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| | Tuesday, November 7 WAC Breakdown | |||||||||||||||||||||||
ESPN.com
Senior, 6-6, SMU Senior, 6-0, Fresno State Senior, 6-9, UTEP Senior, 6-6, SMU Senior, 6-9, Fresno State Player of Year ... Jeryl Sasser, SMU Sasser tested the NBA waters but returns for his senior season, giving the Mustangs the most versatile player in the conference. SMU hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1993, but Sasser and Willie Davis figure to have them in the hunt for the conference championship or even an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. Introducing ... Greedy Daniels, G, TCU Daniels transferred from UNLV, so he has two things going for him right off the get-go. He shines offensively in the open floor and plays great defense. The Horn Frogs system will play to his strengths, as well. May not start right away, but if practice is any indication, he'll get plenty of chances to unseat either Thomas McTyer or Larry Allaway. Best backcourt ... TCU: The Horned Frogs have five solid players to choose from in a system that allows them to put up good numbers. Senior swingman Ryan Carroll and shooting guard Estell Laster will lead TCU this season. The 5-11 duo of McTyer and Allaway shared point-guard duties last year and each return. Add UNLV transfer Daniels and coach Billy Tubbs has a solid perimeter team. Inexperience on the inside will be a question for TCU, but it should have a lot of production returning outside from a team that won 18 games last year. Best frontcourt ... Fresno State: The Bulldogs aren't deep, but Melvin Ely and Chris Jeffries have more talent than any frontcourt in the conference. Eye averaged 13.3 points and seven rebounds a game as a junior, while Jeffries knows how to play 40 minutes like few others after his days in Arkansas. Those are the only two proven starters, although 6-8 senior Shannon Swillis, a transfer from USC who sat out last year, will play plenty of minutes down low. Team on way up ... SMU: After an eight-year absence, the Mustangs will probably get back to the NCAA Tournament. The Mustangs return not only Sasser, but three other starters from a 21-8 team. Team on way down ... Tulsa: With the losses from the coaching staff and the roster it would be a miracle to see the Hurricane repeat their Elite Eight appearance. The postseason isn't out of the question, just which one? Tournament tough ... SMU, TCU, Fresno St. and Tulsa will make the postseason. Two will go to the NCAAs and the other two will be in the NIT. We'll let you know which go where in March. | ALSO SEE ESPN.com Preseason Top 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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