Breaking Down San Diego’s Non-Conference Schedule
By Josh Horton
Dec 30, 2011; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Wagner Seahawks guard Latif Rivers (24) celebrates with his teammates after the game against the Santa Clara Broncos at Leavey Center. Wagner Seahawks defeated Santa Clara Broncos 64-62 at the buzzer. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Wagner, Stetson, Southern Illinois, or St. Bonaventure (Gulf Coast Classic)
Wednesday, November 27th. Estero, Fla. (Germain Arena).
Last Season (Wagner): 19-12 (12-6 Northeast).
Last Season (Stetson): 15-16 (11-7 Atl. Sun).
Last Season (Southern Illinois): 14-17 (6-12 MissouriValley).
Last Season (St. Bonaventure): 14-15 (7-9 A-10).
The class of this division would either be St. Bonaventure or Wagner. The Bonnies played in the logjam that was the Atlantic-10 last year, and finished in the middle of the pack. However, with Demetrius Conger and Eric Mosley graduated, the Bonnies need help in the scoring department.
Wagner, on the other hand, returns a trio of legitimate scorers. Latif Rivers (13.0 PPG), Kenneth Ortiz (11.8 PPG), Marcus Burton (8.6) all return this season. However, the Seahawks will miss the production of Jonathan Williams (15.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG).
Stetson was a solid team in the Atlantic Sun last season, but could regress after losing its two leading scorers in Adam Pegg (15.7 PPG) and Chris Perez (15.1). However, the Hatters did sign a decent recruiting class, which features four recruits.
Southern Illinois has one of the best mascots in the NCAA (the Salukis), but that does not change the fact that they have struggled in recent years. After six straight NCAA tournament berths from 2002 to 2007, including two Sweet Sixteen appearances, the Salukis have become irrelevant in the MissouriValley. Southern Illinois does have Desmar Jackson (15.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.0 APG), who will be the centerpiece of the Salukis this season.