Angela Lento's Mid-Major Notebook: Penn's Zach Rosen is a GREAT college basketball player

MID-MAJOR NOTEBOOK

January 19, 2012

It took a while, but Oral Roberts finally jumped into the Mid-Major Top 25 rankings a couple of weeks ago and they have continued to roll. Scott Sutton’s team figured to challenge for the Summit League title, but so far they have dominated.

Right now it’s all working for the Golden Eagles. So much so that last year’s Mid-Major Freshman of the Year, Steven Roundtree is coming off the bench. ORU isn’t really deep. For the most part six players see significant minutes. Leading the way is Dominique Morrison (6-6, Sr.) who has really raised his level of play over the last month. But one of the big keys to success this season is Michael Craion (6-5, Sr.).

Two years ago Craion was the Summit League’s newcomer of the year. The JC transfer averaged 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and was a preseason first-team selection heading into last season. Craion suffered a right foot injury in preseason and played in only two games. It was a huge loss for a team, which still ended up going to postseason. He’s a poor-man’s Charles Barkley and his return has made ORU the team to beat at the halfway point in conference play.

Just how good have the Golden Eagles been? Recently North Dakota State shot 70% from the field, including 8-for-11 from three-point range, and lost by 9. Offensively ORU is tough to slow down. They are long and very athletic, creating a lot of mismatch problems.

In the midst of a four-game homestand, Sutton’s team has an opportunity to really separate from the rest of the league.

THE JASPERS

Steve Masiello has done a really nice job in his first season at Manhattan. A former assistant under Bobby Gonzalez when the Jaspers made three postseason appearances; Masiello is quickly making a name for himself. The Jaspers have already doubled their win total from last season and are proving to be a real challenger in the MAAC. Just ask Iona.

So how did he get things turned around so quickly?

Masiello took the talent he inherited and gave them a new direction. The change of style has certainly worked. It’s a young group led by George Beamon (6-4, Jr.). He’s scored in double figures in every game he’s played this season. Michael Alvarado (6-2, So.) has done a nice job at the point guard spot and fellow sophomore Rhamel Brown (6-6) is legitimate post player. And Freshman Emmy Andujar (6-5) has made an impact as well.

The Rick Pitino disciple has really kept it simple and not complicated things too much. They press most of the game and play almost exclusively an active 2-3 zone in the half court. And it’s working. His team is playing with a lot of confidence right now.

Manhattan’s young core played a lot of minutes last season and, while they didn’t get the results in terms of wins and losses, that experience has paid dividends this season and bodes well for the future.

FIGHTIN' CAMELS

Campbell heads into the weekend right in the thick of the Big South Conference title chase. Robbie Laing’s team can score. In fact only Creighton (.516) and Missouri (.507) are better than the Camels (.503) in field percentage.

Darren White (6-4, Jr.) is a talent. Two years ago at James Madison he was named the CAA All-Rookie team. He can score in a variety of ways. Six times this season he has scored 25 points or more. He may look thin, but Eric Griffin (6-8, Sr.) is a terrific athlete and tough on the block. He’s an automatic double-double guy who works hard to get an angle in the post. Freshman Trey Freeman (6-2) has emerged as a nice young point guard. He leads all Big South freshmen in scoring (14.6), field goal accuracy (.469) and free throw percentage (.850) and he ranks 11th in the nation, among freshmen, in scoring.

BACK ON TRACK

After running off nine straight wins Ohio had lost three of its last four games heading into the week. But against Kent State, Jim Groce’s group looked more like the team that ran off nine straight wins in December.

For the Bobcats it’s all about guard play. The backcourt isn’t good. It’s outstanding. D.J. Cooper (5-11, Jr.) has continued to play like an All-American and Nick Kellogg is shooting nearly 48% from three-point range. And remember the name Stevie Taylor. The minutes for the backup freshman point guard are down since the start of conference play, but Taylor is going to be a star.

The big question for the Bobcats is can they can get a basket on the block when they need it? Groce’s team plays excellent defense and the guard play is outstanding. They could be spooky if they can get bigger production from the frontcourt.

PRO PROSPECT

Two years ago Bucknell’s Mike Muscala was a solid big in the Patriot League. One year later he was the Player of the Year in the league and now is a legitimate NBA prospect. The 6-foot-11 junior is more than just a space-eater. He’s an excellent passer who can put the ball on the floor and shoot it from beyond the arc and he’s also a good athlete who has shown great timing with his ability to block shots. He will play in the NBA.

HE GOT GAME

Penn’s Zack Rosen (6-1, Sr.) won’t play in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a great college basketball player. Penn is 2-0 and in first place early on in Ivy League action, due in large part to Rosen. There are a lot of players that work hard, but nobody works harder than Rosen.

Rosen, who is averaging 18.4 points and 6.1 assists per game, is the epitome of a self-made player. He is an outstanding leader and always sees the game two plays ahead. He is not overly quick, but he is extremely crafty with the ball and knows how to create his own shot, often initiating the contact with his defender, and shooting a step back jumper. Most of these step back jumpers are of the 15 foot variety and they are very difficult to block and, like so many great players, Rosen is at his best when the shot clock is running down.

In addition to being able to score, Rosen is a terrific passer. He’s one of those players that finds the open man “all the time.” If we are choosing up sides I would want Zack Rosen on my team.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PRINCETON

Mark your calendar for the Feb. 4 Middle Tennessee vs. Denver game on ESPN2. Middle Tennessee has established itself as the class of the Sun Belt, but Denver will have something to say about that. And if you haven’t seen Denver play you will want to be sure to tune in that night.

Princeton made it famous, but nobody runs the Princeton style offense better than the Pioneers. Probably because head coach Joe Scott played collegiately at Princeton and coached under Pete Carril. Scott’s team is all about execution. They simply do not beat themselves.

Senior Brian Stafford leads the team in scoring (14.6) but sophomore Chris Udofia and junior Chase Hallam are keys the DU's success. Hallam isn't putting the same numbers he did a year ago, but that's more a result of Denver having more options this season.

DU is tremendously disciplined on both ends of the floor. In most cases they will have four, if not five players on the floor that can shoot the three. At the other end they are not great individual defenders, but come together well to play great team defense. You can't really speed them up unless you have major size and athleticism.

Middle Tennessee and other teams in the Sun Belt are at least familiar with DU’s style of play, but if Scott’s team can find their way into the dance they could be a nightmare for others.

Angela Lento is a co-founder of collegeinsider.com. EMAIL ANGELA