Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies (D+) Goodwell, Oklahoma. A_in_the_b. WR: 9 (11); AR: 9 (7.43)

A in the b has employed a deft recruiting hand utilizing transfers and jucos to reshape his class structure. Still early in the rebuilding process expect more growing pains for the Aggies this season. A post-season bid seems unlikely, yet.

Season 39 Forecast: As another class of simmy recruits departs, OPSU’s talent can only continue to improve. Looks like a in the b will suffer one last season with the simmy guard tandem of Bontrager and Carpenter, a rather non-speedy but solid if unspectacular pair. 4 open scholarships give coach a in the b room to shine as a recruiter.

DAC’s Prediction: (Submitted Rank: 6).  14-15. PIT 1^st rd.

Posted by dacj501 on 5/30/2011 9:36:00 PM (view original):

Incarnate Word Cardinals (B-) San Antonio, Texas. Garmansouth7. WR: 8 (19); AR: 8 (6.29)

Look for the Cardinals to continue their improvement arc this season. The remaining simai players are actually respectable and garmansouth has brought in some nice talent to complement the roster, including Sr transfer guard Kosta Sieligowski from the Polish National Team. The “Sexy Slav” as he’s known around campus is contributing solid numbers as his final season of collegiate eligibility gets under way, but thus far a tough schedule has Incarnate Word longing for redemption.

Season 39 Forecast: Expect continued improvement from the Cardinals as garmansouth has another year under his belt. One area of concern could be team defense as garman seems to be de-emphasizing the attribute in recent recruiting in favor of speed. Will the risk pay off?

DAC’s Prediction: (Submitted Rank: 3).  21-9. PIT semis (NT bubble burst).

Posted by dacj501 on 5/30/2011 9:36:00 PM (view original):

Valdosta State Blazers (A+) Valdosta, Georgia. Dacj501 WR: 1 (56); AR: 1 (1.00)

The Blazers are rebuilding a bit after last season’s Sweet 16 run. With only 4 upperclassmen, expect some bumps in the road as this young team will need to grow up quickly or face a mediocre season. The Blazer’s string of NT appearances may be in jeopardy.

Season 39 Forecast: The loss of starters PG Peter Miler and C Mark Sunderland will be felt, but at least at guard some of that youth can be expected to develop and contribute. Frontcourt depth is an issue, and V. State can be expected to once again recruit size.

DAC’s prediction: 21-8, NT 2^nd rd.

**Please note the write-ups are broken into 2 sections: Comments on the current season (38) and predictions (including how I ranked every team for the challenge) for next season (39). My record/postseason predictions are for NEXT season.**

[Legend: School Name (nickname); Prestige; Location; Head Coach; Weighted Rank (1^st place = 8 pts, 2^nd place = 7 pts, etc.); Weighted Total Score; Average Rank (simple average: total of rankings/8); Average Score]

Posted by dacj501 on 5/30/2011 9:37:00 PM (view original):

Montevallo Falcons (B+) Montevallo, Alabama. Khook19 WR: 2 (48); AR: 2 (2.14)

Continuing his string of 20+ win seasons, khook has Montevallo coming off their first ever NT appearance. The Falcons are loaded with experience and Sr PG Curtis Summer could be an All-American once he starts to utilize that speed and superior ball handling ability to take it to the hole.  Expect Montevallo to make some NT noise this season.

Season 39 Forecast: Depending upon this season’s improvement, as many as 5 700 rated players could depart after season 38. 4 jrs will return to form the nucleus of next year’s squad, and no doubt khook will reload quickly, but season 39 has the potential to be a bit of a downer while the next class matures.

DAC’s Prediction: (Submitted Rank: 2). 22-8, NT 1^st rd.

**Please note the write-ups are broken into 2 sections: Comments on the current season (38) and predictions (including how I ranked every team for the challenge) for next season (39). My record/postseason predictions are for NEXT season.**

[Legend: School Name (nickname); Prestige; Location; Head Coach; Weighted Rank (1^st place = 8 pts, 2^nd place = 7 pts, etc.); Weighted Total Score; Average Rank (simple average: total of rankings/8); Average Score]

Posted by dacj501 on 5/30/2011 9:32:00 PM (view original):

St. Mary’s (TX) Rattlers (B) San Antonio, Texas. Bjken3 WR: 3 (40); AR 3 (3.29)

A solid, experienced core brought in by the last headmaster have St. Mary’s off to a hot start. Expect bjken to ride this wave to a possible NT bid in his inaugural Heartland campaign.

Season 39 Forecast: 5 departing seniors give bjken a chance to quickly remake the Rattlers in his own image. The returning players from the old regime appear to be complimentary players at best. Bjken’s recruiting savvy will be put to the test early as he’ll look to these first couple classes to capitalize on the growth of the program begun by bigred.

DAC’s Prediction: (Submitted Rank: 8).  9-18.

**Please note the write-ups are broken into 2 sections: Comments on the current season (38) and predictions (including how I ranked every team for the challenge) for next season (39). My record/postseason predictions are for NEXT season.**

[Legend: School Name (nickname); Prestige; Location; Head Coach; Weighted Rank (1^st place = 8 pts, 2^nd place = 7 pts, etc.); Weighted Total Score; Average Rank (simple average: total of rankings/8); Average Score]

Heartland Conference Season 40 Preview

Presented by Foster’s®. Foster’s®, its Australian for Budweiser™.

Incarnate Word Cardinals (C-) San Antonio, Texas. Garmansouth7

Season 39 Prediction: 21-9. PIT semis (NT bubble burst)

Season 39 Result: 9-19, 5-11 (168 RPI)

Ok, so I was a bit over enthusiastic regarding the Cardinals last season. Another season implementing coach garmansouth’s zone and the luxury of 8 upperclassmen may mean this is the season that UtIW matures into a contender in the Heartland West. The Cardinals are a threat to score from anywhere on the court with bigs Schimmel, Scott, Denney and Collins all serious interior offensive weapons while the guard trio of Rogers, Christiansen and Bush will prevent opponents from sagging in the middle with their deadly perimeter accuracy.  Not everything is a positive for the Cardinals however. The lack of overall team athleticism may hurt them against the higher echelon teams, and while the developing zone can be effective, most of garmansouth’s crew lack defensive prowess - which may keep things interesting. International freshman center and shot-blocking sensation Armand Yazzie may represent an attempt to address this, and in no time Mission City fans will be echoing the suave import’s trademark “Ciao, Y’all!”

Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies (C-) Goodwell, Oklahoma. A_in_the_b

Season 39 Prediction: 14-15. PIT 1^st rd

Season 39 Result: 7-20, 5-11 (208 RPI)

With another rebuilding season under his belt and a newly minted fab 5 recruiting class that represents the nations #30 class, a_in_the_b is making great strides with this perennial cellar dweller. The Aggies will look to the senior tandem of guard Charles Phillips and center Emanuel Stephens for their primary 1-2 punch and for much needed senior leadership. By tourney time the freshmen might be experienced enough to help ab win a couple games in the post season for the first time since SIMAI season 1, assuming of course that a daunting non-conference slate and the rigors of banging heads with the Heartland night in and night out leave OPSU in position to make a post-season appearance. I say book it.

Season 40 Prediction: 16-10 (17-12) NT 1^st rd.

Rockhurst Hawks (C) Kansas City, Missouri. Gomiami1972

Season 39 Prediction: 18-11. PIT 2^nd rd

Season 39 Result: 15-12, 10-6 (126 RPI)

Season 39 continued the Hawks improvement arc after a rough season 38 disrupted things. The bounty of that deep recruiting season is the versatile sextet of juniors that will form the heart and soul of gomiami’s squad.  Lack of guard depth may be a problem against especially deep or elite squads, but I expect Rockhurst to be a much tougher out in season 40. Projected starting backcourt mates Thomas Anderson and David Medders are the offensive equals of any tandem in the league. Fellow junior center Charles “Chucky” Cheeks will prowl the interior and make any trip inside the paint an opportunity for pain as he looks to increase last season’s 1.3 blocks per game. Slightly below average defense may be an issue against higher powered offensive opponents, but look for Rockhurst to return to post-season play and secure coach gomiami’s first tourney win in KC.

St. Edward’s Hilltoppers (C-) Austin, Texas. Bradriddell

Season 39 Prediction: 15-13. PIT 1^st rd

Season 39 Result: 9-18, 7-9 (227 RPI)

Season 40 marks brad’s 4^th yr with the Hilltoppers. St. Edward’s returns a quartet of seniors but look for a pair of juniors, center Jason Stephens and guard Edgar Swing, to breakout and lead this team back to the post-season for the first time in 10 season. Team defense may lead to easier scoring opportunities for Hilltopper opponents, but that’s when Stephens shot-blocking will become key. I think brad is another big class away from making real noise, but expect this team to be another in the litany of improved clubs over last season.

West Florida Argos (B) Pensacola, Florida. Bakerbarnett

Season 39 Prediction: 20-10, NT 2^nd rd

Season 39 Result: 17-12, 12-4 (95 RPI) PIT 1^st rd

Season 39 was a bit of a downer for bakerbarnett and his Argos. Maybe if they transposed their nickname to be the Agros like I always misread it they’d be more aggressive and win a couple more of those close games? An over-ambitious non-conference schedule cost baker a few wins last season that might have edged W Florida into the NT, and I fear this season could replicate that trend. There is a lot of youth on the club as baker works his second round of recruits into upperclassmen while continuing the upward prestige arc.  Expect a pair of juniors to dominate the action in Pensacola as SF Kenneth Miller and SG Jim Evans are expected to do most of the heavy lifting this season. Look for growing pains and a tough schedule to cause problems early for the Agros  - er Argos…

Lincoln Blue Tigers (C+) Jefferson City, Missouri. Fast_eddie

Season 39 Prediction: none

Season 39 Result: 26-5, 13-3 (91 RPI) PIT 2^nd rd

Season 39 saw fast_eddie move into the HC spot at Lincoln. Eddie enjoyed remarkable success his rookie season, but some of that credit must go to prior coach SIMAI and his prescience in recruiting a 9 man senior class for eddie to work with. Look for a tougher season this go around with so many new faces on campus. Eddie did assemble the #5 rated recruiting class, of course that achievement was perhaps assisted by his need to recruit 9 new players… either way, look for the Blue Tigers to suffer a few growing pains this season, however there is a lot of talent among these recruits, so by CT time Lincoln might be ready to make some noise. I expect the Blue Tigers to take a minor step back this season as the new regime gains experience, missing post-season play this year, but expect them to dance soon.

North Alabama Lions (C-) Florence, Alabama. Maddog162

Season 39 Prediction: none

Season 39 Result: 8-20, 5-11 (236 RPI)

Maddog also debuted in the Heartland in season 39, and immediately began making changes necessary to bring the lions into contention. Like Lincoln, N Alabama is early in a rebuilding process that will likely require a few seasons to bear fruit. With 5 new players on this season’s roster and another year of practicing maddog’s offensive and defensive sets I expect to see lots of improvement over last season, but a couple more seasons worth of, well, seasoning may be required.  Maddog’s AD did him few favors, scheduling non-conference dates against a couple of top 25 squads which should test the Lions mettle early. A post-season bid would be quite an achievement so early in the rebuilding process.

St. Mary’s (TX) Rattlers (C+) San Antonio, Texas. Bjken3

Season 39 Prediction: 7-20

Season 39 Result: 14-13, 7-9 (169 RPI)

Season 40 will be bjken’s 3^rd with the Rattlers, and will be marked by St. Mary’s featuring a lineup with 11 of 12 kids recruited by the new regime. The Rattlers have suffered some growing pains as bjken revamped the program after taking over for the departed bigred19.  While there is a considerable youth movement in play, look for bjken’s 5 upperclassmen to be make the Rattlers competitive. The Battle for San Antonio between Heartland foes Incarnate Word and St. Mary’s should be riveting drama as the season unfolds. In an ironic twist look for bigred’s last remaining recruit, senior guard Jeff McCroskey to provide offensive spark to an overall speedy roster. A trip to the NT may still be a season away, but look for gains in Rattler nation this year, perhaps a PIT berth to boot.

Montevallo Falcons (B-) Montevallo, Alabama. Pjbrankin

 Season 39 Prediction: 7-20

Season 39 Result: 9-19, 8-8 (163 RPI)

When last we visited, khook19 was rolling through the Heartland on his way to a 16-0 campaign and an early NT flameout before bolting for the bright lights of D I. Pjbrankin enters his second season at the helm of the Falcons, and continues rebuilding them in his own image. Look for improvement over last season as the new regime’s offensive and defensive philosophies gain additional experience. Youth is the word, is the word that you heard regarding these Falcons, or should we say Eyasses… depending upon the rate of development, a PIT berth is a possibility this season, but expect seasons 41 and 42 to really show what these baby Falcons can become.

Valdosta State Blazers (B+) Valdosta, Georgia. Dacj501

Season 39 Prediction: 23-8, NT 2^nd rd

Season 39 Result: 20-10, 13-3 (49 RPI) NT 1^st rd

Season 39 saw the Blazers return to the NT after falling short in season 38. Coach dacj501 has hard difficulty adjusting to rule changes implemented by the WCAA a few seasons ago that made inside scoring more difficult. The Blazers have been offensively challenged for some time as a result. The maturation of junior guards Benjamin Miller and Timothy Rutledge will begin to ease some of that pain. An ambitious non-conference schedule will either result in a nice RPI and a decent NT seed come tourney time, or a few extra losses and perhaps a trip back to the PIT Final Four.

All Walk-on Team Season 40:

So what is your "All Freshman team" and your conference award picks? Eh?

Posted by a_in_the_b on 8/1/2011 12:26:00 AM (view original):

So what is your "All Freshman team" and your conference award picks? Eh?