours. Don't forget- the CAA had never had two teams in the NCAA Tournament before just five years ago. Now they've had two different programs reach the Final Four.
Can the Mocs reach those heights? I'm not sure. I have faith that some day the Mocs will see that level. I'm not sure if we're closer to that or further away from that than we were in 1998.
But I do know one thing- I feel better about our chances than I did two weeks ago at this time.
Of course, the sting of the first round loss to Furman is wearing off a little bit. So maybe it's just related to that.
Look- here's what I'm expecting next year. I'm expecting big things. I'm hoping for an RPI in the Top 90, a SoCon regular season and tournament title, to go along with a 12 or 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament. If all that happens, then the Mocs could win a couple of games in the NCAA Tournament. And, as VCU proved these last two weekends, all it takes is getting there and there is a chance for anything to happen.
I want the Mocs to be working hard this offseason. I want some great recruits to sign up. The signing period will go a long way to determining my feelings in the coming months.
GO MOCS!
VCU is going to the Final Four.
One of them will play for the national title.
And this gives me hope for the Mocs yet.
Look- I know that the Mocs are not perfect. I know that there are plenty of imperfections. What I also know is that Keegan Bell is a top grade point guard, Omar Wattad is an excellent shooter, Ricky Taylor and Chris Early are nice pieces, Drazen Zlovaric is a talented center, Emmanuel Ochenje is a very solid recruit, Xavian Rimmer should be a good point guard, and there may be three more top recruits coming in this year.
Are there warts? Sure there are. But that doesn't mean that there isn't hope.
Watching VCU and Butler over these last two weekends has reminded me why there is always hope for a college basketball program like ours. Don't forget- the CAA had never had two teams in the NCAA Tournament before just five years ago. Now they've had two different programs reach the Final Four.
Can the Mocs reach those heights? I'm not sure. I have faith that some day the Mocs will see that level. I'm not sure if we're closer to that or further away from that than we were in 1998.
But I do know one thing- I feel better about our chances than I did two weeks ago at this time.
Of course, the sting of the first round loss to Furman is wearing off a little bit. So maybe it's just related to that.
Look- here's what I'm expecting next year. I'm expecting big things. I'm hoping for an RPI in the Top 90, a SoCon regular season and tournament title, to go along with a 12 or 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament. If all that happens, then the Mocs could win a couple of games in the NCAA Tournament. And, as VCU proved these last two weekends, all it takes is getting there and there is a chance for anything to happen.
I want the Mocs to be working hard this offseason. I want some great recruits to sign up. The signing period will go a long way to determining my feelings in the coming months.
GO MOCS!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Join the Pool on ESPN.com!
This message is from JohnMoc1 who is challenging you to play Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com.
Get in on the excitement of this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Compete against other fans as you fill out a bracket and earn points for every correct pick! Come out on top and you could win $10,000. Get a group together and earn plenty of bragging rights amongst your friends by winning it all. Best of all, it's free to play and win.
Get in the action now:
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/en/group?groupID=47379
Group: Mocs Mania
Come on over and play! All teams fans are welcome...we'd love to have you!
Good luck!
Get in on the excitement of this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Compete against other fans as you fill out a bracket and earn points for every correct pick! Come out on top and you could win $10,000. Get a group together and earn plenty of bragging rights amongst your friends by winning it all. Best of all, it's free to play and win.
Get in the action now:
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/en/group?groupID=47379
Group: Mocs Mania
Come on over and play! All teams fans are welcome...we'd love to have you!
Good luck!
Bracketology: Predicting the Field of 68
OK- so I'm no genius when it comes to this. I haven't studied in supreme detail. But here's my best shot at the bracket at 4:00 Eastern.
Selection Sunday is here. Thiis assumes that Ohio State beats Penn State in the Big 10 Championship Game.
MIDWEST
1 Ohio State
16 UA-Little Rock vs. Alabama State
8 George Mason
9 UCLA
5 Georgetown
12 St. Mary's vs. Alabama
4 Kentucky
13 Indiana State
6 Florida State
11 Richmond
3 Texas
14 Oakland
7 Washington
10 Penn State
2 Notre Dame
15 St. Peter's
WEST
1 Duke
16 Cal-Santa Barbara
8 Tennessee
9 Gonzaga
5 Kansas State
12 Butler
4 Purdue
13 Bucknell
6 Arizona
11 Utah State
3 Syracuse
14 Akron
7 Cincinnati
10 Michigan State
2 San Diego State
15 Long Island
South
1 Kansas
16 Hampton vs. Texas- San Antonio
8 Temple
9 Michigan
5 Vanderbilt
12 Clemson vs. USC
4 BYU
13 Memphis
6 Texas A&M
11 Villanova
3 Florida
14 Morehead State
7 Missouri
10 Marquette
2 Connecticut
15 Boston
EAST
1 Pittsburgh
16 UNC-Asheville
8 UNLV
9 Old Dominion
5 St. John's
12 Belmont
4 Wisconsin
13 Princeton
6 Xavier
11 Colorado
3 Louisville
14 Wofford
7 West Virginia
10 Michigan
2 North Carolina
15 Northern Colorado
TOP 4 SEEDS
1 Ohio State
2 Kansas
3 Pittsburgh
4 Duke
Alabama is the last team in. Virginia Tech is the first team out.
Selection Sunday is here. Thiis assumes that Ohio State beats Penn State in the Big 10 Championship Game.
MIDWEST
1 Ohio State
16 UA-Little Rock vs. Alabama State
8 George Mason
9 UCLA
5 Georgetown
12 St. Mary's vs. Alabama
4 Kentucky
13 Indiana State
6 Florida State
11 Richmond
3 Texas
14 Oakland
7 Washington
10 Penn State
2 Notre Dame
15 St. Peter's
WEST
1 Duke
16 Cal-Santa Barbara
8 Tennessee
9 Gonzaga
5 Kansas State
12 Butler
4 Purdue
13 Bucknell
6 Arizona
11 Utah State
3 Syracuse
14 Akron
7 Cincinnati
10 Michigan State
2 San Diego State
15 Long Island
South
1 Kansas
16 Hampton vs. Texas- San Antonio
8 Temple
9 Michigan
5 Vanderbilt
12 Clemson vs. USC
4 BYU
13 Memphis
6 Texas A&M
11 Villanova
3 Florida
14 Morehead State
7 Missouri
10 Marquette
2 Connecticut
15 Boston
EAST
1 Pittsburgh
16 UNC-Asheville
8 UNLV
9 Old Dominion
5 St. John's
12 Belmont
4 Wisconsin
13 Princeton
6 Xavier
11 Colorado
3 Louisville
14 Wofford
7 West Virginia
10 Michigan
2 North Carolina
15 Northern Colorado
TOP 4 SEEDS
1 Ohio State
2 Kansas
3 Pittsburgh
4 Duke
Alabama is the last team in. Virginia Tech is the first team out.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Only One More
Look- I have no desire to write a blog post every day about Shulman and his job status. So this is the last time I will post something about his job status without some official news to report- or at least some substantiated reports, rather than just internet buzz.
However, today on MocFans there was something about Shulman wanting to quit because he was done with it all. There is probably nothing to this. That being said, if it is true, this provides an interesting option.
I am supporting Shulman. I want him to stay, at least for this next year. The Mocs need to have a nice year. If he meets that expectation, then there will be no problem.
That being said, there are a ton of people who are frustrated. Obviously. But there is no way that anyone is buying out his contract. The only way he is not here next year is if he accepts another job or if he decides to resign on his own. Will that happen? Your guess is as good as mine. But this is the option that people who really want him gone should really be hoping for.
Or they should be hoping for the Mocs to not succeed next year. Because a successful year next year will hurt the chances of getting rid of him in the long run.
I don't honestly believe that the people who want Shulman gone really want that though. That would be slightly out of control.
Now, I will do my best to keep my mouth shut on Shulman and his job security until the fall, unless some real news surfaces. If some real news is going to surface, it probably will sometime in the next two weeks. That's my bet.
GO MOCS!
However, today on MocFans there was something about Shulman wanting to quit because he was done with it all. There is probably nothing to this. That being said, if it is true, this provides an interesting option.
I am supporting Shulman. I want him to stay, at least for this next year. The Mocs need to have a nice year. If he meets that expectation, then there will be no problem.
That being said, there are a ton of people who are frustrated. Obviously. But there is no way that anyone is buying out his contract. The only way he is not here next year is if he accepts another job or if he decides to resign on his own. Will that happen? Your guess is as good as mine. But this is the option that people who really want him gone should really be hoping for.
Or they should be hoping for the Mocs to not succeed next year. Because a successful year next year will hurt the chances of getting rid of him in the long run.
I don't honestly believe that the people who want Shulman gone really want that though. That would be slightly out of control.
Now, I will do my best to keep my mouth shut on Shulman and his job security until the fall, unless some real news surfaces. If some real news is going to surface, it probably will sometime in the next two weeks. That's my bet.
GO MOCS!
Wofford RPI Comparisons
All Automatic Bids as of March 9, 2011:
1) Old Dominion 22
2) Butler 36
3) Oakland 52
4) Belmont 53
5) Gonzaga 55
6) Long Island 77
7) Morehead State 78
8) Indiana State 84
9) St. Peter's 95
10) Northern Colorado 99
11) Wofford 110
12) UNC-Asheville 146
13) Arkansas-Little Rock 192
ANALYSIS:
Looking more and more like a 15 seed to me. There is a shot at a 14, and also a shot at a 16, but a 16 is unlikely. And they have earned respect based on their performance last year in the NCAA Tournament against Wisconsin. The committee probably remembers that, and though they say that doesn't matter, you can't tell me that that does not help them at least a little bit with getting a higher seed.
1) Old Dominion 22
2) Butler 36
3) Oakland 52
4) Belmont 53
5) Gonzaga 55
6) Long Island 77
7) Morehead State 78
8) Indiana State 84
9) St. Peter's 95
10) Northern Colorado 99
11) Wofford 110
12) UNC-Asheville 146
13) Arkansas-Little Rock 192
ANALYSIS:
Looking more and more like a 15 seed to me. There is a shot at a 14, and also a shot at a 16, but a 16 is unlikely. And they have earned respect based on their performance last year in the NCAA Tournament against Wisconsin. The committee probably remembers that, and though they say that doesn't matter, you can't tell me that that does not help them at least a little bit with getting a higher seed.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Heat-O-Meter: Where Are We?
So it's a tough sell. The loss in the first round of the SoCon Tournament left a bitter taste in the mouths of most Moc fans.
And it should have. After all, that was not pretty. The falling behind 13-0. The lack of ability to stop the Furman offense at key points. The inability to make big shots when it mattered most. The complete lack of ability to make free throws.
So what's the problem? Is it Shulman's fault? Maybe. There should be at least some blame on Shulman. It would be sticking your head in the sand if you do not put at least some fault on Shulman.
He has three years left on his contract. There is no way that the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga can afford to buy him out. So he's here. That being said, the Mocs need to win big next year.
The Mocs need to win so that Shulman can keep his job. The Mocs may be more likely to buy him out if he has just two years left on his deal. If they do not have a monster year, then Shulman may have a major problem on his hands.
HEAT-O-METER: 5. He's right in the middle. The fan base is sick of Shulman. Not me. He deserves one more year. Particularly with the four big seniors (Chris Early, Keegan Bell, Omar Wattad, Ricky Taylor) all coming back, this is the time for a big year. If he does it, then Shulman will be safe again, no matter what anyone thinks should happen. If it doesn't happen, then the pressure will be amped up, and Shulman just MIGHT be in big trouble. The question- the buyout. But that's a question for next year....
And it should have. After all, that was not pretty. The falling behind 13-0. The lack of ability to stop the Furman offense at key points. The inability to make big shots when it mattered most. The complete lack of ability to make free throws.
So what's the problem? Is it Shulman's fault? Maybe. There should be at least some blame on Shulman. It would be sticking your head in the sand if you do not put at least some fault on Shulman.
He has three years left on his contract. There is no way that the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga can afford to buy him out. So he's here. That being said, the Mocs need to win big next year.
The Mocs need to win so that Shulman can keep his job. The Mocs may be more likely to buy him out if he has just two years left on his deal. If they do not have a monster year, then Shulman may have a major problem on his hands.
HEAT-O-METER: 5. He's right in the middle. The fan base is sick of Shulman. Not me. He deserves one more year. Particularly with the four big seniors (Chris Early, Keegan Bell, Omar Wattad, Ricky Taylor) all coming back, this is the time for a big year. If he does it, then Shulman will be safe again, no matter what anyone thinks should happen. If it doesn't happen, then the pressure will be amped up, and Shulman just MIGHT be in big trouble. The question- the buyout. But that's a question for next year....
Wofford RPI Comparisons
The RPI of the teams who are automatic qualifiers to the NCAA Tournament, through Tuesday:
1) Old Dominion 22
2) Butler 35
3) Oakland 52
4) Belmont 53
5) Gonzaga 55
6) Morehead State 77
7) Indiana State 87
8) St. Peter's 95
9) Wofford 107
10) UNC-Asheville 146
11) Arkansas-Little Rock 191
IMPORTANT NOTE: Don't forget- there are now six (count them- SIX) 16 seeds. So it is tougher than ever to get out of the 16 seed line. Wofford should be able to avoid it and should get a 14 or 15 seed.
1) Old Dominion 22
2) Butler 35
3) Oakland 52
4) Belmont 53
5) Gonzaga 55
6) Morehead State 77
7) Indiana State 87
8) St. Peter's 95
9) Wofford 107
10) UNC-Asheville 146
11) Arkansas-Little Rock 191
IMPORTANT NOTE: Don't forget- there are now six (count them- SIX) 16 seeds. So it is tougher than ever to get out of the 16 seed line. Wofford should be able to avoid it and should get a 14 or 15 seed.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
What the Mocs Need? Cameron Rundles
The Mocs need Cameron Rundles. Or they need a guy like Cameron Rundles.
I watched Rundles on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. His enthusiasm, desire, and passion for the game along with the skill set and leadership ability make him a near perfect player.
Look- the Mocs have talent on the roster. Yes, I realize that the talent may not be quite as high as some of the other teams in the SoCon, but there is talent. Keegan Bell is good enough to start on virtually every team in the SoCon. Omar Wattad could play on most teams, while Chris Early could start on some. Ricky Taylor may be able to start on some teams as well. Drazen Zlovaric looks like he may be a good big man.
But what they do not have, is the leader...the one guy who gets people excited....the guy who can get the team fired up when nothing else seems to be going right. Look, Jahmal Burroughs might be able to bring energy, but he isn't at the talent level that it works out the way it should. The Mocs need someone who could start for them that brings that energy level.
Is he on the Mocs already and just needs to grow into it? Possibly. Wattad could. Bell could. But the Mocs need that guy.
Until he shows up, this team will probably continue to be the wildly inconsistent team that they were this year. The team really needs to work this offseason to get better and more consistent. Will they? I'm not sure yet- we've got to let it play out a little bit.
GO MOCS!
I watched Rundles on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. His enthusiasm, desire, and passion for the game along with the skill set and leadership ability make him a near perfect player.
Look- the Mocs have talent on the roster. Yes, I realize that the talent may not be quite as high as some of the other teams in the SoCon, but there is talent. Keegan Bell is good enough to start on virtually every team in the SoCon. Omar Wattad could play on most teams, while Chris Early could start on some. Ricky Taylor may be able to start on some teams as well. Drazen Zlovaric looks like he may be a good big man.
But what they do not have, is the leader...the one guy who gets people excited....the guy who can get the team fired up when nothing else seems to be going right. Look, Jahmal Burroughs might be able to bring energy, but he isn't at the talent level that it works out the way it should. The Mocs need someone who could start for them that brings that energy level.
Is he on the Mocs already and just needs to grow into it? Possibly. Wattad could. Bell could. But the Mocs need that guy.
Until he shows up, this team will probably continue to be the wildly inconsistent team that they were this year. The team really needs to work this offseason to get better and more consistent. Will they? I'm not sure yet- we've got to let it play out a little bit.
GO MOCS!
Wofford is the Champions!
Wofford won the SoCon Tournament on Monday night against College of Charleston as nearly everyone knows by now.
The Terriers were the best team in the SoCon during the tournament. Make no mistake. Yes, they lost by 25 to the Cougars a month ago. They came back and won behind Cameron Rundles, Noah Dahlman, Jamar Diggs, and Tim Johnson.
How good can the Terriers be in the NCAA Tournament? They can be very dangerous. Wofford has an RPI of 107 right now, and is projected as a 15 seed by Joe Lunardi on ESPN.com. If somehow BYU is a 2 seed, and Wofford was playing them, they would have a chance. The Cougars do not have a huge height advantage over Wofford.
That's what the Terriers need. They need to go up against a team without a huge height advantage. The Terriers can compete with anyone who does not have a massive height advantage on them. They are very good and capable of taking out a couple of teams.
Let me tell you- if I were a 2 or 3 seed, I would not want to battle the Terriers in the first round.
The Terriers were the best team in the SoCon during the tournament. Make no mistake. Yes, they lost by 25 to the Cougars a month ago. They came back and won behind Cameron Rundles, Noah Dahlman, Jamar Diggs, and Tim Johnson.
How good can the Terriers be in the NCAA Tournament? They can be very dangerous. Wofford has an RPI of 107 right now, and is projected as a 15 seed by Joe Lunardi on ESPN.com. If somehow BYU is a 2 seed, and Wofford was playing them, they would have a chance. The Cougars do not have a huge height advantage over Wofford.
That's what the Terriers need. They need to go up against a team without a huge height advantage. The Terriers can compete with anyone who does not have a massive height advantage on them. They are very good and capable of taking out a couple of teams.
Let me tell you- if I were a 2 or 3 seed, I would not want to battle the Terriers in the first round.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Battle of North vs. South- Tournament Style
North vs. South- Tournament
South 5, North 3
North vs. South- Regular Season
South 27, North 21
North vs. South- Overall
South 32, North 24
ANALYSIS
South wins against the North hands down. But it wasn't a blowout. It was relatively close overall, even in the tournament. But the top teams are better than the top teams in the North. The lower teams are more even, but the top teams are better in the South- as evidenced by tonight's championship game.
South 5, North 3
North vs. South- Regular Season
South 27, North 21
North vs. South- Overall
South 32, North 24
ANALYSIS
South wins against the North hands down. But it wasn't a blowout. It was relatively close overall, even in the tournament. But the top teams are better than the top teams in the North. The lower teams are more even, but the top teams are better in the South- as evidenced by tonight's championship game.
Three Point Play
1) Wofford's win over Western Carolina was dominant and impressive. The Terriers showed why they have been the best team in the conference over the last two weeks. If it can keep up for one more night or not remains to be seen. After all, they have lost twice to College of Charleston so far this year. But Cameron Rundles is playing great ball, and Noah Dahlman is just flat out good. Tim Johnson is pretty good too. This bad rebounding team has been excellent job of hitting the boards.
2) College of Charleston's thrilling come from behind win against Furman was the sort that makes the Cougars feel like a team of destiny in this tournament. Down eleven halfway through the second half the Cougars rallied big time. Goudelock was amazing as usual. Their defensive effort stepped up big time. Furman was ready to play, but just couldn't finish off the Cougars.
3) Tonight's Championship Game is going to be a great game. Wofford and College of Charleston are the conference's two best teams. Wofford is probably heading for a 15 or 16 seed if they win, while Charleston may get as high as an 11 or a 12 with a win. The Cougars are good enough to win a couple of games in the NCAA Tournament with a couple of breaks and good match-ups, while Wofford is good enough, but their draw will probably be too much to overcome. Who wins? I'll take Wofford just because they are playing at such a high level, but the Cougars comeback last night makes that feel of "team of destiny" come out. Not sure if that's real or not. We'll find out tonight.
2) College of Charleston's thrilling come from behind win against Furman was the sort that makes the Cougars feel like a team of destiny in this tournament. Down eleven halfway through the second half the Cougars rallied big time. Goudelock was amazing as usual. Their defensive effort stepped up big time. Furman was ready to play, but just couldn't finish off the Cougars.
3) Tonight's Championship Game is going to be a great game. Wofford and College of Charleston are the conference's two best teams. Wofford is probably heading for a 15 or 16 seed if they win, while Charleston may get as high as an 11 or a 12 with a win. The Cougars are good enough to win a couple of games in the NCAA Tournament with a couple of breaks and good match-ups, while Wofford is good enough, but their draw will probably be too much to overcome. Who wins? I'll take Wofford just because they are playing at such a high level, but the Cougars comeback last night makes that feel of "team of destiny" come out. Not sure if that's real or not. We'll find out tonight.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Three Point Play
1) The Mocs loss will surely drive down the crowds for the semifinals and finals, but College of Charleston, Furman, Western Carolina and Wofford all have brought pretty good crowds. That will be good for the attendance numbers. People in Chattanooga still need to turn out in decent numbers for the semifinals and the championship game. We'll see if they do or not.
2) Today's theme- "The Best." These are the best teams in the conference, almost beyond any doubt. The Mocs are the only other team that can lay claim to one of those spots, but they lost to Furman last night. Western Carolina against Wofford is a 12-6 team against a 14-4 team. College of Charleston against Furman is a 12-6 team against a 14-4 team. Should be a couple of tremendous semifinal match-ups.
3) The SoCon Monster Game of the Day is Western Carolina against Wofford. The two teams are tremendous. In my opinion, the winner of this game will win the tournament. That's been what I've been saying all along. This semifinal should be something special. Wofford has been playing great lately, but Western Carolina has been playing phenomenally as of late. The first semifinal should be great.
2) Today's theme- "The Best." These are the best teams in the conference, almost beyond any doubt. The Mocs are the only other team that can lay claim to one of those spots, but they lost to Furman last night. Western Carolina against Wofford is a 12-6 team against a 14-4 team. College of Charleston against Furman is a 12-6 team against a 14-4 team. Should be a couple of tremendous semifinal match-ups.
3) The SoCon Monster Game of the Day is Western Carolina against Wofford. The two teams are tremendous. In my opinion, the winner of this game will win the tournament. That's been what I've been saying all along. This semifinal should be something special. Wofford has been playing great lately, but Western Carolina has been playing phenomenally as of late. The first semifinal should be great.
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