57. Oklahoma State
Sean Sutton resigned after a disappointing 17-16 season where they squeaked into the NIT where they got beat in the first round. The Cowboys finished tied for seventh in the Big 12, their worst finish in over five years and thus caused the end of the Sutton era in Stillwater. Home victories over Kansas and Texas Tech coupled with a quarterfinal appearance in the Big 12 tourney provided some bright spots, but the low point was a 16-point drubbing at the hands of fellow Oklahomans, Oral Roberts.
Former Massachusetts coach Travis Ford takes over the Pokes for this season, and immediately a rebuilding job has to be done. Four starters return, none more important than 5-11 guard Byron Eaton. Eaton certainly does not resemble a blue chip stud, but he might end up being the best point guard in the Big 12 this season. Ford will look to Eaton to be more consistent at the point guard spot, and improve on his third-team all conference this past season. “I expect Byron to be one of the best point guards in the country this season,” Ford said. Eaton certainly has the skill set and opened the country’s eyes on national television last year when he scored 26 points in a victory over national champion Kansas. Also returning is 6-6 sophomore guard James Anderson who led the Pokes in scoring last year with 13 per game and hit 67 three pointers as a frosh. “Anderson is a future NBA guard” Ford said. Returning guards Terrel Harris and Obi Muonelo should bolster the backcourt but do not expect them to shoulder much of the scoring, it should be limited to Eaton and Anderson. The Pokes have nothing inside; 6-11 sophomore Ibrahima Thomas gets lost and wanders outside, taking 34 three pointers last season, but he did start 27 games. The Cowboys are loaded with post players who extend themselves outside as perimeter forces which will certainly extend the defense. However, expect them to be at the bottom of the league in the rebounding margin.
Oklahoma State will be fine from the perimeter, that much is certain. Eaton, Anderson and Harris could be one of the premiere backcourts in the conference and will win some games for Oklahoma State against smaller teams. Points in the paint, rebounding, second chance points will be nonexistent; there is not a team with less inside talent for their skill set outside as Oklahoma State. However, I will put faith in Ford to instill a system which will work. Uptempo, scoring quick and often and then locking up other backcourts will be the key to Big 12 success, but it is still a rebuilding year in terms of goals. This team will surprise some, especially at home at Gallagher-Iba Arena, but I think an NCAA appearance in a deep Big 12 will end up being unlikely.
56. South Carolina
A 14-18 season where you lose your head coach (Dave Odom) who is a legend and has seen success at every level he has coached. Odom had seen three 20-win seasons and back-to-back NIT championships in 2005 and 2006 before faltering the last two winning 14 games each season. Odom announced his retirement in January, amidst a restless state of the program and talking heads speculating about Odom’s motives. Last year 5-9 guard Devan Downey averaged 18 per game coupled with 3.2 steals per contest and led the team at the point guard spot. According to fellow defenses, Downey might be the quickest guard in the league evidenced by his steal numbers. Downey was the lone bright spot as a transfer from Cincinnati, second in assists, leading the SEC in steals and seventh in scoring.
Coupled with Downey this season will be guards Zam Frederick and Brandis Raley-Ross. Frederick is one of the many Gamecock designated three point assassins who hit at a 35% clip last year and benefits largely from Downey’s penetration. Raley-Ross did not shoot as many as Frederick but when he did he hit; going 37-of-72 from behind the arc, which would have earned him the most accurate shooter in the nation if he had enough attempts (2.5 makes per). 6-7 junior Evaldas Baniulis shot 44% from three last season, 42-of-95, stretching out the defense, opening up the lane for Downey and then being a lethal catch and shooter for South Carolina. As evidence by these statistics, shooting and perimeter issues will not be a problem for former Western Kentucky coach Darrin Horn’s first campaign in Columbia. What will be an issue is inside. “We are not big, we’ve got some depth on the interior, but we’re not big,” Horn told Blue Ribbon Yearbook, “Rebounding and defense are going to be issues for us.”
The Gamecocks lose nobody from last season, but how are they expected to be successful if they could only muster up 14 wins the last two seasons with these same guys? It may be tough due to the quality of the SEC and more specifically the east division. However, combine Downey’s quickness and ability to penetrate into the lane with these perimeter shooters and all of a sudden this team becomes capable of knocking down shots and spacing out defenders. From a strictly raw talent perspective, the Gamecocks could finish dead last in the SEC East, but if they manage to knock down shots and Downey continues to defend and steal as he did last season, I think Darrin Horn will enjoy his first season in Columbia. I expect South Carolina to be in the upper tier of the league and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.
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