Monthly Archives: August 2009

Location: Niagara University, NY Nickname: Purple Eagles Conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic Last Year’s Record: 26-9 Why they’ll make it: Seeing the Purple Eagles so high in the countdown may surprise a few of you, but this is a very talented basketball team. This guard-laden team was a nightmare to defend last year and looks toContinue reading “65 Teams in 65 Days: #45 Niagara”

Location: College Station, TX Nickname: Aggies Conference: Big 12 Last Year’s Record: 24-10 Why they’ll make it: In a conference with great 1-2 punches, Texas A&M can lay claim to its own. Donald Sloan in the backcourt and Bryan Davis in the frontcourt will be one of the more formidable scoring duos in the countryContinue reading “65 Teams in 65 Days: #46 Texas A&M”

Location: Oxford, MS Nickname: Rebels Conference: Southeastern Last Year’s Record: 16-15 Why they’ll make it: Last season, Ole Miss lost two of its top players early on with season-ending injuries. Chris Warren and Eniel Polynice are back and have had plenty of time to recover. Those two, along with highly touted freshman, Reginald Buckner, willContinue reading “65 Teams in 65 Days: #47 Mississippi”

Location: Spokane, WA Nickname: Bulldogs Conference: West Coast Last Year’s Record: 28-6 Why they’ll make it: There’s only one starter returning for Gonzaga, but what a player he is. Senior Matt Bouldin, a pre-season all-american candidate, is back and is ready to continue the tradition of great Gonzaga guards. He’ll be asked to take moreContinue reading “65 Teams in 65 Days: #48 Gonzaga”

Location: Norfolk, VA Nickname: Monarchs Conference: Colonial Athletic Association Last Year’s Record: 25-10 Why they’ll make it: With five starters returning, the Monarchs are ready to break the Virginia Commonwealth-George Mason stranglehold on the conference. They weren’t that far away last season; finishing only two games out of first place. What helped them to suchContinue reading “65 Teams in 65 Days: #49 Old Dominion”

Location: Akron, OH Nickname: Zips Conference: Mid-American Last Year’s Record: 23-13 Why they’ll make it: Returning four of its starters, Akron is primed for a return trip to the tournament. Led by the McKnight brothers, Brett and Chris, the Zips have the veteran leadership successful mid-major teams always seem to have. They also welcome theContinue reading “65 Teams in 65 Days: #50 Akron”

Location: Bowling Green, KY Nickname: Hilltoppers Conference: Sun Blet Last Year’s Record: 25-9 Why they’ll make it: Its amazing, that as a mid-major, Western Kentucky is getting to the point where it doesn’t rebuild; it reloads. There are only five returning players for the Hilltoppers this season, but its the right five. Led by theContinue reading “65 Teams in 65 Days: #51 Western Kentucky”

Location: Ithaca, NY Nickname: Big Red Conference: Ivy League Last Year’s Record: 21-10 Why they’ll make it: Cornell is entering this season as the favorite to win its third consecutive Ivy League title and with good reason. The top six players from last year’s rotation return and they are very talented. Guard Louis Dale wonContinue reading “65 Teams in 65 Days: #52 Cornell”

Location: Charleston, SC Nickname: Cougars Conference: Southern Last Year’s Record: 27-9 Why they’ll make it: These days in college basketball, a team needs quality guard-play to be successful. That’s exactly what the Cougars have. Andrew Goudelock and Tony White, Jr. are back for a squad that fell one game short of a NCAA tournament berthContinue reading “65 Teams in 65 Days: #53 College of Charleston”

Location: Worcester, MA Nickname: Crusaders Conference: Patriot League Last Year’s Record: 18-14 Why they’ll make it: Returning four starters to a team that finished second in the Patriot League, it appears as if the Crusaders have another NCAA tournament team on their hands. The stars of that group was the league’s newcomer of the year,Continue reading “65 Teams in 65 Days: #54 Holy Cross”