Napkins are good for more than wiping mustard off your shirt...

You get the benefit of a long Monday post that will hopefully begin to get the juices flowing for the Fall. Hope you had a good weekend. We got away again, this time to the Shenendoah, where a phenomenal Cab/Sauv, perfect weather, and an abundance of napkins conspired to provide you this entry. (With no power in the primary residence, "head for the mountains" took on more context than Busch beer.)

Back Of Napkin, Post-May Pre-August Forecast

1. George Mason: four (and sometimes five) starters return from a sixth-place underachiever. Sounds very familiar, doesn't it? Key: either Will Thomas learns a 15-foot jumper, or SOMEBODY can consistently knock down the three.

2. VCU: The Dagger returns with plenty of dish options, and even though Pellot Rosa and Walker have graduated scoring is the easiest commodity to replace. And there's that pace. Key: two of the heralded freshmen step up and contribute.

3. ODU: If last year proved anything, it's that Brandon Johnson can lead a team. Brian Henderson is a fifth-year player, and Gerald Lee is a future all conference player (maybe even this year). Never count out a Blaine Taylor-coached team. Key: consistent perimeter scoring.

4. Hofstra: Antoine Agudio is likely preseason POY, and people have forgotten the name Greg Washington. It may be shocking to see Hofstra go big, but it could happen. Key: Playstation Johnson's replacement of Carlos Rivera running the point.

5. UNCW: Honestly, I feel like a housewife from Modesto, CA playing the Range Game on The Price is Right with this team. Where do I hit the button, because they could be anywhere? Key: shaking the stigma of last season.

6. Northeastern: Matt Janning and Eugene Spates to mix with two new faces. Throw in Manny Adako and the Huskies are pretty big and athletic. Key: The Big C--chemistry. However Chris Alvarez and Nkem Ojouboh practiced with the team last season, so I'm tempted to think positively.

7. Drexel: I think I could pass the ball to Frank Elegar and be successful. The Dragons success will result from the "step up" factor--lots of graduation so lots of opportunity. Feurtado, Hawthorne, and Tribbett are at the top of my list. Key: the aforementioned step ups need to occur.

8. Towson: The cupboard is far from bare for the Neal-less Pat Kennedy. Thornton is a stud transfer, and CC Williams and Rod Spruill came on late last year. Coleman, Crossin, etc. It's a big list. Any team with Jon Pease has a chance. Key: There's Neal's 24 ppg, but there's also everything Dennard Abraham brought. Raw production.

9. William & Mary: Here is another team I'm unsure of where to slot. And since I'm working from a napkin--literally--we'll move on. Key: do the good things and avoid doing the bad things. Seriously, it's taking the next step. Shaver had them take a colossal step forward last season. Whatever needs to happen to do it again, the players need to buy in.

10. James Madison: For the first time in a long time, the Dukes can boast legit talent that also knows how to succeed on the collegiate level: The JYD and Terence Carter get St. Joe's transfer Abdullah Jalloh and an up and coming PG. Could be this year's Tribe. Key: changing the attitudes.

11. Georgia State: This is the house-cleaning year for Rod Barnes. Big men need to be in better shape. If there's anything a Rod Barnes team will do, it's get after you. Key: it's a new way of doing things at Georgia State. The players need to buy in.

12. Delaware: Monte Ross will bring this program back. That is a given. But it's going to be an uphill climb. Courtney and Johnson, not to mention McMahon, are solid players. Key: Ross needs to do what he did last year and recruit his tuchus off.