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THE EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES
2005/06 Record: 15-15
Key Losses: G – Deuce Smith (27.0 MPG, 8.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.6 APG); F – Henry Bekkering (11.8 MPG, 3.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG)
Key Returning Players: G – Rodney Stuckey (33.0 MPG, 24.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.1 APG, 49% FG, 37% 3PT); C/F = Paul Butorac (24.2 MPG, 10.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.8 BPG); F – Kellen Williams (25.4 MPG, 8.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.5 APG); G/F – Matt Penoncello (24.0 MPG, 6.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 37% 3PT; F – Jake Beitinger (19.1 MPG, 6.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.5 APG, 42% 3PT); G – Rhett Humphrey (16.1 MPG, 3.0 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 47% 3PT); F – Derek Risper (16.1 MPG, 2.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG)
Who’s Coming In: G – Marcus Hinton (6-3, Centralia CC, WA); G – Omar Krayem (6-0, Lower Columbia CC, WA); G – Michael Taylor (6-4, Brewster HS, WA); F – Chris Sprinker (6-8, Curtis HS, WA); F – Jack Loofburrow (6-7, Eisenhower HS, WA)
Summary: The Eagles have high hopes and expectations going into this season. Their whole team basically returns, but more importantly, they return one of the best players in the entire country in guard Rodney Stuckey. According to head coach Mike Burns, Stuckey may have enjoyed the best freshman season in the history of the Big Sky conference last season. His stat line speaks for itself. Stuckey broke seven school records last season, and his 24.2 PPG average was the best ever for a Big Sky freshman. Strong and explosive with an ability to score from all over the floor, Stuckey is also an accomplished passer and on ball defender. The only freshman in the nation who may have been better last year was North Carolina’s Tyler Hansborough. That being said, a team is not just one man, and what should make the Eagles a vastly improved team is all the experience that’s returning. Butorac made honorable mention All Big Sky last year, and is EWU’s main low post offensive threat. A skilled shotblocker, Butorac scored in double figures 13 times in Big Sky play. Williams is a solid rebounder, Penoncello a very good defender and shooter, and Beitinger possesses perhaps the best set of low post skills on the team. The Eagles welcome five players into the program this season, including Michael Taylor, an ex-Brewster teammate of Gonzaga forward David Pendergraft. The Eagles figure to challenge for Big Sky Conference title this year, and they’ll present a stiff challenge for Gonzaga for their opening game of the season.
THE RICE OWLS
2005/06 Record: 12-16
Key Losses: F – J.R. Harrison (34.7 MPG, 12.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 29% 3PT); F – Jamaal Moore (25.9 MPG, 8.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG)
Key Returning Players: F – Morris Almond (32.2 MPG, 21.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.1 APG, 44% 3PT); G – Lorenzo Williams (33.6 MPG, 10.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.1 APG, 30% 3PT); F – Patrick Britton (27.4 MPG, 5.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG); G – Rodney Foster (19.2 MPG, 4.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 27% 3PT); G – Cory Pflieger (10.4 MPG, 3.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 31% 3PT); F – Paulius Packevicius (12.0 MPG, 2.7 PPG, 2.0 RPG); C – Greg Killings (12.2 MPG, 1.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG)
Who’s Coming In: F – Marius Cracium (6-8, Weatherford CC, TX); G – Cliff Ghoram (6-5, Zachary HS, LA); G – Chris Hagan (5-9, Westfield HS, TX)
Summary: The biggest question facing the Owls during the offseason was whether Morris Almond would be returning. Almond performed very well at the NBA predraft camp, but decided to come back once he realized that he wasn’t likely to be a first round pick. He returns as not only Rice’s top returning scorer, but also as Conference USA’s top returning scorer. Almond is a highly versatile scorer from all over the floor, but he is particularly deadly from 3 point land – his 44% 3 point percentage was the best of all C-USA players who shot 100 or more 3 balls. The Owls also return another double digit scorer in Williams, a fantastic floor general who improved his offense last season. Britton is a combo forward who plays with great tenacity. The often injured Foster provides backcourt depth, while Pflieger provides another outside shooting touch. Look for Rice to be one of the better teams in C-USA this season, quite possibly challenging Memphis and UTEP for the title. The Rice-Gonzaga game will be the opening round contest of the NIT Tipoff Classic in the Spokane Arena, November 12.
THE STANFORD CARDINAL
2005/06 Record: 16-14
Key Losses: F – Matt Haryasz (32.8 MPG, 16.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 48% FG); G – Chris Hernandez (33.1 MPG, 14.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 47% 3PT); F – Dan Grunfeld (27.3 MPG, 12.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 26% 3PT); G - Tim Morris (20.5 MPG, 5.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG); G – Jason Haas (10.3 MPG, 1.3 PPG, 31% 3PT)
Key Returning Players: F – Taj Finger (19.9 MPG, 4.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 49% FG); F – Lawrence Hill (15.3 MPG, 4.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 30% 3PT); C – Peter Prowitt (13.2 MPG, 3.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 64% 3PT); F – Fred Washington (15.5 MPG, 3.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.2 APG); G – Mitch Johnson (22.5 MPG, 3.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 28% 3PT); G – Anthony Goods (10.0 MPG, 2.7 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 34% 3PT)
Who’s Coming In: C – Brook Lopez (7-0, Ranking: #11 scout.com); C – Robin Lopez (7-0, Ranking: #21 scout.com); G – Landry Fields (6-5, Ranking: 3 star scout.com); F – Will Paul (6-9, Ranking: 3 star scout.com); G – Da’Veed Dildy (6-5, Ranking: 2 star scout.com)
Summary: Last season was a disappointment for the Cardinal, to say the least. Projected to be a top 25 team by many preseason publications, Stanford barely ended up making the postseason NIT. However, some positives did happen. First off, the development of freshman point guard Mitch Johnson assured the Cardinal that they would have a quality replacement for Hernandez, one of the greatest point guards to ever play at Stanford. Also, head coach Trent Johnson was able to get commitments from the Lopez twins, who come into Stanford with every bit as much acclaim, if not more, as another pair of twins, Jarron and Jason Collins, who played so brilliantly for Stanford earlier this decade. Johnson and the Lopez twins will serve as a solid foundation, but in order for Stanford to succeed, they will need to see big men Finger and Prowitt improve. They will also need the highly athletic Hill and Washington to become more productive offensively from the wing. The Stanford game will be particularly challenging for GU as it is not only a road game, but is right in the middle of stretch of time where the Zags will be playing 5 games in 10 days. GU will not have much time to prepare for the Cardinal after two WCC games are played. With two McDonald's All-Americans joining the Cardinal, look for Stanford to steady improve as January, February and March approach.