WESTERN MICHIGAN: Broncos to visit Crisler
When the Mid-American Conference preseason basketball poll was released last week, it had a new look.
The 12-team conference, with new additions Northern Illinois and Marshall, is now split into two divisions, which should make success a bit more difficult to attain.
CLEVELAND STATE: Massimino leads Vikes
Maybe basketball just isn't very popular at Cleveland State.
According to coach Rollie Massimino, the Vikings' schedule this season is "the toughest in the history" of the school. But you wouldn't know it from the fan turnout.
TOWSON: Tigers to open new season
Mike Jaskulski has no reason to feel alone. Although he is entering his first season as Towson's coach, Jaskulski is not the only new addition to the basketball program.
In an effort to reignite a stagnant program, the Towson athletic department has instituted changes from the ground up - literally.
DETROIT: Titans all about ads
Detroit returns all five starters from last year's second-place Midwestern Collegiate Conference team, but far more interesting is the fact that the Titans have players on their roster by the names of Michael Jordan and Jermaine Jackson.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL: Fla. Int'l to run at Blue
When Florida International basketball coach Shakey Rodriguez sees his players on the floor every day, he wants his name to be their game.
Always shaking, always moving, and he hopes, always winning.
UNLV: UNLV remains troubled
UNLV will start the season with two of its best players serving suspensions for accepting gifts from an agent in the off-season. Surprise, surprise.
Coach Bill Bayno has tried to clean up the program, but both Kevin Simmons (14 games) and Naismith Award nominee Keon Clark (11 games) will miss the start of the season for illegal activities. Bayno said Clark's suspension was unfair and that if he played "in the Big East it never would have been so harsh.
BRADLEY: Bradley not just a name
As great as Anthony Parker was - he was an honorable mention All-America selection - coach Jim Molinari and Bradley must move forward.
But that's not to say Parker's talents won't be missed.
EASTERN MICHIGAN: Boykins leads Eagles
Just last week, 5-foot-5 Earl Boykins stood head and shoulders above his summer league teammates.
He led the USA Basketball 22-and-under squad to a 6-0 record at the World University Games in Italy and was the high scorer, averaging 15.7 points per game. The diminutive guard from Eastern Michigan was named the basketball player of the year by the organization.
TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA: Mocs to miss star
Big results lead to big expectations - something Tennessee-Chattanooga is learning very quickly.
In a preseason media poll, the Mocs were picked to finish first in the Southern Conference. The newfound respect comes from a third-round appearance in the NCAA tournament and a place in America's heart as the 1997 tournament's Cinderella team.
DUKE: Duke solid - again
When Duke loses only once in 104 games to non-conference opponents on its home floor and then falls to ... let's say, Michigan, in front of the Cameron Indoor Stadium fanatics, wouldn't you think that the Blue Devils will have 105 on their minds heading into Crisler Arena?
PUERTO RICO CLASSIC: Puerto Rico Classic to be Sunday's showcase
There's nothing quite like a competitive college basketball tournament in the dead of winter.
Especially if it involves Horned Frogs, Billikens, Billy Tubbs and Nolan Richardson. Not to mention that it's in Puerto Rico.
WISCONSIN: Okey's suspension steals arena's spotlight
Everything's not Okey-dokey at Wisconsin.
The Badgers thought that the only significant news, other than this year marking the 100th anniversary of Wisconsin men's basketball, would be the unveiling of their new, $75 million, 16,500-seat Kohl Center.
PENN STATE: Earl's return boosts guard tandem
One of the few things Penn State can look forward to this season is the return of its backcourt duo. Point guard Dan Earl and shooting guard Pete Lisicky are one of the top guard tandems in the Big Ten.
Earl returns to the Lions after sitting out all of last season due to a back injury. An All-Big Ten selection in 1995-96, Earl averaged 12.1 points per game while guiding Penn State to the NCAA tournament and a 21-7 overall record.
INDIANA: Is now Hoosiers' time?
If you didn't follow Indiana's performance towards the end of last season, here's a summary from administrative assistant Ron Felling, who stood in for coach Bobby Knight at the conference's media day:
"We didn't play very well. We seemed to lack leadership and direction. We seemed to just not play with much intensity and that was really embarrassing for us.
MIGHICAN STATE: Cleaves returns, in shape
Mateen Cleaves arrived late at last month's Big Ten media day because of a mix-up at the airport.
"We took our school IDs, and we had to get somebody to bring our passport ID," Cleaves said.
OHIO STATE: O'Brien cleans house
It sounds like first-year coach Jim O'Brien is already in denial about his team.
"I don't think that there are a lot of schools that I would have pursued, leaving a place like Boston College," O'Brien said.
MINNESOTA: Gophers need to retool
Since reaching the Final Four last season, it's been all downhill for Minnesota.
After losing to Kentucky in the natiopnal semifinal, the Golden Gophers not only lost Big Ten player of the year Bobby Jackson and starting center John Thomas to the NBA, but they will also have to defend the Big Ten title without stars Courtney James and Charles Thomas.
ILLINOIS: Small Illini look for rebounding
The key for the Fighting Illini this season is the one thing they believe they can control - rebounding.
Size is something Illinois can't control. The Illini will look a lot like they did last season - small. At 6-feet-8, 239 pounds, senior forward Jarrod Gee should be a force inside. But after him, the Illini average less than 6-4.
PURDUE: Purdue is due for another Big Ten title
It's funny that the word "experience" is being linked with the 1997-98 Purdue basketball team, considering that, in Gene Keady's 17 years as coach of the Boilermakers, last season's squad was his youngest ever.
And Keady still guided the youthful team to a 12-6 record in the conference, good enough for a second-place tie, and an 18-12 overall mark.
IOWA: Iowa remains un-Settled
Iowa's public address announcer: "Dr. Davis, Dr. Davis: you have a patient in the training room. It's Jess Settles. He's not feeling well. And when you are done, we need help in the weight room: Andre Woolridge's replacement is sucking wind from practice.
NORTHWESTERN: Wildcats pin hopes on Eschmeyer
All new head coach Kevin O'Neil, of the perennial cellar-dweller Wildcats, needed to gauge the progress of his team was the season's first scrimmage.
"That was a debacle. I realized quickly that if I was looking for a bridge (to jump off), all I needed to do is go to the lake," said O'Neil, whose school resides along the shore of Lake Michigan.
Tipoff '97 Extras
Rosters, schedule, staff picks, and more.
11-13-97
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