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TOURNAMENT RECAP
SWAC team and 3-seed Alcorn State made the Elite 8 -- a first for that league -- before losing to Villanova. The Heritage League has actually emerged to surpass the SWAC (there were 5 Heritage League teams to make the tournament this year, only 2 SWAC teams did) but this is quite the breakthrough for that league, even as my prestige boosts they got some years ago (read my Pt. 1 dynasty) have worn off and most of those programs have leveled off. Conference prestige seems not to impact anything for these teams, it's all about what the teams themselves have to offer coupled with how close they are in proximity to talent in the regions.
The Final Four this season is top seeds Florida v. Villanova and the other semi-final will pit 7-seed Kentucky against 2-seed and perennial Final Four team Tulsa for whom championships have been elusive. This is Kentucky's 5th Final Four and they have yet to win a title. Florida is in their 7th Final Four, winning their first-ever title 5 seasons ago. Villanova is in their 5th Final Four, but their only title came in 1930. Tulsa has made EIGHT Final Fours, but are 2-5 in national championship games.
Villanova won their 2nd national title in program history over Tulsa, winning 80-65. Tulsa now 2-6 in national title games. Kentucky still winless.
1953-54 AWARD WINNERS
Code:
1953 OVERALL AWARDS
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Player of the Year:
SR PG George Barnett Alcorn State 21.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 9.2 APG 4.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Freshman of the Year:
FR SG Charles Drake Boise State 19.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.2 APG 2.4 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Coach of the Year:
Pedro Shepard MIT 23 - 9 (13 - 7)
All-league 1st Team:
C SR Bill Larochelle Pacific 20.0 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
PF SR Clyde Person Boston College 11.9 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.2 SPG, 1.9 BPG
SF SR Son Ransdell UC San Diego 19.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.9 APG, 3.3 SPG, 0.0 BPG
SG SR Douglas Barney Cornell 17.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 7.8 APG, 2.8 SPG, 0.1 BPG
PG SR George Barnett Alcorn State 21.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 9.2 APG, 4.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG
All-league 2nd Team:
C SR Chad May Gardner-Webb 13.3 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.7 BPG
PF SR Pantelis Emery Bethune-Cookman 12.9 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 5.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 3.2 BPG
SF JR New Moody UConn 17.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG
SG SR Michael Hamilton Florida State 21.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 8.4 APG, 3.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG
PG JR Wes Mayle Washington 19.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 7.9 APG, 5.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG
All-league 3rd Team:
C SO Greg Williams Utah State 16.6 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.1 BPG
PF SR Efe Manor Central Michigan 10.5 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.8 BPG
SF SR Joshua Mclemore Kentucky State 14.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 7.4 APG, 2.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG
SG JR Ronald Bouton Villanova 18.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.7 APG, 3.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG
PG SO Peter Jones RIT 22.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG
All-freshman Team:
C FR Gregg Oneill CSU Northridge 5.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG
PF FR James Simms Maryland-Eastern Shore 13.5 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
SF FR Jeffrey Brady MIT 14.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.2 BPG
SG FR Charles Drake Boise State 19.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.4 SPG, 0.0 BPG
PG FR Trevon Mojica Nevada 13.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 3.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG
DePaul made 3/5ths of the All-Freshman team for the Big East, which maybe means that the future is pretty bright?
Code:
1953 BIG EAST AWARDS
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Player of the Year:
JR SG Ronald Bouton Villanova 18.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.7 APG 3.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Freshman of the Year:
FR PG Adam Gray Providence 8.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 3.2 APG 1.9 SPG, 0.0 BPG
Coach of the Year:
Matthew Austin Villanova 35 - 3 (15 - 3)
All-league 1st Team:
C SR Donald Steib St. John's 9.4 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.7 BPG
PF SO Charles Carlsen Butler 13.8 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.6 BPG
SF JR New Moody UConn 17.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG
SG JR Ronald Bouton Villanova 18.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.7 APG, 3.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG
PG SR Frank Sheffield Xavier 12.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 8.8 APG, 3.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
All-league 2nd Team:
C SR Christopher Patterson Villanova 11.7 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.2 BPG
PF JR Bobby Cannady Seton Hall 9.5 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.1 BPG
SF SR Carl Calzada Seton Hall 17.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
SG SR Caden Bennett Providence 23.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 4.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG
PG SO Daniel Woodhouse Villanova 16.6 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 6.9 APG, 2.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG
All-freshman Team:
C FR Kit Bean St. John's 3.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG
PF FR Mark Mercado DePaul 5.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG
SF FR Tom Dupont DePaul 1.6 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.0 BPG
SG FR Alfie Mitchell DePaul 6.4 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.0 BPG
PG FR Adam Gray Providence 8.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.0 BPG
CDC Freshman of the Year and two players made the All-League 2nd team.
Code:
1953 CDC AWARDS
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Player of the Year:
JR PG Severino Medina Colorado College 12.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 9.3 APG 2.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Freshman of the Year:
FR PF Dominic Croswell Chicago State 11.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Coach of the Year:
Ricquall Lopez Colorado College 20 - 11 (11 - 5)
All-league 1st Team:
C SR John Johnson Denver State 14.1 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG
PF SR Harold Burleson MSU Billings 17.0 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG
SF SR Alan Rice Colorado College 17.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 3.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG
SG SO Donnell Murphy Colorado College 18.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG
PG JR Severino Medina Colorado College 12.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 9.3 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.1 BPG
All-league 2nd Team:
C JR John Martin CSU Pueblo 17.7 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG
PF FR Dominic Croswell Chicago State 11.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
SF SR Terry Seay Chicago State 12.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 2.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG
SG SR William Bertrand Black Hills State 16.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.8 SPG, 0.0 BPG
PG JR Brain Ebner Wyoming State 12.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.0 BPG
All-freshman Team:
C FR Elliott Yung Colorado Mines 9.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
PF FR Dominic Croswell Chicago State 11.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
SF FR Christian Coble CSU Pueblo 10.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
SG FR Riley Jenkins Chicago State 9.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.0 BPG
PG FR Carey Rice Chicago State 4.2 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.0 BPG
In thinking about where Chicago State should go, another idea emerged. Opting out of a regional approach entirely and picking another league outside of the midwest and being the 14th team to join the Heritage League. That league is peaking right now and it would be a huge challenge to jump in and be successful, but it gets the Cougars out of the 1-bid purgatory if they were ever to start to drop down a notch, because they're able to access to Chicago talent pool they're (much like in the CDC) able to stay competitive in ways their opponents won't, but though they'd immediately become the lowest prestige program in that conference as opposed to the highest prestige team in the CDC as they are now.
In the Summit League, only Wayne State (57) has a higher prestige than Chicago State so that league only provides better regional opponents but not necessarily better competitive opportunities. The Horizon League is actually more competitive than both of those leagues with prestiges ranging from 33-62 and it's the most regionally appropriate of the non-football conferences, but it's a 1-bid league with a local rival sharing the league (albeit in much worse shape than the Cougars are now after three straight tournament appearances.)
Joining the Heritage gives that league a shot in the arm, but it could backfire and reverse any momentum they've built over the past few years, which is why it worries me, but if the Cougars can maintain upper echelon status in a league that sent 5 programs to the tourney this year, it'll mean getting into the NCAAs with seeding better than the 13-seed range as they've been the past few years.
Here's where the prestige for conferences sits as of the 1954-55 season.
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Conference List
Name Div Teams Games Prestige Tourney Teams Tourney Berth
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Atlantic Coast Conference 1 14 20 5 14 Yes
Big East Conference 1 12 18 5 12 Yes
Big Ten Conference 1 14 20 5 14 Yes
Heritage League 1 12 20 5 4 Yes
Pacific-14 Conference 1 14 20 5 12 Yes
Southeastern Conference 2 16 20 5 16 Yes
Southwestern Athletic Conference 1 11 20 5 11 Yes
Big 12 Conference 1 14 20 4 14 Yes
Mountain West Conference 1 12 20 4 4 Yes
West Coast Conference 1 12 16 4 11 Yes
Yankee Conference 1 12 20 4 12 Yes
Conference USA 1 12 20 3 4 Yes
Horizon League 1 12 16 3 12 Yes
Ivy League 1 12 20 3 4 Yes
Mid-American Conference 2 14 20 3 14 Yes
Western Athletic Conference 1 12 20 3 12 Yes
Atlantic 10 Conference 1 13 20 2 4 Yes
Big West Conference 1 13 20 2 4 Yes
Independents 1 4 9 2 0 No
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference 1 12 20 2 4 Yes
Missouri Valley Conference 1 12 20 2 4 Yes
Southern Conference 1 14 18 2 14 Yes
Southland Conference 1 12 18 2 4 Yes
University Athletic Association 1 12 20 2 2 Yes
America East Conference 1 14 20 1 4 Yes
Atlantic North Conference 1 11 18 1 11 Yes
Atlantic Sun Conference 1 14 20 1 4 Yes
Big Sky Conference 1 12 20 1 4 Yes
Colonial Athletic Association 1 14 20 1 4 Yes
Continental Divide Conference 1 13 16 1 4 Yes
Northeast Conference 1 13 20 1 4 Yes
Ohio Valley Conference 1 13 20 1 4 Yes
Summit League 1 12 20 1 4 Yes
Sun Belt Conference 1 12 20 1 4 Yes
RECRUITING WASN'T GREAT
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1953 Recruiting Rankings
# Team Conference Best Player Rtg 5* 4* 3* 2* 1*
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134. Northern Colorado CDC SG Jay Craft *** 0 0 4 0 0
158. NW Missouri State CDC PF Damari Sorrells *** 0 0 5 0 0
190. CSU Pueblo CDC SG Charles Spies ***** 1 0 1 0 0
255. Black Hills State CDC SF Paul Siegel **** 0 1 1 0 0
266. Denver State CDC PG Jahnathan Seidel *** 0 0 2 1 1
274. Colorado Mines CDC PG Thomas Eads *** 0 0 4 1 0
298. Colorado College CDC PF Radoslav Sykora *** 0 0 3 1 0
305. Chicago State CDC PG William Showalter *** 0 0 2 0 0
358. Southern Oregon CDC PG Tyrese Merrick *** 0 0 1 0 0
375. MSU Billings CDC SG LeBron Coffey *** 0 0 3 0 1
396. Nebraska-Kearney CDC SF Lanny Forrest *** 0 0 1 1 0
405. Wyoming State CDC PF Noel Lavery *** 0 0 1 0 0
416. Carroll CDC SF Barney Allen ** 0 0 0 1 0
1953 Recruiting Rankings
# Team Conference Best Player Rtg 5* 4* 3* 2* 1*
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1. Xavier Big East SF Joshua Mcgrath **** 5 2 1 0 0
7. Notre Dame Big East SF Robert Plemmons ***** 5 0 0 0 0
22. Seton Hall Big East PG De Whalen ***** 1 2 0 0 0
25. Providence Big East PG Curran Eaton **** 3 1 0 0 0
30. Marquette Big East PG Richard Bowers **** 0 3 0 0 0
72. UConn Big East SG Michael Martino **** 1 1 0 0 0
115. St. John's Big East C Jewell Barnett ***** 1 1 0 0 0
118. Butler Big East SF Timothy Lyons ***** 2 0 0 0 0
120. DePaul Big East SF Steven Miller **** 0 3 0 0 0
161. Villanova Big East SF Reynaldo Koehler **** 0 1 0 0 0
162. Creighton Big East PF Donald Arrington **** 0 1 2 0 0
174. Georgetown Big East C Ronald Neale **** 0 2 0 0 0
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