Over the next few weeks, College Chalktalk’s predictions will be unveiled.  Later this week, CCT will begin with the 14th place team preview and continue in reverse order of finish.  Generally, two team previews per week will follow until the pre-season conference favorite is selected.

Before launching into team previews, below is a look at CCT’s pre-season all-conference teams and individual award winners.

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First Team All-Conference

• Chris Lowe, Guard - UMass
• Dionte Christmas, Guard - Temple
• Chris Wright, Forward - Dayton
• Ahmad Nivins, Forward - Saint Joseph’s
• Derrick Brown, Forward - Xavier

Second Team All-Conference

• Kevin Lisch, Guard - Saint Louis
• Ricky Harris, Guard - UMass
• Rodney Green, Guard - La Salle
• Rob Diggs, Forward - George Washington
• Lamont Mack, Forward - Charlotte

Third Team All-Conference

• Tommie Liddell, Guard - Saint Louis
• Tasheed Carr, Guard - Saint Joseph’s
• Jimmy Baron, Guard - Rhode Island
• Marcus Johnson, Guard - Dayton
• C.J. Anderson, Forward - Xavier

Player of the Year

Dionte Christmas, Guard - Temple

Defensive Team

• Kevin Lisch, Guard - Saint Louis
• Garrett Williamson, Guard - Saint Joseph’s
• Tony Gaffney, Forward - UMass
• Lavoy Allen, Forward - Temple
• Charlie Coley, Forward - Charlotte

Coach of the Year

Phil Martelli, Saint Joseph’s

All-Rookie Team

• Jio Fontan, Guard - Fordham
• Melquan Bolding, Guard - Duquesne
• Kwamain Mitchell, Guard - Saint Louis
• Paul Williams, Guard - Dayton
• Josh Duinker, Forward - Richmond
• Kenny Frease, Center - Xavier

All-Transfer Team

• Anthony Gurley, Guard (UMass via Wake Forest)
• Chris Matthews, Guard (SBU via Washington State)
• Ben Eaves, Forward (Rhode Island via UConn)
• Maurice Thomas, Forward (SBU via UTEP)
• Vernon Goodridge, Forward (La Salle via Mississippi State)

Most Improved Player

Dante Jackson, Guard - Xavier

(College Chalktalk’s Season Preview will continue throughout October and early November.  In addition, CCT is pleased to announce that coaches from various schools will be writing monthly diaries throughout the season.  Names of those participating will be released in the coming weeks.) 

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Tony Taylor (GW):5′11″, 165lbs., Guard

Archbishop Stepinac High School 

Tony Taylor had just begun his recruitment process when Karl Hobbs traveled to White Plains, New York, to speak to the 5′11″ scoring point guard.  Taylor must have been impressed, because on Hobbs’ drive back down to Washington, D.C., Taylor, who earlier claimed he would not be signing until late in the season, was a Colonial.

Taylor loved what GW had to offer both academically and athletically and could be one of the sleepers in the A-10 this season.  After playing in the shadows of Melquan Bolding (who now also resides in the A-10) as a junior, Taylor had a monster senior season at Archbishop Stepinac, averaging just under 30 points per game while grabbing over seven rebounds and dishing out six assists per contest.  His talent was on display last season when he went on a 12-0 individual run during one game, scoring four point plays on consecutive offensive possessions.

“He is a special player and makes coaching easier,” said Stepinac coach Timothy Philp. “Instead of calling timeouts or calling plays, he will make them on his own.”

The White Plains native will add much needed depth at the point guard position for the Colonials this season, and could see extended minutes early in the year if GW’s Travis King cannot fully recover from last season’s knee injury.

Chris Prescott (Saint Joseph’s): 6′2″, 190 lbs., Guard

Northwest Catholic High School

After the departures of their leading scorer Pat Calathes as well as key contributor Rob Ferguson, the Hawks will lose almost 30 points per game.  As a result, Phil Martelli hopes Prescott can fill some of the scoring void.  While the Connecticut native is only 6′2″, he gives the Hawks an additional, and different type of, scorer in their backcourt, adding to a roster which already boasts Tasheed Carr, Darrin Govens and Garrett Williamson.

Prescott was a highly touted recruit from Northwest Catholic High School, where several A-10 schools as well as others such as Wake Forest, Michigan, Saint John’s and Seton Hall showed interest.  Ultimately, he chose Martelli’s program over the lower-tier BCS Conference schools, perhaps sensing he can make a more immediate impact.

With D.J. Rivera’s transfer to Binghamton, Prescott will have that opportunity, and gives Martelli another chess piece to manuever this season.  The lack of frontcourt experience may force the Hawks to play with three guards on the floor more often in 2008-09.  If so, expect Prescott to see his fair share of those minutes. 

(Disclaimer: The views and/or commentary expressed by guest contributors are solely the opinion(s) of such contributor(s) and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by CollegeChalktalk.  CollegeChalktalk is not responsible for errors or omissions of  guest contributors.)

• Kevin McGeehan, Richmond - June 2, 2008

• Dave Duda, Saint Joseph’s - June 13, 2008

• Roland Houston, George Washington - July 7, 2008

• Matt Langel, Temple - July 11, 2008

• Rob Moxley, Charlotte - July 22, 2008

• Pat Clarke, Rhode Island - August 8, 2008

• Dino Presley, St. Bonaventure - August 14, 2008

• Bill Barton, Duquesne - August 21, 2008

• Dr. John Giannini, LaSalle - September 2, 2008

• John Borovich, Dayton - September 5, 2008

• Chris Mack, Xavier - September 9, 2008

• Jared Grasso, Fordham - September 17, 2008

• Vance Walberg, UMass - September 22, 2008

                                (See below)

• Porter Moser, Saint Louis - September 29, 2008

                                (See below)

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College Chalktalk: Can you briefly describe your newcomers?

Porter Moser: We have many newcomers to the program this season.

Kyle Cassity - Kyle is a bigger guard who can play spots 1, 2 and 3 on the floor.  He’s a good passer and will fit well into Coach Majerus’ system.  He sees the court well and has a high basketball IQ.

Brian Conklin - A 6′7″ version of Luke Meyer and a workhorse.  Brian is fundamental in the post and has the up-and-under move as well as the face-up shot.  He is the kind of player everybody loves to coach because he brings a high energy level to every practice and game.

Ruben Cotto - He is a phenomenal shooter with tremendous range.  The new three-point distance will not be a factor for him.  He will be a scorer right away for us as a freshman.  Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell will score for us, but Ruben gives us another scoring option.

Femi John - He is a strong and athletic guard.   He gives us another big guard who can slash to the basket and score.  He’s eager to learn Coach Majerus’ system and elevates our team athleticism.

Daniel Lisch - Just like his brother, Kevin, Daniel is a tough and rugged defender.  His defensive intensity will be a huge benefit to the team because he will challenge everyone in practice every day.

Kwamain Mitchell - He has a chance to start from day one.  He is a pass-first point guard who brings explosiveness to the position.  The most important thing he has already done is win the respect of the seniors with how hard he works and competes.

Willie Reed - He is as long and athletic a player SLU has had in a while.  He brings a shot-blocking presence to our defense, and he runs the floor like one of our guards.  He is a lively and athletic player who brings a needed dimension to our front line.

Brett Thompson - He gives us size up front.  Like all young post players, it will take him some time to adjust to the college game and get his body and conditioning into form.  He has tremendous hands and skills for a 6′10″ kid.

CCT: As many know, you have head coaching experience, most recently at Illinois State.  How has the transition to assistant been, and what lessons have you taken and applied from your head coaching days?

PM: Coach Majerus has been tremendous to me and has given me a lot of responsibility.  With my head coaching experience, I understand that it is harder to make the final decisions than it is to make suggestions as an assistant.  I try to offer Coach Majerus a point of view of being a head coach before, but there is a huge magnitude of difference when you move over that one seat.  Hopefully, my previous head coaching experience is a benefit to both him and the team.

CCT:  You have had the great fortune of being mentored by some excellent coaches, including Rick Majerus and Wimp Sanderson.  Can you speak about your experience in learning from Majerus, Sanderson and others?

PM: I’ve been extremely fortunate to be around some great coaches.  My mentor was Tony Barone, whom I played for and coached with as an assistant.  I take a lot from him.  But whether it’s Coach Barone, Coach Sanderson or Coach Majerus, they are all old-school coaches in terms of toughness, effort and attention to detail.  All three of them are very much into scouting and preparation for games.  They all work extremely hard to be fully prepared.  With Coach Majerus, he simply sees the game at a different level.  His attention to detail is as precise as I’ve ever seen.  It’s been a great experience to be with him every day. 

CCT:  Last season, Tommie Liddell struggled at times adjusting to the new system implemented by Coach Majerus.  What are you expecting from Tommie this season, now that the senior has a year under his belt?

PM: The old saying about one step backward and two steps forward applies to Tommie Liddell.  By the end of last year, he was playing as well as he’s ever played.  His ability to defend, take the ball to the rim, and be stronger with the ball all improved last year as the season went on.  It took him a little while to make the adjustment to the demands and the goals the coaching staff set for him.  Early on, he took the one step backward.  But after that, he took two steps forward and everything has been moving forward for him ever since.  He is truly poised to have the best year of his career.

CCT:  The brand-new Chaifetz Arena.  Your thoughts.

PM: We are, obviously, extremely excited about playing in Chaifetz Arena.  It gives us the ability to compete on a national level and we firmly believe there isn’t a better on-campus arena in the nation.  From the arena itself, to the practice facility, locker rooms, offices, sports-medicine and academic center, it is a first class athletic opportunity for all of our students.  We cannot wait for the season to begin!

(College Chalktalk would like to thank Coach Moser for joining us.  We look forward to speaking with him throughout the season about SLU hoops.)

Paul Williams (Dayton): 6′3″, 210 lbs., Guard

Renaissance High School

One of the most talented basketball players in Michigan, Williams will help to fill the gaping hole left in UD’s roster by the loss of leading scorer Brian Roberts.  The Detroit native played at Renaissance High, whose recent graduates include Oregon standouts Tajuan Porter and Malik Hairston, highly touted Kentucky recruit Joe Crawford and former Fordham guard Marcus Stout.

Williams is an explosive guard with the build for success at the college level.  He was recruited by Florida, Tennessee, Michigan State, Michigan, Cincinnati, Syracuse and Illinois, but ultimately chose Brian Gregory’s program for the chance to step right in and play significant minutes for the Flyers this season.  Gregory has spoken about Williams’ ability to create and his scorer’s mentality, while also highlighting his excellent defense and knack for rebounding from the guard position.

Bottom line - The loss of Roberts means Williams should team with Marcus Johnson to, sooner than later, form one of the more explosive guard combinations in the A-10.

Brett Thompson (Saint Louis): 7′0″, 260 lbs., Center

Vienna High School

In his first year as coach of the Saint Louis Billikens, Rick Majerus was forced to manage a roster filled with former coach Brad Soderberg’s recruits.  Unfortunately, there wasn’t much height to speak of.  But in the upcoming season, Majerus will have several newcomers, including the literal centerpiece of his class, Brett Thompson, as SLU opens Chaifetz Arena.

Thompson is a gifted big man who was also recruited heavily by Iowa State, Alabama and Indiana, but ultimately chose the Billikens in large part because of the efforts of Assistant Coach Porter Moser, with whom he had become familiar while Moser was in charge at Illinois State.

Thompson figures to replace Saint Louis’ former big-man Bryce Husak in the middle of Majerus’ offense.  He is a physical specimen who will enter the A-10 as one of the true centers in the league, and could cause defensive nightmares given his ability to play facing the basket.  He has soft hands and is highly skilled for a player his size.

Expect Thompson to thrive once he improves his conditioning and adjusts to the learning curve, providing an inside presence to complement Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell on the perimeter.

(A final segment of ‘Newcomer Spotlights’ will be published next week.)

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Orion Outerbridge (URI): 6′9″, 210 lbs., Forward

The New Hampton School

Outerbridge is a lanky forward who has the potential to soften the blow the Rams will undoubtedly feel with the frontcourt loss of Will Daniels.  The Boston native  most recently played his  high school ball in New Hampshire, at New Hampton, which has seen former UNC products Rashad McCants and Wes Miller succeed under the tutelage of Coach Pete Hutchins.  Outerbridge played on the Huskies with four other players heading to Division One schools, including Mississippi State signee Antiquawn Beckham.

The 6′9″ forward was recruited by Pittsburgh, Virginia, Miami, Fordham and Saint Joseph’s, but ultimately chose Jim Baron’s Rhode Island program for the style of offense the Rams play.  One of the complaints he cited in his recruiting process was that many coaches recruited him as a back-to-the-basket forward, but former Ram assistant Pat Skerry, now at Providence College, saw Outerbridge’s ability to play facing the basket and would allow him to use, what is by all accounts, a solid mid-range jumper.

The loss of Daniels, and also Joe Mbang, will allow Outerbridge to compete for minutes alongside returning frontline veteran Kahiem Seawright.  Expect him to reward Coach Baron with a productive freshman season donning the Keaney Blue.

Rashad Coleman (Charlotte): 6′5″, 190 lbs., Guard

Heat Academy

A year ago, Rashad Coleman was barely mentioned within recruiting circles, as most scouts and coaches claimed he was too small to succeed a the Division One level.  But after growing into his frame, the 6′5″ guard was nabbed by Bobby Lutz’s club late in the recruiting season.  Coleman’s former head coach at the Heat Academy, Jason Niblett, is extremely high on Coleman and feels he’s someone who will contribute early on in his collegiate career.

Last season, Coleman averaged over 26 points per game.  He received late interest from Georgia Tech, UConn, Oklahoma State and South Florida.  The Georgia native is a scoring guard with impressive long range shooting ability.  Choosing the 49ers over more storied programs, Coleman knows there will be opportunity to help replace the productivity of Leemire Goldwire, who graduated last year.

With Goldwire gone, expect Coleman to share playing time with Ian Andersen and Shamarr Bowden.  While he may not have one specific position, Coleman has the ability and versatility to play multiple guard positions on the floor, giving Coach Lutz plenty of opportunity to insert Coleman - and his offensive punch - into the game.

(’Newcomer Spotlights’ will continue with two additional installments. Conference Team Previews will follow, beginning in early October.)

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College Chalktalk: Can you briefly describe the newcomers entering the program?

Vance Walberg: At this point, it is difficult to comment on these guys because we have not yet had a chance to work with them.  Also, I’m still a rookie on this coast.  However, Coach Kellogg seems genuinely excited about the guys that will be suiting up for us.  He has spoken about the athleticism of Travon Wilcher, versatility of David Gibbs and is excited about the frontcourt depth that Tyrell Lynch will bring.  And, of course, Anthony Gurley is a solid addition.  We’re anxious to begin working with these guys.

CCT: What is the primary focus of the new staff in assuming the reins of the program?

VW:  Derek will lay out what his goals are on and off the court and, like any good staff, it will always start with the student-athlete.  Derek has spent a lot of time emphasizing to all that school comes first and we should stay on track that way.  Then, we’ll let them know our expectations on the court and in the weight room.  It’s a process and definitely a significant change, as each coaching staff is so different from the players.  Derek is doing a great job of laying down the footprints of what he is expecting.

CCT:  You are well known for your innovation of, and ability to teach, the dribble-drive offense, to which Coach Kellogg was recently exposed at Memphis.  Can you give fans a brief description of its fundamentals and how it should ideally flow?

VW:  We basically try to make the game as simple as possible for the players by spreading the floor and opening driving gaps for the players to exploit and create scoring opportunities.   This gives the players the opportunity to use their strengths and attack the opposing defense from all other spots on the floor.

CCT:  What are your thoughts on the new three-point line generally, and specifically as it relates to your roster?

VW:  I have no problem with the change as it will aid us in our spacing even better.  I also feel we have good enough shooters on our roster that it should not have much of an effect on an individual basis either.

CCT:  You briefly mentioned Anthony Gurley.  Having seen him play while at Wake Forest, what do you expect he’ll to bring to this team?

VW:  Anthony gives us another scorer with a strong body who can hopefully provide another dimension to our offense.  He will have to be a tough defender and solid rebounder, as we will most likely play him along with Ricky and Chris, so we’ll be a bit small at that position.  But, on the flip side, opposing teams will have difficulty matching up with him at that spot.

(College Chalktalk would like to thank Coach Walberg for taking the time to participate in the ‘Five Questions’ series.  We look forward to catching up with him during the season.)

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College Chalktalk:  Can you briefly describe each of your newcomers?

Jared Grasso:  We have six newcomers this season.

Jacob Green - Transfer from West Virginia.  Long and can score in the post.  Has gotten stronger and more physical after playing for Jon Beilein and Bob Huggins.  Will rebound and block shots off his length alone.

Khiry Gordon - Very good athlete who is very bouncy and active around the basket.  Was also a track star in high school.  Can run all day and will bring us a lot of energy.

Lamar Thomas - Has been very impressive in preseason workouts.  Good footwork and can score in the post.  Really runs the floor well.

Alberto Estwick - One of six Division 1 signees from National Champion, St. Anthony’s High School.  Great length and athleticism.  Can shoot it from deep and finishes in transition.  His best basketball is ahead of him!

Jio Fontan - WINNER!  Starting point guard for St. Anthony’s.  He has a very high motor and unbelievable work ethic.  Can guard the ball 94 feet and makes his teammates better.  Contagious personality and great leadership qualities.

Trey Blue - Scorer… with range out to 28 feet.  Will take and make tough shots.  Has a good feel for how to play and will bring some toughness and swagger.

CCT: With the graduation of five key seniors, your squad will be very young this season.  While there’s no substitute for experience, as a coaching staff, how will you focus on getting these kids on the same page and up to speed as quickly as possible?

JG: Losing the experience of five seniors is never an easy thing.  But we are excited about our newcomers and will look to our upperclassmen to step-up and lead.  We will also return Chris Bethel, who was ineligible for us second semester last year, and Luke Devine, who started a couple games for us early in the season before going down with a stress fracture.   We have a group of guys who will work very hard and who, collectively, have a chip on their shoulder with something to prove.

CCT:  You are earning a reputation as a solid recruiter, with players such as Jio Fontan and Alberto Estwick choosing to play at Rose Hill.  What skills do you feel are most important on the recruiting trail?

JG:  As we in the business know, “It’s not about the X’s and O’s, it’s about the Jimmy’s and Joe’s”.   In order to build any program, you need talented players to build around.   That being said, any good recruiter needs to be relentless and be willing to work, hustle, find and evaluate players who fit their program.  There is no exact science to it, but if you are willing to work and have good people skills, you have a chance.

CCT:  You enjoyed an outstanding playing career at Quinnipiac University.  How did your playing experience prepare you for the coaching ranks?

JG:  Being the son of a coach and former player, I always knew I wanted to coach.  I think being around the game as much as I have has given me a head start in my coaching career.  Having just finished my playing career seven years ago, I feel I can relate to our guys and what the college athlete experiences day-to-day.  I was a gym rat as a player and love nothing more than getting into the gym and working with our guys on skill development.

CCT:  Brenton Butler will be expected to step-up and lead this team in 2008-09.  What do you, as a coaching staff, expect from Brenton this season and how must he improve upon his solid sophomore campaign?

JG:  Brenton is the type of student-athlete we are very happy to be building our program around.  As good a player as he is, Brenton is also a great student and an even better kid!  Brenton had a fantastic summer and has lost 13 pounds.  His body looks great and he has added some quickness.  A lot of people do not know that Brenton played much of last season while suffering from mono.  He has bounced back and looks to be ready for a great junior year.

(College Chalktalk would like to thank Jared for joining us and participating in our ‘Five Questions’ series.  We look forward to catching up with him during the season.)

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We had an amazing trip to Europe, visiting the Spanish cities of Barcelona, Sitges, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Burgos and Madrid.  We also crossed the border into Perpignan, France for one game.  The opportunity to travel together and experience other cultures was as valuable as the basketball we played.  There is a closeness about our team that was only enhanced by our trip.

Las Aranas (”The Spiders”), as was printed on our uniforms, had a nice trip as well, finishing 2-2; with one of the losses coming in overtime.  As a staff, we had a chance to see a couple of guys on the court who had not seen much time in the past.

Justin Harper played some last year, but had veterans Oumar Sylla and Gaston Moliva in front of him, each of whom shouldered a good portion of the minutes.  Justin will be counted upon heavily this year to fill that void.  Unfortunately, a sprained ankle in Game 3 kept him out of action the remainder of the trip.  Prior to the injury, however, Justin showed an ability to be productive shooting and scoring the basketball.

Josh Duinker, who redshirted second semester of last year after joining us from Sydney, Australia, will have an opportunity to see minutes earlier than expected due to the injury of Third Team All-Conference big man, Dan Geriot.  Josh showed very well in Spain; in fact, his great natural instincts for the game help cover up the fact that he does not yet have the full playbook down cold.  Josh rebounded and scored inside and, importantly, did not back down from older players.  He showed some great signs that he’ll be able to compete in the A-10 this year, averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds on the trip.

Conor Smith, also a redshirt freshman, showed some grit and determination defensively.  Most notably, however, he lit it up from long range, knocking down 15 three-pointers and averaging nearly 12 points per contest. 

Of the Returnees:

Kevin Anderson, the 2007-08 A-10 Rookie of the Year, averaged 23.7 points per game, with two outbursts over 30 points.  He scored 35 in an overtime loss to Caja Rioja and had 31 in a 91-77 victory of Illescas Toledo.  Even the Toledo fans appreciated Kevin’s game, as he left to a standing ovation.

Kevin Smith played very well again and showed himself to be the glue guy for our team, rebounding, passing and setting the tone on defense.  While junior David Gonzalvez was slowed by a knee injury prior to the trip, even though we brought him along carefully in Spain, he played very well in the finale - scoring 19 points.  Senior Jarhon Giddings also provided leadership in the frontcourt, as he will all year with Dan Geriot’s absence.

Overall, we were pleased with the progress the team made in Spain and were excited about the way our guys looked in transition.  We averaged 91.3 points per game in the four contests.

Finally, our Men’s Basketball Media Relations Director, Mark Kwolek, did an outstanding job capturing the trip on video, in photographs and in his recaps, including Dan Geriot’s blog.  All of this information can be found here. 

We believe this trip will function as a great catalyst in jump-starting the 2008-09 season.  Las Aranas had a chance to play together, but more importantly, to be together in Espana . . . what a great trip!

(College Chalktalk would once again like to the Kevin for checking in and sharing his thoughts about the Spiders’ trip overseas.  We’ll continue to speak with him from time to time throughout the season.)

One of the familiar culprits in what needs to be fixed to reverse the fortunes of St. Bonaventure is defense.   Granted, a school must have players and a talent base which permits its team to win at the Atlantic 10 level.   Coach Mark Schmidt came on board in 2007 with that as his first priority.  Another focal point of his was reversing the culture/mindset of losing.  Through one season, Schmidt has worked hard to address both of those areas.

Now, on the floor, the first priority is defense.  In this study, three not too distant seasons of success were analyzed, looking in particular at the conference record, average number of possessions, and the offensive and defensive efficiency of those conference contests.  Important to note, conference statistics are preferred because they more accurately measure a team’s success against similar foes.  Including non-conference games in the analysis is not preferred, because a team’s numbers may appear better as a result of playing a weak non-conference schedule.

In crunching the numbers, they demonstrate how far removed from success the Bonnies currently are, not necessarily in years, but in terms of efficiency.  Among those clubs analyzed are Jim Baron’s 1999-2000 club which made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament (losing in double overtime to Kentucky), Baron’s final team the following season which qualified for the NIT, and Jan Van Breda Kolff’s first year at SBU, 2001-02, another NIT appearance.   Anthony Solomon’s last season, 2006-07, was also examined; as well as 2007-08, Mark Schmidt’s first campaign.

Again, the efficiency figure is derived by taking points per possession and multiplying that figure by 100.

YEAR              REC.                POSS.             OFF. EFF                     DEF. EFF

99-00               13-6                 65                    103                              97

00-01               9-8                   70                    103                              103

01-02               9-9                   71                    112                              110

06-07               4-12                 69                    100                              117

07-08               2-14                 67                    103                              117

Observations: While it was assumed that the last four games of 2007-08 would demonstrate a significant improvement, there was better defensive efficiency, but the improvement was small at only 115.  This was due in large part to games versus Richmond (123) and Dayton (139), both of whom torched the Bonnies.  In the other two games, Saint Louis (90) and Fordham (109), SBU did show improvement, limiting those teams to marks well below SBU’s season defensive efficiency.

The 1999-2000 team which featured Tim Winn, Peter Van Paassen and Caswell Cyrus was very strong and finished 21-10, including a runner-up finish to Temple in the A-10 Championship.  Little surprise, that Bonaventure team recorded the best defensive efficiency in the study.   The following year saw a slight decrease in defensive efficiency, and ended with an NIT loss to Pitt.

The first Van Breda Kolff club (2001-02) pushed the pace, as evidenced by the 71 possession per game figure.  This high octane approach worked, particularly early in the season.  Eventually, however, the Bonnies’ defensive flaws (109) surfaced, resulting in another NIT bid and first round loss to Syracuse.

The last Solomon year - and the first Schmidt year - brought the same defensive figure.  Schmidt was able to instill a more consistent work ethic, but was forced to plug defensive holes with limited talent and depth.

What does it all mean?  On one hand, many would say the offense must improve, with an efficiency of only around 100.  However, if the defense is sound a team can get by with a less than stellar offensive efficiency and still win games.   The 103 mark posted by Schmidt’s bunch last season could have brought a few more wins if the defense was better.

To give perspective, some of the defensive efficiency results turned in by the A-10 elite last year were: 97 by Xavier, 99 by UMass and 102 by Temple.  To improve to a level where they can compete, St. Bonaventure has work to do - much of it on the defensive end.   A defensive efficiency rating of 110 is unacceptable.   A 117 is poor.

While there are nights when your offense fails you, defense must be a constant if a team is hoping to consistently compete. 

This season, Mark Schmidt takes aim at improving results on this side of the ball.

In addition to his Contributor status at College Chalktalk, Ray Floriani is also a regular contributor to Basketball Times and Hoopville).

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