New Beginning: A UC Riverside Dynasty (NCAA Basketball 10)

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I'm starting my new basketball dynasty again with UC Riverside but this time playing with EA's NCAA Basketball 10 on an xbox 360. I couldn't find a reasonably priced College Hoops 2K8 and this is the next big thing. As with my old Raymond Rose Legacy this is a CPU vs. CPU dynasty with DeadlyCane's sliders and fine tuned to suit my style.

My name will not be Raymond Rose, who I will use later in my next dynasty, but instead Tim Bell, a first time coach. Tim Bell played for the Highlanders and was picked on the 10th round by the Golden Sate Warriors in the 1984 draft but his playing career never took off. He reminisces his playing years at UC Riverside, eventually decided to turn his sights to coaching his alma mater.

I'm still figuring out how to present this dynasty given how unwieldy my Raymond Rose Legacy was with CH2K8. I eventually decided on 19-minute halves per game for more realistic numbers. Forget about the number of steals (CH2K8 had the same problem) or three-pointers taken each game, they just don't shoot them more often here. Nothing is perfect and that I have to live with. Great heavens, presentation (both ESPN and CBC) are topnotch and unmatched by CH2K8. I don't care much about game play because I do CPU vs. CPU anyway, but the graphics are way better than the 2K's, though I have to edit body styles (linebackers in a basketball game) before every game. Generally I believe NCAA Basketball 10 is a fun game and EA deserves to be on top together with 2K.

I wish though that I could watch games that don't involve my team (CH2K8 does that), this way I can size up all the other teams in the conference and deliver a more realistic game results as well as players and team stats.

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UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS 2009-2010

Last year the UR Riverside Highlanders had a forgettable season and ended up with a losing 9-21 overall record finishing 7th in the Big West. There's no way to go but up and this early basketball pundits expect the team to go with how a first time head coach Tim Bell can relate to his players in his new role as bench tactician.

Kyle Austin, the 6-8 forward transfer from USC a year ago, made a huge impact last season leading the Highlanders in both points and rebounds. Now a senior Austin will be a serious contender for Big West Player of the Year this time around.

With nine graduating seniors expected to be gone next season, rookie head coach Tim Bell is hard pressed to come up with new talents and a better recruiting class. Incoming freshman 7'2 center Jared Gilmore, who was impressive during training is one. Another latest addition, Gonzaga transfer and 6-5 forward Larry Gaskins however is anywhere near as successful.

Sophomore Kurt Schraeder will see a lot more time at center playing alongside Austin but he has to watch his back for Gilmore. The Highlanders will be manned at the backcourt by a pair of seniors, Javon Bowden, a strong defensive point guard, and Brandon Dowdy, a junior college transfer last season, should fill the shooting guard role. The starters include another senior Sean Cunningham a guard who will play the wingman role. Playing backup forwards are yet another pair of seniors 6'8 Bryson Hampton and 6'7 strong forward Lateef McMullan. Another reliable senior, guard Gary Freeman will be answering the call from the bench whenever Bowden and Dowdy take a rest.

Coach Bell takes his first crack at college coaching when the Highlanders play host to MEAC's the North Caolina A&T Aggies led by senior Shiloh Madison and a pair of juniors Richard Fields and Austin Halloway. Next game also at home will be against Southland's the Northwestern State Demons with seniors Abiola Pittman, Theo Chambers and Cameron Lockhart.

Schedule of Non-Conference Games

Nov 9, 2009 vs. North Carolina A&T
Nov 16, 2009 vs. Northwestern State
Nov 21, 2009 at Houston
Nov 23, 2009 vs. Monmouth
Nov 28, 2009 at Liberty
Nov 29, 2009 Seton Hall
Dec 3, 2009 vs. UW-Milwaukee
Dec 11, 2009 at the Citadel
Dec 15, 2009 vs. Northern Colorado
Dec 18, 2009 vs. Alabama A&M
Dec 19, 2009 at Lipscomb
Dec 21, 2009 at Bowling Green
Dec 28, 2009 South Carolina State

UC Riverside HIghlanders
#	NAME	POS	HT	WT	CLASS	HOMETOWN
1	Javon Bowden	PG	6'0	195	Sr	Washington DC
3	Dwight Gordon	SG	6'3	188	So.	Fontana CA
4	Bryson Hampton	PF	6'8	215	Sr.	Portland OR
11	Jalonni Diggs	PG	6'2	190	Jr.	Los Angeles CA
12	James Forbes	SG	6'5	199	Sr.	Encinitas CA
13	Sean Cunningham	SF	6'3	190	Sr.	Los Angeles CA
20	Kyle Austin	PF	6'8	200	Sr.	Pasadena CA
23	Lateef McMullan	SF	6'7	205	Sr.	Tulsa OK
24	Brandon Dowdy	SG	6'2	200	Sr	Highland CA
30	Colin Chandler	PF	6'9	210	So.	St. Helena CA
32	Gary Freeman	SG	6'4	200	Sr.	Evanston IL
33	Jared Gilmore	C	7'2	232	Fr.	Riverside CA
41	Kurt Schraeder	C	6'11	246	So.	Auburn CA
42	Larry Gaskins	SF	6'5	200	Sr.	Oakland CA

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BIG WEST 2009-2010 PREVIEW

With only four games separating first from eighth last season, the Big West was one of the most competitive conferences out there. Cal State Fullerton somehow captured both the regular season and tournament crowns then went on to give 2 seed Memphis a battle in the first round of NCAA March Madness.

The level of competition in the Big West should remain the same this season, as--once again--Cal Poly looks to be the only team that will struggle. And the Mustangs should quickly become competitive under former Seattle University head coach Joe Callero, who won 117 games there. In the meantime, Long Beach State, with their three Big West All-Freshmen selections all now sophomores, and UC Santa Barbara, bolstered by the return of point guard Justin Joiner, look to be the class of the league. But you'd be foolish to overlook any of the other teams in the "California Bus League."

Let's start with how they finished last season last season in the standings.

1. Cal State Fullerton 24-9 (12-4)
2. UC Santa Barbara 23-9 (12-4)
3. Pacific 21-10 (11-5)
4. Cal State Northridge 20-10 (12-4)
5. UC Irvine 18-16 (9-7)
6. Cal Poly 12-18 (7-9)
7. UC Riverside 9-21 (4-12)
8. UC Davis 9-22 (2-14)
9. Long Beach State 6-25 (3-13)

Now here is ESPN U's prediction for the 2009-10 season, presented in reverse order.

Cal Poly (12-18) New head coach Joe Callero formerly from Seattle University, will be hard pressed to repeat the seven wins the Mustangs had under Kevin Bromley last season, as three starters off that team are gone. The two returning starters, 6-2 point guard Lorenzo Keller and 6-6 strong forward Charles Anderson, are excellent building blocks. Hard working sophomore guard 6'4 Shawn Lewis is expected to carry the load for the Mustangs. 6-10 freshman Ben Hartman, decided not to enroll at Seattle when Callero left, and he followed the coach to San Luis Obispo. JC transfers Will Donahue a 6-8 center, and 6-6 forward Will Taylor will have to make an immediate impact in the frontcourt.

UC Davis (9-22) While the Aggies return three starters including junior Joe Harden, a 6-8 forward who will challenge for conference honors, 6-7 junior guard Mark Paine, and 6-10 senior forward Domenic Cappotelli, He was the Aggies' main offensive threat out of the backcourt, averaging 15.4 ppg. Point guard Ryan Silva is the leading returning scorer off the bench. Hawai'i transfer Todd Lorenzen and 6'5 junior Adam Ewing will compete for the last remaining slot. However head coach Gary Stewart badly needs his bench to step up for his team to contend for the top plum.

Long Beach State (6-25) While Dan Monson lost his leading scorer from last year, he has a very talented group coming back led by three sophomores. The 49ers are a balanced team, as the returning starters all average between 9 and 11 points per game. The three sophomores, 6-6 G/F Larry Anderson (10.8 ppg), 6-7 F T.J. Robinson (11.4), and 5-9 guard Casper Ware (9.1) were Big West All-Freshman selections last season. Anderson, the conference's Freshman of the Year, was the first frosh since fellow LBSU player Clifton Pondexter to be named to the All-Big West team as a freshman. Pondexter's selection came 35 seasons earlier. The 49ers bring back one returning senior starter, 6-2 guard Stephen Gilliam, who averaged 11 ppg last year. Monson should give more playing time to junior G Greg Slater, who shot 39% from the perimeter, but only averaged 3.2 points a contest last year. Long Beach has two seven footers on roster, senior starter Andrew Fleming and rookie Mike Zawacki, but it will be 6-9 Lin Chang 6-9, who should see the bulk of the post time instead. 6-5 freshman Jules Montgomery should also see time inside.

UC Riverside (9-21) The Highlanders will have 4 returning starters, all seniors, with All-Conference forward Kyle Austin, guards Javon Bowden, Brandon Dowdy and forward/ guard Sean Cunningham. Sophomore center Kurt Schraeder is the other starter with . Excellent forward backups senior Bryson Hampton and hometown boy, the 7'2 giant Jared Gilmore. Another pair of seniors Lateef McMullan and Gary Freeman will be coming from the bench to take up their backcourt roles.

Pacific (21-10) Bob Thomason and the Tigers always seem to be in the hunt for the Big West title, and this year should be no exception despite the loss of three starters from last year. Backcourt guards 6-6 Joe Ford and junior Terrell Smith and senior point guard-designee Lavar Newman will need to pick up their production otherwise freshmen Sterling Carter and Allen Huddleston will get more of a chance. 6-9 forward Sam Willard is back to anchor the frontcourt, and if his scoring output increases, he'll be a serious threat for all-Big West honors this year. He'll get a big boost with the return of 6-8 senior Michael Donnelly, who was suspended all of last season. International JC transfers, 6-9 Nyika Williams (St. Vincent) and 6-11 Everson Souza (Brazil) should also see serious playing time.

Cal State-Fullerton (24-9) Bob Burton has four returning starters led by sophomore point guard Jacques Skinner, and swingman Gerald Anderson. This season the Titans will be more frontcourt-focused this season. The returnees are led by 6-8 center Papa Greise. Expect heavy contributions from three transfers: 6-7 Oscar Calderon (South Florida), 6-9 Bryce Webster (Minnesota) and 6-6 Jervaughn Johnson (San Diego State).

UC Irvine (18-16) Pat Douglass will have a revamped frontcourt for the Anteaters and 6-5 Eric Wise is an excellent building block, as he averaged 14 points and 6 boards in his freshman year. The arrival of JC teammates, Slovaks Pavol Jablonski, a 6-9 forward, and Peter Talgarsky, a 7-0 center, could really provide a boost to the frontline. The Anteaters feature a solid backcourt with seniors 5-10 Michael Hunter and 6-3 Darren Moore and 6-0 junior Patrick Randle leading the way.

Cal State Northridge (20-10) Bobby Braswell's team looks to repeat, and while the odds may be against them, they're impossible to be written off. They have three returning starters, 6-4 G Kenny Daniels, 6-8 F Willie Gatlin, and 5-10 G Mark Hill, were all transfers last year. And Braswell hopes his latest crop of transfers, led by 7-0 James Darnell, 2007-08 Big Sky Freshman of the Year Vinnie McGee (Sacramento State), can fill the substantial holes on the Matadors' roster.

UC Santa Barbara (23-9) The Gauchos looked to be in solid shape thanks to the return of their other four starters. However, 6-8 C Jesse Byrd will miss his senior season thanks to a recurring knee problem. So, UCSB is now down to three returning starters. Point guard Justin Joiner returns after missing last season with a wrist injury but he has recovered. He'll be joined in the backcourt by Will Drew and James Powell. 6-7 James Donnelly, brother of Pacific's Michael, who averaged almost 8 points and over 3 boards a game last yearand 7-2 Russian Nikolai Kossenko will anchor the frontcourt, but expect to see a lot of 6'9 Korean Soong Lee. Bob Williams will also receive the services of former Loyola Marymount forward Orlando Johnson this season.

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

Player of the Year: Larry Anderson, 6-6 G/F, So. (Long Beach State)

Remainder of the Team
Kyle Austin, 6-8 F, Sr. (UC Riverside)
Mark Paine, 6-7 G, Jr. (UC Davis)
T.J. Robinson, 6-7 F, So. (Long Beach State)
Eric Wise, 6-5 F, So. (UC Irvine)

https://www.bloggingthebracket.com/2009/10/24/1097863/btb-2009-10-big-west-preview

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Recruiting: Matt Carlton and Tim Griffith commit to UC Riverside

Dec. 12, Riverside CA - A bit of good news for head coach Tim Bell. 6'9 and 222-lb. center Matt Carlton commits to the UC Riverside Highlanders for next season. Carlton from Cicero IL is ranked #454 and #78 in the center position. He is reputed to be a blue collar type post player.

6'6 forward Tim Griffith became the second player to commit next season for the Highlanders. Coming out of Mount Vernon WA, the 191-lb 2-star recruit, is a passer scorer and ranks #111 in the strong forward position.

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Forward Terry Gant commits to UC Riverside

Dec 20, Riverside CA -The UC Riverside Highlanders is beefed up by another commitment. Terry Gant, a 6'6 198 lb. forward, became the third recruit to say yes to head coach Tim Bell. Gant from Brooklyn Park MN is a passer scorer and is ranked #472 and #101 in his strong forward position.

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2-stars Corey Meyer and Damian Lucas commit to Riverside

Dec 28, Riverside CA - Coach Tim Bell received the news that two more recruits, both 2 stars, have committed to play for the UC Riverside Highlanders next season. Corey Meyer is a 6'10 forward 233-lb forward from Kirkland WA is scouted as a complete post player. He is ranked # 478 and # 108 in his power forward position.

Damian Lucas is a 6'11 234-lb center from Honolulu HI. A power post player, he is ranked #856 and # 133 in his position.

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Schedule of Conference Games:

Jan. 3 vs. UC Santa Barbara
Jan. 11 at UC Irvine
Jan. 13 at UC Davis
Jan. 20 vs. Long Beach State
Jan. 26 at Pacific
Jan. 28 vs. UC Irvine
Jan. 31 vs. Pacific
Feb. 3 at Long Beach State
Feb. 8 vs. Cal State Northridge
Feb.11 vs. Cal State Fullerton
Feb. 13 at UC Santa Barbara
Feb. 17 vs. Cal Poly
Feb. 19 at Cal State Fullerton
Feb. 23 vs. UC Davis
Feb. 26 at Cal Poly
Feb. 28 at Cal State Northridge

Big West Conference Standings - Updated: Dec 31, 2009
TEAM	REC	PCT	CONF	PCT	STRK
Long Beach State	8-5	.615	0-0	.000	L1
UC Davis	8-5	.615	0-0	.000	W1
Cal State Fullerton	8-5	.615	0-0	.000	L1
UC Riverside	7-6	.538	0-0	.000	L2
UC Irvine	7-6	.538	0-0	.000	W3
UC Santa Barbara	6-7	.462	0-0	.000	L1
Cal State Northridge	6-7	.462	0-0	.000	W3
Pacific	1-12	.077	0-0	.000	L9
Cal Poly	0-13	.000	0-0	.000	L13

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UCR d. UC Santa Barbara, 76-71

Jan. 3, Riverside CA - UC Riverside opened its Big West campaign with a home victory over UC Santa Barbara in front of a jampacked crowd at the Student Recreation Center, 76-71. The Highlanders as usual started strong and led 23-13 going into the second quarter but an 11-0 run by UC Santa Barbara nullified the advantage and enabled the Gauchos to finish the first half on top, 35-31. Freshman Jared Gilmore scored underneath to give a 44-43 lead back to the Highlanders where it would stay or good. But the Gauchos never surrendered, twice they cut the lead to only 1, the last time at 72-71 after James Donnelly pumped in a trey with 20.5 ticks left. Brandon Dowden and Kyle Austin then finished the game with clutch free throws.

Kyle Austin made up from a mediocre performance the last time to score 22 points for the Highlanders and take the Player of the Game honors. Sean Cunningham contributed 14 while guards Brandon Dowdy and Javon Bowden added 11 and 10 respectively. Rookie standout Cory Carmichael led all scorers with 23 points for the Gauchos. Nikolai Kossenko had 17 markers and a game high 9 rebounds while reserve forward James Donnely finished with 11.

Recruiting: 4-star Quinn Moody commits to the Highlanders

After the home victory against UC Santa Barbara head coach Tim Bell received the welcome news that much sought after high school player Quinn Moody have committed to UC Riverside for next season. A 6'3 188-lb passer scorer, Moody, playing out of Clinton IA, is a 4-star point guard who is ranked #146 and a high # 28 in his position.

* Correction: I earlier reported Quinn Moody a 3-star recruit, he is a 4-star. My bad. This is the first time I ever had a 4-star commit, either here or College Hoops 2K8.