Stalking Darrin Horn

When you heard that Richmond has been added to South Carolina’s nonconference schedule, a few of you may have yawned. Other than those whose minds wander back to 1998.

But if you want USC to make the NCAA tournament this year, and want it to have better computer numbers to show the selection committee, this is good news. Allow me to explain.

Sure, Richmond isn’t an ACC or Big East team. But it is a definite mid-major, the type of team that was missing from last year’s schedule. The main problem with last year’s nonconference slate wasn’t the lack of BCS teams, it was the lack of quality mid-major teams.

You can play guarantee games against teams like USC Upstate, Presbyterian and NC Central. Everybody does. The problem is when your schedule is dominated by those kinds of teams. That was why South Carolina’s schedule strength and RPI were so low, not because there weren’t more North Carolina or Dukes.

But by bringing in Richmond, in addition to already-announced Western Kentucky, and three games in the Charleston Classic (which doesn’t have a single low-major), the Gamecocks are pretty much guaranteed to have a better nonconference schedule this season.

The numbers bear that out. Let’s take the 13 nonconference teams USC played last season, and their final rank in the RPI (out of 343 teams in Division I):
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Yes, it's the summer, and the news is slow. And not only that, but sometimes we're late reporting that slow news.

A couple weeks ago, once the NBA early-entry deadline passed, a bunch of top 25 lists cropped up. One we missed was bracketologist Joe Lunardi posting his latest projected 2010 NCAA tournament bracket on ESPN.com.

Lunardi has South Carolina among his first four out of the tournament. You can see his full bracket here.

Obviously, it's silly to use this as anything more than just a tool to preview next season. Along those lines, Lunardi has five SEC teams in, and two more among the next eight out (USC and Vanderbilt), another sign that the SEC is expected to be stronger. That said, it still only ranks fifth among leagues getting bids, with the Big East and ACC dominating.

As far as where Lunardi puts the SEC teams, I do have some quibbles: Florida as a 10 seed seems a bit high given the loss of Nick Calathes. I would put South Carolina or Vanderbilt ahead of the Gators in the pecking order. I'd also put USC and Vandy ahead of LSU, which basically lost everyone but Tasmin Mitchell, yet is in the "last four in" the projected bracket.

Tennessee as a No. 3 seed seems kind of high also. But Kentucky as a No. 1 seed looks good, and Mississippi State sort of in the middle, at No. 9, sounds about right.

Sorry, but you knew that had to be the headline.

Richmond (the Spiders) will visit South Carolina next season in men's basketball, according to a published report. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Wednesday that South Carolina will host the Atlantic 10 team on an unspecified date.

USC coach Darrin Horn declined comment, saying through team spokesman Emily Feeney that he would not comment on scheduling.

Richmond is the kind of mid-major opponent that should help the Gamecocks' computer numbers, as opposed to a schedule last season that was dominated by low-tier teams. The Spiders return four starters from a team that went 20-16, and the Atlantic 10 is one of the best mid-major conferences in the nation.

Richmond finished 129th in the RPI last season, out of 342 teams. It should improve next season, and its nonconference schedule also will include Wake Forest, Mississippi State, Florida and possibly Missouri. That also will help the Gamecocks' RPI and schedule strength.

Richmond becomes the sixth known nonconference opponent for South Carolina, along with three to-be-determined opponents in the Charleston Classic tournament. That leaves five more games that either have to be scheduled, or haven't been announced yet.

What we know so far:

HOME: Western Kentucky, Richmond, Baylor, Furman.

AWAY: Clemson, Wofford.

CHARLESTON CLASSIC FIELD (will play three): LaSalle, Miami, Penn State, UNC Wilmington, South Florida, Tulane, Davidson

Gamecocks coach Darrin Horn has said he will beef up the schedule, and so far he is.

Nothing urgent here, only a little something for the just-in-case-anybody-was-wondering file.

You may be aware of all the hub-bub over Billy Gillispie, who has sued Kentucky over his firing. The dispute is over how much Gillispie is owed, since the ex-coach did not actually sign his contract, only a memorandum of understanding. (Gillispie claims it's just as good as a contract, so he's owed at least $6 million, while Kentucky says it's not the same as a contract and, well, you know the rest.)

For some reason, coaches not signing contracts has been an issue at times. So to answer the inevitable question here, yes, Darrin Horn has signed his contract at South Carolina. Not that it should be any kind of issue in the near issue, but just thought I'd pass that along.

If you enjoyed Atlanta and Nashville, get ready for more.

If you liked Tampa and wanted to go back (I did), well, wait a little.

The SEC announced Wednesday that the men's basketball tournament will return to Nashville in 2013, and Atlanta in 2014.

The tournament was already scheduled for Nashville in 2010 (which according to my calendar is next year), then back to Atlanta in 2011, and New Orleans in 2012.

(The rallying cry for SEC basketball writers lately has been "hang on till 2012!")

It's not surprising that Tampa was left off the list, at least for now. While it's a great city and personally I enjoyed my time there, it's a tough haul for most SEC fans. And once Florida was knocked out in the first round, attendance was doomed.

Nashville isn't exactly close for everybody either, so there's a case to be made for putting it in Atlanta every year.

But I really have to wonder why Birmingham isn't a more viable option. It can't be the arena, since they hosted an NCAA tournament regional last year.

Now that we know who's coming back to school and who's not, all sorts of lists are being churned out today by college basketball writers. Winners and losers, who made the right call and who didn't, preseason top 25s.

We made our own contribution this morning with our way-too-early SEC preseason predictions. For those of you calling us out for picking South Carolina fourth, keep in mind that's in a very tough SEC East, and if I had to break it down to who would make the NCAA tournament, USC would be among those making it.

Otherwise, here's what a few other writers are writing today:

A preseason top 25 from ESPN's Andy Katz, with South Carolina sliding in at No. 23. Of the Gamecocks, Mr. Katz writes:

23. South Carolina: The Gamecocks were a game or two away from making the NCAAs last season. They got Devan Downey and Dominique Archie back from the NBA draft. Downey played extremely well in workouts and has the capability to take over games. This is a team that should only get better and make the SEC East one of the toughest groupings in the country.

Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com also has a top 25 (actually, 26), but doesn't include South Carolina. Three other SEC teams do - No. 2 Kentucky, No. 18 Tennessee and No. 26 Mississippi State.

Luke Winn of SI.com has a piece on the best and worst offseasons for teams. Kentucky obviously gets a nod for a great one, with Mississippi State bearing a mention. Florida, which lost Nick Calathes, gets an honorable mention for worst offseason.

Finally, Jeff Goodman of Foxsports.com has a winners-and-losers piece, mentioning the SEC as a winner because of all the decisions to stay in school. He mentions Downey and Archie as well.

So you had to wonder, was anybody from the SEC going to stay in the draft? At least one, and it’s a big one.

Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks defied the trend in the league by deciding to stay in, even though he’s far from a likely first-rounder. Meeks, a junior, leaves after an incredible scoring season, including his 54-point performance at Tennessee.

Certainly, the league just lost a big talent. But does it have huge ramifications for how things will break down on the court next season? My gut says no.

Kentucky was already loaded up, having inked the nation’s top two recruits - point guard John Wall and big man DeMarcus Cousins - as well as three more top 50 guys, and maybe the top junior college player in Darnell Dodson. Plus, Patrick Patterson is back, and Darius Miller could be ready to take Meeks’ starting spot.

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Devan Downey is pulling out of the NBA draft and plans to return for his senior season, USC announced Saturday afternoon.

The news is a big boost to the Gamecocks, and the second piece of good news in three days. Junior forward Dominique Archie announced on Thursday, also through the school, that he was pulling out of the draft and returning.

According to a source close to Downey - who insisted from the beginning that the player was likely to return to school - the decision is final. This is not a case where Downey will withdraw from the draft then sign with a team in Europe.

The source said Downey basically made the decision Friday, but wanted to sleep on it. He met with coach Darrin Horn at the Colonial Center for about an hour  on Saturday afternoon, and the news was announced a short time later.

Downey released a statement through the team:

"I want to thank my coaches, teammates and fans for being so supportive throughout the process. It was a great experience for me, but the best decision for me right now is to come back to school."

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If you wanted to know how Devan Downey's last NBA workout went, the Milwaukee Bucks are here the help. The team has a story on its web site, along with pictures and video, of Downey's workout with five other players, notably Pittsburgh's Dejuan Blair.

Downey was interviewed, with quotes posted on the above link. Here's the important one for Gamecock fans:

“This was my last (workout) scheduled. I’m a junior in college so I’m going to take the weekend to decide whether I’m going to stay in or pull my name out the draft.”

Milwaukee director of player personnel Dave Babcock had this to say about Downey:

“Devan is young kid still deciding whether or not he’ll go back to school. He’s small but he showed that’s he quick, really knows how to play and make shots.”

So there you go. Downey has until Monday to make a decision (my understanding is he has until the end of business Monday to do so).  The latest I heard is that Downey is headed into seclusion this weekend, and will meet Sunday with his family and advisers to make a final decision. Obviously, given the gravity of the decision, don't be surprised if it stretches until Monday.

The point guard continues to have three main options - return for his senior year, stay in the draft (where at best he's a second-round pick) or go overseas (where he can earn at least six figures next season, according to a source).

Dominique Archie isn't the only SEC player announcing his return to school today.

Tennessee's Tyler Smith is expected to do the same at a 3 p.m. news conference, according to various reports out of Knoxville. That leaves USC's Devan Downey and Kentucky's Jodie Meeks as the only league underclassmen with their name still in the hat.

Well, let me amend that: Florida's Nick Calathes, who signed with a Greek team, hasn't pulled out either, so he's still draftable. Calathes could pull out and be in position to be drafted in 2010.

And by the way, that option isn't off the table for Archie, Smith, Downey or anybody. While the NBA has a Monday deadline, no such one exists for going overseas, and conceivably a player could leave during the season. (Florida had a player do just that a few years ago).

It's what college basketball coaches hate, and why they dread Europe becoming more of an option.