A CBI Whiparound of this year’s field

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Ahead of the team's trip down to Daytona Beach, Fla. for the 2022 Roman College Basketball Invitational, MT Staff Writer Sam Doughton sat down and took a look at each of the teams in the 16-team field, to get a lay of the land for Blue Raiders traveling down, or just watching from home.

Like one might expect, the stories of these teams are varied. Some just missed NCAA Tournament berths in conference tournament season and hoping the CBI can offer than elusive glory they just missed out on. Others just barely scratched out a winning season and are hoping the CBI can springboard them to bigger and better things next year.

More fun for fans, thankfully, is the delightful contrast in play styles present, as some of the fastest and slowest tempo teams in the country are traveling down (or in FAU's case, up) for the tournament.

Anyway, as you turn into FloHoops to watch some of the opening rounds over the weekend, use this quick hit guide to find some names to watch, and get a gist of what type of team you're watching.

DRAKE
Record: 24-10, 3rd in Missouri Valley
NET: 82
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 85th, (108.3 (77th), 98.5 (90th), 66.1 (234th))
Leading Scorer: Tucker DeVries (13.9 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Garrett Sturtz (7.9 rpg)
Leading Assists: Roman Penn (3.9 apg)

Drake enters the CBI as the top seed in the tournament and for good reason, the Bulldogs were just seven points away from getting past Loyola Chicago and earning an NCAA tournament berth in the MVC tournament championship game.

They don't have a ton of size on the roster, with DeVries being the tallest starter in that MVC Championship game at 6-7 and Sturtz being their leading rebounder at 6-3, but they make up for it with good efficiency on both ends of the court, making 45.4 percent of their shots from the field and 33.8 percent from three. They also have fairly slow tempo overall but have the ability to win some shootouts as well, like their 89-88 victory on the road over Illinois State earlier this year.

PURDUE FORT WAYNE
Record: 21-11, Tied for First in Horizon League
NET: 232
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 230th, (98.8 (258th), 103.8 (197th), 68.2 (106th))
Leading Scorer: Jarred Godfrey (15.2 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Ra Kpedi (6.2 rpg)
Leading Assists: Jarred Godfrey (3.9 apg)

Analytical darlings, these Mastodons are not, but they can take solace in having the coolest mascot of any team in the CBI. Much of that rankings weight is tied down to the plethora of non-conference losses before Horizon League play to heavyweights like Western Michigan, FGCU and SIUE. That being said, Purdue Fort Wayne had won 10 games in a row leading up to their semifinal loss to Northern Kentucky, so the Mastodons have some momentum from the end of the season.

Three players average double digits in scoring, led by All-Horizon First Team honoree Jarred Godfrey. That trio does not include Deonte Billups, who was the Sixth Man of the Year in the Horizon with 9.0 points a game, all off the bench. Head Coach Jon Coffman earned Coach of the Year honors from the Horizon League for earning a share of the league title with Cleveland State in just the Mastodons' second year in the league.

VMI
Record: 16-15, 5th in the SoCon
NET: 165
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 160th (110.8 (43rd), 110.3 (306th), 68.4 (100th)
Leading Scorer: Jake Stephens (19.1 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Jake Stephens (9.1 rpg)
Leading Assists: Trey Bonham (4.0 apg)

While the Keydets might not be the most deserving team in the field, given their performance against an admittedly tough SoCon this season, they almost certainly will be one of the most fun teams in Daytona for the CBI. As their KenPom metrics suggest, VMI likes to score at will, but can't really stop anyone. Should make for some very very fun games on the beach if they can go on a run.

Jake Stephens is a fascinating player for VMI. The first team All-SoCon, center is the team's leading scorer, in part because he's attempted the third most threes of any player on the team, drilling a whopping 71 of his 146 attempts beyond the arc (48.6 percent). He's 6-foot-11! He's one of four Keydets averaging over 10 points a game.

UNCW
Record: 23-9, 2nd in CAA
NET: 175
KenPom (AdjO, Adj, Tempo)): 179th (102.8 (182nd), 103.5 (187th), 65.3 (269th))
Leading Scorer: Jaylen Sims (16.2 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Jaylen Sims (5.7 rpg)
Leading Assists: Jaylen Sims (2.3 apg)

The Seahawks suffered heartbreak in the CAA tournament, making it all the way to the Championship game before falling to Delaware just before they could get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since current NC State coach Kevin Keatts roamed the sidelines in Wilmington. That being said, the Seahawks have had a heck of a year, with second-year coach Takayo Siddle earning CAA Coach of the Year honors for his turnaround of the program.

Jaylen Sims, as you might guess, is easily their best all-around player, doing a bit of everything for the well-balanced Seahawks. While UNCW was dominant in conference, the out of conference performance left a lot to be desired, and KenPom considers them to be the third luckiest team in the country this season based on how much they've outperformed their metrics with their record.

STEPHEN F AUSTIN
Record: 22-9, 3rd in WAC
NET: 117
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 112th (103.0 (179th), 98.1 (79th), 68.9 (76th))
Leading Scorer: Gavin Kensmil (16.2 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Gavin Kensmil (6.8 rpg)
Leading Assists: David Kachelries (3.7 apg)

Blue Raider fans will be very familiar with the Lumberjacks, who defeated MT earlier this season at home in the first leg of the Cancun Challenge. Since then, SFA have had a really back and forth season, nearly upsetting Kansas one week, then losing to Tarleton State the next. The Lumberjacks did end the season on a roll, however, winning their last 10 regular season games, including a road game at WAC Champion New Mexico State.

They're a very strong defensive team for a mid-major, particularly so considering the fast pace they usually play at, averaging nearly 69 possessions per game. Gavin Kensmil offers a lot in a forward that's just 6-foot-7, scoring almost 60 percent of his field goals this season. He is vulnerable at the free throw line, however, only making 61.2 percent of his attempts.

UNC ASHEVILLE
Record: 16-14, 5th in the Big South
NET: 222
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 220th (101.4 (207th), 105.3 (224th), 66.4 (212th)
Leading Scorer: Drew Pember (15.4 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Drew Pember (6.4 rpg)
Leading Assists: LJ Thorpe (3.6 apg)

Middle Tennessee head coach Nick McDevitt's alma mater (and former employer), UNC Asheville is the second of three teams in the UNC system in this tournament and the second team to have Bulldogs as their mascot. This is actually the Bulldogs' first postseason appearance since McDevitt led UNCA to the NIT in his final season at the helm in Asheville.

This year's team doesn't stand out much statistically, particularly after being upset by a dreadful Charleston Southern team in the play-in round of the Big South Tournament, but Drew Pember is a player to watch. He was the Big South's defensive player of the year and is a big post presence for the mid-major level, standing at 6-foot-10. Tajion Jones is also a threat from deep, taking nearly 200 attempts beyond the arc this season and hitting just over 38 percent of them.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Record: 19-14, 3rd in C-USA East
NET: 131
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 123rd (106.2 (110th), 102.3 (160th), 67.3 (166th))
Leading Scorer: Alijah Martin (13.9 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Alijah Martin (5.3 rpg)
Leading Assists: Bryan Greenlee (3.3 apg)

The Owls are one of three teams in the CBI field Middle Tennessee has played this season. But of those three teams, Florida Atlantic is the only one MT has beaten this year, as the Blue Raiders swept the season series with Dusty May's squad. Like a lot of mid-tier C-USA teams this season, the Owls can beat just about any one if their long range shooting gets hot. If that doesn't happen, however, the Owls will likely not have enough in the tank to get past superior opposition.

Still, their metrics overall are quite solid for this field, and Alijah Marin and Michael Forest in the back court are a big reason why. Two strong guards for FAU to turn to down the stretch. Vladislav Goldin is also a big potential post presence in a tournament without a lot of them at 7-foot-1.

NORTHERN COLORADO
Record: 20-15, 3rd in the Big Sky
NET: 204
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 212nd (107.8 (85th), 111.3 (324th), 69.6 (53rd)
Leading Scorer: Daylen Kountz (21.9 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Kur Jongkuch (8.4 rpg)
Leading Assists: Matt Johnson II (3.8 apg)

The "other" UNC, as a Tar Heel like myself likes to refer to Northern Colorado, is another team that if they can stick around more than one game in Daytona, they'll be one that'll make the CBI super fun. Daylen Kountz was unanimous All-Big Sky first teamer this season and nearly willed the Bears the Big Sky Tournament title earlier this month after scoring 36 points in the semifinal win over Portland State.

That being said, the numbers show Northern Colorado plays basically no defense. But, their high tempo play and offensive efficiency have made up for it at times this year. Kur Jongkuch is a perfect role player big for a team full of long range bombers as well, and Matt Johnson II is a good Robin to Kountz' Batman. They're a team I'm really going to try to watch at least once during this tournament.

CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
Record: 18-15, 8th in WAC
NET: 219
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 223rd (99.1 (252nd), 103.4 (184th), 67.6 (138th))
Leading Scorer: Ty Rowell (11.7 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Dan Akin (8.0 rpg)
Leading Assists: Taran Armstrong (6.3 apg)

The Blue Raiders' first round opponents, the Lancers, were a fairly mediocre WAC team this season, holding a 7-11 record in the WAC this season. The advanced metrics, as you can see, back that up, as CBU is not great at either offense or defense, though they're closer to being a median team defensively nationwide. Not bad for a team that just moved up to D-1 in 2018-19, but plenty of room to grow.

What is striking about the Lancers is their depth, not unlike MT's this season. Four players average over 10 points a game and seven players average at least 18 minutes a night. Expect CBU to play unselfishly and shoot the three, four players have at least 100 attempts beyond the arc this season.

UNCG
Record: 17-14, 6th in SoCon
NET: 166
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 174th (100.4 (226th), 100.7 (129th), 62.1 (349th))
Leading Scorer: De'Monte Buckingham (12.2 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: De'Monte Buckingham (6.4 rpg)
Leading Assists: Kobe Langley (3.0 apg)

The Spartans are the second and final SoCon team in the CBI and are trying to find their footing in post-Wes Miller landscape for the program. The good news is that they have a clear identity: slow the game down and out defend your opponent. The not so good news is the results were fairly mixed, as they finished almost exactly in the middle of the pack in their conference this year.

Another team with a lot of depth, Buckingham is the only player averaging more than 10 points a game, but UNCG has seven players averaging at least six points. Eight players average at least 19.6 minutes per game, with no player averaging more than 30 minutes a game. That sets up a defensive system that will constantly have energy, not unlike the one MT runs, in that regard.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Record: 21-12, 3rd in Patriot
NET: 201
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 210th (105.7 (124th), 109.1 (290th), 65.1 (278th)
Leading Scorer: Javante McCoy (17.7 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Sukhmail Mathon (10.2 rpg)
Leading Assists: Javante McCoy (3.0 apg

The Terriers posted a solid season in 2022, falling in the Patriot League tournament semis to Navy after a good showing in conference. The guard-forward combination of McCoy and Mathon, both graduate students, gave BU a lot of experience that helped keep them in almost every game this season, though BU lacked any trademark upsets over teams they likely would've been underdogs against, i.e. their loss in OT at Florida State 81-80.

The Terriers have some efficiency on their side offensively, thanks to McCoy and Mathon both shooting over 50 percent from the field this year. Defensively, however, the team gives up A LOT of points for their record and pace. But, with a style that's used to playing slow, their matchup with UNCG might end up being the best game of the first round in the CBI if you're a neutral trying to get the most out of their FloHoops subscription.

OHIO
Record: 24-9, 3rd in MAC
NET: 113
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 125th (104.3 (152nd), 100.7 (127th), 67.4 (153rd))
Leading Scorer: Mark Sears (19.5 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Ben Vander Plas (6.7 rpg)
Leading Assists: Mark Sears (4.2 apg)

Resume wise, Ohio is the closest team to Middle Tennessee in the CBI field, which makes sense given they're one seed off from one another. Both had great years where they were clearly contenders for the conference title, but also clearly not the best team on average in their conference. Both also were slightly better defensively than offensively (though MT's defensive advantage was more pronounced). How they each got to that resume, however, varies quite a bit.

Ohio relies on their starting five far more than the Blue Raiders, with four players playing over 29 minutes a game and six playing over 20 minutes a game. The drop off from MT's sixth most active eligible player to its seventh is just 0.4 mpg. For the Bobcats? It's 11.3 mpg. A lot of that production comes from Mark Sears, a sophomore guard who was first team All-MAC this season, averaging just under 20/6/4. Ben Vander Plas, a redshirt-senior forward, is their other big piece. He was also first team All-MAC in 2022.

RICE
Record: 16-16, 5th in C-USA West
NET: 216
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 224th (106.2 (112th), 110.5 (312th), 67.5 (143rd))
Leading Scorer: Carl Pierre (15.5 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Max Fiedler (7.9 rpg)
Leading Assists: Max Fiedler (3.7 apg)

Rice is just barely eligible for postseason play with a .500 record, but the second C-USA Owls team is probably the most dangerous team with a double-digit seed in Daytona. Playing North Texas, UAB, Louisiana Tech and UTEP twice each this season did a number on the Owls' record, Rice was 1-9 against the top four teams in the West division this season.

That being said, Rice does have a lot of weapons that can bother teams, most notably forward Max Fiedler, who gives DeAndre Dishman a run for his money as the best playmaking big in C-USA this season. Fiedler was the main reason Rice got to the quarterfinals of the C-USA tournament in Frisco last week, helping navigate the Owls past Charlotte on Wednesday. I like the Bobcats in their matchup, mostly because Rice is pretty poor defensively, but the Owls can still make some noise.

ABIELENE CHRISTIAN
Record: 23-10, 6th in WAC
NET: 123
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 127th (102.9 (180th), 99.3 (109th), 69.9 (43rd))
Leading Scorer: Airion Simmons (11.8 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Airion Simmons (5.6 rpg)
Leading Assists: Damien Daniels (3.2 apg)

The Wildcats also made it all the way to their conference title game during Championship Week, in this case losing to New Mexico State 66-52 to miss out on an NCAA Tournament spot. The WAC had a TON of parity at the top this season, which is why such a strong team analytically fell to sixth in the conference standings despite a win over Big South Champion Longwood in the non-conference slate.

Minutes wise, ACU is a very similar team to MT, with eight players clocking in at least 10 minutes a game and no player averaging more than 26.5 minutes a night. As with MT, you see that depth most notably in their defensive and tempo metrics. ACU likes to shoot the three (eight players with at least 50 attempts this season) and they like to push the pace. Yuot Gai, their only player above 6-foot-8, also only plays 6.1 minutes a game, so they're quick as well.

TROY
Record: 20-11, 4th in Sun Belt
NET: 186
KenPom (AdjO, AdjD, Tempo): 182nd (99.0 (253rd). 100.0 (117th), 66.7 (197th))
Leading Scorer: Efe Odigie (11.6 ppg)
Leading Rebounder: Efe Odigie (6.6 rpg)
Leading Assists: Duke Deen (3.2 apg)

Old Sun Belt rival Troy put together a decent campaign in one of the worst basketball conferences in the country this season (easily the worst that played FBS football, I might add), picking up wins over Jacksonville State, Florida Atlantic and Georgia State at different points this season, before getting upset by Louisiana in the semifinals of the Sun Belt tournament. Like almost every other team on this side of the bracket, it's a committee approach to playing time for the Trojans, with 10 players averaging at least 12 minutes a game and no player averaging more than 25 minutes a game.

Efe Odigie is the best player, a 6-foot-9 forward that has good size for the mid-major level. And keep an eye out on the perimeter for Duke Deen and Desmond Williams, who both have the greenest of green lights beyond the arc.

Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

DeAndre Dishman

Related Videos