The Falcons' Finest: 2009-10 BGSU Men's Basketball

The Bowling Green Falcons begin the season having to replace three double-digit scorers that led them to their first MAC East crown since 2000. The Falcons lost by only two points in the first round of the NIT last year to a feisty Creighton team. Bowling Green will have an even balance of experience and youth that will make this a dangerous team come conference play in January.

Projected Starters

G Darion Goins Jr. 3.5 pts/gm

G Joe Jakubowski Jr.  7.7 pts/gm

F Erik Marschall Sr. 9.1 pts/gm

F Scott Thomas So. 3.7 pts/gm

C Otis Polk Sr. 6.1pts/gm 5.5 rebs/gm

Key Reserves

G James Erger Fr.

G Dee Brown So.

F A’uston Calhoun Fr.

F Danny McElroy Sr.

The Falcons are joined this year by assistant coach Dennis Hopson, the former Ohio State great. The schedule gets difficult right into the second game of the season, when they meet No. 20 Xavier in Cincinnati.

The Falcons get a fairly easy non-conference schedule before beginning their quest to repeat at MAC East Champions. Otis Polk is the all-time blocks leader going into his senior season and looks to increase that record with his defensive prowess in the paint.

Know-A-Bull: 2009-10 USF Men's Basketball

The University of South Florida will once again try to gain some respect in the super-conference that is the Big East.

The Bulls finished last season a disappointing 9-22, managing just four conference victories. USF returns its top-scorer and team leader in Dominique Jones. They will once again rely on his shoulders to carry them through the season.

Projected Starters:

G Chris Howard, Sr., 7.7 pts/gm

G Dominique Jones, Jr., 18.1 pts/gm

G Mike Mercer, Sr., 8.5 pts/gm

F Alex Rivas, Sr., 4.2 pts/gm

F Augustus Gilchrist, So., 10.2 pts/gm

Reserves:

G Justin Leemow, So.

G BJ Daniels, So.

G Jordan Dumars, Fr.

F Toarlyn Fitzpatrick, Fr.

F Jarrid Famous, Jr.

The Bulls will run and gun with their abundance of guards, but will also look for Gilchrist in the paint.

Their schedule is as brutal as ever. It will be an uphill climb for USF the entire season. The nonconference schedule is relatively easy for the Bulls as they hope to rack up as many wins as possible before starting conference play on Dec. 30, when they visit No. 1 Louisville.

Meet The Team: The 2009-10 Ohio State Buckeyes

The 2009-10 Ohio State Buckeyes return a veteran group that went 22-11 last season.  Led by the return of Evan Turner, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, and David Lighty coming back after a season ending injury (broken foot), the buckeyes only loss is that of BJ Mullens who declared early for the NBA draft.

The one-and-dones at OSU has placed them on a reduced scholarship count, resulting in no new freshman on this year’s team.  The starting line up should look something like this until Lauderdale returns to the lineup.

Projected Starters:

C Kyle Madsen/ Zisis Sarikopoulos/ Dallas Lauderdale*

F David Lighty Jr.  9.7pts/gm

F Evan Turner Jr. 17.3 pts/gm

G William Buford So. 11.3 pts/gm

G Jon Diebler Jr. 11.2 pts/gm

Reserves:

P.J. Hill Sr.

Jeremie Simmons Sr.

Walter Offutt So.

*Dallas Lauderdale has a broken bone in his hand right hand and will be out 4-6 weeks.

Ohio State is currently receiving votes in both the AP and USA Today but currently is not ranked.  That could change with a win on November 19 against No. 2 North Carolina.

Ohio State once again has a very challenging out of conference schedule that includes, No. 16 FSU, and No. 22 Butler, along with the Tar Heels all before the Big Ten Schedule kicks off.  The Buckeyes should contend for the Big Ten crown this year along with Purdue and Michigan State just to name a few.

The Way I See It: A Look at College Football's Top 25 (Oct. 25)

1. Texas 7-0

Colt McCoy finally had a game that was worthy of a Heisman Candidate.

Next: Oklahoma State

2. Florida 7-0

UF survives another scare this time in Starkville.

Next: UGA

3. Alabama 8-0

Mt. Cody saves the day with his two field goal blocks.

Next: LSU

4. USC 6-1

Revenge was on their mind last game, defense was not.

Next: Oregon

5.  TCU 7-0

They took care of business with Gameday watching.

Next: UNLV

6.  Boise State 7-0

They went off the mainland and got it done, but that schedule is horrible.

Next: SJST

7.  Cincinnati 7-0

The Bearcats rolled even without Pike.

Next: Syracuse

8.  Iowa 8-0

What a finish to a crazy game. The schedule gets easier for a few weeks.

Next: Indiana

9.  Penn State 6-1

They hadn’t won in Michigan since the mid-90’s, that changed quickly.

Next: Northwestern

10.  Oklahoma State 6-1

If they want some respect they need to win this week.

Next: Texas

11.  Georgia Tech 7-1

The Jackets are beginning to separate them selves in the ACC Coastal.

Next: Vandy

12.  LSU 6-1

LSU gained a lot of respect beating Auburn like that.

Next: Tulane

13.  Oregon 6-1

If they win this week the PAC 10 is theirs.

Next: USC

14.  Pittsburgh 7-1

They dismantled the Bulls proving they can hang with Cincinnati.

Next: Syracuse (11/7)

15.  Virginia Tech 5-2

They need some help to get into the ACC Title Game.

Next: UNC

16.  Houston 5-1

They should win Conference USA is they continue to play like this.

Next: Southern Miss

17.  Miami 5-2

How will that overtime loss to Clemson affect them this week?

Next: Wake Forest

18.   Utah 6-1:

Air Force gave them a scare last week.

Next: Wyoming

19.   Ohio State 6-2:

Pryor and the Buckeye offense finally showed up in the second half.

Next: New Mexico State

20.   Central Michigan 7-1:

They’ve all but locked up the MAC West crown.

Next: Boston College

21.   West Virginia 6-1:

They survived a very emotional UConn team.

Next: USF

22.   Arizona 5-2:

Poised to make a run in the PAC 10 if things go their way.

Next: Washington State (11/7)

23.   Navy 6-2:

The Midshipmen didn’t attempt a pass last week, and they didn’t need to.

Next: Temple

24.   South Carolina 6-2:

They need to win this week to solidify the number 2 spot in the SEC East.

Next: Tennessee

25.  Notre Dame 5-2:

A great win for the Irish against Boston College give them momentum into the rest of the season.

Next: Washington State