Top 25 talk

[Mr. Ypsi]

Q,

Does Ron Rose have any promising offspring (either sex - I'm a fan of the Titan women as well! ).  Sheesh, 25% of the CCIW is thriving with coaches' kids - when does IWU join the party??!!

[John Gleich]

I would put WashU in at the #25 spot.  I know they lost a lot, but they are always deep.  Many of their backups would start on a lot of good D3 teams. This is a team that was #1 for most of the year last year and ended #6.

To your last sentence...With 4 starters gone -- including two All-American guards (Sean Wallis and Aaron Thompson), their starting center (Zack Kelly), and their best defender (Cam Smith) -- does Wash U's 2009-10 record and rankings even matter in terms of this year's preseason Top 25?  I mean, those guys were absolutely instrumental to everthing the Bears accomplished last year.

I think what you are saying more is, "Wash U is a 'Top 25 program'...I assume they have good players ready to step in...I expect them to reload, not rebuild, and be a Top 25 team this year."  Now to that, I don't have a big problem.  I do think there are numerous programs that have earned the "Top 25 benefit of the doubt", so to speak.  I'm sure most D1 pollsters would include a rebuilding Kansas team over a potential Missouri Valley breakthrough on a preseason ballot.  I do try my best to avoid voting for teams based simply on name though.  Sometimes teams actually do have to rebuild.

I should also add that, having seen Wash U play so many times the last few years, I can confirm that their 2010-11 team will have some really good players (Gay, Richter, Knepper, and Toth for example) -- you are right that many of their reserves last year would have started elsewhere in D3.  And I know their freshman class is strong.  

I feel like Wash U has so many questions heading into 2010-11 (biggest for me  - Who is the point-guard?  Do they have enough 3-point shooters?  What does the bench look like?) that it's hard to vote for them in the preseason poll. My thinking is that I'd like to get past November 22 -- after Wash U has played two WIAC teams and Augustana -- before looking at them as a Top 25 candidate.  But heck, as you see, I'm struggling to find a 25th team that doesn't have a bunch of questions.

I think this year's Wash U team isn't that unlike the UWSP team from 05-06 (after the back-to-back championships).  The cupboard wasn't bare and Point still had a decent year (17-10), but there were certainly some adjustments that had to be made because so many of those guys didn't have extensive experience.  That's not to say they weren't good... the next year, Point was 26-3, falling in the sweet 16 to the first of Wash U's 4 straight final four teams.

The 05-06 Point team started the year as the first ORV team, right on the cusp of the top 25.  They actually swept Stout and La Crosse (NCAA tournament teams) in the regular season and had several pretty good games... but they were a young unexperienced team and played like it and lost quite a few games that they should have won (6/10 losses were 6 or fewer points and only two were by more than 10 points).

The difference may be the league... 3 WIAC teams made the tournament in 05-06.  I'm not sure what the UAA is going to be like (other than the usually difficult travel).

I think Q may be right about Wash U... we may know what level they're on fairly.

That said, I honestly don't know that the WIAC teams will be able to give them much of a game...  Platteville was 14-12 last year and Eau Claire was 14-11.  Platte and EC each had 5 seniors last year.  They each both have just 2 seniors coming back too.  Granted, Bo Ryan court is a tough place to play... but the Pios (and the WIAC in general) are going to be down this year.

This is one of the first times I've taken a look at what's coming back for WIAC teams... hopefully sometime soon I can look at the rest of them.

[Gregory Sager]

I think this year's Wash U team isn't that unlike the UWSP team from 05-06 (after the back-to-back championships).  The cupboard wasn't bare and Point still had a decent year (17-10), but there were certainly some adjustments that had to be made because so many of those guys didn't have extensive experience.  That's not to say they weren't good... the next year, Point was 26-3, falling in the sweet 16 to the first of Wash U's 4 straight final four teams.

You mean three straight Final Four teams ('07, '08, and '09), not four straight. NPU ain't gonna give up its share of that consecutive-Final-Fours record before it's legitimately taken away, and I'm sure that Amherst feels the same.

[John Gleich]

I think this year's Wash U team isn't that unlike the UWSP team from 05-06 (after the back-to-back championships).  The cupboard wasn't bare and Point still had a decent year (17-10), but there were certainly some adjustments that had to be made because so many of those guys didn't have extensive experience.  That's not to say they weren't good... the next year, Point was 26-3, falling in the sweet 16 to the first of Wash U's 4 straight final four teams.

You mean three straight Final Four teams ('07, '08, and '09), not four straight. NPU ain't gonna give up its share of that consecutive-Final-Fours record before it's legitimately taken away, and I'm sure that Amherst feels the same.

You, of course, are quite right...  the Final poll from last year hasn't been posted to the typical "Final" location... and so I saw 3rd in 06-07, 1st in 07-08. 1st in 08-09, and 1st in 09-10 (wk 13).  Of course, the most recent first was going into the tournament, not coming out of it (hmm... who could THAT be?  I feel like I should know this...).

I'll blame my 5 hours of restless sleep last night... I had a not-quite-two-year-old who decided that he couldn't sleep in his own bed at about 1 AM last night and then he decided to get up at 6:00.  Yuck.  And yawn.

[Titan Q]

I looked in a little closer detail at Wash U's rotation at the end of last season.  The following data is from their final 3 games - a 64-60 win @ U. of Chicago, a 79-71 home win vs Westminster in NCAA Round 1, and a 75-70 home loss to IWU in NCAA Round 2.

The rotation was basically:
* = 2010-11 returnee

Starters (153 min)
PG – Sean Wallis, 34 min
SG – Aaron Thompson, 30 min
SF – Cameron Smith, 33 min
PF – Spencer Gay, 28 min*
C – Zach Kelly, 28 min

Bench (47 min)
PG Ross Kelley, 7 min
G/F Dylan Richter, 17 min*
F Caleb Knepper, 14 min*
F/C Alex Toth, 9 min*


From those 3 games, the 4 returnees accounted for...

- Minutes/game = 68 (34%)
- Points/game = 28.3 (40%)
- Rebounds/game = 12.3 (35%)
- Assists/game = 3.3 (18%)
- FGM/game = 10.7 (44%)
- 3-pt FGM/game = 2.7 (35%)


And projecting the 2010-11 rotation as best we can, just based on returnees who were in the rotation...

2010-11 Starters?
PG - ?? (no returning player played PG)
SG – Dylan Richter, 6-3 JR
SF – Caleb Knepper, 6-6 SR
PF – Spencer Gay, 6-6 SR
C – Alex Toth, 6-6 JR

2010-11 Bench?
(no players besides above were in 2009-10 rotation)


Thus my 3 big questions about Wash U heading into the year (as I posted yesterday), and the reason I struggle with them as a preseason Top 25 team:

1) Who is the PG?  (They have some talented young players, but none has varsity experience.)

2) Do they have enough 3-point shooters?  (Richter can play the 2 and can make a 3, but is certainly not "pure 3-point shooter"...more of an athletic slasher.  Knepper is definitely a 3-point shooter, but who else?)

3) What does the bench look like? (Again, lots of young talent to choose from, but no varsity experience.  While guards can develop quickly, post players usually have a longer development curve...do they have players ready to backup the 4 and 5 spots?)

[Pat Coleman]

Just noticed that IWU and Gettysburg play December 29 @ Cal Lutheran...one of those interesting cross-region games we don't get enough of in Division III.

Cool!  I think Pat and Dave McHugh should spring for us to cover the game in our respective capacities.

If anyone is traveling on Dec. 29, it will be to Las Vegas for the D3hoops.com Classic.

[Pat Coleman]

You, of course, are quite right...  the Final poll from last year hasn't been posted to the typical "Final" location..

Yeah -- typically don't until the next preseason poll.

[John Gleich]

You, of course, are quite right...  the Final poll from last year hasn't been posted to the typical "Final" location..

Yeah -- typically don't until the next preseason poll.

You guys have more than enough to do during Football season.  I certainly don't fault you for it!

And I clearly wasn't that coherent when I was posting.

[Pat Coleman]

In all honesty, I am hoping to only have to do that on the new site and not on the old one. We'll see when launch is.

[RustCollege]

Hey, don't sleep on Rust.  I hear they're pretty good   

LOL now thats funny......i see somebody agree with me about not sleeping on Rust they did avg 82.5 pts a game which is rank #15 in D3 and shot 40% from the 3pt line which is rank #11 in D3

[Titan Q]

I received the official D3hoops.com preseason ballot e-mail today.  I'm guessing we'll have a poll by mid-week.  

So with a final decision to make by Tuesday, I'm very comfortable with 21 teams and have 9 teams I'm looking at for spots 22-25...


21 Sure Things:

#1 UW-Stevens Point (29-4 overall, 12-4 WIAC/West) – 2009-10 national champion
Starters Returning: (4) F Louis Hurd, 6-5 SR (12.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg),G Jared Jenkins, 6-4 SR (11.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), F Scott Hoelzel, 6-6 SR (8.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg), F Nick Krull, 6-7 SR (5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg)

Starters Lost:  (1) PG Matt Moses, 6-2 (14.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: PG Jerel Harris, 5-10 SO (7.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

Potential Impact Transfer: G DeVon Jackson, 6-0, Williston State...F Jamie Mauch, 6-4, North Dakota College of Science (2 year starter)


#2 Eastern Mennonite (25-5 overall, 14-2 ODAC/South) – Elite 8, lost to Guilford
Starters Returning: (5) G/F Todd Phillips, 6-3 SR (17.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.1 rpg), G/F D.J. Hinson, 6-4 SR (15.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg), G George Johnson, 5-10 SR (15.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.2 apg), F Eli Crawford, 6-2 SR (12.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg), F Orie Pancione, 6-5 SR (7.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg)

Starters Lost: none

Top Returning Reserve: G/F Andrew Thorne, 6-4 SO (3.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg)


#3 Illinois Wesleyan (23-8 overall, 10-4 CCIW/Midwest) - Elite 8, lost to UW-Stevens Point
Starters Returning: (5) G Sean Johnson, 6-1 SR (17.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.1 apg), C Doug Sexauer, 6-7 SR (15.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg), F Jordan Zimmer, 6-5 JR (9.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg), PG Travis Rosenkranz, 6-0 SR (8.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.1 apg), F John Koschnitzky, 6-6 JR (5.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg)

Starters Lost: none

Top Returning Reserve: C Ryan Connolly (6.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6-9 JR


#4 Carthage (24-6 overall, 12-2 CCIW/Midwest) - Sweet 16, lost to Illinois Wesleyan
Starters Returning: (4) PG Steve Djurickovic, 6-3 SR (24.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 7.3 apg), C Tyler Pierce, 6-5 SO (12.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg), G Max Cary, 6-3 JR (10.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), F Mitch Thompson, 6-6 SO (6.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg),

Starters Lost: (1) G Cody Hilton, 5-11 (3.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve:  G Malcom Kelly, 6-0 SO (7.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg)


#5 Randolph-Macon (26-7 overall, 11-5 ODAC/South) - Final 4, lost to UW-Stevens Point

Starters Returning: (5) F Brandon Braxton, 6-5 SR (11.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg), G Eric Pugh, 6-0 SR (10.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.2 apg), G/F Jordan Brown, 6-4 SR (10. 2 ppg, 3.4 rpg), G Calvin Croskey, 6-0 JR (8.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg), G/F Kevin Voelkel, 6-5 SR (2.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg)

Starters Lost: none

Top Returning Reserve: F Danny Jones, 6-6 SR (13.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg)


#6 Wooster (25-6 overall, 15-1 NCAC/Great Lakes) – Sweet 16, lost to Guilford

Starters Returning: (4) G Ian Franks, 6-4 SR (17.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.3 apg), G Nathan Balch, 6-1 SR (11.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg), F/C Bryan Wickliffe, 6-5 SR (11.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg), F Justin Hallowell, 6-7 JR (9.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg)

Starters Lost : (1) G Brandon Johnson, 6-2 (6.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: G Matt Fegan, 6-1 JR (6.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg)


#7 St. Norbert (23-4 overall, 14-2 MWC/Midwest) - Round of 32, lost to UW-Stevens Point
Starters Returning: (5) G Dave Wipperfurth, 6-2 SR (15.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg), C Chris Peterson, 6-5 SR (13.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg), G John Taylor, 6-0 SR (10.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.3 apg), F Steve Papke, 6-4 SR (7.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg), G/F Paul Mallers, 6-3 SR (5.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Starters Lost: none

Top Returning Reserve: G Mike Brumm, 5-11 SO (4.6 ppg, 1.0 rpg)


#8 Franklin & Marshall (26-5 overall, 15-3 Centennial/Mid-Atlantic) – Elite 8, lost to Randolph-Macon
Starters Returning: (4) F James McNally, 6-6 SR (18.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg), G Georgio Milligan, 6-2 JR (13.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.9 apg), F Mike Baker, 6-6 SR (9.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg), G Justin Driver, 6-0 SR (2.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) G Anthony Brooks, 6-2 (12.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.4 apg)

Top Returning Reserve: G Steve Tolliver, 6-2 SR (6.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg)


#9 John Carroll (21-7 overall, 15-3 OAC/Great Lakes) - Round of 32, lost to Guilford
Starters Returning: (5) G Corey Shontz, 6-1 JR (14.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.0 apg), F/C Matt Crozier, 6-7 JR (12.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg), G Joey Meyer, 5-11 JR (8.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg), G Michael Hartnett, 6-2 JR (4.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg), F Patrick Sweeney, 6-2 JR (2.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg)

Starters Lost: none

Top Returning Reserve: F Maurice Haynes, 6-4 SR (8.6 ppg, 4.3 apg)


#10 Middlebury (25-4 overall, 8-1 NESCAC/Northeast) - Round of 32, lost to Rhode Island
Starters Returning: (4) F Ryan Sharry, 6-8 JR (13.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg), G Jake Wolfin, 6-2 SO (10.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.9 apg), G Nolan Thompson, 6-3 SO (10.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg), C Andrew Locke, 6-10 SR (9.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) G Tim Edwards, 6-4 (8.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.1 apg)

Top Returning Reserve: F Ryan Wholey, 6-4 SR (8.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg)


#11 Williams (30-2 overall, 9-0 NESCAC/Northeast) – lost in national championship game to UW-Stevens Point
Starters Returning: (2) G James Wang, 6-0 JR (17.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.4 apg), F Harlan Dodson, 6-8 SR (6.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg)

Starters Lost: (3) G/F Blake Schultz, 6-3 (19.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg), G Alex Rubin, 6-4 (9.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg), C Joe Geoghegan, 6-8 (7.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: C Troy Whittington, 6-5 SR (11.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg


#12 Anderson (23-6 overall, 13-3 HCAC/Midwest) - Round of 32, lost to Carthage
Starters Returning: (4) F Brock Morrison, 6-3 JR (14.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg), C Andrew Jones, 6-6 SR (13.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg), F Andrew Bowman, 6-7 SR (11.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg), G Gabe Miller, 6-3 SR (11.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.8 apg)

Starters Lost: (1) G Ty Riddle (14.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg) - was a junior last year...had one semester eligility left but decided to enter work world

Top Returning Reserve: G Phil Hogan, 5-11 SO (5.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg)


#13 Rhode Island (22-8 overall, 12-2 LEC/Northeast) - Sweet 16, lost to Brandeis
Starters Returning: (4) G Antone Gray, 5-9 SR (14.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.8 apg), G/F Mason Choice, 6-4 JR (13.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg), F/C Darius Debnam, 6-4 SR (7.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg), G Nick Manson, 6-0 SR (7.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) G Jake Grimes, 6-3 (14.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: F Carl Lee, 6-3 SR (9.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg)


#14 St. Mary's (26-4 overall, 14-2 CAC/Mid-Atlantic) – Sweet 16, lost to Franklin & Marshall
Starters Returning: (4) G Alex Franz, 6-1 SR (13.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg), C Sam Brown, 6-8 SR (9.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg), G James Davenport, 6-3 JR (6.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg), F Brian Grashof, 6-7 JR (6.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) G Camontae Griffin, 5-9 (21.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: G/F Mike Fitzpatrick, 6-6 SR (8.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg)


#15 Virginia Wesleyan (22-5 overall, 12-4 ODAC/South) - Round of 32, lost to St. Mary's
Starters Returning: (4) F Donald Vaughn, 6-5 JR (15.5 ppg, 8.0 ppg), F Chris Astorga, 6-5 SO (8.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg), G Ed Roberts, 5-10 JR (3.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg), F Trevor Watson, 6-4 JR (1.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) G Stephen Fields, 6-2 (21.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.2 apg)

Top Returning Reserve: F Quantrell Simmons, 6-6 SR (8.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg)


#16 Hope (21-8 overall, 11-3 MIAA/Great Lakes) – lost in 1st Round to St. Norbert
Starters Returning: (4) G Peter Bunn, 6-2 SR (16.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg), F Will Bowser, 6-5 SR (12.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg), F Andy Venema, 6-8 SR (9.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg), G David Krombeen, 6-3 JR (6.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.8 apg)

Starters Lost: (1) C Chris Nelis, 6-4 (12.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: F Nate Snuggerud, 6-5 SO (6.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg)


#17 MIT (22-5 overall, 10-2 NEWMAC/Northeast) – lost in 1st Round to DeSales
Starters Returning: (4) F Noel Hollingsworth, 6-9 JR (20.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg), G Mitchell Kates, 6-1 SO (13.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.1 apg), F Will Tashman, 6-8 SO (8.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg), G Eric Zuk, 6-5 SR (1.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) Billy Johnson (8.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: G Jimmy Burke, 5-11 SO (9.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg)


#18 WPI (20-7 overall, 7-5 NEWMAC/Northeast) – not in 2009-10 tournament
Starters Returning: (4) G Jeffrey Robinson, 6-1 SR (19.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg), G Kyle Nadeau, 5-8 SR (9.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.0 apg), F Ben Etten, 6-4 SR (9.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), C Matt Carr, 6-7 JR (5.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) C Bennett Lessard, 6-8 (3.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: F Fernando Perez, 6-3 JR (11.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg)


#19 Plattsburgh State (21-8 overall, 13-5 SUNYAC/East) – lost in 1st Round to SUNYIT
Starters Returning: (4) G Chris Ruiz, 6-4 SR (17.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg), G Steve Thomas, 6-4 SR (17.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg), F Errol Daniyan, 6-6 SR (15.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg), G Carl Munnerlyn, 5-9 SR (11.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) F Farris Thomas, 6-5 (4.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg)

Top Returning ReserveL F RJ Ponesse, 6-10 SR (3.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg)


#20 Manchester (17-10 overall, 10-6 HCAC/Midwest) – not in 2009-10 tournament
Starters Returning: (5) G Mitch Schaefer, 6-4 SR (11.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg), G/F Tyler Henn, 6-5 SR (9.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg), G Jordan Moss, 6-4 JR (9.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), G Nathan Ferch, 6-3 SR (8.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg), C Jason Spindler, 6-10 JR (7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg)

Starters Lost: none

Top Returning Reserve: G Tyler Delauder, 6-1 SR (8.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg)


#21 Augustana (16-10 overall, 9-5 CCIW/Midwest) – not in 2009-10 tournament
Starters Returning: (4) F Kyle Nelson, 6-9 SR (14.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg), PG Brian DeSimone, 6-1 JR (6.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.3 apg), G Troy Rorer, 6-2 JR (6.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg), F Brandon Kunz, 6-7 SO (4.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) G Matt Pelton, 6-3 (12.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: F Chris Anderson, 6-4 JR (7.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg)


9 Teams for 4 Spots:


Amherst (14-11 overall, 3-6 NESCAC) – Northeast
Starters Returning: (4) G Conor Meehan, 6-4 SR (14.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.2 apg), F Jeff Holmes, 6-7 JR (9.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg), G Taylor Barisse, 6-5 JR (8.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg), G/F David Waller, 6-6 JR (7.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) G/F Steven Wheeler, 6-6 (14.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: G Willy Workman, 6-6 SO (6.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg)


Buena Vista (15-12 overall, 10-6 IIAC) – West - not in 2009-10 tournament
Starters Returning: (3) G Troy Ticknor, 6-1 SO (12.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg), F/C Doug Bissen, 6-7 JR (11.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg), F Wes Nordquist, 6-7 SO (11.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg)

Starters Lost: (2) G/F Nathan Parker, 6-4 (10.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg), G Kevin Osborn, 6-0 (3.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: G Jeff Janssen, 6-4 JR (8.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg)


Carleton (19-10 overall, 12-8 MIAC/West) – lost in 1st Round 1 to UW-Stevens Point by 1
Starters Returning: (4) G Jeremy Sutherland, 6-4 SR (14.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.6 apg), F Seth Jonker, 6-6 SO (4.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg), G/F Carter Biewen, 6-4 SR (7.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg), G Blaise Davis, 6-1 JR (7.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) F Bryan Rosett, 6-6 (11.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: F Scott Theisen, 6-6 SO (4.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg)


Centre (18-9 overall, 11-5 SCAC/South) – lost in 1st Round to Eastern Mennonite
Starters Returning: (4) G Jeff Mullany, 6-2 JR (13.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg), G Bryon Ellis, 5-10 SO (8.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg), F Josh Crawford, 6-5 SO (8.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg), C Alex Lloyd, 6-8 SR (7.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) F Danny Noll, 6-6 (14.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: G Dee Smith, 5-6 SR (3.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg)


Gettysburg (15-11 overall, 12-6 Centennial/Mid-Atlantic) - not in 2009-10 tournament
Starters Returning: (4) C Andrew Powers, 6-6 SR (19.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg), F Kevin Kennedy, 6-5 SR (11.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg), G/F Alex Zurn, 6-4 SO (11.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg), F Tim Lang, 6-7 JR (2.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) G Brendan Hagar, 6-1 (5.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.5 apg)

Top Returning Reserve: G Brendan Trelease, 6-3 JR (7.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg)


Loras (15-11 overall, 10-6 IIAC/West) – not in 2009-10 tournament
Starters Returning: (4) F Tim Kelly, 6-4 JR (13.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg) G Mike Gleason, 6-2 SR (11.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg), G Connor Mooney, 5-10 SO (11.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 4.2 apg), F Jordan Harrelson, 6-4 JR (5.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) F Alex Brant (5.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: C Dan Pawelski, 6-9 JR (9.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg)


Ramapo (18-9 overall, 7-6 NJAC/Atlantic) – not in 2009-10 tournament
Starters Returning: (4) F/C LaQuan Peterkin, 6-6 JR (15.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg), G Anthony LoRusso, 6-1 JR (9.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg), G Garret Thiel, 6-2 JR (8.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg), F Davian Plunkett, 6-6 JR (8.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg)

Starters Lost: (1) G Andre Kenny, 6-3 (15.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.1 apg)

Top Returning Reserve: F Stephon Treadwell, 6-5 SO (4.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg)


St. Thomas (23-4 overall, 19-1 MIAC/West) - lost in 1st round to Anderson
Starters Returning: (3) G Tyler Nicolai, 5-11 SR (14.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg), G Alex Healy, 6-4 SR (12.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg), G Teddy Archer, 6-1 (5.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg)

Starters Lost: (2) G Joe Scott, 6-4 (10.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg), C Sam Eicher, 6-6 (4.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: C Tommy Hannon, 6-8 JR (5.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg)

Potential Impact Transfer: F Eric Clute, 6-5, Southwest Minnesota State


UW-Whitewater (23-6 overall, 13-3 WIAC/West) – Round of 32, lost to Wooster
Starters Returning: (2) G Phil Negri, 6-3 SR (8.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg), F Alex Edmunds, 6-4 JR (7.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg)

Starters Lost: (3) C Dustin Mitchell, 6-9 (18.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg), G Dupree Fletcher, 6-2 (14.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg), F Mike Bendall, 6-6 (10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: G Nolan Free, 6-1 SO (6.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg) not returning

Potential Impact Transfer: F Chris Davis, 6-6, Madison Area Technical College (22 ppg, 6 rpg)...G Eric Bryson, 6-3, Winona State

[Titan Q]

St. Thomas (23-4 overall, 19-1 MIAC/West) - lost in 1st round to Anderson
Starters Returning: (2) G Tyler Nicolai, 5-11 SR (14.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg), G Alex Healy, 6-4 SR (12.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg)

Starters Lost: (3) G Joe Scott, 6-4 (10.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg), G Teddy Archer, 6-1 (5.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg), C Sam Eicher, 6-6 (4.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg)

Top Returning Reserve: C Tommy Hannon, 6-8 JR (5.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg)

The St. Thomas roster (still 2009-10 on their site) indicates that Teddy Archer was a SR last year...but the D3hoops.com ballot information lists him as a returning starter.  Can anyone confirm that he is back?

[Pat Coleman]

I received the official D3hoops.com preseason ballot e-mail today.  I'm guessing we'll have a poll by mid-week.  

Assuming the rest of the voters get their ballots in. Sometimes it takes a few minutes.

[nescac1]

Only two top 25 contenders from the Northeast have rosters posted so far, Amherst, where there are no surprises, five frosh including one projected immediate impact guy in Aaron Toomey (runner up for player of the year in North Carolina):

https://www.amherst.edu/athletics/teams/winter/basketball-m/roster

And RIC, don't know much about their frosh and whether any could be impact guys, but their point guard and one of two most productive returning players, Antone Gray, appears to have left the program (which is not  unusual at RIC, they have tremendous turnover from year-to-year, and usually bring in a high profile transfer as well, but appears not to have this season):

http://www.goanchormen.com/rosters/ros_mbasketball.html

Without Gray and Grimes, I'd say that Western Conn will now definitely be the LEC pre-season favorite, unless they have a really key defection, and that will likely knock RIC down quite a few notches. 

[Titan Q]

And RIC, don't know much about their frosh and whether any could be impact guys, but their point guard and one of two most productive returning players, Antone Gray, appears to have left the program (which is not  unusual at RIC, they have tremendous turnover from year-to-year, and usually bring in a high profile transfer as well, but appears not to have this season):

http://www.goanchormen.com/rosters/ros_mbasketball.html

Without Gray and Grimes, I'd say that Western Conn will now definitely be the LEC pre-season favorite, unless they have a really key defection, and that will likely knock RIC down quite a few notches.  

This certainly impacts my ballot.  I'll probably take Rhode Island out, bump everyone else up, and take a 5th from that final list of candidates.

Thanks for catching that.  This is why I've tried to stir so much Top 25 discussion up the last few weeks...want to make sure we get as much relevant information on the table as possible before we vote (this coming Tuesday).