>Day One: Small Conferences

IAD 2008-2009 COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW DAY ONE
BEST OF THE SMALL CONFERENCES

Often overlooked because of their size, small conference games have become equally interesting in recent years as some of the big time college games. The reality is, that even if you are a big time star at your high school or in your city, that once college rolls around, it is a place like Texas A&M-Corpus Christi or Gardner Webb that you are more likely to end up at.

But, yet you can still flourish here. There are still conference titles, All-Conference teams and that looming automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament come March.

Just look at the Bruins of Belmont out of the Atlantic Sun conference. The competition in this conference is always interesting with that "any given team on any given day" feel. Belmont has been the catalyst of power in this conference and small conferences across the nation, earning three straight automatic NCAA tournament bids leading into this season. Only five other teams can claim that honor. The interest in the conference comes from the many other catalysts working into the overall equation. While Belmont shines, Jacksonville is on it's way up (winning 18 games last year after a one win season in 2004-2005) and Campbell boasts a mediocre team but the league's top returning scorer in Jonathan Rodriguez (20.9 ppg). Only seven teams are eligible for the conference title after Gardner Webb bolted for the Big South, but the four that aren't eligible yet (Kennesaw State, Florida Gulf Coast, South Carolina Upstate and North Florida) will all be looking to cause a ruckus among the major players.

The Southland will be another interesting conference to watch. In a world where meteoric rise is often followed by a big crash at the bottom (Texas A&M Corpus-Christi joined the league in 2006 and went to their first field of 65; then coach Ronnie Arrow left and so did their winning ways as they finished last in the Southland West Division.) Three teams could win the East Division, while three more have equal chances of taking the West. And again, never underestimate the power of a player, like with Texas State. The Bobcats are expected to finish fifth of six in the West but return 34.6 points per game in Brandon Bush, and Brent Benson and Ryan White alone.

Also worth mention is the Independent rankings where Chicago State is still floating after a 2007 exit from the Mid-Con (now Summit League) and Utah Valley State is still the toast of town even without conference affiliation. But the main reason worth mention: they sent five teams to conferences since last season (the four previously mentioned to the Atlantic Sun and Presbyterian to the Big South). In addition, eight teams joined Division 1 as provisional members via the Independents: Bryant, Houston Baptist, New Haven, North Carolina Central, North Dakota, Seattle, SIU-Edwardsville and South Dakota.

On the individual side of things, that are six players in small conferences that will have the ability to make a big impact this season.

That starts in the American East conference where Marques Blakely should repeat as conference player of the year and give Vermont a trip to the dance. Last year, he averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds per game, numbers that will probably increase for the junior. At Belmont, of the Atlantic Sun Conference, Shane Dansby almost helped offset a huge upset in last year's tournament when the Bruins battled Duke. This year, the senior forward will again be the talk of the small conference world. And don't ever forget to watch out for backdoor cuts when playing VCU. The Colonial Athletic Conference 2007 champions are looking to return to that form on the back of senior guard Eric Maynor, one of the top recruits ever made by former coach Jeff Capel (now at Oklahoma).

ALL-SMALL CONFERENCE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Marques Blakely (Vermont) - Player of the Year
Shane Dansby (Belmont)
Eric Maynor (VCU)
Grayson Flittner (Gardner Webb)
Ryan Toolson (Utah Valley State)
Lester Hudson (Tennessee-Martin)

IAD CONFERENCE CHAMPION PREDICTIONS (if different than regular season winner, automatic bid recipient will follow in bold)
American East: Vermont
Atlantic Sun: Belmont
Big Sky: Portland State
Big South: Winthrop - UNC Asheville (NCAA Bid)
Colonial: VCU
Ivy League: Cornell
Metro Atlantic (MAAC): Siena - Rider (NCAA Bid)
Mid-Eastern (MEAC): Morgan State
Northeast: Mount Saint Mary's
Ohio Valley: Murray State - Tennessee-Martin (NCAA Bid)
Southland: Lamar (West), Stephen F. Austin (East) - Stephen F. Austin (NCAA Bid)
Southwestern (SWAC): Alabama State
Sun Belt: South Alabama (East), North Texas (West) - South Alabama (NCAA Bid)
Independents (Best team; No Title or NCAA bid): Utah Valley State