College Basketball Conference Previews - RPI Rankings 1-6

PHSports RPI Projections by Conference

College Basketball Conference Previews - RPI Rankings 23-31

College Basketball Conference Previews - RPI Rankings 15-22

College Basketball Conference Previews - RPI Rankings 7-14


Big XII Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 6
Projected Champion: Kansas
Player of the Year: DJ Augustin, Texas

Plain and simple, Kansas is expected to dominate. Despite losing Julian Wright to the NBA, Texas (Kevin Durant), Texas A&M (Acie Law IV) and Oklahoma State (JamesOn Curry) absorbed bigger losses. With Wright gone, Brandon Rush must fill the scoring balance and improve upon his 13.8 points per game. To compete for the national title, the Jayhawks will need steady play and a clean bill of health from the big man trio of Darrell Arthur, Sasha Kaun and Darnell Jackson. Anything less and Rock Chalk will be returning to the Big XII pack prior to the annual Bill Self disappointment in late March. That pack includes Texas, A&M and Kansas State. Texas is a talent factory, but must find a way to fill the void left by Durant. DJ Augustin showed glimpses of being that leader who can rally his teammates. Texas A&M shifts from a guard-oriented squad to the twin towers – Joseph Jones and 7-0 freshman center DeAndre Jordan. Another freshman, BJ Holmes, is likely to take the point guard duties while the team returns guards Dominique Kirk and Donald Sloan as well as swingman Josh Carter. Kansas State is an unknown quantity, as they have a new head coach, standout guard Bill Walker returns from ACL surgery and power forward Michael Beasley (#1 rated prospect according to Rivals.com) is only a freshman. Also, how will he gel with all-conference second-team performer David Hoskins? Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas Tech are likely to contend for at-large bids. If there’s one player to decide which of these teams gets in, it ‘s 6-9, 240 pound Sooner freshman Blake Griffin.

Big Ten Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 5
Projected Champion: Michigan State
Player of the Year: Drew Neitzel, Michigan State

In the Big Ten, all talk has been about Eric Gordon, Ohio State Version 2.0 and the new coaches. No talk has been about Drew Neitzel or his team that returns all five starters and is a year more mature. Okay, there was some talk when the Spartans lost to Grand Valley State in an exhibition. In Bloomington, Kelvin Sampson remains in the news, but not for the right reasons. To me, this conference is filled with questions such as:

• Can DJ White remain healthy for an entire season?
• How will life without Alando be in Madison?
• How early (if at all) will Minnesota and Michigan buy into their new coaches’ systems?

When all of these questions are answered, it comes back to Neitzel, who vastly improved from his sophomore to junior year. His ability to be the go-to guy who actually trusts his teammates adds even more value.

Big East Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 4
Projected Champion: Louisville
Player of the Year: Roy Hibbert, Georgetown

According to the experts, Georgetown will win the Big East and they may very well win the regular season title. However, the loss of Big East POY Jeff Green, the team’s best scorer/defender/passer/go-to guy, weighs heavier in my mind than it does in the eyes of others. Roy Hibbert has made strides since he stepped foot on campus and the guard tandem of Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp provide matchup problems. Freshmen guards Austin Freeman and Chris Wright will push them in practice and learn a lot on the job. However, the challenge for the Hoyas will be production from the forward position and the dates of February 9th and March 8th will go a long way to determine that. That’s when the Hoyas play Louisville, who returns four starters including the electrifying Terrence Williams who came into his own late last season. Rick Pitino won’t have the services of 7-1 center Clarence Holloway, who underwent heart surgery in late September, but he’ll have plenty of depth to suit the frenetic pace that his teams have played for years on end. Of course, players like Derrick Caracter, who often has not lived up to his last name, may drive Pitino nuts before the end of the season. Among the rest, Marquette returns all five starters from a tournament team, but The Stockbroker dealt with plummeting returns on investment in February and March. Frontcourt frailty and Dominic James’s shot selection remains points of contention. Syracuse is stocked with high-profile new recruits (Donte Greene, Jonny Flynn) but their success will hinge upon the emergence of Paul Harris and consistency from Kevin Federline look-alike Eric Devendorf. Why? Try a short bench with guard Andy Rautins sidelined for the season. Meanwhile, UConn, Villanova, Pittsburgh and Providence bring formidable squads that have the capacity to be dancing in March. There may be a surprise in the cards from West Virginia, but I doubt Bob Huggins will excel with John Beilein’s players.

Atlantic Coast Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 3
Projected Champion: North Carolina
Player of the Year: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina

If North Carolina does not make at least the Final Four this year, then Tyler Hansbrough’s legacy at UNC will be one of disappointment. While the Tar Heels lost Brandan Wright and Reyshawn Terry, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington are a year older and their depth in the backcourt and frontcourt is stellar. Challenging Carolina are Triangle area foes Duke and NC State. The Blue Devils are paced by Greg Paulus, who despite his flopping prowess, is a strong floor general. Instantly, Duke is an improved shooting team with the additions of Kyle Singler, Taylor King and Nolan Smith; however, where will the rebounds come from? A few miles down Interstate 40, optimism runs high in Raleigh with four returning starters. The onus will be on head coach Sidney Lowe to re-establish the Wolfpack’s late February/March form. They can expect great things from Courtney Fells, Gavin Grant, Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley, but will they find out their starting point guard by the start of conference play? Meanwhile, Clemson, Virginia and Maryland have the potential to display strong teams. Clemson carries the torch in terms of talent but they must demonstrate greater discipline than they showed late in games last season.

Southeastern Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 2
Projected Champion: Tennessee
Player of the Year: Chris Lofton, Tennessee

If you enjoyed watching the Volunteers last year, you’ll like them even more this season. Iowa transfer Tyler Smith joins Bruce Pearl’s group of misfits, who are sure to cause headaches all season in the SEC. For Tennessee to be elite, they must begin winning road games. They’ll have tough tests in visiting Kentucky (young team, stocked with talent and a new head coach), Georgia (four returning starters from a 19-win team) and Florida (infancy to the point that Walter Hodge is the elder statesman), but the sternest competition may come from Fayetteville. Arkansas returns all five starters (including Patrick Beverly), and if John Pelphrey is a stronger X’s and O’s coach than Stan Heath, then the Razorbacks will be dark-horse national title contenders. And in Starkville, despite the Delk transfers, Jamont Gordon leads an experienced Bulldogs squad that has a solid inside/outside balance that can set them apart from other SEC teams. Alabama will also be in the mix, but without Ronald Steele who will be redshirted this season. Another team of intrigue is LSU. They seemed to play their best when Glen Davis was injured. Five-star recruit Anthony Randolph can help fans in the Bayou forget about Big Baby, but the success of this team hinges on the leadership of Tasmin Mitchell and Garrett Temple.

PAC-10 Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 1
Projected Champion: UCLA
Player of the Year: Darren Collison, UCLA

Given my criticism of the Pac-10 over the years, I am shocked and chagrined to announce that the Pac-10 is the cream of the crop in ’07-’08. Why? Six teams are ranked in Blue Ribbon’s Top 25. UCLA, the conference’s best representative, lost just one key player (Arron Afflalo) but in return, they get some love. Kevin Love. The power forward gives the Bruins the frontline scorer that they’ve longed for years. They already have the nation’s best guard in Darren Collison. But it won’t be easy on the left coast. Washington State brings back its core performers from a team that went 13-5 in the conference. Kyle Weaver and Derrick Low lead one of the nation’s best backcourts and the Cougars will always play more disciplined basketball than the opposition – a reflection of head coach Tony Bennett. Oregon will also have a prolific backcourt, led by the speedy Tajuan Porter, but concerns exist with regard to the frontcourt and overall depth. In Tucson, Jerryd Bayless will take the reins at the point and many consider him an upgrade over Mustafa Shakur. Scoring machine Chase Budinger will need to play defense, and if associate head coach Kevin O’Neill has anything to do say about that, he’ll start learning. As for USC, don’t be shocked by their loss in the opener. First, they’re very young (starting lineup has zero upperclassmen). Second, two expected starters did not play against Mercer. Third, Tim Floyd is now 0-3 in season openers with the Trojans. In spite of Brook Lopez (Stanford’s top player) being academic ineligible, Anthony Goods is the heart and soul of the team that not only has high GPAs, but also high hopes for March basketball. In most conferences, Washington (four returning starters who average double digit points) would be an obvious at-large bid candidate, but in the PAC-10 this season, a repeat of their 8-10 record would not be a surprise.

College Basketball Conference Previews - RPI Rankings 7-14

PHSports RPI Projections by Conference

College Basketball Conference Previews - RPI Rankings 23-31

College Basketball Conference Previews - RPI Rankings 15-22

Horizon League
Conference RPI Projection: 14
Projected Champion: Butler
Player of the Year: Mike Green, Butler

It’s great to have the best player in the league on your team. It’s even better when you have the two best players and only lost one player from a team that made the Sweet 16 and bowed out to the eventual national champion. Despite losing head coach Todd Lickliter and two frontcourt starters, history shows that Butler has been very resilient in responding to coaching vacancies. To fill the void in the frontcourt, the Bulldogs have recruited Matt Howard, a 6’7” forward who will contribute immediately. Wisconsin-Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee each return their nucleus, and DaShaun Wood-less Wright State will be competitive given my knowledge of Brad Brownell’s track record following player losses when he was the head coach at UNC-Wilmington.

Mid-American Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 13
Projected Champion: Kent State
Player of the Year: Leon Williams, Ohio

Will the MAC ever get 2 bids? This may be the year, but their conference RPI must be stronger than the projected 13th spot on this site. Leon Williams and Jerome Tillman return to Ohio to lead a Big 6-worthy frontcourt, but they’ll have steady competition in the East Division from Kent State, Miami (Ohio) and Akron. Kent State returns all five starters from a program that’s been a fixture in the RPI top 100 for years. If balance and depth is the name of the game, then the Golden Flashes will be the team to beat. As for Miami-Ohio, they return the core (including MAC tournament MVP Tim Pollitz) of a tournament-tested squad and have stellar newcomers waiting in the wings. In Akron, the Zips are just that. They give up zip on the defensive end (61 ppg last season). Several players with significant experience return to a team that was 13-3 in the MAC last season. In the weaker West, Western Michigan is expected to set the pace with five returning starters and an inside/outside game to boot.

Mountain West Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 12
Projected Champion: Utah
Player of the Year: JR Giddens, New Mexico

The Mountain West is truly up for grabs. BYU is the odds-on favorite with the league’s best returning player, Trent Plaisted, as well as a bevy of talented players stepping into larger roles. UNLV and Air Force each lost 4 starters to graduation. As a result, three teams are on my MWC championship radar, none of them had winning conference records last season and all three have new head coaches. First, Wyoming returns the top backcourt and two preseason all-conference guards in juniors Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones. Second, Steve Alford takes over the reins at New Mexico and hopes to instill defensive principles to a team that is rich in talent but lacks defensive prowess (MWC opponents shot 49.4% from the field). Third, Utah is a kick-start away from remembering that they were excellent three years ago. Jim Boylen, a member of the Tom Izzo coaching tree, knows that four starters, but only one (junior center Luke Nevill) knows that his starting spot is safe.

Missouri Valley Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 11
Projected Champion: Southern Illinois
Player of the Year: Randal Falker

The days of the mighty Missouri Valley are over. Many of the league’s best players have graduated, and as a result, many experts consider this a rebuilding year for the conference’s elite programs. Despite losing their best player (Jamaal Tatum), Southern Illinois returns the trio of Falker, Shaw and Mullins and has plenty of talent ready to expand their roles. If it comes down to outstanding guard play, the Bradley Braves will take the league because of Daniel Ruffin and Jeremy Crouch. Head coach Jim Les has done wonders to recruit size. The other MVC staples, Creighton and Wichita State, are expected to struggle, but don’t be shocked if they’re on the heels of the Salukis. Missouri State and Northern Iowa are also candidates to win the conference, but bouts with inconsistency for both teams have scared make them easy targets in the hustle and bustle of February basketball.

Colonial Athletic Association
Conference RPI Projection: 10
Projected Champion: George Mason
Player of the Year: Eric Maynor, VCU

Don’t call it a comeback; they’ve been here for years. George Mason disappointed following their Final Four run, but they hit their stride at the CAA Tournament and raised expectations for this year with five returning starters including Will Thomas and Folarin Campbell. In Richmond, the VCU Rams are still thanking Billy Donovan for returning to Florida. Pellet-Rosa and Walker are huge losses (158 of 244 made three-pointers on the team), but a top 5 mid-major recruiting class gives VCU more bodies to press the opposition resulting in easy points. And oh yeah, Eric Amazing (13.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 6.4 apg) is back for more mischief. Old Dominion (Gerald Lee), Drexel (Frank Elegar) and Hofstra (Antoine Agudio) have lost key ingredients but have all-conference potential performers to be competitive and surprise the CAA Tournament finalists. And no one can forget about UNC-Wilmington. They absorbed many defeats, but all were without TJ Carter, who returns after being redshirted last season. Here’s a mini-prediction for just the CAA nuts: Delaware will not be horrible and finish with an overall winning record. Herb Courtney, Sam McMahon and the transfers will gel and perhaps break into the upper half of the standings. Here’s another: Bruiser Flint will be ejected at least twice.

Western Athletic Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 9
Projected Champion: New Mexico State
Player of the Year: Jaycee Carroll, Utah State

Despite the exodus of head coach Bill Fuller to the Sacramento Kings, optimism remains sky high in Las Cruces. With three starters and some role players returning, all the talk is about another player: freshman recruit Herb Pope. The additions of Pope and JUCO transfer Paris Carter round out the starting five and provide the Aggies with offensive balance. Speaking of offense, look no further than Utah State’s Jaycee Carroll (21.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 52.7% FG, 43.2% 3-pointers) who almost single-handedly elevated the other Aggies to the NCAAs last season. Carroll will receive help from seniors Kris Clark, Stephen DuCharme and Nick Hammer, but Utah State will need help from unidentified sources to succeed. And of course, one cannot forget about top dog. Yes, the Nevada lost 4 starters including Nick Fazekas and Ramon Sessions, but Marcelus Kemp will compete for the conference POY. If Nevada is dancing come March, consider it Mark Fox’s best coaching job ever.

Conference USA
Conference RPI Projection: 8
Projected Champion: Memphis
Player of the Year: Chris Douglas-Roberts

Welcome to the Memphis show. Ranked fifth according to Blue Ribbon, Coach Cal’s team will be quick, physical and deep. Already stocked at the guard position, freshman phenom Derrick Rose has the versatility to play both guard positions and has the ability to contribute in multiple ways. The best of the rest will be a three-way scrum between UAB, Houston and Southern Mississippi. UAB has an influx of monstrous talent led by transfer Robert Vaden, but head coach Mike Davis’s concern is and will be blending the newcomers with the pre-existing contributors. Southern Miss returns four starters and are due for an upgrade with five newcomers including RL Horton, the 2007 Mr. Basketball in Mississippi. Houston have the ability to reach the C-USA finals, but it will be a moot point unless they successfully battle the demons of inconsistency. Also, keep an eye on Marshall and Tulsa. Former Florida assistant Donnie Jones is the head coach in Huntington, so they’ll play an exciting brand of basketball. As for Tulsa, they return four starters from a 20-win team.

Atlantic 10 Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 7
Projected Champion: Xavier
Player of the Year: Drew Lavender, Xavier

One word describes the A-10. Intrigue. Very easily, this conference could boast as many as 4 NCAA bids, but just as easily, the A-10 could be limited to just one bid. Xavier, led by senior guard Drew Lavender, represents the most solid squad and once again has a torturous non-conference schedule. Transfer CJ Anderson will provide added scoring punch and a truckload of expectations. Saint Joseph’s is expected to have its best team since the days of Jameer Nelson and Delonte West. The Hawks return its core and the majority of its depth, an annoying mascot, and have added Iowa State transfer Tasheed Carr. Phil Martelli’s coaching can only be matched by one Rick Majerus, who despite his inability to pronounce the word “offense”, is a stellar X’s and O’s coach. An excellent backcourt gives the Billikens a great opportunity, but playing without its star center will change their style of play and be a test for Majerus. Rhode Island, Dayton and Fordham return a combined 13 of 15 starters from 18+ win from squads of yesteryear. One cannot automatically count out George Washington, who have a dynamic player in Maureece Rice (15.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg). Also under the radar goes Duquesne. After poaching some of his best players from former employer Northeastern, Ron Everhart now has his real team. Not short of bodies, Everhart imported forward Shawn James, who averaged 6.5 blocks as a freshman at Northeastern. The dismissal of troubled Stuard Baldonado hushed tournament talk, but the Dukes may prefer it that way.

College Basketball Conference Previews - RPI Rankings 15-22

PHSports RPI Projections by Conference

College Basketball Conference Previews - RPI Rankings 23-31

Ohio Valley Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 22
Projected Champion: Austin Peay
Player of the Year: Drake Reed, Austin Peay

This year is all about redemption for Austin Peay. After winning the regular season title by three games, the Governors failed to lay down the law against Eastern Kentucky in the finals of last year’s tournament. This season, they return all five starters from a 21-win squad, including the frontcourt tandem of Drake Reed and Fernandez Lockett. It’ll be a case of the usual suspects in the OVC with the Murray State Racers’ experienced backcourt breathing down the Governors’ spine.

Summit Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 21
Projected Champion: Oakland
Player of the Year: George Hill, IUPUI

Last season, it was the Mid-Continent Conference. This year, it’s even more non-descript. The Summit Conference. Wow. The return of 2005-2006 conference first-teamer George Hill gives IUPUI a real chance to take the league by storm, but I like Oakland behind super sophomore Jonathan Jones and junior Derick Nelson. Eric Kangas will help stretch the perimeter, which will allow for their frontcourt to get easy baskets inside. Oh yeah, there’s Oral Roberts who is still solid despite the purported graduations of conference POY Caleb Green and three-time first team all-conference player Ken Tutt.

Ivy League
Conference RPI Projection: 20
Projected Champion: Yale
Player of the Year: Eric Flato, Yale

After coaching Fran Dunphy’s team last season, some measure of reality will set in for Glen Miller’s Penn squad. The Quakers graduated a two-time Ivy POY, a two-time all-Ivy first team player and a three-year starter. With Penn just out of the picture, expect a three-horse race involving Cornell, Yale and Columbia. While Cornell has the top backcourt and Columbia has the top frontcourt, Yale represents balance and leadership. That all starts with senior guard Eric Flato, who led the team in scoring 21 times and had a 1.55 assist to turnover ratio.

America East Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 19
Projected Champion: Vermont
Player of the Year: Mike Trimboli, Vermont

Two-time America East player of the year Jamar Wilson can no longer hoist the Great Danes to the Big Dance. Nevertheless, Albany wasn’t a one-man team in their consecutive 20-win seasons. They’ll return with three senior starters and a trio of transfers who can immediately contribute. Many miles north, second-leading scorer Joe Trapani has left for greener pastures (Boston College), but court general Trimboli remains to rally the Catamounts.

Patriot League
Conference RPI Projection: 18
Projected Champion: Holy Cross
Player of the Year: John Griffin, Bucknell

It’s a rebuilding year for the Patriot League. The giants, Holy Cross and Bucknell, have lost 2 and 3 starters, respectively. Holy Cross lost Torey Thomas and league POY Keith Simmons to graduation, but Pat Doherty is ready to take on more responsibility at the point and Tim Clifford anchors the inside. The 6’11” center averaged 2 blocks per game and altered many more. As for Bucknell, center Darren Mastropaolo’s knee injury this summer put a halt to Pat Flannery punching his ticket for March. Meanwhile, John Griffin will do everything in his power to include his teammates.

Southern Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 17
Projected Champion: Davidson
Player of the Year: Stephen Curry, Davidson

One of the best players in mid-major college basketball? No. One of the best players in college basketball. Period. That describes none other than Davidson’s Stephen Curry (21.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Not to mention, Davidson returns their other four starters and they have a great recruit in Aaron Bond, who can contribute immediately off of the bench. In the Northern Division, Appalachian State is poised to repeat its 25-win season, but they will have to do it without three starters, including speedy point guard DJ Thompson. Don’t be shocked if UNC Greensboro somehow sneaks into the party, as Kyle Hines’s 21 points and 9 rebounds per game performance needs minimal help for a brief conference tournament run. Head coach Mike Dement recruited with an eye for shooters, so time will tell if that comes to fruition.

Sun Belt Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 16
Projected Champion: New Orleans
Player of the Year: Bo McCalebb, New Orleans

Among mid-major conferences, the Sun Belt has one of, if not, the best set of guards. Last season, North Texas streaked to the NCAAs. This season, another team in the middle of the pack has a chance, but it’s slim, because New Orleans, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee have enough talent to pull off a 1st round upset in March. This March, the only NCAA bid will be decided by guard play and the trio of McCalebb, James Parlow and Shaun Reynolds averages 49 points and 14 rebounds per game.

West Coast Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 15
Projected Champion: Gonzaga
Player of the Year: Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga

Last season, Gonzaga did everything humanly possible to make the West Coast Conference worthy of ratings. Two players got suspended for the year and others were forced into roles they were not familiar with. Of those who stepped into roles, Jeremy Pargo became a leader and a scorer. With Josh Heytvelt returning and Matt Bouldin as a super sophomore, the Bulldogs will get to the NCAA Tournament for a 10th straight year. Like many other years, St. Mary’s will play second fiddle.

College Basketball Conference Previews - RPI Ranks 23-31

College basketball action is underway, so we are examining conferences from the bottom up. These mini-previews will give you a flavor for some of the players from smaller schools that you will only see in March.

And yes, we're starting with the HBCUs ...

Southwestern Athletic Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 31
Projected Champion: Grambling
Player of the Year: Andre Ratliff, Grambling

Just like last year when Trey Johnson took Jackson State to the NCAA Tournament, point guard Andre Ratliff (16.4 ppg, 3.9 apg) will hoist his team to a tournament bid. Couple that with three other returning starters and Grambling has an opportunity to vastly improve on a 12-win season. Of course, they will be challenged most stiffly by Mississippi Valley State and Jackson State, the only two teams who finished with winning records last season.

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 30
Projected Champion: Hampton
Player of the Year: Rashad West, Hampton

Last year was a feeling-out process for 1st year head coach Kevin Nickelberry. This year, expectations exist in the Tidewater region as the Pirates return all five starters and have steady bench depth. In addition to nearly 18 points per game, senior guard Rashad West averaged 3.6 rips, 2.6 dishes, 1.8 steals per game. As this is a 1-bid league, Delaware State may rally around Blue Ribbon’s POY prediction Roy Bright, who returned to school after testing the NBA Draft waters.

Northeast Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 29
Projected Champion: Sacred Heart
Player of the Year: Tristan Blackwood, Central Connecticut St.

Sacred Heart is not just the hospital name used on the NBC sitcom Scrubs, it is also a small school in Fairfield, Connecticut. The Pioneers lost their best player from last year (Jarrid Frye), but their depth, balance and the ability to play as a unit is what had them streaking at the end of last season. Sacred Heart can expect stiff competition from Robert Morris, Wagner and St. Francis, who return a combined 13 of 15 starters. With that said, all Tristan Blackwood (17.1 ppg, 4.1 apg) needs is three good games from his supporting cast to punch Central Connecticut State’s ticket to the NCAAs.

Atlantic Sun Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 28
Projected Champion: East Tennessee State
Player of the Year: Courtney Pigram, East Tennessee State

There will be no slip-up for East Tennessee State in the conference tournament. Not only will Courtney Pigram right the wrongs of yesteryear, he’ll have some additions to an already-strong team in the form of medical redshirt Travis Strong and redshirt freshman Micah Williams. Belmont’s Justin Hare will fall just short of returning to the NCAA tournament.

Big Sky Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 27
Projected Champion: Montana
Player of the Year: Jordan Hasquet, Montana

Montana are far-and-away the favorites to win the Big Sky with 4 starters returning, including Andrew Strait and Jordan Hasquet, who both earned all-conference honors last season. Expect champions Weber State to compete led by junior guard Juan Pablo Silveira, but the Grizzlies should cruise behind a talented frontcourt unbeknownst to mid-major basketball and a rock solid recruiting class.

Big South Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 26
Projected Champion: Winthrop
Player of the Year: Arizona Reid, High Point

The Winthrop Eagles have won seven of the last nine Big South conference titles. What about Gregg Marshall having jettisoned to Wichita State? No problem. The university was quick to promote top assistant Randy Peele to head coach and the school represents one of the top mid-major programs. Despite losing key starters Craig Bradshaw, Torrell Martin and top low post defender Phillip Wiliams, the men donning the garnet and gold have the talent to overcome the likes of High Point, led by senior forward Arizona Reid (21.0 ppg, 9.5 reb, 50.9 FG%).

Big West Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 25
Projected Champion: UC Santa Barbara
Player of the Year: Alex Harris, UC Santa Barbara

When the mighty fall, they fall hard. This holds true for Long Beach State, who have long been a staple at the top of the Big West. Essentially, they will start from scratch after losing their head coach and five starters. On the flipside, UC-SB returns four starters including Alex Harris and Chris Devine, who accounted for 35.0 points and 11.4 rebounds per game last season. They’ll be challenged by Cal Poly, who made it to the Big West Championship game and return a formidable squad.

Southland Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 24
Projected Champion: Northwestern State
Player of the Year: Chris Daniels, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

In 2006, the Demons shocked Iowa in the NCAA tournament with a buzzer-beating fadeaway to book a spot in the 2nd round. In 2007, Texas A&M-CC held the lead for most of their game against Wisconsin. This is a conference on the rise. While Chris Daniels will receive the national plaudits, Corpus Christi lost much of its core leaving Northwestern State to take the conference. The Demons are well coached and have a team-first focus. Their deep bench will allow them to play at a frenetic pace.

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Conference RPI Projection: 23
Projected Champion: Loyola
Player of the Year: Jason Thompson, Rider

Talk about a free-for-all. If any conference of any quality represents that, it’s the MAAC. As many as four teams (Siena, Loyola, Rider and Marist) are legitimate contenders and most others are capable of winning a four-day tournament at a neutral site. Leading that charge is Loyola (MD), who are led by senior guard Gerald Brown (22.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 spg). To fill the size void, 6’10” center Hassan Fofana (transfer from Maryland) is an inside presence that can do the little things. Big things are expected from another transfer, Louie McCroskey, who will do his best to have Marist fans forget about the combination of Jared Jordan and Will Whittington. Of course, there’s always Jason Thompson, who will dominate on the blocks all season after being the D-1 player to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in the 2006-2007 campaign.