PREVIEWS OF OUR 2011-2012 OPPONENTS

Previews of our opponents for this season will be updated at I find them for the pre-season look at who we play!  I will begin with one preview of the overall MWC, teams, players.  Note this review has first and second team pre-season players and Mike Lyons of Air Force is on the second five...Congrats to Mike.  Let's begin with looking at the MWC from one writers point of view: 

THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE

On the heels of a season in which the Mountain West produced three NCAA tournament bids, two top-10 teams and a player who swept the national player of the year awards, the conference now faces a difficult challenge.  It must try to sustain some of that momentum even though Jimmer Fredette is a Sacramento King, BYU and Utah have moved on to new leagues and San Diego State is rebuilding without four starters from last season.  The good news for the Mountain West is that its top teams again will be worth watching. New Mexico returns four starters from last season's 22-win team and UNLV returns all but two rotation players from a squad that reached the NCAA tournament.

What makes New Mexico a slim preseason favorite is that the Lobos boast an emerging star in sophomore PG Kendall Williams and the conference's best interior duo in Drew Gordon and A.J. Hardeman. If the Lobos get a more efficient season from senior G Phillip McDonald and find someone to step in for graduated all-conference G Dairese Gary at the other backcourt spot, a return to the NCAA tournament is likely.  UNLV's strength is its balanced scoring and its ability to force turnovers and capitalize in transition. Fs Chace Stanback and Mike Moser and Gs Anthony Marshall and Oscar Bellfield are each capable of scoring in double figures, but the Rebels must improve their 3-point shooting and get more production from their centers.

If there's any Mountain West team capable of challenging the two preseason favorites, it's likely San Diego State, which will have to be a more guard-oriented team than a year ago.  What propelled the Aztecs into the national consciousness last season was the steady leadership of D.J. Gay at point guard and the length, athleticism and rebounding ability of the front line of Kawhi Leonard, Malcolm Thomas and Billy White. The formula will have to be different this season with LSU transfer Garrett Green the only player taller than 6 feet 8 on the roster and with Chase Tapley and fellow guard James Rahon the only returnees who averaged more than 8.1 minutes per game a year ago.

ALL-MWC FIRST TEAM
F Drew Gordon, New Mexico (6-9/245, Sr.)
F Chace Stanback, UNLV (6-8/210, Sr.)
G Anthony Marshall, UNLV (6-3/200, Jr.)
G Chase Tapley, San Diego State (6-2/200, Jr.)
G Kendall Williams, New Mexico (6-3/170, Soph.)
ALL-MWC SECOND TEAM
F/G Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State (6-5/185, Soph.)
F Mike Moser, UNLV (6-8/195, Soph.)
G Wes Eikmeier, Colorado State (6-3/185, Jr.)
G Michael Lyons, Air Force (6-6/190, Jr.)
G Hank Thorns, TCU (5-9/165, Sr.)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: New Mexico F Drew Gordon
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: UNLV F Mike Moser (UCLA transfer) 

FACTS AND FIGURES
New coaches: Dave Rice at UNLV (had been assistant at BYU), Larry Shyatt at Wyoming (had been assistant at Florida)
Regular-season winner last season: BYU/San Diego State
Tourney winner last season: San Diego State
League RPI rank in each of past three seasons: 4th in 2010-11, 6th in 2009-10, 7th in 2008-09
NCAA bids the past five seasons: 13
2012 conference tournament: March 7-10, Las Vegas

MAKING A LIST
Best frontcourt: New Mexico. Seniors Drew Gordon and A.J. Hardeman complement one another extremely well. The athletic Gordon, who began his career at UCLA, averaged a double-double last season; he runs the floor well, finishes adeptly around the rim and dominates the glass. Hardeman also is a strong offensive rebounder, but he's more of a back-to-the-basket scoring threat.
Best backcourt: UNLV. Nobody in the league has a greater plethora of perimeter weapons than UNLV. Oscar Bellfield provides steady leadership and outside shooting, Anthony Marshall delivers explosive athleticism and an ability to get to the rim, and Justin Hawkins is a lockdown defender who may be the best sixth man in the league. Add in the smooth mid-range game of Chace Stanback, who is expected to play mostly at wing, and it's easy to see why expectations are high for UNLV in coach Dave Rice's first season.
Program on the rise: San Diego State. The Aztecs certainly won't match last season's 34 wins or top-10 ranking in the wake of the departure of four starters, but the trajectory of this program continues to climb. The Aztecs have sold the most season tickets in school history this season, and they'll also likely contend for an NCAA tournament berth again this winter and be even better next season with the addition of impact transfers Dwayne Polee (St. John's) and J.J. O'Brien (Utah).
Program on the decline: Boise State. The Broncos eventually may flourish under second-year coach Leon Rice, a former Gonzaga assistant, but the Broncos' first season in the Mountain West will not be nearly as successful as last season's 22-win, second-place finale in the WAC. Most of those players are now gone, meaning Boise State will rely heavily on a diverse recruiting class in an effort to be competitive next season and build a foundation for future Mountain West success.
Coach on the rise: Colorado State's Tim Miles. In his first season in Fort Collins, the Rams went 7-25 and failed to win a single conference game. Last season, his fourth, Miles led the Rams to a 19-13 record and an NIT berth. It will be a challenge for the Rams to match that win total after the graduation of Fs Andy Ogide and Travis Franklin, but expect Colorado State to remain an upper-division Mountain West team as long as Miles is there.
Coach on the hot seat: TCU's Jim Christian. If Christian wants to demonstrate he's the right coach to lead TCU basketball competitive once the school joins the Big 12, he better show some major progress this season. The Horned Frogs are 38-58 in his first three seasons as coach and went 1-15 in league play last season, statistics that suggest the school's administration may attempt to sell fans and recruits by making a fresh start next spring.
Most overrated player: New Mexico G Phillip McDonald. His production last season fell short of what was expected for a guy who has started since the opening game of his freshman season. As a junior, the 6-foot-5 wing averaged 10.9 points and 4.3 rebounds but he tailed off in the second half of conference play and shot just 40.4 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from percent from 3-point range on the season.
Most underrated player: UNLV G Anthony Marshall. He shot the ball poorly from 3-point range as a sophomore last season, but he didn't get enough credit for what he did well. He averaged 9.7 points, created opportunities for his teammates by attacking the rim and played solid ball-hawking perimeter defense, production that should only increase this season as he becomes a permanent starter for the first time.

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Out Of Conference Team previews:

Team preview: Army

COACH AND PROGRAM

It was Wothke, back in his third season, who last coached Army to a winning season. Since that 16-13 record in 1984-85, Army has gone through a dry stretch that makes the Sahara seem like a watering hole.Army hasn't had a winning season in the 26 seasons since Wothke's team did it. In 15 of those seasons they haven't even reached double digits in wins. Make that 17 if you toss out wins over non-Division I opponents.Joining the then non-scholarship Patriot League in 1990 did nothing to improve the Black Knights' fortunes. In 20 seasons in the league, Army has finished in the second division of the standings 19 times. The lone exception came in the 2008-09 season, when a 6-8 league mark was good enough to give the Black Knights fourth place in the eight-team conference.

No team has finished last in the Patriot more than the nine times Army has done it. The Black Knights have also finished next to last six times. Not only is Army the only team that has never won the league title, it is the only team that has never even advanced to the conference tournament final.
With that historical backdrop as perspective, you can understand how Spiker can speak of making progress last year, even though the Black Knights' 11 wins -- three less than in his first season -- included one over Division III Vassar and six over schools who finished in the bottom 50 of the RPI."We're changing our culture," Spiker said. "Most of these guys have nothing to do with what happened in the past."

PLAYERS

That culture change includes a significant youth movement, with as many as 10 newcomers battling for a spot on a roster that already includes six sophomores."We are going to be a very young team," Spiker said. "I'm not afraid to play young guys if they are ready to go. If young guys come in here and prove they are ready to play, they are going to get an opportunity to do so."Who those young guys might be is sort of a mystery. During the preseason, Army's roster did not list any of the incoming freshmen. Aside from a pair of guards whom he mentioned when pressed about who might back up junior Jason Pancoe at the point, Spiker refused to talk about which newcomers might stick with the varsity.

Here is what Spiker does know heading into the season:
Senior guard Julian Simmons (12.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg), a 6-0 third-year starter, will be on one wing. Patriot All-Rookie team pick Josh Herbeck (5.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg), a 6-2 sophomore who ranked third in the league in three-point shooting percentage (.388), is the likely starter on the other wing.

Between them will be 6-1 junior point guard Pancoe (4.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.8 apg), who started 18 games there in an injury plagued season a year ago.
All three are solid three-point shooters, as is 6-5 junior four-man Ella Ellis (14.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg), the only Black Knight to start every game last season. As a team, Army shot 36.5 percent from the arc, second in the league. The Black Knights's 8.8 made threes per game was tops in the Patriot.Inside was a different story, though. Simmons and Pancoe actually shot worse inside the arc that outside. No team in the league shot it as poorly inside the three-point line than the undersized Black Knights.Spiker hopes Ellis, who added some muscle in the offseason, can help Army improve in that area."Ella was a bright spot for us last year, but physical play inside against bigger guys wore him down as the season went on. He has gotten stronger. Hopefully he can finish more around the rim," Spiker said.

Junior Jordan Springer (1.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg), who started the first 19 games last season before moving to the bench, is the leading candidate for the fifth starting spot. At 6-5 and 207 pounds, Springer is woefully undersized for a post, even in the Patriot League. But Spiker doesn't have a lot of options. Not including any of its mystery freshmen, Army has only one player taller than 6-7 on the roster.
That player, 6-10 sophomore Brian Hornstein (1.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg), has some skills and the "potential to help us," Spiker said. But he is probably going to need to add to his 204-pound string bean frame for that to happen.
Senior Josh Johnson (0.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg), a 6-5 forward who saw limited time in 20 games last season after spending his first two years at West Point with the junior varsity, will get a chance to increase his minutes.
Pat Harris (0.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg), the 6-5 senior son of former Army coach Pat Harris, and 6-7 sophomore Andrew Stire (0.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg) will also have a chance to compete for minutes in the frontcourt.

There is a little more experienced depth in the backcourt, though that is a dubious distinction.

Chris Welker (2.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg), a 6-3 sophomore who saw minutes in every game as a freshman, will challenge for a spot on the wing. Cartavious Kincade (1.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg), a 6-2 sophomore, played in 22 games last season, with his minutes increasing significantly late in the season and 5-11 sophomore shooting guard Alex Godette (2.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg) will also compete for minutes in Spiker's backcourt rotation.
Pancoe is the only true point guard with any experience. Spiker said 6-1 freshman Max Lenox, and 6-0 transfer Aaron Deister are two newcomers who could see minutes backing Pancoe.
Lenox, who originally signed with George Washington spent last season prepping at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy after he was granted a release from his letter of intent after Karl Hobbs left GW.
Deister, who played his high school ball at Dayton (Ohio) Christian, transferred to West Point from Concordia, an NAIA power, where he did not see any game action as a freshman in the 2009-10 season.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: C+
BENCH/DEPTH: D
FRONTCOURT: C
INTANGIBLES: C

With a relatively weak schedule, it is possible Army will improve on last season's 11 wins. Five of the Black Knights' non-conference foes had RPIs of 300 or higher last season. Air Force (114) and Central Connecticut (147) are the only non-league foes who finished in the RPI top 150.But history has shown even in seasons where it had relative success out of conference, Army has still struggled in the Patriot League.  Take Spiker's first season at West Point as an example. Against a similarly lackluster non-conference schedule, the Black Knights won nine games against non-conference Division I foes. They still went 4-10 in conference play, finishing in what has become Army's customary spot at the bottom of the Patriot League heap.  With almost every other team in the league returning most of its key players, its tough to see this inexperienced, undersized bunch doing a whole lot better in terms of wins and losses.

The saving grace this season might be that Navy is just as small and just as inexperienced. Sweeping the season series with the archival Midshipmen -- something Army has not done in 19 years, would probably go a long way toward ensuring a finish ahead of Navy in the standings -- something that has only happened four times in that same span.  That is a fairly modest goal. It is also a realistic challenge.  Spiker doesn't say much about wins and losses when he talks about his goals for the season. Right now he is concentrating on more simple aspirations."We want to get better. Not every year, but every day," Spiker said. "If we can do that, we will like the results.

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The Citadel Basketball team officially opened the 2011-12 season following the first practice with Head Coach Chuck Driesell on Friday evening. The squad features eight newcomers, two juniors, two sophomores and one senior that will look to fill the scoring void left vacated by the likes of Cameron Wells, Zach Urbanus and Austin Dahn.  driesell's team will be anchored by center mike groselle, who is the lone bulldog on the current roster to score more than 75 points last season. his 6-8 frame will be key as the citadel looks to replace 76.9 percent (1,575 points) of its scoring from 2010-11. groselle, a native of plano, texas, eclipsed the double-digit plateau on 23 separate occasions, including eight double-doubles, tying him with craig burgess for third most single-season double-doubles in program history.  "it was a very good first practice," said driesell. "we had a lot of energy out there today. we did go through a little bit of a learning curve, which is expected when you have eight freshmen and inexperienced players. but their energy was good and their attitude was great and we had a very positive start to the season today."

early returns for groselle: mike groselle, the bulldogs top returning scorer (358 points) and rebounder (198 rebounds) from a season ago was named preseason socon all-conference by collegesportsmadness.com, released earlier this month. he opens the season as the citadel's career field goal percentage leader, converting 161-of-266 (60.5%) field goals over the course of his career. groselle will also look to extend his string of six straight games in double figures that dates back to feb. 14, 2011.looking to rebound: the player who bears the burden of leading the citadel's group of freshmen arrivals is lone senior cosmo morabbi. the 6-2, 181-pound shooting guard was limited to 16 games last season after suffering a broken finger. as a sophomore, the beverly hills, calif. native connected on 25-of-66 3-pointers to move himself into 31st place among the school's all-time 3-point leaders. he was especially productive down the stretch, hitting 9-25 from beyond the arc in in conference action.  who are these kids?: prior to the beginning of the summer, citadel head basketball coach chuck driesell completed his 2011 recruiting class when he announced the signing of ashton moore to a national-letter of intent. the commitment completed the makeup the bulldogs 2011-12 freshmen class.the eight athletes, signed by driesell and his staff, hail from seven different states, including georgia, michigan, new mexico, north carolina (2), south carolina, texas and virginia.the following is a brief look at their high school accolades:
2011 Citadel Basketball Freshmen

C.J. Bray, 6-7 • 249 lbs.( James Island HS; Charleston , S.C. ; ESPN Positional Rank: 130)• Earned All-Region honors while averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior

Marshall Harris, III, 5-10 • 175 lbs.(William H. Taft HS; San Antonio, Texas; ESPN Positional Rank: 106)• After his team reached the Final Four of the Texas Basketball State 5A, Harris garnered nomination to the 2010-11 McDonald's All-America Team

P.J. Horgan, 6-8 • 209 lbs.(Cleveland HS; Rio Rancho, N.M.; ESPN Positional Rank: 144)• Averaged 20.6 points per game and ranked second in the state of New Mexico in scoring as a senior

Michael Hundley, 6-9 • 178 lbs.(Renaissance HS; Detroit , Mich. ; ESPN Positional Rank: 67)• Led the city of Detroit in blocked shots (133) during the 2009-10 season

Lawrence Miller, 6-1 • 186 lbs.(United Faith Christian Academy; Charlotte, N.C.; ESPN Positional Rank: 121)• Led United Faith Christian Academy to the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) State Championship in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons and runner-up honors in 2010-11

Ashton Moore, 6-0 • 168 lbs.(Nansemond River HS; Suffolk, Va.; ESPN Positional Rank: N/A)• As a senior was tabbed as a member of First Team All-City, First Team All-District, Eastern Region All-Region team, First Team All-Tidewater and Southeastern District Player of the Year

Jordan Robertson, 6-7 • 232 lbs.(Greensboro Day School; Greensboro, N.C.; ESPN Positional Rank: 67)• Comes from a highly-acclaimed private school program, Greensboro Day School, which has won at least 20 games in each of the last five seasons, including a 30-4 record during his freshman season

Dylen Setzekorn, 6-7 • 189 lbs.(The Hun School of Princeton (N.J.); Gainesville, Ga ; ESPN Positional Rank: N/A)• Finished with 709 points (16.1 ppg.) and 374 rebounds (6.4 rpg.), while connecting on 57 percent of field goal attempts at Riverside Military Academy

Colorado Buffaloes

2010-11: 24-14, 8-8
2010-11 postseason: NIT
Coach: Tad Boyle (24-14 at Colorado, 80-80 overall)

Coach Tad Boyle did a nice job with the talented team he inherited in 2010-2011. Colorado could have, or perhaps should have, made the NCAA Tournament during their last run in the Big 12. Heading into the Pac-12, this team will have a little reloading to do, but there were some talented players on the bench and Coach Boyle continues to bring in quality recruits. One of those emerging stars is Andre Robertson. The 6-7 wing never started a game last year, but managed to average 6.7 points and 7.8 rebounds. He even led the team in steals. With more opportunities available, Roberson should be in for a huge year and will be one of many players who step up and emerge as leaders on the floor.

Who’s Out:
And there certainly is a need for new leaders with the departure of the Buffaloes top four scorers. Alec Burks was a superstar who could do it all. He led the team with 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Replacing him alone would be tough. But add the rest of the starting backcourt to the list in all-around scorer Cory Higgins and sharpshooter Levi Knutson, and this backcourt has a ton of rebuilding to do. Forward Marcus Relphorde is also gone after averaging 11.2 points and 43 rebounds last season.

Who’s In:
Coach Boyle is bringing in some good freshmen, but it is the players with a little more experience who highlight the group of newcomers. Two years ago Carlon Brown led Utah with 12.6 points per game. The 6-5 wing is a fine rebounder and a quality all-around scorer. He should step right into a starting role. Junior college transfer Jeremy Adams spent just one year at Navarro College, but does have a little more experience than some of the other newcomers. Another 6-5 wing, the explosive scoring Adams will give Colorado some much needed depth on the wings. Point guard Spencer Dinwiddie has the best chance of the incoming freshmen guards to make an impact right away. He will just be a backup for now, but he was a nice pickup for Colorado and will be the point guard of the future and can play off the ball in the meantime. Sabatino Chen, a transfer from Denver, and Askia Booker will add even more depth to the backcourt. Perhaps the best incoming freshman is power forward Damiene Cain. At 6-7, Cain is a versatile scorer who is a surprisingly good passer for his size. He is a good rebounder and shot blocker and should immediately help out from the bench this year.

Who to Watch:
Austin Dufault is one of two returning starters. The 6-9 senior has been a staple in the starting lineup over the last three years and will be looked to as a leader on the floor. He is an efficient scorer around the basket, but never really had to score too much. That may change this year. After tallying 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest in 2010-2011, the Buffaloes will need Dufault to emerge as a more consistent interior scorer during his senior season. The return of Shane Harris-Tunks will provide the frontcourt with some more options. Harris-Tunks missed last season with a torn ACL, but showed some promise during his freshman campaign two years ago, mostly on the defensive end. At 6-11 and 250 pounds, Harris-Tunks is the big-bodied center on this team. If he can step up his game and stay healthy, it may allow Roberson to play at his natural small forward position on occasion instead of having to move him to the four spot due to lack of other options.

Final Projection:
Sophomore Shannon Sharpe has paid his dues and is ready to take over the point guard duties. He is an explosive athlete and a great playmaker who has been stuck down the bench. He is not a shooter and probably should stop pretending that he is, but as long as he takes care of the ball and finds his teammates, he will be doing his job. And that is a job that he can do. Nate Tomlinson started 29 games last season and will be asked to shoulder a large scoring load this year. Tomlinson is a fine outside shooter. In years past he did not really need to shoot much. That will not be the case this time around. If Sharpe can run the point effectively and Tomlinson is ready to score ten points per game, this backcourt will be in decent shape despite all the losses. This is not an NCAA Tournament team, but it is a team that has more talent than many are giving them credit for and a return trip to the NIT is certainly a possibility.

Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Shannon Sharpe, Sophomore, Guard, 2.1 points per game
Nate Tomlinson, Senior, Guard, 3.1 points per game
Carlon Brown, Senior, Guard, DNP last season
Andre Roberson, Sophomore, Guard, 6.7 points per game
Austin Dufault, Senior, Forward, 6.6 points per game

GONZAGA
Gonzaga had to hit rock bottom last season before making a late run – aided by St. Mary’s slump -- to earn a share of its 11th straight conference title.
And despite the loss of its best player (Steven Gray) and the addition of BYU to the WCC, the Zags are favored to win it again.
It’s getting more and more difficult for Gonzaga to dominate the WCC, what with St. Mary’s having established itself as a perennial contender, and San Francisco and Santa Clara becoming threats, not to mention the added competition from BYU.
But if the Zags could manage to keep their streak of consecutive titles alive last season, despite being 2½ game out of the lead with four games left, there should be no doubters that they can do it again.
Gonzaga returns three starters, and its talented five-man freshman class, featuring guards Gary Bell Jr. and Kevin Pangos, is by far the best recruiting class in the conference.
And that does not include the fact that redshirt sophomore G David Stockton, senior G Marquise Carter and sophomore F Sam Dower all played much better toward the end of their first season of college competition last year.
Despite the losses of Gray, the leading scorer at 13.9 ppg, and Demetri Goodson, who transferred to Baylor to play football, there is every reason to believe the Zags will be better than last season.
C Robert Sacre is the best big man in the conference, and Elias Harris, who looked like an NBA first-rounder as a freshman, figures to have a bounce back junior season after a disappointing sophomore year.
Stockton seems primed to take over the point guard spot, and there is more than enough talent to fill in every conceivable void.
Other than Harris, the Zags don’t have outstanding athletes blowing by everyone, but you can count on them being an outstanding defensive team, as they are every year, and, despite the loss of Gray, they should be a good outside shooting team once again.
As usual, the brutal nonconference schedule will toughened them for whatever they’ll meet in the WCC and give them some national exposure.
Anything less than a 14th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament will be a major disappointment.

NOTES
--Gonzaga’s streak of 13 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances is the fourth longest active streak, behind Kansas (22), Duke (16) and Michigan State (14).
Its streak of 11 straight conference titles is the longest current such streak and the second longest in history, behind only UCLA’s 13 in a row from 1967 to 1979.
-- Gonzaga was just 3-3 in the WCC at one point last season, having lost three straight conference games for the first time since 1996 after its home loss to St. Mary’s, which was unbeaten in the WCC at the time.
The Zags’ run of WCC titles and NCAA Tournament berths seemed to be at an end. But they rallied to tie for the regular-season title, win the conference tournament and upset No. 6 seed St. John’s in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
---The annual rumors that Mark Few would be headed elsewhere have quieted in recent years. He enters his 13th season at Gonzaga, and he seems settled there for the long haul. At this point, it’s difficult to imagine a program he would leave Gonzaga for.
--- The Zags were ranked No. 23 in the coaches preseason poll, and their schedule again is brutal, with nonconference games against Xavier, Michigan State, Arizona, Butler, Illinois and Notre Dame
LAST YEAR: 25-10 overall, 11-3 in the WCC
HEAD COACH: Mark Few, 13th year as head coach (315-83 at Gonzaga 315-83 career)
QUOTE: “When it’s all said and done, I think it’ll be the highest-rated schedule we’ve ever had.” – Gonzaga coach Mark Few, to the Spokane Spokesman-Review, despite having some very tough nonconference schedules in the past.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG David Stockton, SG Marquise Carter, SF Elias Harris, PF Sam Dower, C Robert Sacre
LINEUP BREAKDOWN:
The starting five might not have quite the star power and scoring potential of some Gonzaga teams of the past, but they are solid, and should get better as Stockton, Carter and Dower all improved late last season.
Dower and Sacre provide an almost unstoppable low-post presence, and Harris has a chance to be the best player in the conference after an so-so sophomore season.
Gonzaga will have more depth than it has had in recent years with 7-foot Kelly Olynyk and a slew of freshmen – most notably Gary Bell Jr. and Kevin Pangos – coming off the bench. One or two of those freshmen could even break into the starting five.
The key is Stockton. If he continues the improvement he showed late last season and shows he can hit the outside shot, the Zags will have something special.
SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS
The Bulldogs have six newcomers, including five true freshmen, and all of them could see playing time, although it seems inevitable that at least one or two of them will redshirt.
G Gary Bell Jr., who can do virtually anything on the court, is a good bet to be WCC freshman of the year, although Kevin Pangos, already a solid point guard who seldom makes a mistake, may challenge him.
Kyle Drainginis is a good shooter who figures to play too, while Chris Sarbaugh and Ryan Spangler may have to wait their turn.
The wild card is junior college transfer Guy Landry Edi.
ROSTER REPORT:
--Freshman Chris Sarbaugh had knee surgery in July that kept him off the court awhile, and although he is practicing, he’s a candidate to redshirt.
---Junior Guy Landry Edi was working through knee problems as preseason practice began. It did not require surgery but limited his participation in practice.
---Manny Arop, who received significant playing time last season, transferred to Indiana State in the offseason.

SANTA CLARA
When September began, everything seemed to be lining up nicely for Santa Clara to make a run at a conference title.
The Broncos were coming off a season in which they had beaten Gonzaga at home, then won a postseason tournament. It was only the CollegeInsiders.com Postseason tournament, which is hardly the most prestigious event around, but the Broncos had beaten some good teams, the last three wins coming on the road, including a victory over San Francisco.
Coach Kerry Keating had signed a new contract in April, so he seemed settled. There had been no offseason drama as there had been in past years when players transferred, and though it lost two starters, Santa Clara returned the three key components of the team – fourth-year junior G Kevin Foster, sophomore PG Evan Roquemore and senior F Marc Trasolini – were back.
In Foster, the Broncos had, quite simply, the best returning player in the conference. He led the WCC in scoring (20.2 ppg) and might have been WCC player of the year last season if the Broncos had finished higher than fourth. And he was great in the postseason.
Roquemore improved throughout the season as a freshman point guard and had already shown he had the talent and the nerve to be a quality lead guard.
And Trasolini was the inside complement to the two guards, a player who could collect a lot of rebounds, score inside, yet also venture to the perimeter and score if need be.
Three of the four key reserves – John McArthur, Niyi Harrison and Raymond Cowells III – were back, and large freshman class might help, especially 6-9 Robert Garrett.
With a trip to Canada coming up, the Broncos could get an early start on competition, plus some extra practices.
But in the first game of that Canada tour, Trasolini tore his anterior-cruciate ligament and was lost for the season, robbing the Broncos of their leading rebounder and No. 2 scorer from last season.
The Broncos will still be good, but without Trasolini, they went from being a team likely to finish third or fourth to one that should be picked to finish fifth.
Unless McArthur or Garrett makes rapid strides to provide an inside presence, the Broncos will be even more perimeter-oriented than they were last season.
Foster can carry the team quite a ways, but he may not be able to get the team to the level of St. Mary’s or Gonzaga – or maybe not to the level of BYU or improving San Francisco -- without Trasolini.
NOTES
--- Part of the reason Santa Clara picked the Vancouver, British Columbia, area as its summer tour destination is because Marc Trasolini is from Vancouver. But two minutes into the first exhibition game of the tour, Trasolini tore his anterior-cruciate ligament. Two days after the injury the team had dinner at Trasolini’s parents’ house in Vancouver. Trasolini, a senior, will be able to return to play next season while he takes graduate courses, and with Kevin Foster and Evan Roquemore both having eligibility remaining next season, the Broncos could be a contender in 2012-2013.
--- In July, Kerry Keating signed a two-year contract extension that takes him through the 2014-2015 season.
--- Santa Clara won its final three games of the CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament on the road in three different parts of the country. In the quarterfinals, it won at San Francisco, a team that had defeated the Broncos twice during the regular season. In the semifinals, Santa Clara won at SMU, although an injury to the Mustangs’ best player, Papa Dia, hurt SMU. The Broncos won at Iona in the finals. Kevin Foster averaged 25.4 points in the five-game tournament, including 36 against Air Force and 35 against SMU.
---Santa Clara led the country in free throws made last season, with 250.
LAST YEAR: 24-14 overall, 8-6 in the WCC
HEAD COACH: Kerry Keating, fifth year as head coach (66-68 at Santa Clara; 66-68 career)
QUOTE: "We’re going to have at least one or two of our underclassmen be pretty consistent in our top rotation.” – Santa Clara coach Kerry Keating, on the team’s dependence on its six scholarship freshmen and redshirt freshmen.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Evan Roquemore, SG Kevin Foster, SF Raymond Cowels III, PF Niyi Harrison, C John McArthur.
LINEUP BREAKDOWN:
The Broncos know Roquemore and Foster can score, and the addition of Cowels in what would be a three-guard lineup gives the Broncos three players willing and able to hit three-pointers.
The key may be the play of McArthur. He is the one likely to take Marc Trasolini’s spot in the starting lineup, and he improved late last season, and is capable of being a consistent rebounder.
Harrison is an athletic player with potential that has not yet surfaced.
Freshmen will be in the rotation, and one or two might be starting before the season is over. C Robert Garrett figures to get playing time, especially with Trasolini out, and Brandon Clark may be the first guard off the bench.
Rebounding could be a concern, which is why Yannick Atanga, a redshirt freshman, may see playing time.
SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS:
The Broncos have eight freshmen on the roster, two of whom are walk-ons.
True freshmen Robert Garrett, a 7-footer, and G Brandon Clark figure to be the most important of the bunch.
Garrett is already an accomplished rebounder, and could be a top-notch defender eventually. He is expected to play a lot from the start, as is Clark, a point guard who showed on the Canada trip he can score. He will get more playing time than expected, and may be the first guard off the bench.
Denzel Johnson is a combo guard who might help, and 6-8 G Karim York is intriguing because of his height and versatility. He could fill several roles, although it may take Kerry Keating some time to figure out how to utilize him.
Redshirt freshman Julian Clarke will earn playing time as an outside shooter, and the other redshirt freshman, Yannick Atanga, provides needed rebounding.
ROSTER REPORT:
--- Chris Caird signed with Santa Clara in June after one season at Marshalltown Community College, but he tore his anterior cruciate ligament after signing and is not on the roster.
--- Kevin Foster led the nation in three-point field goals made, with 140, which was the ninth highest total in history.
--- Freshman walk-on G Nick Lamson is the son of former Santa Clara player Scott Lamson.
--- Redshirt freshman Julian Clarke was a member of the Canadian Under-19 national team during the summer.

Conference Team previews

Boise State Broncos

Overall Rank: #105
Conference Rank: #5 Mountain West
2010-11: 22-13, 10-6
2010-11 postseason: CBI
Coach: Leon Rice (22-13 at Boise State, 22-13 overall)

Coach Leon Rice has a lot to think about. After a surprising opening campaign, the expectations are growing for Boise State as they enter the Mountain West. However, this is not the same team the Broncos sported last season. Gone are the top four scorers and in steps a huge group of newcomers. Guards Tre Nichols and Westly Perryman are the only seniors on the roster. Both can run the point, but both will also be tested by the newcomers early and often. Nichols is a pure point guard who did not particularly impress during his first year out of the junior college ranks via Texas State. Perryman is a better scorer, but it is his defense that will make it very hard for Coach Rice to take him out of the lineup. If the newcomers can follow Perryman’s lead and play intense basketball, this will be a dangerous team by March.

Who’s Out:
Coach Rice did a great job last year, but the players deserve some credit too and most of the players who made the 2010-2011 season a success are gone. In fact, Perryman is the only player returning who averaged over 18 minutes per game last season. La’Shard Anderson led the way by scoring 15.1 points per game. Forwards Robert Arnold, Daequon Montreal and Paul Noonan were all very productive players who could score inside and outside. Without them, the frontcourt needs a complete overhaul. Even center Zach Moritz is gone and that leaves very few experienced options.

Who’s In:
Kenny Buckner may be the most important newcomer of them all…and there are a lot of them. Buckner, a 6-9, 245 pound center spent some time in the junior college ranks and has the size and experience to be a major presence in the paint. He does not need to score, and he is not a particularly good scorer, but he should be able to grab some rebounds and block some shots. Jarrell Crayton is another junior college transfer who has enough size to fill in at the four spot. His experience should get him plenty of playing time. Incoming freshman Darrious Hamilton may need some time to develop his game, but is a talented big man who could be a surprise contributor right away. A couple Australians will be given every opportunity to make a major contribution. Combo guard Igor Hadziomerovic can handle the ball and score plenty when he is off the ball. Small forward Anthony Drmic is a superb slasher and a quality shooter. Both of them could be very strong players right away. Drew Wiley, a transfer from Oregon, has the experience to make a huge impact. He is a good shooter, something this team needs, and should vie for a starting role right away. Point guard Michael Thompson, shooting guard Derrick Marks and pure shooter Joe Hanstad may be the least prepared of all the newcomers, but there are opportunities to go around if they can step up.

Who to Watch:
Perryman and Nichols are not the only returning players. Sophomores Thomas Bropleh, Jeff Elorriaga and Ryan Watkins all played significant roles as freshmen. Bropleh is a quality outside shooter and he should have the opportunity to show off that skill a little more often in 2011-2012. He also has the size to attack the basket. Elorriaga started 11 games last season and is pretty much a pure shooter. Watkins, a 6-8 forward, made the biggest impact last season and will likely do so again. He only averaged 14.0 minutes per game, but he averaged 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds. Now that he will be on the floor more often, assuming he can stay out of foul trouble, those numbers should increase significantly.

Final Projection:
It will take time, but this team is pretty good. Coach Rice has already proven that he can get the job done and there is little reason to think that the group of newcomers cannot have a positive effect just like the group last year did. And there is little reason to think the freshmen of a year ago will not improve. This group is already nearly all of Coach Rice’s recruits and they are ready to run his system. The change to the Mountain West will not make it easy, but this team has the potential to make some noise in their new conference.

Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:
Tre Nichols, Senior, Guard, 4.0 points per game
Westley Perryman, Senior, Guard, 6.1 points per game
Drew Wiley, Junior, Guard, DNP last season
Ryan Watkins, Sophomore, Forward, 5.7 points per game
Kenny Buckner, Junior, Center, DNP last season

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Colorado State Rams

Overall Rank: #61
Conference Rank: #3 Mountain West
2010-11: 19-13, 9-7
2010-11 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Tim Miles (51-76 at Colorado State, 267-216 overall)

Coach Tim Miles took over a bad program in 2007. During his first season with Colorado State the team went 0-16 in conference play. Two years later they were in the CBI. Last year they stepped up to the NIT. This year the Rams may lack the experience and firepower to take the next step to the NCAA Tournament, but they should not take much of a step backwards either. The NCAA Tournament trip will come in 2013, but reaching the NIT again in 2012 will keep this group moving in the right direction.

Who’s Out:
The hope for taking another step up in the postseason pecking order is dampened by the departure of the starting frontcourt duo of Andy Ogide and Travis Franklin. Ogide was an extremely efficient big man who led the team with 17.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Replacing that production will not be easy. Franklin was the only other Ram to average double digit scoring in 2010-2011. He was not a great rebounder, but that job was usually left to Ogide anyway. To make matters worse, the frontcourt also lost Andre McFarland, who started eight games last year. McFarland never played too much, but he was a nice guy to have available every once in a while. The big loss on the perimeter is Adam Nigon. The sharpshooter rarely went inside the arc, but he connected on 41.2 percent of his attempts from long range and no one else on the team could shoot with that much consistency.

Who’s In:
The important newcomer was at CSU last season. Chad Calcaterra, a 6-10, 250 pound center, redshirted last season to gain strength and experience. He did just that. His lack of playing experience at this level may lead to some growing pains, but Calcaterra is a fine athlete with skills one would not expect from a 6-10, 250 pound center. He may be asked to step into a starting spot right away and he can do plenty of scoring and rebounding under the basket. The Rams may need to be patient with him early in the 2011-2012 campaign, but Calcaterra could turn into a superb player by the end of his freshman campaign. The only true freshman heading into the program is Cody Mann. The 6-0 point guard will likely be the primary backup from day one and the quicker he can adjust to the style of play, the more minutes he will see.

Who to Watch:
The talent on the perimeter will carry the Rams into the postseason. It starts with point guard Dorian Green. The 6-2 junior is a fine ball handler and a capable scorer around the basket. Green is even a pretty good rebounder for a point guard and that skill may be much more important this season while the frontcourt is being revamped. Green averaged 7.1 points per game last season, but could turn into a dynamic scorer if he can hit the long ball with more consistency. Wes Eikmeier is also back and ready to return to a starting role. Eikmeier should emerge as the Rams go-to-scorer after averaging 9.1 points per game during his sophomore season. He is a fine outside shooter, but can also use his 6-3 frame to attack the basket. Jesse Carr, yet another junior, should see an increase in playing time and could even find himself starting if Coach Miles wants to play small. Sophomore Dwight Smith will also be in the regular rotation after a promising freshman campaign.

Final Projection:
Surprisingly the cupboard is not totally bare in the frontcourt. Forwards Pierce Hornung, Greg Smith and Will Bell all have significant experience under their belts. Hornung averaged over 20 minutes per game last season. However, he is just 6-5 and will have trouble defending opposing power forwards. He does have the quickness to play the three spot and that is where he will likely start. Hornung is not much of a scorer, but he is a superb rebounder. Greg Smith has a little more size and should fit in nicely at the power forward spot. He started a dozen games a year ago and proved to be a capable interior scorer. He will need to step up his game and become a double digit scorer if Colorado State hopes to take the next step this year. Will Bell is a big-bodied senior who usually comes in and eats up some fouls. He is not a bad scorer or rebounder, but Bell will mostly be used for his size, especially if Calcaterra is not ready for the big stage.

Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Dorian Green, Junior, Guard, 7.1 points per game
Wes Eikmeier, Junior, Guard, 9.1 points per game
Pierce Hornung, Junior, Forward, 4.3 points per game
Greg Smith, Junior, Forward, 6.3 points per game
Chad Calcaterra, Freshman, Center, DNP last season

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New Mexico Lobos

2010-11: 22-13, 8-8
2010-11 postseason: NIT
Coach: Steve Alford (98-39 at New Mexico, 406-222 overall)

New Mexico struggled in Mountain West Conference play, ending with an 8-8 record. The result was a trip to the NIT and a team that just could not keep up with the likes of BYU, San Diego State and UNLV. But the Lobos have the talent to go from the middle of the pack to the top in 2011-2012. Drew Gordon, last year’s conference newcomer of the year after transferring from UCLA, is back to dominate the competition. The 6-9 senior averaged 13.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. A year in the system should only make him better and as long as the rest of the team knows to work through their big man in the paint, New Mexico’s offense will be tough to stop.

Who’s Out:
The loss of Dairese Gary is a concern. He led the team with 14.1 points and 5.5 assists during his senior season. Gary was the catalyst on both ends of the floor and, on a team that often went 11 deep, he rarely spent time on the bench. However, there are some quality players ready to step up and fill the void. The only other losses are Emmanuel Negedu and Curtis Dennis. Both were decent role-players when available, but they each appeared in a mere ten games, so their absence is nothing new to Coach Steve Alford and company.

Who’s In:
The backcourt gets a nice boost with the addition of Demetrius Walker, Hugh Greenwood, Dominique Dunning and Kory Alford. Walker and Greenwood are the two who are expected to make an immediate impact. Walker, a transfer from Arizona State, had a decent freshman campaign with the Sun Devils before transferring to UNM. After sitting out last season, the prep star is ready for a fresh start and to make a big splash in the Mountain West. Greenwood is from the famed Australian Institute of Sport and is a superb shooter who can fill up the scoring column in a hurry. At 6-3, he has the size to finish around the basket and if he does not find a spot in the starting lineup, Greenwood will make a great sixth man who can provide instant offense off of the bench.

Who to Watch:
Replacing Gary is the big issue, but the Lobos have multiple options. Kendall Williams is coming off of a great freshman campaign in which he averaged 11.6 points, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals. Williams is more known for his three-point shooting ability than his passing ability, but he is certainly a capable ball handler. The other option is Jamal Fenton, a 5-9 junior who averaged 5.4 points and 1.9 assists in limited action last year. Fenton may be a better creator with the ball in his hands, but it may be difficult for him to find too many minutes with so much talent on the perimeter. But if Coach Alford needs a true point guard, he may have to make room for Fenton. Phillip McDonald should step back into a starting role as well. The 6-5 senior provides New Mexico with a bigger guard who can shoot and help out on the glass. Chad Adams, after serving a short suspension, and Tony Snell will provide depth on the wing.

Final Projection:
A.J. Hardeman spent most of last season starting beside Gordon. The 6-8 senior is an experienced player who can do plenty of scoring in the paint and help out on the glass. Having a quality player like Hardeman in the frontcourt takes a lot of pressure off of Gordon. Even if Gordon is struggling, Hardeman can step in and score. Alex Kirk started 21 games last season and played very well for a freshman. The 6-11, 242 pound center is an interesting prospect who can step outside and hit the long ball, but not forget about his rebounding duties on either end of the floor. He will likely provide depth off of the bench this season, but his starting experience from last year should have Kirk ready to make a big jump in production if he can overcome an offseason injury. With players like Cameron Bairstow adding even more frontcourt depth, few teams in the conference will be able to match the big men of New Mexico. As long as the guards play under control and remember to feed the talented forwards, this is a team that can do a lot more than just make the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:
Kendall Williams, Sophomore, Guard, 11.6 points per game
Demetrius Walker, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season
Phillip McDonald, Senior, Guard, 10.9 points per game
A.J. Hardeman, Senior, Forward, 7.6 points per game
Drew Gordon, Senior, Forward, 13.0 points per game

San Diego State Aztecs

2010-11: 34-3, 14-2
2010-11 postseason: NCAA
Coach: Steve Fisher (232-152 at San Diego State, 416-234 overall)

Everything came together nicely last year for San Diego State to make an NCAA Tournament run. The expectations started high and the Aztecs lived up to them, reaching the Sweet Sixteen before falling to eventual National Champions Connecticut. The expectations are a lot lower this year, but this is not a team that is going to fall off the map. There is just a little rebuilding to be done and Coach Steve Fisher nabbed some newcomers who are ready to replace the vast amounts of talent the team lost.

Who’s Out:
Kawhi Leonard is the obvious big name that is departing Montezuma Mesa. He split early after averaging 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds during the Aztecs 34-3 campaign. However, he is not the only loss. This team would still be good without Leonard, but they also lose starters Malcolm Thomas, Billy White and D.J. Gay, all who averaged at least ten points per contest. Thomas and White were the big guys in the paint who opened up space for Leonard. Gay was the efficient point guard who dished out 3.1 assists per game and averaged a mere 1.3 turnovers. Mehdi Cheriet, who saw limited action in 2010-2011, has also run out of eligibility and with a very limited amount of players returning, the Aztecs could use every body they can get.

Who’s In:
Looking for a great group of incoming freshmen? You are looking in the wrong place. Coach Fisher has added, thus far, just three new faces to the team and all have major college experience. Garrett Green is the big name. The 6-11 senior will be immediately eligible after graduating from LSU with a year of eligibility remaining. For the Tigers last season he averaged 6.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in a reserve role. Due to a lack of other options, he will not be in a reserve role for the Aztecs. Deshawn Stephens, a junior college transfer, will be asked to play plenty of minutes as well. His experience is very nice for a frontcourt that returns very few experienced players. The backcourt gains Xavier Thames, a transfer from Washington State. Two years ago as a freshman Thames averaged 4.6 points and 1.5 rebounds for the Cougars and should be able to step into a larger role sooner or later for San Diego State.

Who to Watch:
Chase Tapley and James Rahon, the fifth and sixth leading scorers from last year, give the Aztecs a nice duo in the backcourt to work with. The problem is neither are really point guards. Tapley, a 6-2 junior, is mostly a shooter, but he did develop a better all-around game last season as San Diego State’s fifth starter. He is the likely candidate to spend some time at the point if necessary. Rahon has the size to play on the wing, but most of his shots came from long range. He will need to start using his 6-5 frame to attack the basket and, more importantly, hit the glass. Otherwise this is going to be a very undersized team at times. LaBradford Franklin did not see much action during his freshman campaign, but he is the one player who could turn into the point guard this team needs. Whether he starts or not, he will need to at least be a capable backup point guard. Jamaal Franklin should see some playing time off of the bench on the wings again this year.

Final Projection:
It is possible the frontcourt will return practically nobody. Tim Shelton is a talented forward, but he has not been able to stay healthy. He played in 31 games last year, but averaged a mere 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds. He has all the tools and experience to be a fine power forward, but his minutes will likely be cut into by the new guys pretty quickly. Getting Brian Carlwell back for a sixth year would be very beneficial. He is not much of a scorer, but he is great on the glass and would be the team’s best shot blocking threat. At the least he would provide another big body. However, his status is still up in the air. This is a team that may have to play small at times, but the forwards are generally good athletes who can get up and down the floor, so that may not be a huge problem. Either way, this is not a Sweet Sixteen team, but they may not drop as far as many would expect after losing their top four scorers.

Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:
Chase Tapley, Junior, Guard, 8.6 points per game
Xavier Thames, Junior, Guard, DNP last season
James Rahon, Junior, Guard, 7.0 points per game
Tim Shelton, Senior, Forward, 1.6 points per game
Garrett Green, Senior, Forward, DNP last season

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UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

Overall Rank: #37
Conference Rank: #2 Mountain West

Former UNLV coach Lon Kruger got an offer at Oklahoma that he could not refuse. And Kruger did what he was going to do with the Runnin’ Rebels and it was time for him to look for the next project. Coach Dave Rice steps into a great situation on a team that has a slew of talent returning from a tournament squad. Coach Rice has brought together a great staff and did not have to do too much work on the recruiting trail for his first season with hardly any turnover on the roster. This is a team that just made the NCAA Tournament last year. This year they will try and win a game or two.

Who’s Out:
UNLV is not without some big losses, most notably Tre’Von Willis and Derrick Jasper. Willis led the Rebels with 13.2 points per game last season and added 3.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals. Willis was not a great shooter, but he was a dynamic scorer who could score in bunches and help out the team in a variety of other ways. Jasper started 21 games during the 2010-2011 campaign, averaging 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. The depth on the perimeter would seem to be an issue without those two, but that is not the case and Coach Rice will have plenty of options in trying to replace the lost production.

Who’s In:
Reggie Smith will be one of the players asked to fill that void once he is eligible following the fall semester. The 6-0 transfer from Marquette will not even need to be ready right away with the talent on the perimeter, but he will force himself into the mix at the point and should see quality minutes. The bigger name is Mike Moser. The former Bruin should step right into the starting power forward spot after sitting out last season. Two years ago Moser spent most of his time on the UCLA bench, but he was highly regarded coming out of high school and the Bruins would like to have him around. Moser has nice size at 6-8, but he plays bigger than that. He has a huge wingspan and will be a force on the glass.

Who to Watch:
Oscar Bellfield and Anthony Marshall are a couple fine distributors who can score too. Bellfield ran the point for three seasons, but he will likely spend more time off the ball this year. That is in part due to his ability to score, but also because Marshall has proven to do a better job of taking care of the ball. The addition of Smith, in December, should allow Bellfield to spend all of his time off of the ball if that is what Coach Rice wants to do. Bellfield averaged 11.2 points per game last season and knocked down two three-pointers per contest. He could turn into a superb scorer now that he does not have to worry about passing quite as much. Marshall is no slouch in the scoring department either. He totaled 9.7 points per game as a sophomore and added 3.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds. Those two will create and make a ton of shots for UNLV. The return of Kendall Wallace, who missed all of last season with an injury, adds quality depth on the wing. Wallace is a good shooter and has enough size to attack the basket. Chace Stanback will join Bellfield and Marshall in the starting backcourt. The 6-8 wing is difficult to defend because of his size and ability to shoot the ball. He did get in some trouble over the summer and Coach Rice has some disciplinary decisions to make. However, Stanback will probably not miss too much time. Justin Hawkins averaged nearly 20 minutes per game last season, but he will have to fight pretty hard for more minutes this season.

Final Projection:
Coach Kruger pretty much ran a three man rotation at center with Quintrell Thomas, Carlos Lopez and Brice Massamba. With Moser playing by their side and Stanback sliding down to his natural three spot, the frontcourt should be more productive this time around. Thomas proved to be the most constructive of the three big guys, averaging 6.7 points and 5.2 rebounds during just a little more than 15 minutes per contest. Lopez is the best shot blocker of the bunch and Massamba is the biggest body of the bunch at 6-10 and 240 pounds. Thomas may emerge as the starter and play a few more minutes, but Lopez and Massamba will still play an important role on this team. With a loaded backcourt, the frontcourt will be key as Coach Rice tries to make an immediate splash on the national stage. If Moser lives up to his potential and Thomas, or one of the other big men, can emerge as a consistent threat, this team will run most Mountain West opponents out of the gym.

Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:
Anthony Marshall, Junior, Guard, 9.7 points per game
Oscar Bellfield, Senior, Guard, 11.2 points per game
Chace Stanback, Senior, Guard, 13.0 points per game
Mike Moser, Sophomore, Forward, DNP last season
Quintrell Thomas, Junior, Forward, 6.7 points per game

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