NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS NEW MEXICO STATE, OLD DOMINION HEADLINE CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC

The countdown is on for the 2019 Cayman Islands Classic basketball tournament which takes place next week from 25 to 27 November at the John Gray gym. Only in its third year the event has evolved into one of the premier college preseason basketball tournaments.

This year’s tournament field features New Mexico State and Old Dominion who advanced to the 2019 NCAA Tournament, while Loyola of Chicago and Nebraska played in the NIT and South Florida captured the 2019 College Basketball Invitational championship.

Word about the Cayman Islands Classic has traveled fast around basketball circles and the coaches are excited about the chance to play in the Cayman Islands.

“We are very excited about participating in the Cayman Islands Classic,” said Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg. “I have spoken with multiple coaches who played in the event in recent years and all have said it is a first-class event held in a beautiful location. We believe this will be a tremendous experience for our team and our fans.”

 “The Cayman Islands Classic is without a doubt one of the nation’s premier holiday tournaments,” said Old Dominion head coach Jeff Jones. “Maury Hanks has put together an extremely competitive field and we are thrilled to be a part of it. Visiting the Cayman Islands and enjoying the world class beaches and hotels will be a great treat for our team and fans.”

Games start on Monday and will take place at 11 a.m., 1:30pm, 5:00pm and 7:30 p.m. each day through Wednesday, 27 November with the championship game scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Tickets are on sale at Eventpro.ky OR at the box office at the gym before each game. Special local price of CI$25 per game and $15 for kids under 12. The final game is CI$35, kids remain the same.

Attendees will enjoy a tailgating zone with food and drinks on sale from Burger Shack, Smoothie King, D’Corn Shack, Cayman Spirits and CayBrew. There will also be music inside and out, a full interactive inflatable sports theme park by McGee Adventure Park and half-time contests with cool prizes.

For more information about the Cayman Islands Classic visit www.caymanislandsclassic.com and for online tickets visit EventPro.ky.

TEAM PROFILES

Colorado State

The Rams, under the guidance of second-year head coach Niko Medved, are hoping to earn their eighth invitation for postseason play in the last 11 years.

Six-foot, 11-inch, 245-pound senior center Nico Carvacho, who led the NCAA in rebounding last season with a 13.2 average, is one of four returning starters.

Carvacho, who also led the team with a 16.1 scoring average, earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference and was named to the league’s All-Defensive team last year while being selected for U.S. Basketball Writer’s Association All-District honors.

Medved is also counting on improvement from senior guards Kris Martin and Hyron Edwards and sophomores Adam Thistlewood and Kendle Moore.

Martin (9.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg) started 16 of the Rams final 27 games. Edwards averaged 6.8 points after becoming eligible in the second semester after transferring from Texas Tech. Thistlewood, a 6-6 forward, averaged 8.6 points and 2.9 rebounds; while Moore, a 5-10 point guard, averaged 8.6 points and 2.7 assists while leading the team in steals (1.3 avg.).

Among the seven newcomers, two bring collegiate experience to the roster, as junior guard Kyle Lukasiewicz played two years of junior college basketball and sophomore guard P.J. Byrd spent last year at VCU.

“I think we’ve improved our talent level,” added Medved. “I really like the way these guys work, but we’re very inexperienced. I don’t want to use that as a crutch. Just because we’re inexperienced, that doesn’t mean we can’t be good this year.”

George Mason

The Patriots,under coach Dave Paulsen, posted an 18-15 record this past season while winning the most conference games (11) since joining the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2013-14.

Senior guard Justin Kier, named the Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player, is one of four returning starters for the Patriots who are projected as an Atlantic 10 Conference contender.

Kier collected seven double-doubles last year and was one of just 11 players nationally to average 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds. 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals. He is the Patriots’ top returning player after leading the team in scoring (14.2 avg.) and rebounding (7.6 avg.) while earning all-league honors.

Six-foot 6-inch sophomore Jordan Miller, who averaged 10.4 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds, also returns along with 6-2 junior Javon Greene (9.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg) who developed into the team’s top perimeter defender.

5-10 sophomore Jamal Hartwell II, who shot 44.6 percent beyond the three-point arc, will have a bigger playing role along with 6-1 freshman Xavier Johnson, who was a second-team Washington Post all-Metro pick last year.

Other returning veterans in the frontline include 6-8 junior Greg Calixte (4.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg), who shot 61.1 percent from the floor and 6-7 AJ Wilson (3.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg) who led the team with 31 blocked shots.

George Mason is one of four Atlantic 10 programs to finish .500 or better in league play the last three seasons (along with Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure, VCU) but can they take the next step with an NCAA Tournament push?

“I think whenever it is when we hit on all cylinders,” said Paulsen. “I would like to think it would be built to last, where it can perpetuate itself. So, I think we’re close. That last hit is the hardest to overcome, that last little gap. It’s also the hardest to predict – when it’s going to happen.”

Loyola

Loyola is coming off a 20-14 campaign in 2018-19, in which it captured a second straight Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title and earned a NIT berth.

Over the last five seasons, head coach Porter Moser has guided Loyola to three post-season berths (CBI in 2015, NCAA in 2018, NIT in 2019) and a record of 109-64 (.630). Its 52 wins over the last two seasons tied a program record.

Although Loyola returns three starters from last season, this will be one of the youngest teams Moser has guided since the Ramblers joined the MVC in 2013-14. The roster features seven eligible newcomers, including three highly touted freshmen, along with three transfers.

Graduation losses include back-to-back MVC Players of the Year in Clayton Custer and Marques Townes.

But junior center Cameron Krutwig is one of three returning starters along with 6-4 junior guard Lucas Williamson and 6-7 junior forward Aher Uguak.

“We had back-to-back Players of the Year,” said Moser. “That’s losing a lot. We lost a tremendous amount but I like our new guys. I like our old guys. And that’s the good thing about leadership — when Cameron and Lucas were freshmen, Donte and Clay and Ben were the upper classmen, so that’s all they knew.”

Krutwig, a 6-9, 255-pound southpaw, was named the 2019-20 MVC Preseason Player of the Year, after leading the league in field goal percentage (.629) while averaging 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds. He is the lone starter left from Loyola’s 2018 Final Four team.

Williamson, who missed 18 games last season with a broken right hand, averaged 8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 41.3 percent (26-for-63) from three-point territory. 
A key reserve on Loyola’s Final Four team as a freshman in 2017-18, the 6-4 guard quickly established himself as one of the conference’s best lockdown defenders.

Uguak, who began his collegiate career at the University of New Mexico, averaged 5.8 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 50.4 percent (68-for-135) last season in his first year of eligibility at Loyola.

Two players who figured to have prominent roles for Loyola are sidelined. Sophomore guard Cooper Kaifes, who shot 46.5 (53-for-114) percent from three-point range a year ago and earned MVC All-Freshman Team recognition, underwent offseason hip surgery that will cause him to miss the entire 2019-20 campaign. Junior Keith Clemons, who averaged 15.1 points while leading Vincennes (Ind.) to the National Junior College Championships last year, is sidelined four to six weeks following an Oct. 23 knee surgery.

Nebraska

For Nebraska basketball coach Fred Hoiberg, the building process began quickly. With the graduation of three multi-year starters, including All-Big Ten performer James Palmer Jr. and Glynn Watson Jr., as well as the departure of NBA Draft pick Isaiah Roby, the Huskers were going to have a different look in 2019-20.

Thanks to his experience in the NBA as a coach and player, plus his success leading Iowa State, Hoiberg brings a solid resume to Nebraska and will play an up-tempo style that is attractive to fans and recruits.

Of the 16 players listed on Nebraska’s roster, just one appeared in a game for Nebraska last year – junior swingman Thorir Thorbjarnarson,

Hoiberg found 14 players in less than three months who can play the up-tempo style that Hoiberg implemented during his five years at Iowa State where the Cyclones advanced to four NCAA Tournaments from 2010-15, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2014, before he became head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 2015-18.

The newcomers are headed by 6-2 sophomore point guard Cam Mack, who averaged 19.1 points and 7.6 assists at Salt Lake Community College last year and was rated as the No. 3 juco recruit in the country; 6-4 junior forward Dachon Burke, who earned second-team All-Northeast Conference honors at Robert Morris (17.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.5 apg) and Haanif Cheatham a 6-6 graduate transfer.

Cheatham started 63 games at Marquette, averaging 10.1 points before transferring to Florida Gulf Coast where he played 10 games before a shoulder injury knocked him out for the year.

Junior college combo guard Jervay Green, who earned second-team All-American honors at Western Nebraska Community College where he averaged 23. 6 points and 5.3 assists, also will contribute.

“I’m coming in with an open mind,” said Hoiberg. “At Iowa State, I don’t think anybody was expecting much the first year. We ended up with a .500 record and then went to the NCAA Tournament four straight seasons. That’s what we’re looking to do. I wouldn’t have taken this job if I didn’t think we could win at a high level.

New Mexico State

The Aggies have a rich basketball tradition having played in the NCAA Tournament eight times in the past 10 years, including the last three straight.

New Mexico State gave eventual NCAA Final Four participant Auburn all it could handle before suffering a 78-77 loss in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The Aggies also came within three points of beating Kansas and went 5-0 against Mountain West and Pac 12 teams last year.

Behind head coach Chris Jans, the Aggies are the two-time defending Western Athletic Conference regular season and post-season tournament champion, coming off a school-record 30-5 overall mark this past season.

“We anticipate our returnees being pretty motivated after the close loss,” Jans says. “In my experience when you get a taste of it at that level, it normally motivates the guys coming back to get back to that level. Fortunately that’s been the case around here.”

Jans enters his third year with the nation’s deepest rotation, returning seven of his top nine scorers while fielding one of the deepest rotations in the country with nine returning players who averaged double figure minutes last season.

The backcourt features returning starters Terrell Brown (11.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .420 3PT) and A.J. Harris (9.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.3 aspg). Brown, a 6-1 senior, earned first team all-league and all-newcomer honors in his first season, finishing fifth in the league in scoring. Harris earned second-team all-league honors and was named to the all-defensive team. Six-foot-eight senior Ivan Aurrecoechea (9.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg) was a stalwart in the frontcourt and his role will expand after starting center Eli Chuha (9.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg) graduated.

6-6 Trevelin Queen (7,8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.7 apg) was named the MVP of the WAC Tournament after scoring 26 points in the championship game against

Grand Canyon. Clayton Henry started 25 games last year, averaging 5.4 ppg and 3.2 rpg). 6-0 senior guard Shunn Buchanan (2.1 ppg, 2.5 apg) along with 6-7 redshirt seniors Johnny McCants (6.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and C.J. Bobbitt (4.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg) should continue to increase their productivity.

Old Dominion

Guard Xavier Green, the Conference-USA tournament most valuable player, is among the top returning players for the Monarchs who posted 26-9 record last year, winning the league title with a 13-5 mark, while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for first time at the school since 2011.

The Monarchs are 122-49 over the past five years – thanks to defense and patience — ranking sixth in the NCAA in scoring defense last year (60.9) and ninth in field goal percentage defense (39.1)

“The biggest thing we’ve seen on a daily basis is how motivated our players are,” said Jeff Jones who is in his seventh year as head coach. “The guys got a taste of playing in the tournament. That provided even more motivation to get back.”

During Jones’ tenure the Monarch have finished in the top three of the league standings five straight seasons (62-25 in C-USA) while winning 25 games four times in that span.

Green, a 6-6-redshirt junior shooting guard (9.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, .406 3 PT), will be asked to ignite the offense

“His ceiling is so high,” said Jones. “We’re really excited about him. He has a great work ethic and attitude. I don’t see him slowing down. In the three years he’s been in our program, he’s been the most improved player twice. He’s had a great summer and he could end up being the most improved player again.

Six-foot-one junior Malik Curry, who averaged 21.9 points and 5.9 rebounds at Palm Beach State Junior College, looks to fill the void at point guard with the departure of Ahmad Caver (16.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg). Marquis Godwin (7.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg), whose season ended after playing in only 13 games last year, is a 6-5 junior guard.

Frontline veterans include 6-7 senior Aaron Carver (2.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and 6-8 sophomore power forward Kalu Ezikpe (4.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg), while 7-0 junior Dajour Dickens is an ideal anchor for a physical Monarchs defense. Clemson transfer A.J. Oliver was a four-star prep prospect and should contribute immediately.

South Florida

There will be no overlooking South Florida, which has four starters back from a team that went 24-11 overall, winning the College Basketball Invitational while posting an 8-10 record in the American Athletic Conference.

Last year the Bulls were picked last in the coaches’ preseason poll. They will be a definite factor in the league race this year. South Florida looks to ride the momentum from this past season when it was the most improved program in the NCAA winning 14 more games than in 2017-18.

Second-year head coach Brian Gregory has three top players to continue the Bulls’ rise in the American Athletic Conference headed by junior guard David Collins, who was named the most valuable player in the College Basketball Invitational.

Eight of its top 10 minutes leaders from last year return including four starters , which could propel the Bulls a step up in the post-season ladder.

“Now the challenge for those guys is that they have never been put in a position in their college careers where there are expectations,” said Gregory. “Sometimes, that’s a bigger challenge than when you’re not supposed to be good and you are playing without any pressure.”

South Florida’s strength is the starting backcourt comprised of 6-3 junior David Collins – the team’s leading scorer (15.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.1 spg, .313 3pt) and 6-1 senior guard Laquincy Rideau (13. 4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 5.4 apg, 2.9 spg, .338 3PT) a pair of dynamic attack-oriented players who compliment one another at both ends.

Collins became the first player in AAC history to lead the league in steals and assists and was one of only three players in the NCAA with 100 assists and 100 steals.

Zach Dawson, a 6-3 sophomore transfer from Oklahoma State, fortifies the backcourt. Justin Brown, a 6-6 junior wing, connected on a team-high 65 treys last year averaging 8.3 points and 2.6 rebounds

Michael Durr, a 7-foot 245-pound sophomore, (5.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.2 bpg, .510 FG) could develop into one of the league’s top big men.

The Bulls lost the services of 6-8, 231-pound Alex Yetna (12.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg, .539 FG) who established himself as the AAC’s best all-around rebounder, leading the league in rebounds and double-doubles (15), with a left knee injury suffered five days before the season opener

Washington State

Kyle Smith enters his first year as head coach with the Cougars after enjoying success at Columbia and San Francisco where he guided the Dons to three straight 20-win campaigns.

Six-foot six-inch sophomore wing CJ Elleby (14.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg) who tested the NBA waters after becoming the school’s highest scoring freshman ever, returns. He’s also a long-range threat shooting 41.4 percent beyond the arc

“You don’t have to run (plays) much for him. If you give him the ball, he’ll find a way to score,“ said Smith.

Forward Marvin Cannon, the team’s third leading scorer, also returns.

Newcomers expected to contribute include 6-5 combo guard Noah Williams, the son of former Cougar standout Guy (The Fly) Williams and forward Daron Henson, a transfer from Salt Lake Community College who will likely play power forward; 6-6 grad transfer Deion James (10.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg at Colorado State), and 7-1 freshman Volodymyr (Vova) Markovetskyy from Ukraine.

Isaac Bonton, a transfer from Casper (Wyo.) Junior College, who began his career at Montana State, will handle the point guard duties.

Another priority for Smith will be to improve the team’s defense which ranked last in the Pac-12 last year.