League should be balanced, competitive

By JOHNENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

November 14, 2006 Last Updated: November 14, 2006 12:45 PM College

SLIPPERY ROCK— Think PSAC men's basketball isn't competitive?

Think again.

PSAC teams already have made their presence felt during preseason games. Shippensburg University defeated Penn State, 67-61, behind 29 points from returning PSAC West Player of the Year Chuck Davis.

Millersville surprised Duquesne, 81-77. California (Pa.) was competitive in losses of 75-68 to Arkansas and 80-65 to Pitt.

First-year Indiana (Pa.) coach Joe Lombardi served as an assistant on Jamie Dixon's staff at Pitt for the past three years.

"I know California's going to be tough because Jamie told me they gave him fits,"Lombardi said.

"There have been some interesting scores out there already,"Clarion coach Ron Righter said. "This is not a soft league."

It has been a balanced league as well. Edinboro defeated Shippensburg by a point last year to win the league title and to become the first repeat champion since 1983. Both squads advanced to the Division IIplayoffs, giving the conference 11 playoff teams in the past four years.

Here is a look at the PSAC West:

• Coach:Dave Springer, sixth year (69-71)• Last year:24-7• Key loss:Seth Scott (7.3 ppg.)• Key returnees:G-Chuck Davis (19.5 ppg., 51 steals), F-Todd Johnson (8.4 ppg.), G-Ryan Kraft (7.3 ppg.), G-Jamal Williams (8.0 ppg.)• Coach says:"Our goal is to win the PSAC. We were seven seconds away from winning it last year. We have a strong desire to get back there and compete for the championship."

• Coach:Greg Walcavich, 18th year (311-173)• Last year: 21-10• Key losses: Torry Mitchell (14.3 ppg. 129 assists), Chris Ravello (10.3 ppg.), Justin Moore (8.8 ppg., 6.5 rpg.)• Key returnees: F-Darren Tielsch (18.7 ppg., 9.5 rpg.), G-Curtis Ingram (13.1 ppg.)• Coach (assistant Patrick Cleary) says: "We lost a lot of talent and this is going to be a tough year for us. We do have good leadership with Tielsch and Curtis Ingram. Hopefully, the younger guys will step it up."

• Coach:Ron Righter, 19th year (299-185)• Last year: 13-13• Key loss:Terrance Vaughns (13.2 ppg., 42 steals, 80 percent free- throw percentage)• Key returnees: F-Ricky Henderson (16.1 ppg., 9.4 rpg.), G-Leon Kennedy (15.7 ppg., 48 steals), PG-Bobby Franklin (11.0 ppg., 88 assists), F-C-Chris Buchanan (8.9 ppg.)• Coach says:"We should be pretty strong from players one through six, but how good we'll be with players seven through 10 remains a question. You need depth in this league. Josh Yanke, a 6-foot-8 transfer from Gannon, should help our inside game, and 5-5 Demetrius Graham (Wayne State transfer) can spell Bobby at point guard."

• Coach: Bill Brown, 11th year (206-84)• Last year: 17-11• Key losses: Boris Mesnager (16.0 ppg., 6.9 rpg.), Travis Eisentrout (7.8 ppg.)• Key returnees: G-James Petty (14.1 ppg., 61 assists), F-Osborne Gardner (11.8 ppg.), G-John Owens (8.8 ppg.)• Coach says: "This is as excited as I've been in my 11 years at Cal. We'll start three guards — we're small, but active. John Owens, our point guard, is healthy and gives us good leadership."

• Coach:Joe Lombardi, first year• Last year:19-9• Key losses: Eddie Peterson (22.1 ppg., 104 assists), Lawrence Baker (20.7 ppg., 7.9 rpg.), Marc Williams (11.9 ppg., 127 assists), Damar Ruffin (10.1 ppg., 7.1 rpg.)• Key returnee: F-Avery Oliver (10.8 ppg.)• Coach says:"I'm in the process of getting to know the conference and my own players. We lost the top six scorers from last year. We want to build a foundation based on a hard work ethic."

• Coach:John Wilson Jr., eighth year (47-139)• Last year:4-23• Key losses:Michael Dye (8.1 ppg.), Toby Andrews (7.6 ppg.)• Key returnees:G-Billy Arre (18.1 ppg., PSACWest Rookie of Year), G-James Chappell (15.6 ppg., 106 assists), G-Bruce Kennedy (8.8 ppg.)• Coach says:"We're still relatively young and have the opportunity to improve. (Senior guard)Kranthi Senadhi is doing a good job of leading us on and off the court. The additions of (6-8)Kyle Skinner and (6-9) A.J. Zimmer give us needed size."

PSAC MEN'S BASKETBALL POLLS

Preseason Poll-West1. Shippensburg, 2. Edinboro, 3. Clarion, 4. California (Pa.), 5. Indiana (Pa.), 6. Lock Haven, 7. Slippery Rock

Preseason All-WestBilly Arre (Lock Haven), Chuck Davis (Shippensburg), Curtis Ingram (Edinboro), Ricky Henderson (Clarion), James Petty (California), Daren Tielsch (Edinboro)

Preseason Poll-East1. West Chester, 2. East Stroudsburg, 3. Millersville, 4. Cheyney, 5. Kutztown, 6. Mansfield, 7. BloomsburgPreseason All-EastDavid Ben (Kutztown), Donnell Butler (West Chester), Matt Jefferson (Bloomsburg), Charlie Parker (Millersville), Greg Testa (Millersville), Aaron Williams (West Chester)