What Say You, Shannon Russell?

Shannon Russell, the only A-10 reporter I would have sex with (Doug Harris? Been there, done that), chimes in with a quick A-10 preview before she heads up to New York for the conference’s media day in a few weeks.  Like every single prognostication you will see from now until tipoff, Russell has Xavier winning the league, as they should, with Temple falling just behind the Musketeers in second. The rest of Russell's prediction:

3. Saint Louis
4. St. Bonnie!!!!
5. Richmond
6. George Washington
7. Charlotte
8. Massachusetts
9. Duquesne
10. DAYTON
11. Rhode Island
12. La Salle
13. Saint Joseph's
14. Fordham

The Flyers? Ms. Russell has them locked in at tenth. If you are as excited about UD’s prospects as Shannon is, won’t you please head on over to Lavatickets and pick up some tickets for the South Carolina Upstate game?

Russell’s concise take on Kid Yuma’s Flyers:

Archie Miller inherited three starters from last year’s 22-14 team, including Chris Johnson, the 6-foot-6 senior forward known as much for his scoring (11.9 ppg) as rebounding (6 rpg). Johnson has help from veterans Josh Benson, Paul Williams and Luke Fabrizius, and transfer Kevin Dillard will take over as point guard. Miller aspires to have teams with strong defensive identities. He also recognizes challenges associated with having only 10 scholarship players available to compete. The Flyers “don’t have a lot of room for error right now with our depth,” Miller said, so being careful with training has been his paramount concern.

That training issue is something to track this season. Whereas the previous administration was hell-bent on boxing, gladiating and all things homoerotic, Kid Yuma seems intent on taking a more lax approach when it comes to practice. And good for him, as Luke Fabrizius is one stubbed toe away from forming a complete dependency on Celebrex. Keeping this particular roster fresh and durable is essential if Dayton is to achieve any success this season (read: win a CBI title).

Comparing Gregory to Sean Miller’s brother is inevitable. It’s a natural knee-jerk reaction to a coaching change, a quick and easy way to gauge progress or a lack thereof. The BG apologists, what’s left of them, will point out every miscue and shortcoming of the current staff.  The BG detractors will focus on every sliver of hope they can get metaphorically wrap their arms around.  Personally, I’m just interested to see how this particular team operates in a new offense and whether the player’s feedback, which has been overwhelmingly positive thus far, affirms everything the current coaching staff is trying to implement during its virgin voyage.

His Slave Name was Terrell

Cincinnati sports minx Shannon Russell reports that the starting point-guard for Our Overlords to the South, Terrell Holloway, has undergone a name change:

Junior Terrell Holloway is no longer on the Xavier basketball roster; Xavier’s leading returning scorer and assist man is now officially known as Tu (pronounced “two”) Holloway.

“I had the nickname Tu Tu beginning when I was about four years old. It changed to just Tu when I was in high school. Nobody calls me Terrell anymore. Everybody calls me Tu,” Holloway said.

“Tu has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches,” said Xavier coach Chris Mack. “His name is as unique as his talent and potential. I think he is one of the best point guards in the nation. For us to be as good as we want to be, he has to embrace the responsibility and work that comes with those expectations. I know he is ready for the challenge.”

Tu Holloway, a candidate for the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard, is Xavier’s leading returning scorer (12.1 ppg.) and assist man (3.9 apg.) from a team that won its fourth straight Atlantic 10 Conference Regular Season Championship and advanced to the 2010 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. XU also advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in Holloway’s freshman season of 2008-09.

Chris Wright, your move. I suggest Jumpy Jumperson or Robert E. Leap.

Chickens come home to roost (or to get paid)

Jordan Crawford won't have the A10 to kick around anymore. JC made the right move, opting out of his last two years of eligibility at Xavier in order to pursue his professional career.

Handed down from the bewitching Shannon Russell of the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Xavier sophomore standout Jordan Crawford has hired agent Mark Bartelstein and will remain in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-4 guard had until Saturday to decide whether to remain in the draft or withdraw his name and preserve his college eligibility. He indicated at the team banquet April 13 that he wanted to pursue his NBA dreams, and now he will learn his fate at the June 24 draft in New York.

Good for Crawford, he was the best player in the conference last season (probably the best individual talent the league has had since Jameer Nelson) and really had nothing left to prove on the college level. He even hired a Jewish agent (redundant?), the guy just keeps making right call after right call. 

In other news, Richmond's Kevin Anderson will return for his senior season:

The university announced Friday that the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year will return for his senior season. Anderson declared for the draft last month but did not sign an agent, allowing him to withdraw and maintain his college eligibility.

Anderson said in a news release that the information he gleaned while exploring his options will be helpful in the future.

Of course Anderson said it through a news release. What kind of self-obsessed egomaniac would call a press conference to announce that he was remaining in school?

We still haven't heard anything official from Temple's Lavoy Allen or UMass' Tony Gurley, although I would expect that both would be back for their senior seasons.