Last year’s record: 10-18, 7-9 in Mid-Continent Conference.
Key returnees: C Darrell Johns, sr.; F Tony Jones, sr.; G Terrence West, jr.
Key newcomers: G Danny Osby, jr.; F Raheem Oliver, jr.
Preseason issues: How quickly West is able to feel comfortable at the point guard spot vacated by Squirt Hicks, finding a scorer to replace Tim Bryant, blending highly regarded junior-college transfer Osby into the lineup.
Outlook: Cougars upset Illinois-Chicago, Western Illinois, Oral Roberts and Valparaiso last year, but shockers will be harder to come by against DePaul, Maryland and UNLV. Top half of Mid-Continent would be major achievement.
DE PAUL
Last year’s record: 21-12, 9-7 in Conference USA.
Key returnees: F/G Bobby Simmons, jr.; C Steven Hunter, so.; G Rashon Burno, jr.; F/C Lance Williams, jr.
Key newcomer: G Imari Sawyer, fr.
Preseason issues: Lost leading scorer and rebounder Quentin Richardson and must find a way to replace more than his numbers. He was also their leader. Gone too is Paul McPherson, their best defender.
Outlook: Returned to the NCAA tournament last spring for the first time since 1992 and enter this season expecting nothing less than a return trip. Reality of those expectations will be determined in a 10-day stretch in December when Blue Demons face Florida, Missouri and Kansas. DePaul appealing ineligibility of freshman forward Andre Brown.
ILLINOIS
Last year’s record: 22-10, 11-5 in Big Ten.
Key returnees: G Cory Bradford, jr.; F Brian Cook, so.; G Frank Williams, so.; C Marcus Griffin, sr.; F Sergio McClain, sr.
Key newcomers: G Jerrance Howard, fr.; F Brett Melton, fr.
Preseason issues: Rebounding, rebounding, rebounding; finding outside shooter to help Bradford; getting Cook to play tougher defense; keeping everyone healthy–off-season aches and pains again plagued Illinois, specifically Bradford and Damir Krupalija (knee surgeries), Griffin (sprained knee) and Robert Archibald (lower back).
Outlook: Illini expected to challenge Michigan State for Big Ten title, provided difficult non-conference slate (Maryland or Louisville at Maui Invitational; Duke, Seton Hall, Arizona, Missouri and Texas) and adjustment to new coach (Bill Self) doesn’t destroy team’s confidence.
ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
Last year’s record: 11-20, 5-9 in Midwestern Collegiate.
Key returnees: C Thor Solverson, sr.; F Maurice Brown, so.; F Joe Scott, so.; G Joel Bullock, sr.; G Jordan Kardos, jr.
Key newcomers: G Taurus Cook, jr.; G William Lewis, fr.
Preseason issues: The return to full health by Bullock, who was sidelined much of last year by heart condition. “He’s doing great,” said coach Jimmy Collins. “He’s been cleared by the doctors. He’s much stronger.”
Outlook: The ineligibility of freshmen Cedric Banks and Martell Bailey severely hampers the Flames’ chances of making a run for the conference championship. Solverson’s play in the middle and the outside shooting of Kardos are important keys.
LOYOLA
Last year’s record: 14-14, 4-10 in Midwestern Collegiate.
Key returnees: F Schin Kerr, sr.; G/F Jerell Parker, so.; G David Bailey, so.
Key newcomers: G Terry Grant, jr.; F Ryan Blankson, jr.; F Corey Minnifield, so.; G Louis Smith, fr.
Preseason issues: Ramblers must offset the graduation of guard Earl Brown. Silvije Turkovic and/or Hubert Radke, both 6-10, try to establish a presence in the post.
Outlook: Coach Larry Farmer, beginning his third season at Loyola, has his deepest team at the school. He’ll substitute freely to keep fresh players running his up-tempo game. This should be an interesting team to watch. Could reach or exceed .500.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Last year’s record: 13-15, 7-11 in Mid-American Conference.
Key returnees: F Leon Rodgers, jr.; G Mike Brown, sr.
Key newcomers: F Marcus Smallwood, fr.; G Al Sewasciuk, fr.
Preseason issues: Learning to play without T. J. Lux, all-time school scoring and rebounding leader, will be an experience for younger Huskies.
Outlook: Coach Brian Hammel will rotate different units. A big lineup could contain three 6-9 men. Smaller units might freature three-point shooters Brown and Sewasciuk. Lux will be missed. So could a .500 record.
NORTHWESTERN
Last year’s record: 5-25, 0-16 in Big Ten.
Key returnees: G Ben Johnson, so.; C Aaron Jennings, so.; G/F Winston Blake, so.; F Jason Burke, so.; F Tavaras Hardy, jr.; G Collier Drayton, jr.
Key newcomers: G Jitim Young, fr.; G Ed McCants, fr.
Preseason issues: Youth. There are no seniors and only two juniors on this team, which will be built around five sophomores and six freshmen. Adjusting to new coach Bill Carmody. He arrives from Princeton as Kevin O’Neill’s successor and brings with him a new philosophy and style of play.
Outlook: Got battered last year in conference play while beginning the youth movement that still continues. Inexperience in Big Ten is a big problem, and is only compounded by unfamiliarity with Carmody. Looks like another learning–which means long–year for the Cats.
NOTRE DAME
Last year’s record: 22-15, 8-8 Big East.
Key returnees: F Troy Murphy, jr.; G Martin Ingelsby, sr.; G David Graves, jr.; G Matt Carroll, so.; F Harold Swanagan, jr.
Key newcomers: F Ryan Humphrey, jr.; G Torrian Jones, fr.
Preseason issues: Mike Brey, Notre Dame’s third coach in as many seasons, does not plan on making many wholesale changes, but he does want to play more man-to-man defense.
Outlook: Transfer Ryan Humphrey, a 6-8 forward, will draw defenders away from All-America forward Troy Murphy. And if defenders double-team both of them, the veteran backcourt, led by senior point guard Martin Ingelsby, is ready and willing to shoot. Barring injury, Irish should earn their first NCAA tournament berth since 1990.
VALPARAISO.
Last year’s record: 19-13, 10-6 in Mid-Continent.
Key returnees: F Lubos Barton, jr.; G Dwayne Toatley, sr.; C Raitis Grafs, so.; G Milo Stovall, jr.
Key newcomers: G Mike Nelke, fr.; F Joaquim Gomes, fr.
Preseason issues: Coach Homer Drew, entering his 13th season at Valparaiso, will have the luxury of fine-tuning a team that returns 12 lettermen, including all five starters.
Outlook: The Crusaders have won six straight Mid-Continent Conference tournament titles, appeared in the NCAA tournament five straight years and closed out last season by winning 12 of their final 14 games. Since Valparaiso lost only four players, another NCAA bid is a distinct possibility.
