2010-2011 Conference Basketball Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds | Sportsbookbuzz.com

2010-2011 Conference Basketball Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

With a 15-1 conference record last season, the UTEP Miners won their first regular-season C-USA championship in program history. Ex-USC: coach Tim Floyd takes over for Tony Barbee, who departed to Auburn over the offseason. The Miners return their star guard Randy Culpepper, who was their leading scorer last season.

At 13-3 in the C-USA last season, the Memphis Tigers finished second in the conference. With one of the best recruiting classes in the nation coming to Memphis in 2010 (including shooting guard Will Barton), the Tigers should be right near the top of the conference again.

Finishing tied for third place last season with 11-5 conference records were the UAB Blazers and the Marshall Thundering Herd. UAB loses both of last season’s top scorers (Elijah Millsap and Howard Crawford), but keep their talented backcourt of Jamarr Sanders and Aaron Johnson. The Herd find themselves in the same situation, with their two leading scorers gone (Tyler Wilkinson and Hassan Whiteside), but a promising backcourt to build around, featuring Damier Pitts and Shaquille Johnson.

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane finished fifth in the conference last season with a 10-6 record in C-USA play. Tulsa disappointed last season, failing to compete for the conference title or make the NCAA tournament, even with Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan. Both Jordan and Uzoh are off to the NBA, so Tulsa has some rebuilding to do.

The Southern Miss Golden Eagles finished last season in sixth place with an 8-8 record in C-USA play. With all of last season’s key pieces returning (including all-conference forward Gary Flowers), the Golden Eagles could take a sizeable step forward in 2010.

Tied for seventh place in the conference last season were the Houston Cougars and SMU Mustangs at 7-9. Despite the losing record in conference play, Houston won the C-USA tournament, which earned them a bid into the NCAA Tournament.The Cougars lose Aubrey Coleman, the nation’s leading scorer last season. SMU will try to adjust without their leading scorer from last season as well, with Derek Williams graduating.

The UCF Knights finished in eighth place With a 6-10 conference record last season. They will switch to a more up-tempo brand of play with ex-Marshall coach Donnie Jones. The East Carolina Pirates finished 4-12 in conference play last season and they retum all five starters. The Tulane Green Wave (3-13 conference) and Rice Owls (1-15) will try to take a step forward in 2010.