The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THROW out the first 2-3 games of the season, the Battle 4 Atlantis is where the real competition begins for the eight teams featured at the Imperial Arena.

March is the light at the end of the tunnel for these programmes, but November basketball matters in the NCAA.

When Selection Sunday rolls around next year, the games played at the 2015 edition of this tournament could have a major impact on the field of 64.

The 2014 B4A winners, the Wisconsin Badgers, scored the upset of the season against the then undefeated Kentucky Wildcats in the Final Four and finished as national runners-up to the Duke Blue Devils.

This year’s tournament, which tips off tomorrow, is expected to feature another outstanding field, including the Syracuse University Orangemen, the Michigan Wolverines, The University of Texas Longhorns, The Gonzaga University Bulldogs, The University of Washington Huskies, The Texas A&M Aggies, University of Charlotte 49ers and the University of Connecticut Huskies, who are making their second appearance in the short history of the tournament. Whether you’re an alumni, have a rooting interest in one of the teams or you go the local route and head to the Imperial Arena just to cheer on our Bahamian grown talent - you should, you should have some insight on what’s about to come and recognise just how much it matters.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tavario Miller - #42, Forward, Junior, Texas A and M Aggies

6’ 7” 226 lbs, Season Stats: 6.5ppg, 5.3rpg

If the early season numbers are any indication, the Bahamian native will have a bigger role in the Aggies game plan this season. In his freshman year he averaged 1.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in just under 10 minutes per game and as a sophomore went up to 2.7 points and three rebounds per game last season. As the Aggies have opened 3-0, Miller has averaged 17 minutes per game seeing time at both the small and power forward spots. Originally from North Long Island, Miller is the son of Patricia Bain and Gregory Miller. He recently told the Associated Press that his mother expects “a ‘rough estimate’ of 50 friends and family members” in attendance at the Imperial Arena.

Shaquille Cleare - #32, Forward, Junior, Texas Longhorns

6’ 9” 265 lbs, Season Stats: 2ppg, 4.5rpg

The Longhorns present a fresh start for Cleare as he transferred from the Maryland Terrapins in the Atlantic Coast Conference to join the Longhorns in the Big 12. After dropping about 40 pounds in the offseason, Cleare looks to fulfil the promise which saw him rise to as high as the No.30 overall prospect in the class of 2012. He said he aims to pattern his game after NBA power forwards David West, Zach Randolph and Nene. The Androsian native is the son of Brian and Agatha Cleare.

Caris LeVert - #23, Guard, Senior, Michigan Wolverines

6’ 7” 205 lbs, Season Stats: 19.3ppg, 5rpg, 5apg, 2.7spg, 50% from three

A projected lottery pick since he was a sophomore, LeVert is playing this season with a lot to prove and regain his status as the top shooting guard in the nation. Last January, his junior season ended abruptly when he suffered a left foot fracture so his durability will be called into question this season and as the NBA Draft approaches. What stands out immediately about LeVert is his versatility and ability to play the 1-3 positions. An excellent three point shooter, his length along with his ability to score and create off the dribble make LeVert one of the most dynamic players in the NCAA. A young team with just two seniors on its roster, the Wolverines will look to LeVert to do it all, indicative in the early season numbers as he leads the Wolverines in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

Kyle Wiltjer - #33, Forward, Senior, Gonzaga Bulldogs

6’ 10” 240 lbs, Season Stats: 17.5ppg, 8rpg, 2apg

Start with earthbound power forward, 1950s mold. Then add extended range to make him a legit sharpshooting stretch four. Now a 23-year-old senior and one of the most experienced players in this year’s tournament, Wiltjer has transformed his body to add decent mobility to his frame. You would never mistake him for an elite athlete but a versatile offensive skill set, high basketball IQ and his ability as a spot-up shooter should make him one of the top players in the NCAA this season. As a freshman at Kentucky, he played at the biggest stage in the sport as a member of the 2012 national title team, but decided to transfer to Gonzaga following his junior year. As a leader with the Bulldogs he has legitimised his NBA range and made 59.2% of his guarded attempts and 43.2% of his open looks. Look for him to spot up and be effective in the pick-and-pop game all tournament long. Wiltjer was a second-team All-American last season, as well as a first-team All-WCC member, and entered this year as an AP preseason All-American.

Michael Gbinije - #0, Guard/Forward, Senior, Syracuse Orange

6’ 7” 200 lbs, Season Stats: 18.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.3apg, 42% from three

It’s rare that you see a player make a drastic position change this late into his collegiate career but that’s exactly what Gbinije did for Jim Boeheim in his final season. The fifth year grad senior spent his career at small forward and seeing spot duty at the position since transferring from Duke to Syracuse as a sophomore. Now firmly entrenched in the spot, it gives Boeheim the length on his starting five ideal for playing that vaunted 2-3 zone. As you expect of any point forward, his size and versatility are his strongest traits, but has also improved his three-point percentage over the last two seasons.

Isaiah Taylor - #1, Guard, Junior, Texas Longhorns

6’ 2” 170 lbs, Season Stats: 16.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 4apg

One of the fastest players in the NBA, Taylor is almost impossible for opposing players to defend in the open court. A creative finisher around the rim, Taylor’s ball handling and athleticism set him apart and set the base for the remainder of his game. Think a poor man’s version of Russell Westbrook. He was expected to be one of the top players in the Big 12 last season, but was limited to just 24 games due to a broken wrist suffered at the 2K Classic. It was an injury that unravelled the Longhorns on the season, indicative to how important Taylor was to the programme. Taylor is now under head coach Shaka Smart which should play to his strengths and see an increase in production.

Marquese Chriss - #0, Forward, Freshman, Washington Huskies

6’ 9” 225 lbs, Season Stats: 18.7ppg, 6rpg,  61% from field

Lorenzo Romar has always been known as a standout recruiter and he appears to have another in Chriss. Coming off a broken wrist in the offseason, he scored 40 points in an intra-squad scrimmage. He’s one of the major reasons Washington boasts the No.12 incoming freshman class in the country.

Danuel House -  #23, Guard, Senior, Texas A and M Aggies

6’ 7” 212 lbs, Season Stats: 15.5ppg, 4.8rpg, 41 percent from three

A first team All-SEC player last season, he was also Freshman of the Year years ago with Houston when they were a member of C-USA. A prototypical frame for a wing player at the next level, House has transformed his game to a sharpshooter with one of the most reliable jump shots in the SEC. The pressure is on House to lead a deep Aggies team which wavered down the stretch in March while he was sidelined with a foot injury. His projects as a “3 and D” player at the next level.

Malachi Richardson - #23, Guard, Freshman, Syracuse Orange

6’ 4” 205 lbs, Season Stats: 14ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.3apg

Despite their recent controversies, Syracuse has still managed to sign the No.8 recruiting class in the nation for the upcoming season which includes four players in ESPN.com’s top 100 and highlighted by Richardson who was ranked No.23.

Rodney Purvis - #44, Guard, Junior, UConn Huskies

6’ 4” 205 lbs, Season Stats: 14.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 4apg, 47% from three

• A former 5-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American out of high school, Purvis began his college career at North Carolina State prior to the transfer to UConn. He was ineligible during the 2013-14 championship run, but is still the leader of Kevin Ollie’s bid to rebuild. A standout athlete who plays much bigger than his size (think Dwyane Wade), Purvis is great in transition, has natural instincts as a scorer, and has worked to improve an unconventional jumper.

Andrien White - #2, Guard, Freshman, Charlotte 49ers

6’ 3” 190 lbs, Season Stats: 14.3ppg, 5.3rpg

Already a talented shooter coming out of high school, White is expected to get even better under head coach and sharpshooter in his heyday - Mark Price.

Domantas Sabonis - #11, Forward, Sophomore, Gonzaga Bulldogs

6’ 11” 240 lbs, Season Stats: 20.5ppg, 10.5rpg

• Son of NBA Naismith Hall of Famer and Portland Trail Blazers great Arvydas Sabonis, the first thing you think of is to compare him to his father. Once you strip away the Hall of Fame expectations, you appreciate Domantas as his own player. He’s more athletic than most players his size. He has surprisingly deft ball handling skills and impressive natural footwork. Being the son of a European legend but born and raised in the United States, Sabonis has the best of both big man stereotypes - flashes of guard skills and relentless toughness and athleticism which you see when he crashes the glass or dives down the lane on a pick and roll.

Sterling Gibbs - #4, Guard, Senior, UConn Huskies

6’ 2” 185 lbs, Season Stats: 15.7ppg, 40% from three

• Another experienced transfer guard for Kevin Ollie’s programme, Gibbs is the type of player that will come off the bench and score in bunches…quickly. With his third programme of his career after stints at Texas and Seton Hall, Gibbs has one season at Uconn to prove he can be an effective scorer on a good team.

Andrew Andrews - #12, Guard, Senior, Washington Huskies

6’ 2” 195 lbs, Season Stats: 19.7ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.3apg

To say the Huskies are in a state of transition would be an understatement. Since his sophomore season, 10 players have left the programme for various reasons and one of just three players to return from last year’s team. A score first point guard, Andrews will have to be much more for this team if they hope to avoid last year’s collapse following an 11-0 start.