2011 Tournament Team Profiles

[howardjp]

so it looks like we'll have the two top 3 point shooters in the nation in Olson and Fitzpatrick?  Bombs away!

PS - nice pieces on Kevin Olson in the Boston Globe's North Weekly and the Gloucester Daily Times.

Scranton Royals
Last Ranking:   NR
Pool B Landmark Conference
21-6(overall)  11-3(conference, 1st)
Head Coach - Carl Danzig(8th year, 141-75, NCAA appearances 2003/6/8/9)
Record against NCAA teams - (0-1) Richard Stockton  62-77 @ home


Fitzpatrick - 2nd in nation 3-pt accuracy(52.9)

[magicman]

i'm not an averett fan, but noticed that nobody had posted this...i think they've got a shot vs. centre

Good thinking!

[mark_reichert]

Washington University Bears
Defending National Champions
Rank in last d3hoops poll: 2nd         
Pool A qualifier from the University Athletic Association
23-2 Overall; 13-1 UAA; Home 10-1; Away 13-1     
Head Coach - Mark Edwards (28th season)         

Key Wins         
11-22 at Augustana College 87-82 (OT)
11-28 Aurora  97-89 (OT)
12-6 vs. Illinois Wesleyan 93-86
12-13 vs Fontbonne 89-78
1-25 at Carnegie Mellon 90-70
1-30 at Brandeis 80-75
2-8 vs Brandeis 82-57
2-20 vs. Carnegie Mellon 77-63

Key Losses
12-20 at Elmhurst 75-82, 2-22 vs Rochester 69-70

Record Against NCAA Tourney Teams - 6-1: Aurora, Fontbonne, Carnegie Mellon twice, Brandeis twice, loss to Elmhurst.

PROBABLE STARTERS
33 Aaron Thompson Jr. G 6-4 17.8 PPG 3.1 RPG .535 FG%
21 Tyler Nading Sr. F 6-7 13.3 PPG  5.6 RPG  .533 FG%
12 Sean Wallis Sr. G 6-2 10.3 PPG  2.1 RPG  .386 FG% 8.4 APG
44 Zach Kelly Jr. F 6-7 7.8 PPG  4.5 RPG  .539 FG%
5 Cameron Smith Jr. F 6-5  6.0 PPG  4.4 RPG  .560 FG%

KEY RESERVES
40 Caleb Knepper So. F 6-6 7.2 PPG  1.8 RPG  .462 FG%
20 Dylan Richter Fr. G 6-3 5.7 PPG  3.0 RPG  .558 FG%
45 Alex Toth Fr. F 6-6 5.3 PPG  3.4 RPG  .623 FG%
22 John Wolf Jr. G 6-5 2.4 PPG  1.0 RPG  .526 FG%
10 Ross Kelley Jr. G 6-1 2.2 PPG  1.6 RPG  .347 FG%

Statistics         
Points/Game: WashU (79.8) Opponent (66.5)         
FG%: WashU (50.3) Opponent (43.0)         
3PT%: (40.0); FT% (74.8)         

Notes         
Taking Care of the Ball: The Washington University men's basketball team ranks first in Division III and second in all NCAA Divisions in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.66. The Bears have combined for 512 assists and 308 turnovers in 2008-09.
1. Notre Dame Division I 1.81
2. Washington U. Division III 1.66

[Just Bill]

As is traditon, the message board attempts to provide profiles of all tournament teams. Post them if you have them.  Recommended format is:

School, Location:

Record (Conf. Rec.):

Conf. Finish/Pool A,B,C:

Starters:

Top Reserves:

Key Wins:

Key Losses:

Season summary/tournament outlook:

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan (Bloomington, IL) - Midwest Region, College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin


20-7 overall/10-4 CCIW (2nd place tie)

Pool C entrant

Points per 100 Possessions = 112.6

Opponent Points per 100 Possessions = 101.0

Starters
G Travis Rosenkranz (6-0/175, Jr.) – 8.4 ppg/2.6 rpg/4.3 apg  (3rd Team All-CCIW)
G Sean Johnson (6-1/185, Jr.) – 15.6 ppg/3.0 rpg/3.1 apg  (2nd Team All-CCIW)
F Jordan Zimmer (6-5/190, So.) – 9.7 ppg/3.1 rpg
F John Koschnitzky (6-6/200, So.) – 5.9 ppg/3.7 rpg
C Doug Sexauer (6-7/225, Jr.) – 15.5 ppg/5.5 rpg  (1st Team All-CCIW)

Top Reserves
C Ryan Connolly (6-9/275, So.) – 6.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg
F Duncan Lawson (6-7/253, Jr.) – 5.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg
F Edmond O'Callaghan (6-6/200, Jr.) – 4.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg
G Sean Dwyer (5-10/178, Sr.) – 3.2 ppg/1.9 rpg/2.2 apg

Key Wins: vs Carthage, vs Augustana, @ Augustana, vs Wheaton (neutral)

Losses: vs Wash U, @ Chicago, @ Wheaton, @ Carthage, vs Wheaton, @ North Park, @ Carthage

Season summary/tournament outlook
Illinois Wesleyan makes its 19th appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament in 27 years of affiliation.  The Titans are 39-18 (.684) in tournament play, including Final Four appearances in Salem, Virginia in 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2006.  IWU won the national championship in 1997.

The 2009-10 Titans are an extremely gifted offensive team, with tremendous depth at every position.  6-7 junior center Doug Sexauer provides a great low-post presence, while 6-1 junior shooting guard Sean Johnson is IWU's #1 outside scoring option.  Junior point-guard Travis Rosenkranz controls the tempo nicely for the Titans.  

After beating Wheaton Friday, IWU lost in the CCIW title game to host Carthage by 3 points.  The Titans open the NCAA tournament vs Central (IA) with the winner facing the team that advances between two-time defending national champion Washington University-St. Louis and Westminster (Mo.).

[Titan Q]

Points per 100 Possessions = 112.6

Opponent Points per 100 Possessions = 101.0

Two steps for both:

1) Determine estimated possessions per game (from season boxscore)

FGA - Off Reb + T.O. + (.475 x FTA)

2) Run Points per 100 Possessions calculation

(Points/Possessions) x 100 


(Each takes a minute or so assuming you have the season boxscore.)

[frodotwo]

UW-Stevens Point Pointers play home games at the Quandt Fieldhouse on the Dick & Jack Bennett Court.

UWSP has played several teams ranked by D3Hoops.com in 2009-2010:

(All games show ranking at time of contest)
Beat Preseason #16 Whitworth (current #5) at Tacoma, WA 101-79
Beat Preseason #18 Puget Sound at Tacoma, WA 70-55
Beat Preseason #50 Lawrence at home 72-53
Lost at #5 Whitewater 67-60 (OT)
Beat #2 St. Thomas at home 78-56
Beat #23 La Crosse at home 73-57
Lost at home to #5 Whitewater 61-58
Beat # 8 Whitewater at Whitewater 63-57

Current record of 23-4 (12-1 home, 10-3 away, 1-0 neutral) includes 12-4 conference record (2nd place) and WIAC tournament championship and AQ bid.

Averages 75 ppg and surrenders 60 ppg; Out rebounds opponents by 6 pg; shoots 49.8% from field, 36.6% from 3 pt land and 74.3% Ft. Opponents shoot 40.8%, 31.3% and 72.4% respectively. +3.19 turnover margin and 1.36 assist to turnover ratio.

Pts per 100 poss offense -  116.4
Pts per 100 poss defense -   97.6

Starters are
Sr Matt Moses 6'2" 14.5ppg, 51% FG 90% FT
Jr Louis Hurd 6'5" 12.4ppg, 48% FG 74% FT
Jr Jared Jenkins 6'4" 10.9ppg, 48% FG 76% FT
Jr Scott Hoelzel 6'6" 8.6ppg, 6rpg, 60% FG;  
Jr Nick Krull 6'7" 6.1ppg, 63% FG 74% FT.  

Top subs are
6'8" Sr Ross Forman 5.1ppg, 4.6rpg;
5'10" Fr Jerrel Harris 7.2ppg;
6'4" So Dan Tillema 6.9ppg.

UWSP has their most athletic team of the past decade, even more so than those NCAA champs of 03-04 and 04-05. They play a man-to-man defense and rebound very well at the defensive end. Krull is usually the defensive stopper, playing players both taller and shorter effectively, but Jenkins and Moses are also capable of being shutdown defenders. Offensively the Pointers work for the inside shot and will work the clock down looking for that lay-up or short jumper. They have relied on the 3-pt shot less this year than any year since 1998-99, but are capable and have 7 players who have made 11 or more this year. Defense fuels their offense and their athletic ability will make them a tough out for any team.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmzA5Mn1t0k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf_hFco376o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpMyAQ8jq0s

[John Gleich]

I've got different efficiency numbers than you (defensive, offensive difference is probably rounding)...

I have 116.04/92.61

FGA - Off Reb + T.O. + (.475 x FTA)

Offensive:  1466 - 257 + 259 + (.475 x 469) = 1690.78/26= 65.03 Poss/Gm
Defensive: 1357 - 207 + 335 + (.475 x 420) = 1684.50/26= 64.79 Poss/Gm

(Points/Possessions) x 100

Offensive Points: 1962
Defensive Points: 1560

Offensive: (1962/1690.78) x 100 = 116.04
Defensive: (1560/1684.50) x 100 = 92.61

[scout]

Gordon College (Wenham, MA) - Fighting Scots - Northeast Region, Commonwealth Coast Conference

24-4 overall/11-1 CCC (1st Place)

Pool A entrant – Won CCC Tournament

Points per 100 Possessions = 103.7

Opponent Points per 100 Possessions = 87.1

Starters
G Aaron Trigg (6-1, Sr., Overland Park, KS) – 17.5 ppg/4.1 rpg/3.25 apg  (CCC POY,CCC Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year)
G Brady Bajema (6-2, Sr., Whitinsville, MA) – 13.6 ppg/3.7 rpg/3.1 apg  (1st Team All-CCC)
G/F Austin Bentson (6-3, Jr., Branchville, NJ) – 3.4 ppg/3.0 rpg/1.5 apg
F Greg Walker (6-7, Jr., Uxbridge, MA) – 12.2 ppg/5.1 rpg
C Ben Gaskill (6-9, Sr., Columbus, OH) – 6.3 ppg/9.3 rpg/ 1 bpg  (CCC Co-Def. POY, )

Top Reserves
F David Dempsey (6-5, Fr., Wallingham, CT) – 6.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg
F Jeff Derr (6-8, sr., Barrington, IL) – 5.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg
G Tim MacDonnell (6-2, Sr., Jericho, VT) – 2.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, ~ 2 Charges Taken Per Game

Key Wins: vs Husson, @ Salem State, @ Bates, @ Union (Union Tournament)

Losses: vs Westfield State, vs Endicott, @ MIT (in OT), @ Colby-Sawyer

Season summary/tournament outlook
Gordon College makes its second ever appearance in the NCAA D3 Tournament, following a 2005-6 appearance where they lost a first-round game against Utica by five points. The Fighting Scots are led by first-year head coach Todd Murphy, who came by way of UC-Irvine (Assistant Coach). Before that, Coach Murphy started for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the franchise's first NBA game.

The Scots are a senior heavy team, with three seniors in the starting five and two more coming off the bench. The team is led by a trio of players that collectively score 43.3 of Gordon's 71 points-per-game average. Aaron Trigg won player of the year in The Commonwealth Coast Conference, leading the team with 17.5 ppg. He is a threat from deep, but also has an uncanny ability to drive to the hoop and draw important fouls against top big men. Brady Bajema is also a scoring threat, shooting 48% from beyond the arc. The Scots are not driven by guard play, however, as Greg Walker and Ben Gaskill are solid post players both offensively and defensively. An infusion of talent comes off the bench, as David Dempsey provides an up-tempo spark on the offense and Tim MacDonnell is a lock-down defender.

As a team, Gordon outrebounds it opponents by an average of 11.5 boards per game. They shoot 46% from the field, while allowing only 37%. From deep, they are 37% while allowing only 30% from their opponents. The Scots are a 73% free-throw-shooting team.

While Gordon did not have an impressive strength of schedule, the team is quite developed in comparison to the team that had early losses to Westfield State and Endicott. Under a first-year head coach, the team had to adapt to different techniques and has found its stride, winning 20 of its last 21 games. The only hiccup came in a road loss to Colby-Sawyer (who also defeated Gordon's round 1 opponent Middlebury). The Scots avenged their only conference regular season defeat with a 19 point win in the semis of the CCC tournament.

[nescac1]

Williams College Ephs, 26-1, lead the nation in scoring margin, FG %, 3 pt FG %.  Excel in a fast-paced, high scoring game, but they have vastly improved  their defense, rebounding and toughness from the start of the season, when they were spotty in all three categories.  The team does have a few weaknesses which can be exploited, which of course I won't be sharing here, but they will be a tough out for anyone this year.  Very well-coached on offense, really space the floor well and will make adjustments based on what the defense gives them.  Williams is a veteran team with seven legit playmakers. 

Key wins: Middlebury by 8 in the NESCAC championship, at Middlebury by 15, Colby (then ranked) by 24.
Loss: at RMC by 5, in a game they led by 14 mid-way through the second half before falling apart

They've had a tougher time in low-scoring games, but when they've scored more than 74, they haven't won by less than 12.  If they are hitting their 3's, almost impossible to guard (3-16 from three in their lone loss).  

Starters:

-- Joe Geoghegan, 6'8 SR Center, 7.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg in less than 20 mpg, .53 fg, .69 fta, four year starter, bulky presence inside, fourth all time in rebounding at Williams, athletic and can score in the post when called upon, but primary value is on the boards, where he is among the best Williams has ever had
-- Harlan Dodson, 6'8 JR forward, 6.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, .7 bpg, .42, .41, .74, tall, thin, outstanding outside shooter with deep range, athletic for his height, can play a lot or a little depending on match-ups
-- Blake Schultz, 6'3 SR forward, 18.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.5 spg, .52, .51, .84, four year starter, will be two-time first team all-NESCAC and likely NESCAC player of the year, can shoot and drive equally well, excellent defender with great anticipation, gritty, tough, physical player who can score in bunches even if it's not always pretty, legit all-American candidate
-- Alex Rubin, 6'4 SR guard, 8.1, 1.8, 1.5, .46, .44, .87, pure shooter / three point specialist, crafty, smart system player who makes his teammates better, good passer, can light it up when he gets it going
-- James Wang, 6'0 SO point guard, 16.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1 spg, .57, .51, .85, has turned into the go-to guy on offense, extremely fast, strong, fearless and can shoot, probably the best I've seen at Williams as a guard in terms of taking it to the basket and finishing over bigger guys, legit all-American candidate (if not this year, then definitely the next two)

Key reserves:
-- Troy Whittington, 6'5 JR Center, 10.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2 plus bpg in only 17.4 mpg, .70 fg, .64 fta.  Electrifying shot-blocker and dunker off the bench despite being undersized, also has nice post moves and is a good passer with great court vision, one of the best athletes in D-III and a potential all-American next year if he keeps improving.  Understands the game well.  Has improved tremendously from last season and is now a difference-maker when he enters the game, as he sparks the team with at least two highlight-real plays per game.  Game-changer defensively.
-- Nate Robertson, 6'3 FR Guard, 5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, .7 spg, 2.5:1 assist:TO, .50, .33, .80, crafty, unselfish true point and spectacular passer in the Mike Crotty / Andrew Olson mold, likely to star in future as he asserts himself more, but complementary player as a frosh.  Often goes unnoticed but a key player off the bench.  

Two other veterans get limited minutes:
Williams Hardy, 6'6 SR Forward, good court vision, has a knack for clutch plays
Ethan Timmins-Schiffman, 6'7 SR Forward, unorthodox player, solid back-up who makes the most of limited minutes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG1BfUQSfV0

[frodotwo]

I've got different efficiency numbers than you (defensive, offensive difference is probably rounding)...

I have 116.04/92.61

FGA - Off Reb + T.O. + (.475 x FTA)

Offensive:  1466 - 257 + 259 + (.475 x 469) = 1690.78/26= 65.03 Poss/Gm
Defensive: 1357 - 207 + 335 + (.475 x 420) = 1684.50/26= 64.79 Poss/Gm

(Points/Possessions) x 100

Offensive Points: 1962
Defensive Points: 1560

Offensive: (1962/1690.78) x 100 = 116.04
Defensive: (1560/1684.50) x 100 = 92.61

My kid is the math wiz, but the stat line from the UWSP stats page is different from your figures:
http://athletics.uwsp.edu/custompages/mbball/2009-10/teamcume.htm

1530-269+267+230.85(.475x486)=1758.85/27=65.14
1411-314+353+206.15(.475x434)=1656.15/27=61.39

OFF 2025/1758.85=1.151x100=    115.1
DEF 1617/1656.15=0.976x100=      97.6

I need to borrow hugenerd's calculator, I had an error the first time around

[batteredbard]

Maryville College Fighting Scots (South Region)
Maryville, Tenn.

23-4 (7-1 Great South, including tourney)

GSAC Regular season and tournament champion, Bumblin B

Starters:
Greg Hernandez (6-8 p) 19.8 ppg (.605 fg, .791ft) 9.7 rpg
Eryk Watson (6-3 w/g) 17.1 ppg
Ben Williamson (6-4 p) 6.9 ppg, 5rpg
Wes Lambert (6-2 w) 9.7 ppg, (.393 3pt %)
pick'em
Jared Laverdiere (5-10 point) 3.1ppg, 3:1 assist:turnover
Jordan Damron (6 point) 8ppg 2.7:1 a:t


Top Reserves:
MC goes 10 deep rotation normally, but has been going 11 the last four games

Laverdiere or Damron (whichever doesn't get start, they've split them 13 to 14)

Brandon McGill
Maverick Willet
Dustin Brown
Milton Stanley

Key Wins:
Nov. 18 Centre 72-70
Dec 2 (D2) Carson Newman 69-56


Key Losses:
Dec. 30 Loss to Guilford 83-52
1/31 Loss to Piedmont 80-78 OT

Points per possession: 1.11

Season summary/tournament outlook: MC is making its 12th straight tourney and is 9-2 in those first round games, but has lost its last two. The Scots have two legitimate all-America candidates in guard Eryk Watson and center Greg Hernandez. The combo makes them 2-dimensional on a bad night and on a good night Damron, Brown, Williamson and Lambert feed off each other for some streaky 3-point shooting. The season is characterized by their GSAC tourney over the weekend, where the Scots showed they could break down for a five minute scoreless drought and also where they could pull off a 16-3 or 17-1 run in under four minutes. Guilford meeting was low point of season with some sick and distracted players.

MC has sputtered more against athletic squads and tends to do better breaking down half court offenses. Zones only seem to be effective when MC isn't hitting but as soon as the first trey goes in, theres a bunch more coming. The second line is more of a change in strength than a drop off.

JCU should be a very similar looking team, both averaging better than 80 points  a game and using five at a time line changes.

[John Gleich]

I've got different efficiency numbers than you (defensive, offensive difference is probably rounding)...

I have 116.04/92.61

FGA - Off Reb + T.O. + (.475 x FTA)

Offensive:  1466 - 257 + 259 + (.475 x 469) = 1690.78/26= 65.03 Poss/Gm
Defensive: 1357 - 207 + 335 + (.475 x 420) = 1684.50/26= 64.79 Poss/Gm

(Points/Possessions) x 100

Offensive Points: 1962
Defensive Points: 1560

Offensive: (1962/1690.78) x 100 = 116.04
Defensive: (1560/1684.50) x 100 = 92.61

My kid is the math wiz, but the stat line from the UWSP stats page is different from your figures:
http://athletics.uwsp.edu/custompages/mbball/2009-10/teamcume.htm

1530-269+267+230.85(.475x486)=1758.85/27=65.14
1411-314+353+206.15(.475x434)=1656.15/27=61.39

OFF 2025/1758.85=1.151x100=    115.1
DEF 1617/1656.15=0.976x100=      97.6

I need to borrow hugenerd's calculator, I had an error the first time around

Amazing what a little refresh would do.  I clearly had the old page. 

Unfortunately, old age will get you too.        Point has only given up 214 offensive rebounds, not 317.

1411-214+353+ (.475x434)=1756.15/27=65.04  (The offensive and defensive possessions should be approximately equal... This is now the case!)

DEF 1617/1756.15=0.9207x100=      92.08

[booyakasha]

Colby College Mules
Waterville, ME


19-6 (6-3 NESCAC, 7-4 including tourney, 3 of the losses coming to top 6 natl ranked teams)

Pool C entrant

Starters

Adam Choice - 6'4" 18.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.4 apg
Michael Russell....


....WAIT, WTF??? Anderson ? Wesley ? NCAA selection com. are you serious??

[pbrooks3]

Centre College (1,200 students)
Danville KY (population 18,000; 35 miles south of Lexington) geographic "centre" of Kentucky

In January, Forbes Magazine named Centre best educational institution of higher education in the South.  Centre hosted 2000 Vice-Presidential debate. 

Record: 18-8 (11-5 SCAC); member of Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Key Wins: Birmingham-Southern @ home; DePauw @ DePauw; Oglethorpe @ Oglethorpe; Franklin @ home
Key Losses: Maryville @ home Transylvania @ Transy; Austin @ Austin

Centre defeated DePauw for a third time this season in the SCAC tournament final Sunday to earn the Pool A bid.  The team finished 9-1 against Eastern Division opponents in the league, and is currently riding an 8-game winning streak.   

This is Centre's 4th consecutive trip to the tournament. Last year the Colonels hosted & lost an opening round game to Averitt. The two prior years Centre lost in the 2nd round, hosting in 2008 and going to Wooster in 2007. The team enjoyed a 25-game win streak during the 2007-08 campaign & was ranked as high as #2 in the country. 

Offensive Pts per 100 Possessions =104.10
Opponents Pts per 100 Possessions = 91.74

Starters:
P Alex Lloyd 6'8 1/2" Jr. (9.7 RPG; 7.3. PPG; 56 FG%; 2 blocks per game) 
PF Danny Noll 6'6" Sr. (14.0 PPG; 7.6 RPG; 73% FT) 
SF Josh Crawford 6'5" Fr. (8.5 PPG; 4.4 RPG; 51 FG%; 71FT%) 
SG Bryon Ellis 5'10" Fr. (8.8 PPG; 36% 3PT FG; 77% FT) 
PG Jeff Mullaney 6'2" So. (13.6 PPG; 3.3 APG; 75% FT%) 

Bench:
P/PF Kyle Binder 6'6" So. (3.0 PPG; 83% FT) 
PG/SG Matt Grigg 5'10" Fr. (2.7 PPG; 38% 3PT FG)
PG Dee Smith 5'6" So. (3.1 PPG) 
PF/SF Greg Ross 6'4" So. (2.6 PPG; 88% FT)  
P James Melloan 6'7" So. 
SF Tres Russell 6'4" Sr. 

Style of Play: Centre plays a half-court brand of hoops structured on superior passing for high percentage looks. The Colonels historically have been noted as a 3-point shooting team. This year's squad is more balanced with inside scoring coming primarily from Noll and Crawford.  Noll can hit the open three as well.  Colonels have begun to build a reputation as a good rebounding team as Lloyd led the conference in this category & Noll finished among the top  6. Mullaney is the team's most athletic player who is capable of scoring in a variety of ways. Ellis is the 3-point artist with decent range beyond the arc.  Defense is Centre's moniker as they hold opponents to 56 points per game and 37.4% FG shooting.  Lloyd is the league's leading shot blocker at 2 per game.  Team received a tough draw, but has an outstanding coach with a good nucleus of talent to put on the floor for the opening round.