2023 | Preseason Preview | Conference USA (CUSA)

[TuscanSota]

Hi everyone,

We're going to go over CUSA next. This conference had a bit of a shakeup and now includes a couple of new schools, along with a couple of teams moving in. Here's our preseason prediction for CUSA!

10.  Sam Houston State Bearkats | Ovr.: 273 | Off.: 238 | Def.: 325

Sam Houston State joins a conference that's reeling from teams moving into the Sun Belt. Jacksonville won the conference but has moved back home to the ASUn. And UTSA, UAB, North Texas, Charlotte, Rice, and FAU have gone to the American. The Bearkats will struggle this year as one of the bottom teams joining in. They do have the benefit of players such as Sr C Donald Buchanan, a center with a specialty for mid-range jumpers and a decent 3pt shot. The Bearkats defense is barren and won't bode well against some of their other conference opponents. The Bearkats will need to put together an identity, but it's going to be an uphill struggle with this roster.

 

9.  Jacksonville State Gamecocks | Ovr.: 195 | Off.: 179 | Def.: 229

Out goes Jacksonville University, in arrives Jacksonville State University. This new member brings with them one of the top new offenses from a newly generated team, and will be somewhat competitive as a new team. Sr PG Roland DuPont is keen to make minutes this year and is known for his 3pt shot and rebounding ability. He does have issues holding the ball, but so does everyone else on this roster. The Gamecocks will be a presence near the basket with players like Sr PF Michael Noel, Jr PG Charles Bock, Jr SG Luis Cazarez, and So PF Kalana Fong each capable of dunking the ball. The Gamecocks will be ferocious near the basket whether on offense or defense; it's their perimeter play and ball handling that will determine if they can keep up in CUSA.

 

8.  Kennesaw State Owls | Ovr.: 179 | Off.: 173 | Def.: 210

Technically they're supposed to join next season but I wanted an even number and go ahead into the future. Kennesaw isn't a state but they along with Jacksonville State are some of the top new programs that progressed well. Despite being near the top, Kennesaw, like the Gamecocks, will be making of plenty of drives for a layup; the one thing that they have that Jacksonville State doesn't is a ball handler - enter Jr C Terrence Lewis. He's exactly the Center any team would want near the basket (If only he could defend).

Kennesaw State is nearly Jacksonville 2.0, but with a more defensive upside. They could upset some CUSA opponents, but it won't be enough for a conference title.

 

7.  Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | Ovr.: 156 | Off.: 143 | Def.: 155

Middle Tennessee isn't a state, but they are in the Middle of Tennessee. The Blue Raiders are exactly a rung up above their new conference members, and it shows. With players like Jr SG Duo Darrin Hopkins and Robert Gannon, the Blue Raiders have plenty of options for shooting 3s and making plays on offense. Hopkins carries the best upside and is perhaps the Blue Raider's best offensive option; on defense, the Blue Raiders will rely on Sr C Rickey Smith's experience defending the basket. Rebounding is not a strong suit for this team, but Middle Tennessee is the floor when it comes to the new conference members joining in. The Blue Raiders have the opportunity to play better than their preseason ranking but will need to rely on their seniors in order to do so.

 

6.  Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | Ovr.: 154 | Off.: 110 | Def.: 169

The 'Toppers of Bowling Green are known for their football program; for basketball they have a bit of a ways to go. Their offense is #4 in the conference, thanks to a pair of junior PGs Gregory Bender and Duane Phillips. Their leadership and experience will be needed for a Hiltoppers squad that is looking to improve on their 9-20 record last season. There's plenty of opportunities this sesason, and with Bender's and Phillips ability to shoot a jumper and their ability to turnover the ball, there's certianly a hcance for them to. Additional players to watch for is Sr SG Dennis Hefner at the 3pt range, and Jr C Michael Walters as the Hilltopper's top rebounder. There's some sophomores to look for such as C Timothey Mallory and C Jon Cochran; but don't expect the freshmen to be playing a lot this season -- they will need some time to develop before doing so.

 

5.  UTEP Miners | Ovr.: 145 | Off.: 142 | Def.: 136

The Miners ended the season on a sad note leaving the NIT in the 2nd Round. A 17-14 record is not bad by any means; and in the middle of the conference the Miners have the pieces needed to compete. This roster will look to their veterans for scoring opportunities and turning over the ball. Sr PF Felipe Raymond is the team's best option on defense and one of the best for scoring; heck, he's an A overall player - so definitely a draft pick next season. His biggest strengths are his ability to dunk and rebound the ball; and he's known for his blocking ability. The best offensive options for the Miners are Sr PG Ralph Trimble and Jr SG Harvey Brown - a group of guards who practiced tirelessly this offseason out-competing one another on who can score a 3 pointer. Jr PF Chris Davis is the team's second best defense man and not a bad option for a jumper as well. This Miners team should have a solid rotation of six players, and while their incoming freshman likely won't be in rotation quite yet, the depth they have should be enough for the time being.

4.  New Mexico State Aggies | Ovr.: 125 | Off.: 128 | Def.: 104

Moving on from El Paso towards nearby Las Cruces, the Aggies are in position to improve on their 11-20 record near the bottom of CUSA last season. This year's roster features a group of experienced players who specialize in not only 3pt shooting and dunks, but are each ball handlers in their own right. The key players to look for on offense will be Jr SG Quoc Patel, Sr PF Tao Castro, Jr PG Dustin Trofholz, So PG Jeff Counce, and freshmen PG Rutendo Ba and Sr SG Mark Self. This aggies roster has several playmakers that have their own specialty, and round out one another's weakness. The biggest takeaway I can think of is that it may be a struggle for the Aggies to defend the interior, having to rely on Sr C Jeremy Ryan and Jr C Kevin Layson as the primary defenders. The Aggies also may have trouble staying on the court, as many players aren't capable of playing more than 30 minutes. Aggies will need to rely on a wider rotation, and thankfully some of their incoming freshmen may be helpful to ease that burden.

3.  Liberty Flames | Ovr.: 72 | Off.: 85 | Def.: 76

We're now entering the very competitive part of Conference USA. As in, there's talent on the final three teams in this preview. Liberty's the first, and their roster has experience ranging from their Seniors all the way to their sophomores. 5 star So SG William Smith will be a key playmaker in rotation, being all around with a jumper, handling the ball, and his blocking ability; but the best offensive weapons are seen in Sr SG Milan Raskin and Sr PF Douglas Strom. Both players are capable of making uncontested shots, and Strom is absolutely devastating near the basket. Rebounding is a strong suit, but the Flames will need to do better on the defensive side of the ball with only 4-5 players capable of playing excellent defense. The key problem with the Flames remains is that their defensive players aren't their best offensive ones. William Smith balances this out thankfully; but we're not entirely sure how long the 5 star will stay around.

 

2.  Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | Ovr.: 55 | Off.: 66 | Def.: 54

Ah, one of last year's Cinderellas. This team upset just about everyone's bracket with wins against #1 ND (as a 16 seed!), heartbreaking upsets to Kansas and Tennessee, but then upended by eventual national champion #3 Purdue. Louisiana Tech's rise to the top was a surprise to everyone as they were one of the few teams with a losing record in the tournament. How did they make it? They won as the #11 seed in the CUSA tournament! And now, they're primed as the #2 team in Conference USA. This team is capable of pulling off the repeat, and with players like Sr SG Matthew Griffin, Sr PF Kevin Berglund, and Jr SG Warren Jones, there's enough offensive firepower and rebounding for the Bulldogs to hammer down on conference opponents. Last year's Cinderella is now a top dog in Conference USA, and this group will not back down from the Conference USA title. Their only obstacle is the #1 team on this list.

 

1. Florida International Panthers | Ovr.: 31 | Off.: 22 | Def.: 51

FIU was a top 10 team last season; and while they ended the year at 17-13 with an early exit from the tournament, the Panthers return as the Preseason favorites for CUSA. Who can blame them? Jr PF Curtis Kovacic is an excellent player near the rim on both offense and defense and will be key to many of the player's turnovers. There's also Jr PF Wayne Johnson, an excellent blocker with one of the best jump abilities in the conference; and Sr PG Wei Tan, who the Panthers will look to with leading the offense and as a perimeter option. The one weakness that comes to mind for this Panthers team is that while their depth isn't' on par with Liberty or LT, they will be leaning heavily on their veterans for making players; and with the low stamina of Wayne Johnson, some of their best defensive options on the floor won't have the best impact. The Panthers are still the favorites to win, but it's a lot closer than I think some teams may think.