The College Basketball Post

[blazinjkid]

Alright this is the last thing I'll say in defense of Hansbroughuntil at least the season starts.

While talent-wise, he's obviously nowhere near the list of "greatest college big men", as far as consistent production goes, statistically, andthe accolades he's received, he's in the conversation. Period.
It's like the Tom Brady argument (although the criticism of his "talent" has definitely diminished). Say what you want about his skills, heproduces. (Although it'd be nice if Tyler brought home a chip this year to really dead this argument

)

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

Only difference being...Tom Brady is supremely talented....

 

[allen3xis]

His defense, or lack there of puts him out of the discussion of best big men to play in college. IMO.


..
Tobias Harris will not be a Hoya.

my guess is Uconn.

 

[seymore cake]

$!@@ That Girly Man!!!

 

[shannonscrooks]

[table][tr][td] [h1]Twenty questions as Midnight Madness opens the hoops season[/h1] [/td] [td] [/td] [/tr][/table][table][tr][td]
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One question going into the season -- will Greg Paulus find himself on the bench behind Nolan Smith?

Damian Strohmeyer/SI
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Happy Midnight Madness, Hoopheads! No other sport in America gives its fans the thrilling opportunity to watch their favorite teams go through layup lines. The start of practice is so much fun if only because teams are so flush with optimism and possibilities. That is, until a curmudgeon like me shows up, spouting skepticism, spewing doubts and spying deficiencies. I admit it: I am a buzz-kill.

The fact is, even the best teams have nagging questions they need to answer as practice gets underway. Therefore, I am once again performing my annual Hoop Thoughts community service by identifying the primary questions facing 20 of the most prominent programs in America. Keep in mind this is not my (or SI's) official top 20. Those rankings are still to come in our season preview issue. (And frankly, you should go stand by your mailbox until it shows up.) Get back to me on April 6 in Detroit to see how well these teams answered my 20 Questions. Herewith:

Arizona State: Can Jeff Pendergraph stay on the floor?

Optimism is soaring this season in Tempe thanks to the decision of 6-foot-5 sophomore guard James Harden to forego the NBA draft and return to school. But the other half of the Sun Devils' inside-outside duo is pretty good, too. Pendergraph, a 6-foot-9 senior, is a sturdy, skilled post man who averaged 12.4 points and 6.4 boards last season. The problem is, he also averaged just 26.3 minutes. That's because he tends to play with too much emotion, which often leads to foul trouble. (He fouled out five times.)

Last year, Arizona State, which barely missed out on an NCAA tournament bid after finishing tied for fifth in the Pac-10, was one of the sleeper hits of the season. It's not sleeping anymore, which means its opponents will be a lot more geared up to play them. To meet that challenge, you need a legitimate post option, and unless 6-10 junior center Eric Boateng has undergone a dramatic transformation in the offseason, Pendergraph is the only inside threat Arizona State has. If he can keep producing good numbers without getting into foul trouble, the Sun Devils can challenge UCLA for supremacy in the west.

Connecticut: Who's going to play for this team?

It's unusual for a team that is ranked in the top five of every national preseason poll to have so many roster questions on the first day of practice. Stanley Robinson, the dynamic 6-9 forward from Birmingham, Ala., is academically ineligible and is not currently enrolled in school. Ater Majok, a 6-10 freshman with terrific perimeter skills, is still home in his native Australia waiting for a green light from the NCAA's clearinghouse. And Nate Miles, the 6-7 freshman swingman whom Jim Calhoun has been raving about, is awaiting a ruling on his appeal after being expelled from school earlier this month for violating a court restraining order. All three could suit up for the Huskies in the second semester. Or maybe none of them will. Right now, we just don't know.

None of those guys is at the heart of why UConn is considered a favorite to win a national championship, but the Huskies need depth beyond their core nucleus of A.J. Price, Jeff Adrien, Hasheem Thabeet and Jerome Dyson. The good news is the member of the limbo trio the team needs most, Robinson, is also the one most likely to be in uniform come January. He's the kind of player who can make the difference between a Sweet 16 and a Final Four.

Duke: Will Greg Paulus come off the bench -- and be happy about it?

It's not often a three-year starter who's had a pretty solid career finds himself overtaken at his position in his senior year. But as good as Paulus has been -- and for much of the last two years, he has been Duke's best player -- 6-2 sophomore Nolan Smith might be even better. Smith, who averaged 5.9 points last season in a reserve role, is much more capable of getting his own shot than Paulus is. More important, he is a far superior on-the-ball defender. The Blue Devils' potent fast break begins with ball pressure, and there's just no question Smith does a better job applying it than Paulus.

Of course, Smith has to prove himself worthy of being promoted, but should that happen, it will put Paulus in an awkward situation. This season presents Paulus' last chance to prove he can play in the NBA. He has been the star quarterback (in football and basketball) all his life, so if Coach K decides starting Smith is what's best for this team, it will surely hurt Paulus' pride. If he can deal with it like a man, he can still have a great senior year -- and Duke will be a better team.

Georgetown: Just how good is Chris Wright?

When I mentioned to Hoyas coach John Thompson III over the summer that I thought Wright was one of the best players nobody knew about, he replied, "Don't tell 'em." Sorry, coach, the secret's about to get out. The 6-1 sophomore point guard missed 18 games last season with a foot injury, but he looked very impressive when he returned for the final five games of the season. Now, with Jonathan Wallace having graduated, Wright, who was a McDonald's All-America in high school, has a great chance to be the Hoyas' starting point guard.

So how good is he? Well, we know he's good enough to spook Jeremiah Rivers, last year's backup, into transferring to Indiana. Wright might also be better than Wallace, who, after all, began his college career as a walk-on. Georgetown fans are no doubt concerned about replacing 7-2 center Roy Hibbert, but if Wright can remain healthy and effective, I think you'll see a Hoyas team that is quicker and better than it was a year ago.

Kansas: Who are these guys?

Fielding a roster full of unknowns is a small price to pay for winning a national championship, but that is what Kansas will have to do this year. The Jayhawks have only two players back who logged significant playing time last season, and one of them, 6-11 sophomore Cole Aldrich, only played 8.3 minutes per game. That means Bill Self has to replace 83 percent of the points and rebounds from last year, and 80 percent of that team's assists. Therefore, you can expect this team to stumble out of the gate like it did in 2005-06, when the Jayhawks began the season 3-4. But considering that team ended up 25-8 and in the NCAA tournament, Jayhawks fans can afford to be patient.

The good news is, Self has brought in a lot of new players who are good enough to make an impact right away. The best of the bunch is juco transfer Mario Little, a big guard (6-5) whose athleticism will fit nicely into Self's up-tempo system. At least one, if not both of the freshman Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus, will start up front. Another juco transfer, Tyrone Appleton, is a prolific scorer who should nicely complement junior point guard Sherron Collins. All good possibilities, but until we actually see these guys in action, we won't really know what Kansas has and how good it can be.

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Posted: Friday October 17, 2008 11:49AM; Updated: Friday October 17, 2008 3:08PM

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[/td] [td]Seth Davis[/td] [td]>[/td] [td]
HOOP THOUGHTS


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[table][tr][td] [h1]20 Questions, Midnight Madness edition (cont.)[/h1] [/td] [/tr][/table]
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Blake Griffin is back at Oklahoma and combined with Willie Warren, the Sooners could be unstoppable.

Greg Nelson/SI
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Kentucky: How much drama will we see in Lexington? (And I don't mean the Ashley Judd kind.)

The Wildcats had no shortage of drama last season, from the debacle against Gardener Webb to Alex Legion's decision to transfer to the late surge that produced a 12-4 record in the SEC, only to be upended by the season-ending foot injury to freshman forward Patrick Patterson at the end of February. Now they need a little more even keel. Patterson appears to be fully healthy, as does 6-4 junior guard Jodie Meeks, who had offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia. That's a good start.

Position wise, the biggest question is point guard. UK lost three very good guards in Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley, who graduated, and 6-6 junior Derrick Jasper, who transferred to UNLV. I was truly shocked at Jasper's decision to leave because coach Billy Gillispie had consistently said Jasper was the team's most important player. Right now there are three possibilities for floor leader: 6-2 junior Michael Porter, who averaged just 15.4 minutes last season; 6-6 freshman DeAndre Liggins, who played forward much of his high school career; and 6-6 juco transfer Kevin Galloway. The ideal scenario would be for Galloway to emerge as the guy.

Louisville: Do the Cardinals have the character to win it all?

Louisville's character problem last year was primarily a Caracter problem -- as in Derrick Caracter, the 6-9 power forward whose immaturity created a constant distraction while Rick Pitino kept suspending and reinstating him for various reasons. After the season ended, Pitino essentially forced Caracter out of the program, a move that was easier to do knowing that 6-8 freshman forward Samardo Samuels, arguably Pitino's best recruit at Louisville, was on his way.

Louisville is flush with talent, but still a little low on some intangibles. Junior point guard Edgar Sosa, who had a terrific freshman year but spent much of last season in Pitino's doghouse for poor defense, needs to take a big step forward. Earl Clark, a 6-9 junior, probably has the most upside of any player on the Cardinals' roster, but he has to play with more consistency. Senior forward Terrence Williams, who injured his knee this week and will be out four to six weeks, is a terrific passer but he sometimes lacks good shot selection. If the Cardinals' mental toughness and maturity can rise to match their physical talent, I expect to see them in Detroit in March.

Marquette: How small can small ball get?

It seems like every year in October, we're talking about Marquette's big problem -- or more accurately, its bigs problem. This year that problem is even, uh, bigger. The Golden Eagles' two starting forwards from last season, Ousmane Barro and Dan Fitzgerald, have graduated. The only remaining player taller than 6-8 is a freshman, Chris Otule, a 6-10 center who is considered a long-term project. The Eagles' most accomplished forward is Lazar Hayward, a 6-6 swingman who specializes in making three-pointers (he converted a team-best 45.1 percent from behind the line last year).

Of course, Marquette will again boast the very formidable guard trio of Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wes Matthews, and that alone should make this team competitive in the Big East. McNeal especially had a great year last season, when he averaged 23 points and 6.1 rebounds over Marquette's final six games. As much as I respect those three guards, unless someone else gives Marquette a strong post presence, it will be hard for this team to play deep into the NCAA tournament.

Memphis: Do the Tigers have another Rose ready to bloom?

It's not easy replacing the NBA's number one overall draft pick (Derrick Rose), not to mention two other second-round picks (Chris Douglas-Roberts, Joey Dorsey) who formed the nucleus of an NCAA runner-up. But that task got a little easier when John Calipari received a commitment from freshman Tyreke Evans, a 6-6 scoring machine from Philadelphia who was a two-time Parade All-America. Evans' decision to come to Memphis will make this feel less like a rebuilding year, but because he is not a point guard, and because he won't be playing alongside the caliber of players that Rose did, it's unlikely he'll have the same impact as Rose did.

It's unclear who will take over Rose's position at the point. The most obvious candidate might be Willie Kemp, the 6-2 junior whom Rose relegated to the bench after Kemp started as a freshman. Calipari has also said that senior guard Antonio Anderson might assume those duties. (Not a bad thought considering Anderson led Conference USA in assist-to-turnover ratio last year.) Then there's C.J. Henry, the 22-year-old former minor league baseball player who originally signed to play basketball for Kansas out of high school. The bottom line is you don't replace someone like Derrick Rose easily, but Memphis will have no choice but to try.

Michigan State: Will the Spartans finally unleash their need for speed?

For the last two years, Tom Izzo has promised his team would get back to the running style that defined his Final Four squads, yet somehow that hasn't happened. That is partly because the offense was centered around combo guard Drew Neitzel, who was more inclined to get his points in the halfcourt offense than lead a fast break like Mateen Cleaves.

As good as Neitzel was, I think you could make a case that this team will be more effective with 6-foot sophomore Kalin Lucas running the point full time. Izzo calls Lucas the fastest player with the ball that he has ever coached, and now it's time for Izzo to set him free. Michigan State has plenty of athletic wings to keep pace, and in 6-8 freshman forward Delvon Roe, Izzo has recruited the type of tough, aggressive rebounder this team has lacked in the recent past. If this team can keep the running game going, there's no telling how far ahead of the Big Ten pack it can go.

North Carolina: Have the Heels fixed their defensive problems?

Finding something to question on this team is truly picking at nits, but it is worth noting that teams shot 42.6 percent from the floor against North Carolina last season. Kansas sank 53.1 percent of its shots in its win over UNC at the Final Four. The problem for North Carolina wasn't just an inability to stop dribble penetration. It was also the absence of an intimidating shot blocker to erase the mistakes of the perimeter defenders.

From a personnel standpoint, the Heels are in a worse situation than they were last year on both of those fronts. Their best overall defender, 6-5 senior swingman Marcus Ginyard, will miss the next eight weeks because of a stress fracture in his left foot. Alex Stepheson, a 6-9 junior forward who provided some necessary inside muscle, transferred to USC.

Roy Williams' freshman class includes two talented big men in Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller, but both are beanpole-thin. Of course, North Carolina has the best big man in the country in Tyler Hansbrough, and this team is probably going to lead the country in scoring. But at some point you have to shut down offenses in the halfcourt. The Heels need to improve on that front to win it all.

Notre Dame: What new three-point line?

Few teams in America put the three-point line to better use last season than Notre Dame. The team's second-leading scorer, Kyle McAlarney, made a ridiculous 44.1 percent from behind the arc, and as a team the Irish was ranked seventh in three-point percentage (40.5 percent) and 35th in threes made per game (8.3). This year, the line has been officially moved back a foot to the distance of 20 feet, 9 inches. If that mitigates Notre Dame's advantage, it could be a problem.

It's doubtful the new line will affect McAlarney. A majority of his attempts last season probably came from at least that far out anyway. The team's other two top returning three-point shooters, however, are both forwards -- 6-7 senior Ryan Ayers (45.1 percent) and 6-10 senior Luke Zeller (38.1 percent) -- who don't have that same kind of range. It would also help if junior point guard Tory Jackson could improve on his 30.2 percent shooting from behind the arc. We all know Luke Harangody is going to receive plenty of attention from opposing defenses down low. If the Irish can make teams pay for overplaying the 'Gody even with the deeper line, they'll be awfully hard to beat.

Oklahoma: What was Blake Griffin thinking?

It is unconventional, to say the least, for a player to turn down the chance to be a lottery pick and return to school. So add one more reason to the list of reasons Griffin, a big, strong and active 6-10 sophomore, is so special. Besides averaging 14.7 points and 9.1 rebounds as a freshman (including 20.3 and 14.7 in his last seven games), Griffin showed impressive toughness when he missed just one game after each of his two knee injuries last year. He is a gym rat and self-starter who has a long and lucrative pro career ahead of him.

So why did he come back to Norman? In the first place, he wanted to get better to improve his draft status and prepare himself for life in the pros. That shows some savvy long-term thinking. He also understood Oklahoma has a chance to have a very good team. The Sooners are returning three starters from the unit that reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, and they have added freshman guard Willie Warren, a McDonald's High School All-America who can light up a scoreboard in a hurry. If the Sooners have a great year and Griffin is drafted even higher next spring (possibly as high as number one), then his decision to stay in school will look pretty thoughtful indeed.

Pittsburgh: Who will make threes?

With DeJuan Blair, Tyrell Biggs and Sam Young, the Panthers are as good up front as any other team in the country. In Levance Fields, they have as tough a point guard as you'll find anywhere. But they lost three very good outside shooters off of last year's team in Keith Benjamin, Ronald Ramon and Mike Cook, who together sank 56 percent of the team's three-pointers last year. (And keep in mind Cook only played 11 games before blowing out his knee.)

Pitt's dearth of long-range shooters could be an especially glaring deficiency with the new three-point line. Right now, Jamie Dixon will be looking to three possibilities to fill that role: Brad Wanamaker, a 6-4 sophomore who averaged 2.2 points as a freshman; Ashton Gibbs, a 6-2 freshman from New Jersey; and Jermaine Dixon, a 6-3 transfer from Tallahassee Junior College. Dixon, it should be noted, is the younger brother of my alltime favorite college player, the former Maryland guard Juan Dixon, but until one of those three proves he can make shots, this will remain a open question, dialed in from long-distance.

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Posted: Friday October 17, 2008 11:49AM; Updated: Friday October 17, 2008 3:08PM

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[/td] [td]Seth Davis[/td] [td]>[/td] [td]
HOOP THOUGHTS


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[table][tr][td] [h1]20 Questions, Midnight Madness edition (cont.)[/h1] [/td] [/tr][/table]
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Known for his tough scheduling, we have to ask -- is Bruce Pearl's schedule too tough this year?

Bob Rosato/SI
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Purdue: How much heat can the Boilers stand?

You only sneak up on people once, and Purdue did just that last season. The Boilermakers went from winning nine Big Ten games in 2006-07 to 15 last year -- largely, amazingly enough, because of its freshman class. Now, however, Purdue has two concerns.

In the first place, one of those impressive freshmen, 6-7 swingman Scott Martin, transferred to Notre Dame. And second, most preseason publications have Purdue ranked in the top 15 nationally, if not the top 10, and they have been pegged as the team most likely to challenge Michigan State for Big Ten supremacy. It won't be easy living up to those expectations.

Even without Martin, the Boilermakers still have enough perimeter weapons to go deep into the postseason. What they really need is for one of their post guys, preferably spindly 6-10 sophomore JaJuan Johnson, to have a stronger presence on the boards. (Purdue was out-rebounded by 2.3 boards per game in conference play last year.) Most of all, they must all understand that they will be playing a different game this season. Unlike a year ago, every opponent (and their fans) will be fully hyped up to play the Boilermakers right from the opening tip. It's up to them to show they can take the heat.

Syracuse: Does more equal more?

The Orange's problem last year was not so much a lack of talent as a lack of numbers. Jim Boeheim essentially had seven players at his disposal, and as a result the 'Cuse missed out on the NCAA tournament for the second straight year. The good news is, Boeheim lost just one of those seven guys. And not only is he bringing in four respectable newcomers, but also he is getting back the two players whose season-ending injuries last year created the depth problem in the first place -- junior guards Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins.

It might seem obvious that we should therefore conclude that this will be a much better team, but for the fact that the one player not returning to Syracuse is Donte Green, the dynamic forward who was chosen in the first round of the NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. Green was obviously a talented player, but he spent too much time on the perimeter and didn't do a good enough job involving his teammates. Devendorf and sophomore Jonny Flynn could be as good a guard tandem as you'll see in the Big East, and junior forward Paul Harris has been steadily maturing as well. This Orange team might not be as flashy as it was last year with Green in the fold, but it has more players who are experienced and know how to win. And isn't that the point?

Tennessee: Has Bruce Pearl over-scheduled his team?

I'm all for coaches looking to play rigorous non-conference schedules, but after losing five of his top nine players off of last year's SEC regular season champs, Pearl has put together an even tougher schedule than the one that was ranked No. 1 in the RPI last year. Besides the annual bloodbath with Memphis (a series we should all pray will never be terminated), the Vols have road dates at Kansas and Temple; home games against Marquette and Gonzaga; and challenging dates with quality midmajors like Belmont, Tennessee-Martin and Siena. The last of those comes in the first round of the three-day Old Spice Classic, which will take place in Orlando over Thanksgiving weekend and boasts a field that also includes Michigan State and Georgetown.

The Vols' ability to handle that slate, not to mention compete for another SEC title, will depend largely on how quickly two of their newcomers can adapt to the college game. Scotty Hopson is a 6-7 freshman whose lights-out athletic ability led him to be named a McDonald's High School All-America. Bobby Maze is a 6-2 junior college transfer who was brought in to run the offense following the dismissal of last year's starting point guard, Ramar Smith, for disciplinary reasons. Pearl's schedule will certainly test his team. Time will tell whether Tennessee's able to pass it.

Texas: How do you replace D.J. Augustin?

The Longhorns' sterling point guard from last season is gone, and with no obvious choice to replace him, Rick Barnes is going to deploy at that position a three-man committee of A.J. Abrams, Justin Mason and Dogus Balbay.

The problem is that Abrams is too effective a scorer (his 16.5 average is the highest among all returning players in the Big 12) to be dishing off to other people. He probably thinks he needs to play point guard to prove himself as an NBA player, but the Longhorns need him to keep scoring the ball.

Mason, meanwhile, isn't a highly-skilled player, and besides, if he becomes too good of a point guard, he could jeopardize his place on my All-Glue team. That pretty much leaves Balbay as Augustin's primary replacement. He is obviously unproven (Balbay, a native of Turkey, missed all of last season with a knee injury), but from what I hear, he is pretty adept at getting to the rim. Texas is choc full of talented frontcourtmen, so if its three-headed point guard is up to the task, the Longhorns will contend for a Big 12 title.

UCLA: How big of an assist did the Bruins get from LSU?

When Kevin Love and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute opted to leave Westwood for the NBA, it raised the question of how UCLA was going to get back to the Final Four with such a thin front line. That question got partly answered in the spring, when J'Mison Morgan, a 6-10 man-child from Dallas, was released from his commitment to LSU following the school's decision to fire John Brady. Morgan decided to sign with UCLA, and though he won't put up nearly the numbers Love did last season, he certainly will help shore up the team's biggest weakness.

Yes, UCLA also lost Russell Westbrook to the NBA, but with point guard Darren Collison returning and being joined by three terrific young guards, most notably uber-frosh Jrue Holiday, it appears the Bruins will have a better overall perimeter game than they did last year. (Sharp-shooting guard Michael Roll is also finally healthy.) Morgan won't have to hold up the fort by himself inside (two of last season's backups, Alfred Aboya and James Keefe, are back, and 6-8 freshman Drew Gordon will be able to contribute if he's healthy). But if Morgan is as good as advertised, UCLA will be Detroit bound.

Wisconsin: When will you all stop doubting Bo Ryan?

When I say "you all," of course I'm talking about myself. And the answer is right this very minute. A year ago the Badgers were beginning the season with the task of replacing three starters, including Big Ten player of the year Alando Tucker, from a team that, at one point, was ranked No. 1 in the nation. I doubted they could realistically contend for a Big Ten crown under those circumstances. All the Badgers did was win the league's regular season and tournament titles and reach the Sweet Sixteen. During Ryan's seven seasons in Madison, the Badgers have finished in the Big Ten's top two five times. I don't know about you, but I'm noticing a pattern here.

So yes, Wisconsin must again replace three pretty good seniors, but I have no doubt the Badgers will be just fine, especially considering the Big Ten is headed for another down year. The backcourt is anchored by the junior duo of point guard Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon, and the frontcourt features the rugged, senior tandem of Joe Krabbenhoft and Marcus Landry. The only question is which unknown player is going to come out of nowhere and have a great year.

Will it be 6-10 sophomore Jon Leuer, who had 25 points in the Big Ten opener but saw his minutes dwindle because he was a defensive liability? Or will it be freshman point guard Jordan Taylor, who was voted Mr. Basketball in Minnesota as a high school senior? Regardless, we know somebody on this team will surprise us. What won't be a surprise will be seeing the Badgers in the hunt -- again.
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[rellbettablues]

Tar Heels on top as season sets to begin

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By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

This is it. The last top 25 to get you started on the 2008-09 season. North Carolina is the consensus No. 1. That hasn't changed. But the groupof seven teams directly under UNC, the ones that provide the toughest test for the Tar Heels, is a bit more fluid. The order is for sure, but some of theplacement of teams from this tier to the next could obviously change. The Sweet 16-type teams in the next tier are all capable of making a run at Carolina anddeep into the Elite Eight. (Quick: Who had Davidson in the Elite Eight last October?) The third tier is a collection of teams that are hard to separate at thisjuncture. And the list beyond that could go on well into 40 or 50 teams that should be considered for a spot in the top 25. The season could be that balancedcome February. That's why we included the 12 that didn't make the cut -- you'll see a blurb on them below. For now, enjoy -- let the comments andthe zingers rain down on us and get ready for a season that will be owned by, or at least focused on, Carolina from start to finish.

1. North Carolina
Update: Marcus Ginyard is out with a stress fracture in his foot for eight weeks. The Tar Heels will miss Ginyard's experience whilehe's sidelined, but the depth on this squad can absorb an early-season injury. The Tar Heels still have the player of the year in Tyler Hansbrough, one ofthe top point guards in Ty Lawson and one of the better shooters in Wayne Ellington. Danny Green is a pretty nice 3-point-shooting complementtoo.
Concern: Nothing has changed here, either. Defense will be the key as to whether or not the Tar Heels win the title. Theyshouldn't have an issue scoring. Nonconference highlights: UNC's potential Maui Invitational title game matchup against either Texasor Notre Dame on Nov. 26, and then its game against Michigan State on Dec. 3 at Ford Field in Detroit, the home of the Final Four. These might be the twononconference chances the Tar Heels have to lose.

2. Connecticut
Update: Nate Miles was jettisoned by the school before practice began. That hurts the Huskies' small forward position but itdoesn't change the outlook for this squad. UConn has skyrocketed up my top 25 board since April because of the return of Jim Calhoun, A.J. Price andHasheem Thabeet as well as the addition of Kemba Walker at point guard.
Concern: The Huskies might be better off going with the team thatstarts the season rather than waiting to see if Stanley Robinson, Ater Majok and Miles -- if they can somehow get him back on an appeal -- are available inDecember or January. The Huskies' strength will be in having eight players who are all fully capable of starting. Playing too many might be a mistake.Nonconference highlights: UConn against Miami in a possible Paradise Jam semifinal Nov. 23 in St. Thomas, and playing Gonzaga in Seattle onDec. 20. The Huskies tend to go light in the nonconference. These two matchups should be the toughest prior to the Big East.

3. Louisville
Update: Nothing from the summer. The Cards are the same team that was a trendy 2009 Final Four pick after losing to North Carolina in theElite Eight in March in Charlotte. Earl Clark's decision to stay away from the NBA draft and the expectation that Louisville players usually improve overthe summer under Rick Pitino means the Cards will likely be even stronger on the perimeter (Jerry Smith, Edgar Sosa and Andre McGee come to mind). If freshmanSamardo Samuels lives up to his hype inside, the Cardinals should have interior stamina for a Detroit run.
Concern: Managing minutes willbe an issue for Pitino. Terrence Williams can be a stud for this squad and needs to get his touches. Free throws (64.7 percent) and 3-point shooting (35) couldimprove, too. Deciding on the one go-to guy should work itself out through the season. Nonconference highlights: There isn't too much toget jazzed about in the nonconference. There are decent games but none that are must-see. UNLV at home might end up being one of the best nonconference gamesfor the Cards. Kentucky and UAB at home, Ole Miss in Cincinnati in the SEC-Big East Challenge and Minnesota in Phoenix are against teams that might findthemselves on the bubble rather than locks for the NCAAs in March.

4. Michigan State
Update: Delvon Roe got healthy. There was a serious question as to whether or not Roe would be OK for this season after knee surgery thissummer. Roe was coming off microfracture surgery in December. Roe's presence should give even more help to Raymar Morgan inside. The Spartans will be muchmore balanced than they've been recently. Don't sleep on Kalin Lucas, either, as he is one of the more underrated point guards. Coach Tom Izzo is alsohigh on Durrell Summers on the wing. The Spartans have a real shot at playing near home in Detroit at Ford Field.
Concern: The Spartanswere offensively challenged at times last season. That should change this season, but it's still an issue seeking resolution during the season.Nonconference highlights: Michigan State in the Orlando Old Spice Classic, where there is a potential showdown with Gonzaga; a monster matchupagainst North Carolina in Detroit, and another major showdown with Texas.

5. UCLA

Update: The Bruins got the pieces they weren't sure they would when the season ended. Alfred Aboya decided against playingprofessionally, will be back for his senior season and will likely start inside. J'Mison Morgan got out of a letter to LSU and committed to UCLA. Thatadded even more depth to offset the loss of Kevin Love. No one on this roster can replace Love, but at least Ben Howland has a few options. Freshman DrewGordon is another possibility. Potential All-American point guard Darren Collison and reliable swingman Josh Shipp return. Likely impact freshmen guards JrueHoliday and Malcolm Lee are also in the mix. The Bruins have three players who played a major role in the past three Final Four berths: Collison, Shipp andAboya. Shipp wasn't always healthy but has been instrumental in uplifting the locker room.
Concern: Not having Love means the Bruinswill be even more perimeter-oriented. They won't have the go-to post player. The inside game will be a work in progress. Nonconferencehighlights: Seeing how this young team handles New York City, where it will likely face Duke in the CVC; against Texas in Austin, and an in-conferencehistorical series renewal against Notre Dame in Pauley Pavilion.

6. Pitt

Update: Levance Fields got hurt again. Fields had surgery over the summer, and that causes concern. Fields has to be healthy for Pitt to bethe team projected. The Panthers are solid everywhere else. Sam Young stayed put. DeJuan Blair remained happy and if he's playing loose then the Panthershave a good vibe about themselves. The Panthers have depth, a nasty home court and the experience to make a run to Detroit.
Concern:Fields. Until Fields is on the court without any pain in his foot then the Panthers will have point guard issues. If he's good to go, a lot of the concernsfade. Perimeter shooting will always be an issue, but that will change if Fields is in the game because he can help set everyone up. Nonconferencehighlights: Well, there isn't much to get excited about in the nonconference. Maybe a Legends Classic against Washington State or MississippiState will make for good theatre, or even a home game against upstart Siena or always pesky Florida State in Tallahassee. But none of these games will compareto the top of the Big East.

7. Gonzaga

Update: Austin Daye didn't tear his ACL. That was originally the fear when Daye got hurt in July in Akron. Had that occurred, the Zagswould surely have slid this season. But Daye is back and so is Jeremy Pargo at the point. So, too, are Josh Heytvelt in the middle and Matt Bouldin and StevenGray making shots on the wings. The Zags are also hungrier after being stunned by Davidson in the first round of the NCAAs.
Concern: Dayeand Heytvelt are back, but both are coming off summer injuries, so durability will be an issue. Nonconference highlights: The Zags have alwaysplayed games worth watching. Gonzaga plays in the loaded Old Spice Classic in Orlando; Connecticut in Seattle; Arizona in Phoenix; Tennessee in Knoxville;Washington State in Pullman; and an in-WCC game against Memphis in Spokane.

8. Oklahoma
Update: The Sooners' best player and one of the most talented in the country, Blake Griffin, spent quality time on his body. He workedwith San Francisco-based trainer Frank Matrisciano, running the beach and the hills. The word from Matrisciano is that Griffin is in unbelievable shape. Ifthat's the case, the Sooners could get player-of-the-year numbers out of Griffin. The guards aren't too shabby, with the return of Tony Crocker, AustinJohnson and the highly anticipated debut of freshman guard Willie Warren.
Concern: The Sooners were picked to win the Big 12. This grouphasn't been in this position before. We'll see how they'll handle the role. Nonconference highlights: Oklahoma plays USC at home.Shockingly, that's all you can count on for drama. There is a chance Tulsa could provide some. In most years, Arkansas would be a solid game, but this is arebuilding year for the Hogs.[h2]Next tier[/h2]

9. Texas

Update: According to coach Rick Barnes, the Longhorns have improved mightily inside. Gary Johnson and Dexter Pittman, as well as Matt Hill,are all expected to make significant contributions. The interior is a question for Texas. Connor Atchley is the most experienced player but doesn't providethe beef. Texas needs that to offset wings Damion James and Justin Mason and shooting guards A.J. Abrams and Varez Ward. Texas will be more perimeter-oriented.Turkey's Dogus Balbay played well over the summer, and if he can handle the transition to the American game, he could be D.J. Augustin's replacement.Augustin was one of the top five players last season. But Texas always has the requisite balance under Barnes to be a player for a Final Fourberth.
Concern: As much as the Longhorns are fine with scoring guards Abrams, Mason and James, they still need a game-changer at playmakerlike Augustin. Balbay isn't Augustin, but he'll need to be a solid member of the perimeter rotation for Texas to reach the Final Four.Nonconference highlights: The Maui Invitational, where Texas could face Notre Dame in a semifinal and then possibly North Carolina in thefinal; home games against UCLA and Michigan State; and a road trip to Wisconsin. There might not be another top-10 team with a schedule like Texas.

10. Duke

Update: Update: The Blue Devils got beat again before the second weekend of the tourney. That's not the norm for thisprogram and has provided plenty of impetus for the Blue Devils over the summer. Gerald Henderson is healthy and ready for a breakout season. Kyle Singlerdidn't flirt with the NBA draft. Miles Plumlee spurned Stanford and chose Duke to give the Blue Devils a much-needed inside reserve with size, and there isthe anticipation that Nolan Smith will live up to his high expectations. Jon Scheyer and Greg Paulus have plenty of game experience, too, to provide steadyplay. Oh, and the coach, Mike Krzyzewski, just won Olympic gold for the U.S.
Concern: The Blue Devils still don't have a low-postplayer that they can count on every possession to score, like they've had in the past in Carlos Boozer, Elton Brand and Shelden Williams. Not sure LanceThomas, Brian Zoubek or Plumlee can provide that this season against the more-dominant post play in Chapel Hill. Nonconference highlights: Apossible Duke-UCLA matchup in New York City at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in November; Purdue in West Lafayette; Xavier in the Meadowlands; Davidson andGeorgetown at home -- a challenging slate for the Blue Devils.

11. Notre Dame
Update: The Irish went to Ireland and continued to find cohesion with a group that enjoys playing together. Luke Harangody, one of the moreunheralded Big East player of the year winners, is back to expand his game a bit. Guards Kyle McAlarney and Tory Jackson have continued to provide thenecessary balance for Harangody. This team can score with any team in the country. The Irish won't scare teams on appearance, but they play well together,especially in South Bend.
Concern: Defense. If the Irish can ramp up their defense a bit more, improve on the boards and find a stopper onthe perimeter, then they can challenge Louisville, Connecticut and Pitt for the Big East title. Nonconference highlights: Seeing how NotreDame does in the Maui Invitational. This will be a strong indicator with a possible semifinal game against Texas and potential matchup against North Carolinain a final. The in-Big East matchup at UCLA will provide a healthy barometer, too.

12. Miami
Update: The Hurricanes are extremely confident. The near-miss against Texas in the second round of the NCAAs gave Miami plenty of goodvibes going into the offseason. Jack McClinton has been working on his game, becoming more of a complete player, and is poised to be one of the top lead guardsin the country. Freshman DeQuan Jones is as good as advertised and coach Frank Haith firmly believes he'll have a major impact on the wing. The interior ishealthy with the return of Adrian Thomas and a stable presence in the post with Dwayne Collins.
Concern: Miami has never been in thisposition where the Canes are expected to win and finish in the top three in the ACC. The Canes must have more than McClinton to carry them, too. If the roleplayers can be consistent, Miami can live up to its newfound hype. Nonconference highlights: Seeing how Miami does in the Paradise Jam againstConnecticut and possibly Wisconsin; a road game at Kentucky; and a home game against Ohio State. Miami has a real shot to be a high seed, so taking care ofsome of these nonconference games is critical.

13. Memphis

Update: The Tigers went through quite a transition in the offseason. The addition of big-time freshman Tyreke Evans continues the long listof talented newcomers, but Memphis also picked up onetime Nebraska signee Roburt Sallie, got back reserve Doneal Mack after he transferred to New Orleans for afew days and has Robert Dozier and Antonio Anderson returning to the starting lineup after flirting with the NBA draft. If Pierre Niles continues to shedpounds and Shawn Taggart adds them then the Tigers will be quite formidable inside.
Concern: It's hard to lose Derrick Rose and ChrisDouglas-Roberts as well as Joey Dorsey and not have concerns. The Tigers won't score as easily, and they won't run their offense as efficiently. Butthey still have plenty of talent. It just might take more time, and expecting a run through Conference USA is foolish. This team will get tested.Nonconference highlights: Seeing how Memphis handles the Puerto Rico tournament with quality clubs USC, Xavier and Virginia Tech in the field;road games against Georgetown and Gonzaga; and dangerous home games against UMass, Northeastern, Cincinnati and Syracuse -- none of which are givens with thisteam.

14. Arizona State
Update: ASU's James Harden played the summer circuit well and looks poised to be one of the top guards in the country. He's showingmore leadership and maturity and has a chance to be the Pac-10 player of the year. The rest of the Sun Devils, who felt burned by not making the NCAAs, areback. Jeff Pendergraph can be a star for the Sun Devils inside. Playing off Harden helps him tremendously because defenses have to be focused on Harden first.Herb Sendek's system has never been a joy to play against, and now with more talent, the Sun Devils are even more of a pest.
Concern:ASU will be in every game, but that also means the opponent will, too. ASU plays the margins close and the difference between winning the Pac-10 title andfinishing third isn't much for the Sun Devils. They don't intimidate, but they do manufacture wins efficiently. Nonconferencehighlights: Seeing how the Sun Devils fare in the Anaheim Classic against similar opponents Wake Forest, Baylor, Saint Mary's, Providence andUTEP. ASU must come out of this field 2-1. A title would provide a credibility boost early in the season. Playing BYU in Phoenix in late December will also bea barometer for the Sun Devils.

15. Purdue
Update: The Boilermakers went to Australia over the summer, and the development of the now-sophomores continued to flourish. E'TwaunMoore was the stud scorer, but this team still revolves around Robbie Hummel's will. His energy and passion for every play give this team a firm identity.Losing Scott Martin, who transferred to Notre Dame, hurts the depth, but doesn't dampen the enthusiasm in West Lafayette. Keaton Grant and JaJuan Johnsonwill be critical to how far this team goes in March. If Grant scores and Johnson is a presence, the Boilermakers will be factor.
Concern:Purdue was the surprise team in the Big Ten last season. They won at Wisconsin and were a tough out, regardless of venue. But how will Purdue handle being afavorite with Michigan State? Expectations are rising with this squad, and the sophomores will be counted on to deliver even more than a year ago.Nonconference highlights: Purdue is in the NIT Season Tip-Off, and that means a possible matchup with Oklahoma or Arizona in New York; hostingDuke is about as major a showdown as the Boilermakers get in West Lafayette; playing Davidson can now be termed a big game, as well.

16. Wake Forest
Update: The Demon Deacons held onto their prized recruiting class of Ty Walker, Al-Farouq Aminu and Tony Woods. The three big men have fitin quite nicely with returning players Jeff Teague, James Johnson, L.D. Williams, Ishmael Smith and Harvey Hale. Smith is recovering from a broken bone in hisleft foot but is expected to be ready for November. The Demon Deacons can take the depth hit. There is such a sense of optimism around this program; it'suplifting a year after the stunning passing of Skip Prosser.
Concern: The Demon Deacons will be still a young team, relying mostly on itssophomores in Johnson and Teague and the three freshmen. Experience in late-game, tight situations will be at a premium. How the Demon Deacons handle thestress is still an unknown. Nonconference highlights: Wake Forest is in an underpublicized but daunting Anaheim Classic with Arizona State,Baylor, Saint Mary's, Providence and UTEP. A road game at BYU right before the start of the ACC will provide a real test as well.[h2]Third tier[/h2]

17. USC
Update: The Trojans are awaiting word on Alex Stepheson, the former North Carolina reserve forward. Stepheson couldn't get thenecessary minutes behind Tyler Hansbrough and Deon Thompson to blossom in Chapel Hill. If Stepheson is eligible this season, the Trojans will have quite a 1-2inside tandem with Taj Gibson. Gibson needs a wide, taller body to play off and Stepheson fits the criteria perfectly. Depth is once again an issue because USCcan't shake the injury bug, with Marcus Simmons out again this fall. Leonard Washington provides rebounding muscle, and the return of Mamadou Diarra, KeithWilkinson and Kasey Cunningham gives the Trojans solid role depth. The stars are still aligned in L.A., though, with incoming freshman DeMar DeRozan ready totake over for O.J. Mayo. DeRozan won't be as much of a stat-stuffer as Mayo but should be counted on to provide scoring pop. Gibson is dependable andguards Daniel Hackett and Dwight Lewis never seem to get their due.
Concern: The Trojans will be a team in flux inside as players eitherbecome eligible like Stepheson or take their time returning from injury. The perimeter, including stretching out to a wing like DeRozan, is fine. But whetheror not Gibson gets the necessary help inside is still the question. Nonconference highlights: The field in Puerto Rico should give USC a gaugeon this squad with a possible showdown against Memphis; a home game against Oklahoma might be a top 15 matchup; playing a gritty Georgia Tech team before thePac-10 should be a good primer.

18. Tennessee
Update: Coach Bruce Pearl is raving about newcomers Scotty Hopson, Bobby Maze, Emanuel Negedu, Daniel West and redshirt Cameron Tatum.Pearl is convinced that the Maze-West battle at the point, Hopson on the wing, Negedu's rebounding and Tatum's doing a bit of everything provides theVols with the necessary nucleus around returning potential All-American Tyler Smith and versatile guard J.P. Prince. Tennessee is reloading, but having Smithas a go-to guy means they still are the team to beat in the SEC.
Concern: Pearl's system isn't learned overnight, just likeeveryone else's. But he needs a point guard who can jump-start this team from the outset. The inability to settle on a point led to a slow start forTennessee last season. If Maze and/or West can be the answer immediately, then the Vols will be just as fun to watch as a year ago. Nonconferencehighlights: Tennessee will get quite a start against Siena in the Orlando Old Spice Classic that also includes name teams Gonzaga, Michigan State,Georgetown and Maryland; facing Gonzaga and Memphis in Knoxville; Kansas on the road and Marquette in Nashville is more than enough to get this team ready forthe balanced SEC.

19. Marquette
Update: The Golden Eagles lost Tom Crean to Indiana, picked up Billy Gillispie disciple Buzz Williams (after a one-year stint with Crean atMarquette) and retained the three reasons why the Golden Eagles are a threat to go to the Sweet 16: Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews. Marquettestaffers report that McNeal's game has elevated to a higher level. If Lazar Hayward can be the necessary producer inside, and the staff believes he can,then the Golden Eagles can compete at a high level yet again.
Concern: Interior depth isn't going away as an issue. If the GoldenEagles can develop enough depth behind Hayward then they'll be in every game. Williams' late-game decisions as head coach shouldn't be an issue. Hehas prepped well for this opportunity. Nonconference highlights: There are two: Wisconsin at home and Tennessee in Nashville. The GoldenEagles will have plenty of big games in the league but few opportunities to prove their status prior to January.

20. LSU
Update: The Tigers return four starters -- including a potential all-SEC player in Tasmin Mitchell, who comes back after an injured footlast year -- who make them the favorite in the SEC West. The foursome of Mitchell, Garrett Temple, Marcus Thornton and Chris Johnson give the Tigers enoughexperience, scoring and interior defense for this team to be a tough out. Adding former Stanford coach Trent Johnson as the lead man on the bench means theTigers will be even more structured, more disciplined and will value every possession.
Concern: Point guard. The Tigers don't have areliable one and will depend on freshman Chris Bass or sophomore Bo Spencer. It's an unknown how either will handle the position. Temple has played thespot at times even though that's not his natural position. If Bass or Spencer can limit mistakes, get the team into its offense and pressure the ball inthe half court, the Tigers have a chance. Nonconference highlights: Johnson wants this team to build confidence. That should happen with anonconference slate that doesn't have many tough games. Playing Texas A&M and Washington State is about it as far as potential NCAA teams on thenonconference slate. And the Cougars' game could be a reach to put it in that category.

21. Davidson

Update: The Wildcats are still riding off the Elite Eight good vibes. The schedule is daunting yet again. Stephen Curry is no longersomething new and untapped. Curry is a known commodity and that means defenses aren't going to mess around with him. He will be the focus of every opposingteam. Curry worked on being a point guard over the summer, but coach Bob McKillop was adamant that he won't leave Curry to the position and take away hisstrengths of being a catch-and-shoot scorer. The return of Andrew Lovedale inside will be critical to offer up balance for Curry.
Concern:The outstanding play of point Jason Richards, who played so well off Curry, will be sorely missed. The Wildcats will miss the play of Thomas Sander inside,too. Role players for the Wildcats are critical to how far this team can go again in March. Nonconference highlights: West Virginia in theJimmy V in New York in December will be a major-stage game for Davidson and Curry. So, too, will be playing Purdue in Indianapolis and Duke in Durham.

22. Saint Mary's

Update: If you watched the Australian Olympic team in Beijing, then you know why Saint Mary's is in the top 25. Sophomore point guardPatty Mills is that good to elevate the Gaels into the top 25. Mills blew by All-Stars Chris Paul and Deron Williams. He returns to a squad that also bringsback WCC defensive player of the year Diamon Simpson and role players Ian O'Leary and Omar Samhan. The Gaels play in one of the toughest home-courtenvironments in the country. The schedule is solid again, and Saint Mary's now has NCAA tournament experience with this group after playing Miami in thefirst round a year ago.
Concern: The depth on the bench doesn't match up with Gonzaga's in the league, and that could be a problemwhen there is a drop-off. There will also be so much attention on Mills that the role players must produce when called upon. Saint Mary's will also need tohandle being a team that everyone wants to beat after getting headlines last season. Nonconference highlights: The Gaels must play well inAnaheim in a loaded field with Wake Forest, Baylor, Arizona State, Providence and UTEP. The game against San Diego State in the Wooden Classic in Anaheim willalso be a meter mover for this squad. Playing Oregon on the road will also prove just how tough this team is as it heads to the WCC.

23. Florida

Update: The Gators have to be better this season, right? Florida floundered at times last season with such an inexperienced group. TheGators have been humbled and buoyed by an extremely talented freshmen class. Nick Calathes, Jai Lucas, Chandler Parsons, Alex Tyus and even veterans WalterHodge and Dan Werner should buy into Billy Donovan's passion and pride on every possession. The newcomers, such as Kenny Kadji, Eloy Vargas, Allan Chaney,Erving Walker and Ray Shipman, will make practice even more competitive. So, too, will Georgetown transfer Vernon Macklin, who can't play until2009-10.

Concern: The talent is in place, but now cohesion must be found. If this team simply defends, runs the offense and limits mistakes, theywill win enough games to be on the right side of the NCAA bid selection process. Calathes has star power and the role players will be vastly improved thisyear.
Nonconference highlights: The Gators should get a gauge on this squad in Kansas City against a field that includes Kansas, Syracuseand Washington. Games such as Florida State on the road and NC State at home are must-wins to prove the Gators are at a higher level this season.

24. UNLV

Update: Lon Kruger has done a phenomenal job of rekindling the Runnin' Rebels in Vegas. His teams win, get to the NCAAs and advance.UNLV should be once again a showstopper in Vegas for its ability to stay atop the Mountain West. Veterans Wink Adams and Joe Darger are the base for anincoming class that will play plenty. The Rebels went to Australia, and Kruger said he was pleased with the play of point Tre'Von Willis, and Beas Hamgainside. The Rebels don't have that star player who is going to wow you, but they defend, play smart and limit their mistakes.
Concern:The Runnin' Rebels can be offensively challenged at times. If there are more scoring options, the Rebels can be a steady team throughout the season. Thisteam might lack star power, but the overall team components will make this squad one to watch throughout the year. Nonconference highlights:The best one is a trip to Louisville on New Year's Eve. We'll be able to tell a lot about the Runnin' Rebels after that game heading into theMountain West. There are other regional matchups that will be telling -- such as how they handle at Nevada, Cal, at UTEP, San Diego and, of course, Arizona --but the Rebels need to be competitive against the Cardinals to prove they're worthy of a lofty ranking.

25. Baylor

Update: The Bears firmly believe they can challenge for the Big 12 title. And they might. But first the Bears have to handle theexpectations of being a ranked team and be ready to be one to watch. The return of Curtis Jerrells, LaceDarius Dunn, Kevin Rogers and Mamadou Diene give Baylorone of the better nucleuses in the conference. But they need more, and that falls on newcomers such as big man Anthony Jones and Quincy Acy. If Jones lives upto his hype, the Bears will have the necessary balance to compete with OU and Texas.
Concern: Kansas could slide ahead of Baylor based onscheduling in the Big 12. Baylor has to play Texas and Oklahoma twice while Kansas gets all three once. That's the unbalanced South-North schedulingbreakup. Ensuring that the Bears can defend and score in the post is a must to see if Baylor can handle the hype. Nonconference highlights:The Bears are one of the featured teams in the Anaheim Classic with Wake Forest, Arizona State, Saint Mary's, UTEP and Providence. Going to WashingtonState will also be a strong barometer for this squad.[h2]Make the case for who should be in the top 25 out of this dozen[/h2]Alabama: Ronald Steele is back after a year hiatus;JaMychal Green might be the best incoming freshman forward in the SEC. Syracuse: Johnny Flynn can be a game-changing point guard, shootersEric Devendorf and Andy Rautins are healthy and the Orange seem due to get back to the NCAAs. Georgetown: The Hoyas won't slide too muchwith DaJuan Summers as the go-to guy, highly touted guards Chris Wright and Austin Freeman ready to take over as sophomores and a hyped incoming center in GregMonroe. Kansas: The Jayhawks don't appear to be heading for a fall, despite the massive losses to the NBA, but KU returns two contributingmembers from the title game in Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich and a stellar recruiting class. Arizona: Lute Olson is back; so, too, areChase Budinger, Nic Wise and Jordan Hill. They should be enough to get the Wildcats back in the NCAAs yet again. Kentucky: Never think theCats are out of the NCAA chase, and a healthy Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks means Kentucky should have enough to get a bid. Villanova: TheWildcats were a Sweet 16 team as a 12-seed; they return Scottie Reynolds and always seem to be dangerous under Jay Wright. Wisconsin:Don't dare sleep on the Badgers because when you do, Wisconsin will sneak up and win the Big Ten behind Bo Ryan's interchangeable parts, year in andyear out.
Siena: The Saints say they're one of the best teams in the country with Kenny Hasbrouck back, and a win over Vanderbilt in the NCAAs isstill fresh.
Xavier: This program has become the class of the A-10 with solid recruiting that always seems to keep them one step ahead ofthe league the past two seasons and likely will in 2009, too. BYU: Trent Plaisted bolted, but Lee Cummard withdrew from the draft, and shooterJonathan Tavernari also joins Cummard for Dave Rose's consistent crew. Texas A&M: The Aggies got a boost when Josh Carter withdrewfrom the draft to join Donald Sloan and coach Mark Turgeon's sleeper in freshman forward David Loubeau. Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.

 

[bigmike23]

prefect picture put up for that !%#!%! %+* fruit cake BUM

 

[kiddin like jason]

Pittsburgh: Who will make threes?
That is a great question.

Gonzaga plays in the loaded Old Spice Classic in Orlando; Connecticut in Seattle; Arizona in Phoenix; Tennessee in Knoxville; Washington State in Pullman; and an in-WCC game against Memphis in Spokane.
That makes me more sick every time. Not to mention there are two really good conference teams now.

 

[jamesonnt]

^ damn that OOC schedule is rough.

 

[jamesonnt]

BALL IS LIFE: TOP 10 DUNKS OF '07-08

 

[Retroballer]

Looks like Under Armour got a hold of Maryland basketball now as they jumped from nike

 

[dacomeup]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

Pittsburgh: Who will make threes?

That is a great question.

Gonzaga plays in the loaded Old Spice Classic in Orlando; Connecticut in Seattle; Arizona in Phoenix; Tennessee in Knoxville;
Washington State in Pullman; and an in-WCC game against Memphis in Spokane.
That makes me more sick every time. Not to mention there are two really good conference teams now.


If you think that's tough then look at Tennessee's OOC schedule, plus then they have better conference teams than 'Zaga

 

[rellbettablues]

Originally Posted by RetroBaller

Looks like Under Armour got a hold of Maryland basketball now as they jumped from nike

UMD fans start getting that Nike apparel now before it's too late.Good thing I got my away shorts before they made the switch. UA and basketball should never be mentioned in the same sentence. I know he's an alum but damnwhat a downgrade.

Those dunks were okay. Hansbrough shouldn't be on that list but it's the media infatuation. I guarantee Paul Harris or Jonny Flynn will have one of thebest dunks of the year.

 

[worldbeefreeg]

Why has Izzo stopped getting big recruits? Dude is easily a top 5 coach.

 

[dacomeup]

He just landed Delvon Roe in his '08 class. He had Kalin Lucas in '07 and Raymar Morgan '06 .He really looks for guys that fit into his system inopposition to going for Mayo's, Roses, or Beasleys.

 

[allstarpg32]

are any midnight madness events being televised besides on ESPNU?

 

[allen3xis]

not sure.

 

[airant23]

YO! I was trying to ride over to Davidson for Midnight Madness, but I can't find OUChrisLitt.

Saw Stephen's mom at this burger joint earlier today. MILF!

i wasn't going to say us....i knew Ant would bring up Eddie.

bastard.
(Eddie, not Ant)
ok, Ant too.

DF!
but that ain't got much to do with the programs consistency.

But, of course, I disagree. Those blemishes are there... not on Franklin St though.

"Tar Heels fans don't seem to think Williams lives up to Smith's standard, but the only thing Smith had that Williams doesn't have is blind luck. Smith's two titles were clinched when someone on the opposition inexplicably passed to the wrong team (Fred Brown for Georgetown, 1982) and inexplicably called a timeout when he had none left (Chris Webber for Michigan, 1993). If those things don't happen, Smith isn't half the legend he is today, and yet he had no control over those events whatsoever." - MATT MEYERS, CONTRIBUTOR TO ESPN THE MAGAZINE

I HATE this logic.

The Tarheels were leading BOTH of those games when those mistakes happened. Call it what you want, but Dean earned those titles. I'll slap a dude in his face quick disrespecting my mans like that. He Ace, I'm Rico.

DF!!!

 

[allen3xis]

Yeah, he sticks out

 

[wildkycat]

i ain't acting like it never happened...but we was talking about consistency.

our last 5 head coaches....

Tubby, Pitino, Sutton, Joe B. Hall, Rupp

Eddie only one who ain't hang no banner....

 

[allen3xis]

It is a star-studded weekend all around the country as a large number of colleges and universities are having some sort of celebration to usher in thebasketball season.

The season will officially open as teams start the season as practice opens up. Some teams are going low key and diving right into the year. Some arebringing out the fireworks and the recruits.

The weekend has traditionally been one of the biggest recruiting weekends of the year. This year is no different.

Last weekend's Midnight Madness events yielded a pair of important commitments. Kentucky picked up Daniel Orton, a five-star prospect, and West Virginia added DenizKilicli.

Who will commit after this busy and exciting weekend? The college basketball recruiting world will soon find out. The pledges are sure to happen.
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Derrick Favors will visit N.C. State[/td] [/tr][/table]
ACC

N.C. State fans have been waiting for this weekend for a long time. Two of the top basketball prospects in the class of 2009 will be on campus this weekendfor a visit.

South Atlanta (Ga.) center Derrick Favors, the No. 4 overallplayer in the country, will be in town for a much anticipated official visit to see the Wolfpack's program a little deeper. He will also have a chance toget to know John Wall, who will make the quick trip over tocampus to get a quick peek at the Pack's first practice.

Wall's Word of God teammate Bishop Daniels, a class of2011 guard, will join the party along with AAU teammate MelvinTabb, a forward from Raleigh (N.C.) Enloe and 2010 commitment Ryan Harrow from Marietta (Ga.) Walton.

Maryland always knows how to do it big the weekend of Midnight Madness. Why not? That is where the first pre-season party started. College Park will bebuzzing as a host of underclassmen will visit with the Terps.

Roscoe Smith of Baltimore (Md.) Walbrook, Albany (N.Y.)Bishop Maginn point guard Taran Buie, Baltimore (Md.) CalvertHall big man Jonathan Graham, Plainfield (N.J.) PlainfieldIsiah Epps and Jordan Goodman, a 2011 forward from Bowie (Md.) Seneca Valley, will allbe on Maryland's campus.

The future of Duke's program will be in Durham for a visit. Fresh off of his commitment last week, Ryan Kelly will make the quick trip over to the land of Blue Devils tosee his future teammates.

Class of 2009 commitment Mason Plumlee and 2010 pledgesJoshua Hairston and Tyler Thornton are both expected to be in town.

Virginia is taking advantage of the talent nearby. MychalParker from the Miller School (Va.), Travis McKie fromRichmond (Va.) John Marshall, John Manning, a 2011 center fromChantilly (Va.) and Brian Richardson from Wilson (N.C.)Greenfield are all coming to Charlottesville for a visit.

Clemson will welcome class of 2010 forward Marcus Thorntonfrom Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake, David Williams, a junior wing fromJacksonville, Fla., 2011 point guard Roger Hubbard fromSouthwest Atlanta Christian (Ga.) and 2009 commitments MiltonJennings and Donte Hill for "Rock the'John."
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]2010 prospect Roscoe Smith will travel to both Georgetown and Maryland this weekend.[/td] [/tr][/table]
BIG EAST

Georgetown has always taken advantage of the Midnight Madness festivities for a major recruiting tool. This year is no different.

Class of 2009 commitments Hollis Thompson from California andDashonte Riley from Michigan will be in town. So will class of2010 commitments Markel Starks and Nate Lubick.

Class of 2010 wings Roscoe Smith of Baltimore (Md.) Walbrookand Jalen Kendrick of Southwest Atlanta Christian ( Ga. ) willmake a return trip to the Big East school. Also in town will be RodOdom, a 6-foot-8 sleeper wing from Concord ( Mass. ) Middlesex School .

The class of 2011 will be well represented as Christchurch ( Va. ) wing Michael Gbinije, Danville ( Va. ) George Washington forward C.J. Barksdale, Chantilly ( Va. ) center John Manning, Washington (DC) St. John's College High guard Chris Martin and Quinn Cook from nearby DeMatha will all be on campus for an unofficialvisit.

Talented class of 2012 prospect Kyle Anderson will make atrip down to Washington D.C. from Paterson (N.J.) Catholic, too.

Louisville will entertain commitment Seattle (Wash.) Franklin guard Peyton Siva will try to win over Aaron Dotson of Seattle (Wash.) Rainier Beach.

Connecticut is welcoming commitments Alex Oriakhi and JamalCoombs to Storrs for the season tip-off festivities.

The Huskies always have some sleepers on campus this weekend. The biggest one both literally and figuratively is Andre Drummond, a6-foot-10 big man from Capitol Prep in Hartford. Drummond is a class of 2011 prospect. Also expected in town is Mike Buffalo, a junior from Wings Academy in New York.

C.J. Fair, a 2010 forward from Baltimore, is visitingSyracuse unofficially.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Dominic Cheek will visit Kansas.[/td] [/tr][/table]
BIG 12

It is a five-star party this weekend in Lawrence, Kansas. The Jayhawks are using "Late Night at the Phog" as the big recruiting weekend of theyear as four five-star prospects will be in town and on campus as well as a host of other talented recruits.

Class of 2009 five-star prospects Xavier Henry of OklahomaCity (Okla.) Putnam City, Dominic Cheek of St. Anthony's(N.J.) and Michael Snaer of Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Verdeare all scheduled to be on campus for the weekend. The trio makes up three of the best pure scorers in the entire country at the high school ranks.

Ames (Iowa) wing Harrison Barnes, a top five juniornationally, is the fourth five-star prospect in town for the festivities.

The five-stars won't be alone. Las Vegas (Nev.) Cheyenne point Elijah Johnson will hit the road for his first official visit of theyear. Class of 2010's Ray McCallum, a point guard fromDetroit (Mich.) Country Day, will be in town unofficially.

Bradley Beal, a guard from the class of 2011, hails from St.Louis (Mo.) Chaminade and he's quickly emerging as a hot prospect in the Midwest. Kansas will get a chance to wow him this weekend.

Perry Ellis, a talented class of 2012 wing from Wichita(Kan.) Heights will make a return trip to KU for the weekend.

Texas will tangle with Missouri on the gridiron on Saturday night in a nationally televised game between two of the premiere football teams in the nation. Anumber of talented basketball players won't be watching at home.

Instead, Daniel Bejarano, a five-star junior from Phoenix(Ariz.) North, Mike Shaw, a five-star sophomore from Chicago(Ill.) De La Salle and Wayne Blackshear of Chicago (Ill.) Curriewill see the game live and in person in Austin. The trio of studs will be in Austin for an unofficial visit.

Duncanville (Texas) teammates Roger Franklin and Reger Dowell are slated for a visit to Oklahoma State this weekend.Franklin is committed to the Cowboys and Dowell, a one-time commitment to Alabama and Arizona, is high on the school, too, according to sources close to thesituation.

Class of 2009 commitment Raymond Penn and Marianna (Fla.)Chipola J.C. forward Justin Brownlee will also be in Stillwater.Class of 2011 forward LeBryan Nash and Columbus (Ga.) Kendrickbig man Tim Dixon are expected for an unofficial visit, too.

Commitments Torin Walker of Columbus (Ga.) Northside andFred Gulley of Fayetteville (Ark.) will also be in town.

Making the trek up to Stillwater with Franklin and Dowell is 2010 guard Jamison Sterns, also of Duncanville. Sterns is a Baylor commitment butsources indicate that the two parties may be splitting ways after this weekend.

Arlington (Texas) Grace Prep guard Nick Russell is looking toput the final touches on his visit tour this weekend as he trips to Kansas State.

Class of 2010 point guard Will Spradling, an in-stateprospect, will visit unofficially.

Russell and Spradling will be joined by Wildcat commitments WallyJudge and Rodney McGruder.

Chicago (Ill.) Whitney Young point guard Chris Colvin willtravel to Iowa State for a weekend visit. He is one of the top uncommitted point guards left in 2009.

Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy big man Andrew Fitzgeraldwill travel to Oklahoma to see the sights in Norman and spend time with the Sooners. Ray Turner, a Rivals150 forward from Houston (Texas) Jesse Jones, willmake the quick trip up to Texas A&M for a visit.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Indiana commitment Christian Watford will be in Bloomington for Hoosier Hysteria.[/td] [/tr][/table]
BIG TEN

Indiana's Midnight Madness is appropriately called "Hoosier Hysteria." This year's event certainly lives up to the name because of thehuge number of prospects that will file into Assembly Hall on Friday night.

For starters, all of the class of 2009 commitments will be in Bloomington. Christian Watford, Maurice Creek, Derek Elston, Jordan Hulls and Bobby Capobianco are all scheduled for a visit.

Class of 2011 commitment Matt Carlino will make the trek infrom Gilbert, Ariz., too.

Muscle Shoals (Ala.) guard Ralston Turner, a four-star classof 2010 prospect, is scheduled for a visit this weekend. Making his third trip to Indiana is Aaron Cosby of Jeffersontown (Ky.). The class of 2010 is thought to be aheavy Hoosier lean at this stage of his recruitment.

Savannah (Ga.) Windsor-Forest big man Brandon Mobley, another2010 prospect, played for new assistant Roshown McLeod on the AAU circuit. Mobley will make his first trip to Bloomington.

Bowling Green (Ky.) Warren Central wing George Fant, anemerging prospect from the class of 2011, visited Kentucky last week. This weekend, he'll be at IU.

Muncie Central (Ind.) point guard Jeremiah Davis is a hotprospect already in the class of 2011 and the Hoosiers are high on his young list. He'll be in the gym on Friday night at IU.

Making the short trip to campus is Bloomington (Ind.) South guard Spencer Turner, a teammate of Hulls. Turner is a class of 2011 prospectwith several Big Ten schools in the mix early on.

Washington (Ind.) forward Cody Zeller continues the Zellerline of Division I prospects. The 6-foot-7 forward from the class of 2011 will be the third Zeller to consider the Hoosiers. Older brothers Luke (Notre Dame)and Tyler (North Carolina) looked hard at Indiana during the recruiting process. Isaiah Hill, a mammoth center from Howe Military (Ind.), is alsoexpected to be on campus for the weekend. He is a class of 2011.

A host of other young prospects have been invited for Indiana's Hoosier Hysteria.

Michigan State's Midnight Madness, a.k.a. "Friday Night Flashback", will honor the 1978-79 National Championship team as well as usher in theseason. The next day, the Spartans will play host to Ohio State on the gridiron.

Needless to say, it is a huge weekend in East Lansing.

That's why Tom Izzo and his staff are bringing in a number of prospects for the weekend.

Class of 2009 commitments Garrick Sherman and Derrick Nix as well as 2010 pledge Keith Appling will be on campus.

Rivals150 juniors Justin Martin from Lawrence North (Ind.),Alex Gauna of Eaton Rapids (Mich.) and Trey Zeigler of Mount Pleasant (Mich.) will all be on campusunofficially.

Fort Wayne (Ind.) Blackhawk Christian wing Russell Byrd, alsoa Rivals150 junior, continues his visit tour, this weekend stopping at MSU.

The class of 2011 will be well represented as Paul Honigfordof Garaway (Ohio), Brandon Kearney and Percy Gibson of ofDetroit (Mich.) Southeastern, LaDontae Henton of Lansing (Mich.)Eastern, Jon Horford of Grand Ledge (Mich.), TommyMcCune from Saginaw (Mich.), Patrick Lucas-Perry from Flint(Mich.) Powers and Matt Pooches of Heartland (Mich.) will all be on campus unofficially.

Class of 2012 prospect Denzel Valentine from Lansing Sexton will also be on campus.

Purdue will welcome all of it's commitments on campus for "Mackey Madness" this weekend.

Class of 2009 pledges .J. Byrd, Jeff Robinson, Patrick Bade and Kelsey Barlow will visit.

So will the impressive class of 2010 group Anthony Johnson,Travis Carroll and Terone Johnson.
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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Xavier expects a visit from 2010 forward J.D. Weatherspoon.[/td] [/tr][/table]
PAC-10

South Medford (Ore.) wing E.J. Singler will travel upInterstate 5 to Oregon's campus this weekend for a visit.

AROUND THE NATION

Xavier is hosting a pair of important underclassmen for an unofficial visit. J.D. Weatherspoon, a 2010 forward from Columbus, Ohio, will make thein-state trip while Naadir Tharpe, a 2011 point guard fromWolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Academy are both expected to be on campus.

UNLV has class of 2009 commitments Anthony Marshall andCarlos Lopez, both Vegas area stars, and Justin Hawkins of Los Angeles (Calif.) Taft on campus.

Three of Lopez's Findlay Prep class of 2010 teammates IsaiahGrayson, Cory Joseph and Godwin Okonji and Moses Morgan, a Rivals150 prospect from nearby Palo Verde, are all onthe list for a visit.

The Charlotte, N.C. area is one of the budding hot beds for talent and the 49ers have done a great job of trying to circle the wagons around the Queen Cityprospects.

Class of 2010 guards Daryl Traynham, who played at Vance lastseason, and Ian Miller, a Rivals150 prospect from United Faith,will be on campus. Class of 2011 guards Jacoby Davis andMarquis Rankin, both from Vance, are also expected oncampus.

Hassan Whiteside, a sleeper center from Charlotte who is nowat the Patterson School, could make a return trip to the Atlantic 10 school. Canadian guard Jason Calliste from Quality Education in Winston-Salem is high on therecruiting board fro Charlotte and he's scheduled for a visit.

Greg Gantt, a guard from Gainesville (Fla.) High, is visitingJacksonville.

Mike Dixon, a 6-foot point guard from Johnsburg (Ill.) High School, will trip to Davidson for an unofficial visit.

 

[allen3xis]

Jerry Rice's daughter aint half bad.

 

[rellbettablues]

I don't follow recruiting mainly because I don't like how the media gas these kids' heads but how does the future for Syracuse look?

 

[allen3xis]

Jay Bilas says he has Collison and Flynn 1a and 1b for best PG.

Rell, i think yall look alright. there's one kid I forget the name but he's supposed to be big time for 2010 i believe.

 

[tmukg21]

Since we are talking about recruiting, who is the best female player out there and/or lists. Didn't want to create a separate thread.
(UNC and Duke battles are always a fun watch

)