College Basketball: Regional team capsules

MARYLAND

(umterps.com)

Coach: Mark Turgeon (second year)

Last season: 17–15 (6–10 ACC)

Key players: Sr. F James Padgett, So. Jr. G Pe’Shon Howard, So. C Alex Len, So. F Dez Wells, So. G Nick Faust, Fr. C/F Shaquille Cleare.

Outlook: The Terps should have much more depth. Len, a 7–1 Ukranian, averaged 6.0 points and 5.4 rebounds as a freshman and should be vastly improved. Wells, last year’s Atlantic 10 rookie of the year, got an NCAA waiver Wednesday and should make an immediate impact. Athletic freshman G Seth Allen (Fredericksburg Christian) figures to be part of the Terps’ backcourt rotation.

VIRGINIA

(virginiasports.com)

Coach: Tony Bennett (fourth year)

Last season: 22–10 (9–7 ACC), lost in NCAA first round to Florida.

Key players: Sr. G Jontel Evans, Jr. F Joe Harris, Jr. C/F Akil Mitchell, So. G Malcolm Brogdon, Fr. G/F Justin Anderson.

Outlook: Without graduated all-ACC F Mike Scott (18 points per game), the Cavaliers will again scrape for scoring. But their defense (54.2 points per game, second in the nation) should again be solid. Harris and Mitchell must assume bigger roles, and freshmen Anderson (Westmoreland County) and 6–11 Mike Tobey must contribute immediately.

VIRGINIA TECH

(hokiesports.com)

Coach: James Johnson (first year)

Last season: 16–17 (4–12 ACC)

Key players: Sr. G Erick Green, Jr. F Cedarian Raines, Jr. G/F Jarrell Eddie, So. G Robert Brown, So. F C.J. Barksdale.

Outlook: Aside from second-team all-ACC G Green (15.6 points per game), Johnson doesn’t have much depth or proven scoring as he succeeds Seth Greenberg. Eddie (9.1) shot 44 percent on 3-pointers last year and will be counted on for more. It’s a rebuilding season.

GEORGETOWN

(guhoyas.com)

Coach: John Thompson III (ninth year)

Last season: 24–9 (12–6 Big East), lost to N.C. State in NCAA third round.

Key players: So. F Otto Porter, Jr. F Nate Lubick, Jr. G Markel Starks, So. F Greg Whittington.

Outlook: The Hoyas lost their top three scorers (Jason Clark, Hollis Thompson and Henry Sims), which means a much bigger role for the versatile 6–8 Porter (9.7 points, 6.8 rebounds as a freshman). Defense and the Princeton-style attack will keep the Hoyas competitive, but they may take a step back.

VCU

(vcusports.com)

Coach: Shaka Smart (fourth year)

Last season: 29–7 (15–3 CAA), lost to Indiana in NCAA third round.

Key players: Sr. G Darius Theus, Sr. G Troy Daniels, Jr. F Juvante Reddic, Jr. G Rob Brandenberg, Jr. C D.J. Haley, So. G Briante Weber.

Outlook: The Rams’ “Havoc” style of pressure defense should play well as they move from the CAA into the Atlantic 10. Four starters are back, led by Theus (8.7 points, 4.7 assists), Brandenberg (8.9) and Reddic (10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds). A third straight NCAA tournament bid is a strong possibility.

RICHMOND

(richmondspiders.com)

Coach: Chris Mooneey (seventh year)

Last season: 16–16 (7–9 A-10)

Key players: Jr. G Darion Brothers, Jr. F Derrick Williams, Sp. G Kendall Anthony, Jr. G Cedrick Lindsey.

Outlook: The Spiders have just one senior, but that doesn’t mean they’re looking to next year. Brothers (14.6 points per game), A-10 rookie of the year Anthony (13) and Williams (11.2) give Mooney balanced scoring and reason for hopes of staying in the conference race.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

(gwsports.com)

Coach: Mike Lonergan (second year)

Last season: 10–21 (5–11 A-10)

Key players: Sr. F David Pellom, Jr. G/F Lason Kromah, Jr. G Bryan Bynes.

Outlook: Lonergan’s rebuilding efforts may take some time in the fortified A-10, which added powerful Butler and VCU. Kromah (11.1 points) and Pellom (10.4) will be asked to do even more.

GEORGE MASON

(gomason.com)

Coach: Paul Hewitt (second year)

Last season: 24–9 (14–4 CAA)

Key players: Jr. G Sherrod Wright, Jr. G Vertail Vaughns, Jr. G Bryon Allen, Jr. F Johnny Williams, So. C Erik Copes.

Outlook: The Patriots will miss graduated CAA player of the year Ryan Pearson’s scoring an rebounding. Without a senior projected to see much playing time, they will learn on the fly. Sharp-shooing Stafford native Patrick Holloway should play right away.

OLD DOMINION

(odusports.com)

Coach: Blaine Taylor (12th year)

Last season: 22–14 (13–5 CAA), lost in CIT third round.

Key players: Sr. F Nick Wright, Sr. C DeShawn Painter, Jr. G Donte Hill, So. G Dmitri Batten.

Outlook: The Monarchs are ineligible for the CAA title in their final season before leaving for Conference USA, so they’ll try to play spoiler and earn an NCAA at-large bid. Painter, a 6–9 transfer from N.C. State, should provide muscle inside while Wright (8.4) and Hill (7.6) roam the perimeter.

JAMES MADISON

(jmudukes.com)

Coach: Matt Brady (fifth year)

Last season: 12–20 (5–13 CAA)

Key players: Sr. G A.J. Davis, Sr. F Andrey Semenov, Sr. G Devon Moore, Sr. F Rayshawn Goins.

Outlook: Few CAA teams have more experience than JMU or a better proven scorer than Davis (15.9). Injuries have plagued the Dukes in recent seasons, but if they can stay healthy, they hope to make a run at a tournament title in an event that won’t feature VCU or ODU.

WILLIAM & MARY

(tribeathletics.com)

Coach: Tony Shaver (10th year)

Last season: 6–26 (4–14 CAA)

Key players: Jr. F Tim Rusthoven, So. G Marcus Thornton, Sr. G Matt Rum

Outlook: Thornton (11.1 points per game) scored 50 points in two games against VCU last season. The Tribe will need more games like that to make significant improvement from last season’s nightmare.

AMERICAN

(aueagles.com)

Coach: Jeff Jones (13th year)

Last season: 20–12 (10–4 Patriot)

Key players: Sr. F Stephen Lumpkins, Sr. G Daniel Munoz, Jr. C Tony Wroblicky, So. G John Schoof.

Outlook: After trying pro baseball for a year, the 6–8 Lumpkins returns and should give the Eagles a big boost in their quest to win the Patriot League. He averaged 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in 2010–11. Munoz led the league in assists (4.2 per game) last year.

NAVY

(navysports.com)

Coach: Ed DeChellis (second year)

Last season: 3–26 (0–14 Patriot)

Key players: Jr. G Isaiah Roberts, So. F Worth Smith, Jr. G Thurgood Wynn, Fr. F Will Kelly.

Outlook: There’s nowhere to go but up for the Midshipmen and DeChellis, who suffered a culture shock after leaving Penn State. Kelly, a 6–9 freshman, provides some much-needed size.

VMI

(vmikeydets.com)

Coach: Duggar Baucom (eighth year)

Last season: 17–16 (8–10 Big South)

Key players: Sr. F Stan Okoye, Jr. F Rodney Glasgow, Jr. F Nick Gore, So. F Jordan Weethee.

Outlook: The Keydets rode their up-tempo style to the Big South championship game last season and are back for more. Okoye (17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds per game) is the conference preseason player of the year. This may be Baucom’s best team yet.

LIBERTY

(libertyflames.com)

Coach: Dale Layer (fourth year)

Last season: 14–18 (9–9 Big South)

Key players: Sr. F Antwan Burrus, Sr. G Taveres Speaks, Jr. G John Caleb Sanders, So. F Tomasz Gielo.

Outlook: Burruss, Speaks and Sanders must play bigger roles for a team that lost its top two scorers from a year ago. Improving an often-porous defense is another necessity if the Flames hope to contend in the Big South.

LONGWOOD

(longwoodlancers.com)

Coach: Mike Gillian (10th year)

Last season: 10–21

Key players: Jr. G Tristan Carey, So. G Anthony Taylor, Jr. G David Robinson. Jr. G/F Mark Parker.

Outlook: The Lancers finally have a home in the Big South after nine years as a Division I independent. Colonial Beach graduate Carey (13.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists) is their only returning starter and will be asked to carry an even bigger load this season.

RADFORD

(radfordathletics.com)

Coach: Mike Jones (second year)

Last season: 6–26 (2–16 Big South)

Key players: So. G R.J. Price, So. G Javonte Green, Jr. F Tolga Cerrah.

Outlook: Plagued by an NCAA probe than forced former coach Brad Greenberg to resign, the Highlanders hit bottom last season. Jones is rebuilding with sophomore Price and Green. Former Fluvanna star Ya Ya Anderson should play a lot as a freshman.

NORFOLK STATE

(nsuspartans.com)

Coach: Anthony Evans (sixth year)

Last season: 26–10 (13–3 MEAC), lost in NCAA third round to Florida.

Key players: Jr. G Pendarvis Williams, Sr. F Rob Johnson, Jr. G Malcolm Hawkins.

Outlook: MEAC player of the year Kyle O’Quinn, who led the Spartans to an NCAA upset of No. 2 seed Missouri, graduated. Evans still has some firepower, though, in Williams (11.9 points per game) and Johnson (6.1). Hawkins, a transfer from Delaware, should help as well.

HOWARD

(howard-bison.com)

Coach: Kevin Nickelberry (third year)

Last season: 10–21 (6–10 MEAC)

Key players: Sr. F Mike Phillips, Sr. G Calvin Thomson, So. G Simuel Frazier, So. F Prince Okoroh.

Outlook: Frazier (9.1 points per game) and Okoroh (8.7) made big contributions as freshmen last season and should become the team’s centerpieces. Phillips, a Riverbend graduate, fell out of favor at times last season but is back for his senior year.

HAMPTON

(hamptonpirates.com)

Coach: Edward Joyner (third year)

Last season: 12–21 (6–10 MEAC)

Key players: Jr. C David Bruce, Sr. G Jasper Williams, Fr. F Dionte Adams.

Outlook: The 6-10 Bruce is Joyner’s only returning starter in what should be a rebuilding year without graduated all-MEAC guard Darrion Pellum. At 6–7, Adams figures to contribute immediately.

CIAA

(theciaa.com)

Outlook: Virginia Union (15–14 last season) and Virginia State (8–19) were chosen to finish third and fourth, respectively, in the CIAA’s Northern Division. VUU Jr. F Damion Harris (13.2) and VSU Sr. C Kenny Mitchell (16.4) were chosen to the preseason all-conference team.

ODAC

(odaconline.com)

Outlook: Virginia Wesleyan (27–4 last season), Hampden–Sydney (19–8) and Randolph-Macon (21–7) were the top preseason picks in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Wesleyan Jr. G D.J. Woodmore (16.1) was named ODAC player of the year and a first-team Division III All-American last season. He leads 14 returning Marlin lettermen.

Lamar Giggetts, a senior forward from Courtland, is R-MC’s top returning player at 12.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

—Compiled by Steve DeShazo

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