Saint Mary's finds success after losing Mills
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) -When practice started back in October, Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett was still trying to figure out just what kind of team he had.
The Gaels had lost perhaps their most dynamic player ever in Patty Mills to the NBA, one of their most productive in Diamon Simpson and four other seniors from a team that fell just short of making the NCAA tournament last season.
Then Bennett watched how well his team played in closed scrimmages against Washington and Nevada and thought the Gaels might take some people by surprise after being picked fourth in the West Coast Conference.
"But I still didn't know," Bennett said. "Is Washington bad? That's kind of what I was thinking. Are they down? I wasn't sure."
What Bennett was pretty certain of by the time the season started was that Omar Samhan would be a dominant post presence, Mickey McConnell would be one of the top point guards in the conference, Ben Allen would rebound from a disappointing first season after transferring from Indiana and Matthew Dellavedova would be an impact freshman.
Those four have been the key to success for the Gaels (28-5) this season. Saint Mary's has turned what was expected to be a rebuilding year into one of the best in the school's history as the Gaels have advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals against Baylor (27-7) on Friday night in Houston.
And this has all come without Mills, who raised Saint Mary's profile almost immediately after arriving from Australia in 2008, and Simpson, who left the school as the career leader in rebounds and blocked shots.
"It is weird," Allen said. "We still have guys here who care so much about the team and are so unselfish. That's what makes us a great team. Not that those other guys were selfish, but our chemistry is better I think."
A team having better success after losing its best player is not unprecedented. Virginia, for example, made the Final Four in 1984, the year after Ralph Sampson left for the NBA. In football, Tennessee won the national championship the year after losing Peyton Manning to the NFL.
The departure of Mills turned the team over to McConnell, who is not as flashy as his predecessor at point guard but is leading the nation in 3-point shooting percentage at 51.7 percent and has more than twice as many assists as turnovers.
"He's the key to our success," Samhan said. "I don't think with other point guards in the past we could have been in the same position we're in, even though we've had some pretty good point guards here in the past."
Mills was probably the best, averaging 18.4 points per game last season and putting a bit of a spotlight on a once overlooked program.
While praising Mills' impact, Samhan said he thinks the team is better this year because it doesn't revolve around one player. While Samhan is the focal point this year, he frequently points out that he couldn't be having the success he has had without his teammates.
"I just felt like Patty had an agenda for himself," Samhan said. "It really helped me this year, seeing some of the mistakes Patty made as a teammate last year. I didn't want to do that. I'm not going to worry about if there's a scout here tonight. I'm going to play the way it takes for our team to win.
"If that scout leaves unsatisfied and we won, I'm OK with it. I don't know if that was always guys' agendas last year, not just Patty, Diamon and those other guys too. I think Patty helped us a lot as a program obviously. He was a great player. But he was definitely flawed. I don't know if Patty stayed, if we'd be in the Sweet 16."
Bennett chuckled when asked if losing Mills made his team better, knowing how well the Gaels played before Mills broke his hand last season.
He praised Mills for putting the program where it is today, saying he was one of the big reasons the Gaels went from a 17-win team the year before he arrived to an NCAA tournament the following year and a 28-win team last year that likely would have made it to the tournament had Mills not broken his hand at Gonzaga.
"Because of Pat's departure some other guys have had the opportunity to step up and they have," Bennett said. "That's the best way I could explain it. But I'm not crazy. If we had a pro here with us, I think we'd figure it out."
The bigger change this season is that the Gaels almost always have five highly skilled offensive players on the court at the same time. The four starters who surround Samhan have all made at least 40 3-pointers this season, with each of them hitting 38 percent from long range.
With two point guards on the floor who can also shoot in McConnell and Dellavedova, an outstanding passing and shooting big man in Allen, and a 3-point threat in small forward Clint Steindl, the Gaels are a difficult team to defend.
"If you double-team Omar, he's such a good passer that he's going to kick it out to all our shooters," McConnell said. "If you play him one-on-one, he's so big and skilled inside, he'll score whenever he wants. It's a tough decision."
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.
The next Stephen Curry, step right up
It happens nearly every year: an unheralded player, maybe from a school few people know about, goes on a scoring tear or singlehandedly carries his team through a couple of rounds of the NCAA tournament.
Two years ago, Stephen Curry from Davidson dashed his way through the bracket, shooting the Wildcats past Gonzaga and Georgetown on the way to the regional semifinals.
There was Wally Szczerbiak taking Miami of Ohio to the 1999 Sweet Sixteen and Bo Kimble carrying Loyola Marymount into the 1990 regional finals after the death of Hank Gathers. Perhaps the greatest one-man show was Larry Bird in 1979, leading Indiana State to the title game.
The Associated Press has some candidates to keep your eye on as the tournament begins, from UTEP's Derrick Caracter and Houston's Aubrey Coleman to Siena's Ronald Moore and Cornell's Ryan Wittman.
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.
College Basketball Betting - Ole Miss Rebels at Kentucky Wildcats
Ole Miss Rebels at Kentucky Wildcats
Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
College Basketball Betting Spread: Kentucky -11
The Week That Was: Ole Miss
The Rebels began the past week with a workmanlike road victory, but then stubbed their toes in a worrisome home-court loss.
On Jan. 28, Mississippi notched an 84-74 victory at Auburn. Coach Andy Kennedy's club hit 57 percent of its field goal attempts and busted open a close contest with a 16-4 run late in the second half. Leading 62-61 with 8:15 left in regulation, the Rebels' offense caught fire and scored 16 points to take a 78-65 lead with 4:26 to go. Ole Miss guard Terrico White hit a timely 3-pointer to give his team a six-point cushion after Auburn sliced the Rebels' advantage to just three points (68-65) with 6:24 remaining.
The satisfaction of that win at Auburn quickly vanished this past Sunday, however, as the Rebels came home to Smith Coliseum and lost to Arkansas, 80-73. -The result was highly improbable not just because Arkansas entered Oxford, Miss., with only one SEC win; the outcome was stunning because Ole Miss -- despite a 19-5 edge on the offensive glass -- shot 14 fewer free throws than the Razorbacks did (13 compared to 27 for Arkansas).
The Week That Was: Kentucky
The Wildcats finally lost a game this past week, and based on the way they responded to a shocking result, it seems that a taste of defeat got this team's full and undivided attention.
Coach John Calipari's club has been living very close to the edge in 2010, and last Tuesday in Columbia, S.C., Big Blue finally fell off the precipice. Kentucky dropped a 68-62 decision to South Carolina, as Gamecock guard Devan Downey scored 30 points for the victors.
Lost in the midst of Downey's heroics, though, was the fact that Kentucky's young guards, John Wall and Eric Bledsoe, combined to shoot just 8 of 23 from the field. Kentucky needs to attack the basket with dribble penetration and low-post entries, and that formula was abandoned against the Gamecocks.
The Wildcats got the memo when they returned to the court this past Saturday.
A Kentucky team that breathed fire on the boards was able to dominate Vanderbilt in an easy 85-72 romp in Lexington, Ky. Wildcat forward DeMarcus Cousins was a beast on the low blocks, scoring 21 points while ripping down 10 rebounds. Kentucky also excelled defensively, shutting down Vanderbilt center A.J. Ogilvy.
Outlook & Pick
The SEC East -- with three solid NCAA Tournament-caliber teams (Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt) -- towers over the SEC West. Ole Miss is still likely to reach the NCAAs thanks to an early-season non-conference win over Kansas State, but the Rebels -- as shown by their loss to Arkansas -- are not an elite team in the SEC.
The East should dominate the West in most SEC situations this season. With Kentucky getting Ole Miss at home, a bloodbath should be expected inside the building known as ''The Old Barn In the Bluegrass.'' It needs to be said that the Wildcats are still aware of the loss at South Carolina.
One win over Vanderbilt isn't likely to make this team return to its formerly complacent ways. John Calipari should continue to whip this team into shape, and that extra ounce of anger should enable Kentucky to avoid a letdown on Tuesday night.
NCAAB Expert Pick: Kentucky -11
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
College Basketball Upset Alert - Vanderbilt vs. #14 Tennessee
One of college basketball's most underappreciated rivalries will have a new chapter written Wednesday, when the Vanderbilt Commodores travel to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers.
While Tennessee has gotten a lot of national publicity lately, it's actually Vanderbilt which is playing better basketball overall. They come into this game along with Kentucky as the only undefeated team in SEC conference play.
Here are some NCAA Basketball Betting Trends which may impact this game:
Vanderbilt: 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
Vanderbilt: 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
Tennessee: 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games
Tennessee: Total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 games
The Commodores don't wow you with incredible athleticism or a fast paced offense, but just continually wear you down with skilled play. Leading Vanderbilt is a pair of foreign born players, who've fit in nicely in Nashville. Maybe the more recognizable player is center A.J. Ogilvy, an Australian import averaging close to 14 points and a team high six rebounds per game. However it is actually Swedish born Jeffery Taylor that is leading the Commodores in scoring at 14.3 points per game. Taylor has played well in conference play, scoring double-digits in every SEC game so far.
As for Tennessee, we all know the story by now, senior forward Tyler Smith has been kicked off this team. However, the Volunteers have played phenomenally without him, having won all but one game since he was suspended New Year's Day. However, that one loss was their last game at Georgia.
If the Volunteers are to win Wednesday, they'll need much better play from senior forward Wayne Chism. Chism is this team's only true low post scoring threat, but was held in check on Saturday against Georgia, scoring just six points in 27 minutes of play. Guard Scottie Hopson has been the hottest Tennessee player of late, getting 19 points against Georgia.
However, despite all this talk about the offensive players on each team, whoever wins this game will do it on the defensive end. Vanderbilt's defense has improved over the course of the year, but still ranks just 131st in college basketball, allowing 66 points per game. Tennessee on the other hand ranks 80th, allowing 64 points per game.
Although you may know the Volunteers a little better because of their national reputation, you need to get to know Vanderbilt quick. Again, this isn't a team that looks overwhelming at first glance, but they are one that just continues to win basketball games.
Tennessee will be favored in Wednesday night's college basketball betting odds, but don't be fooled, Vandy is the better team. Take them to win on the road in their next game.
NCAA Basketball Expert Pick: Vanderbilt SU (+235)
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
NCAA Basketball Betting - #8 Tennessee vs. Alabama
No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers (14-2 SU, 7-5-1 ATS) at Alabama Crimson Tide (11-6 SU, 7-7 ATS)
Here are some NCAA Basketball Betting Trends which may impact this game:
Tennessee: 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
Tennessee: Total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 games
Alabama: Total has gone UNDER in their last 5 games
Alabama: 3-5 ATS at home
There may not be a hotter team in college basketball right now than the No. 8 ranked Tennessee Volunteers. They've won six in a row, including two against ranked opponents, but must go on the road for the first time since New Year's Eve, when they travel to Tuscaloosa, AL to take on the Crimson Tide Tuesday night.
The Volunteers were rocked earlier this season by the suspension of four players, but have played maybe their best without them. And while Tyler Smith was kicked off the team a week ago, Melvin Goins and Cameron Tatum will be rejoining the Volunteers on Tuesday night for the first time in three weeks.
It will be interesting to see how much coach Bruce Pearl plays Goins and Tatum, as the team has been playing their best basketball without them. In their absence, the player who has stepped up more than anyone has been undersized forward Wayne Chism. Chism, had the best game of his career Saturday against No. 23 Ole Miss, scoring 26 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.
Guard Scotty Hopson has been phenomenal as well, averaging 13 points on the season for the Volunteers. And although he doesn't score many points, point guard Bobby Maze deserves credit too, as he's averaged five assists in the last four games.
As for Alabama, it hasn't been an easy first season for new head coach Anthony Smart, especially with the Tide now in conference play. They've lost two of three games in the SEC, including a heartbreaker at Vanderbilt last Wednesday.
If there is one place where Alabama should have the advantage in this one, it's up front. Forward JaMychal Green is a load down low, an athletic 6'9 power forward averaging 15 points and seven rebounds per game. Guard Mikhail Torrance leads Alabama Crimson Tide in both scoring and assists.
The outcome of this game will hinge on one simple thing: Can Alabama's defense slow down the high-scoring Tennessee attack. The Volunteers average just over 80 points per game, and shoot close to 48 percent from the field. Alabama's field goal percentage defense is ranked 142 nd in college basketball. If they can't force the Volunteers into bad shots, they have no chance of winning.
While we mentioned before that Tennessee is one of the hottest teams in the game, they did need overtime last Saturday to hold off Ole Miss. And making their first trip away from Knoxville, expect this game to remain close as well.
But experience usually plays out once conference play hits, and Tennessee has plenty of that. While Tuesday night might not be the best performance we see all year, it'll be enough for them to win.
Because of it, take the Tennessee Volunteers straight up, in this week's college basketball betting odds.
Aaron's Pick: Tennessee -2 1/2
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
NCAA Basketball - #20 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. #15 UConn Huskies
No. 20 Pittsburgh Panthers (13-2 SU, 7-5-1 ATS) at No. 15 Connecticut Huskies (11-4 SU, 5-7-1 ATS)
Here are some NCAA Basketball Betting Trends which may impact this game:
Pittsburgh: The total has gone OVER in 5 of their last 6 road games
Pittsburgh: 4-2 ATS in their last 6 road games
Connecticut: 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games
Connecticut: Total has gone OVER in 4 of their last 5 games
Coming off a devastating loss Saturday, the Connecticut Huskies will look to rebound, when they host the surging Pitt Panthers at the XL Center Wednesday.
The Huskies will return to the court for the first time since a stunning loss to Georgetown on Saturday. In the game, the Huskies led by as many as 19 points in the first half, before falling apart, and losing by three to the Hoyas. They'll need a better defensive effort Wednesday.
Leading the way for UConn is one of the most underappreciated stars in the sport, senior Jerome Dyson. Watching Dyson, he might not jump out at you, but few fill the box score better. As a matter of fact, on the season, Dyson is the only player in college basketball averaging 19 points, five rebounds and five assists per game.
However, the problem for UConn is that when Dyson doesn't get going, the Huskies often times struggle in their half court offense. In the midst of Saturday's debacle, Dyson had one of his worst games of the 2010 season, scoring only four points. Dyson will need help Wednesday from lightning quick guard Kemba Walker, who shot just 2-7 from the field against Georgetown. Stanley Robinson adds 17 points per game from the wing spot as well.
As for Pittsburgh Panthers, after losing several stars from last year's Elite Eight team, many expected them to fall off. Coach Jamie Dixon has had other plans however, as he's got his team off to a surprising start.
The biggest surprise for the Panthers has been the play of junior guard Ashton Gibbs. To say that Gibbs was a role player last year would be an understatement, the guy barely played 10 minutes a game. Well, this year he's playing 35 minutes a contest, and averaging a team leading 17 points. Brad Wanamaker and Gilbert Brown have stepped up their games as well.
While Pittsburgh doesn't have a lot of ''big name,'' players that we're familiar with, they just keep rolling out victories, and currently stand as one of only two undefeated teams in the Big East. They are also the only team to beat Syracuse, who is 15-1 on the season.
Even still, I like the Huskies at home. Of their four losses, two have been on neutral courts (Kentucky and Duke), and two others have been on the road (at Cincinnati and at Georgetown), but they've already beaten some good teams on their homecourt.
Also, this Huskies team is truly a scary bunch when playing well. They can score in spurts, but struggle in the half court. Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun will make sure that is all figured out before Pitt gets to town Wednesday.
Pitt may be undefeated in conference play, but won't remain that way after Saturday. Take UConn for a slight upset in the college basketball betting odds.
Aaron's Pick: UConn by 4
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
College Basketball Betting - Seton Hall Pirates vs. UConn Huskies
As we enter the New Year, conference play is most definitely underway, and with it, some exciting action. No team is more desperate for a conference win coming into this week than the Seton Hall Pirates, who currently sit at 0-2 in the Big East, and have lost four of their last five overall.
For the Pirates, the problem all season hasn't been on the offensive end, but defensively. They currently allow an average of 73 points per game, which ranks 266th in college basketball. And against the cream of the Big East, that won't get it done. In two of their last three losses, they've allowed at least 90 points.
Here are some NCAA Basketball Betting Trends Which May Impact This Game:
* Seton Hall: 0-3 ATS in their last 3 games
* Seton Hall: 1-1 ATS on the road
* Seton Hall: Total has gone UNDER in 4 of 6 games
* UConn: 3-0 ATS in their last 3 games
* UConn: Total has gone OVER in last 3 games
* UConn: 3-6 ATS overall at home
On offense however, Seton Hall is as explosive as any team in the conference, and virtually as explosive as any team nationally. They currently average 87 points per game, which ranks third in all of college basketball betting. Leading the way is guard Jeremy Hazell, the Big East's second leading scorer at 23.3 points per game. Joining him down low, is Herb Pope, a New Mexico State transfer, who has emerged as one of the Big East's top rebounders. On the year, he's averaging almost 12 boards a game to go with 13 points as well.
As for UConn, this season, they'll go as far as their ''big three,'' of Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson and Kemba Walker takes them. On the year, the three are all averaging double-figures, combining for 50 points per game. Dyson is truly one of the most versatile player in college basketball, as he is also chipping in 5.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. Walker is actually this team's leading distributor, dishing out over six assists a contest.
Defensively, UConn is again one of college basketball's best teams, a trademark of any Jim Calhoun coached team. They allow opponents to shoot just 37 percent from the field, which ranks them 12th nationally. However, they do give up over 64 points per game, which likely has to do with the fast pace in which they play.
As we mentioned earlier, Seton Hall is desperate for a win, but it won't come easy. The problem for Seton Hall, is that in many recent games, they've tried to outscore opponents, and their defense has suffered. If they try that against UConn, the Huskies will likely run them out of the gym.
UConn is one of the most athletic and talented teams in college basketball, and should have no problem going score for score with the Hall. Seton Hall's only chance is to slow this game down, and try to play it in the 50's or 60's. UConn is a very vulnerable team in the half court, and that is where the Pirates need to take advantage.
Even still, it's hard to see UConn losing this game. They've struggled at times, but played maybe their most complete game of the season Saturday, beating Notre Dame 82-70. If they show up ready to play, this one likely won't be much closer.
Aaron's Pick: UConn by 9
(c) 1994-2009 BetUS.com. All Rights Reserved.
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