The College Basketball Post

[allen3xis]

Parrish


[font=Arial, Helvetica]The second pick in the past two NBA Drafts has come from the Big 12.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]First it was Kevin Durant.[/font]

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[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Quick facts[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Defending regular-season champion:
Texas/Kansas[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Defending tournament champion:
Kansas[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Top returning scorer:
A.J. Abrams (Texas), 16.5 ppg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Top returning rebounder:
Damion James (Texas), 10.3 rpg[/td] [/tr][tr][td]

Click here for more
season previews & primers​

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[font=Arial, Helvetica]Then it was Michael Beasley.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]So clearly the stars of this league are stars by any measuring stick, and though Blake Griffin probably won'tbreak the conference records Durant and Beasley took turns demolishing, it's possible he'll follow in their footsteps and be the third consecutive No.2 pick.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Actually, he could best them both and be the first top pick to come from a current Big 12 school since Danny Manningin 1988, but a lot of that will depend on whether the Oklahoma forward stays healthy and helps the Sooners push Texas in what CBSSports.com is calling thefourth-best basketball league this season.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Here's a look at the Big 12:[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]1. Texas[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: The entire team is back except D.J. Augustin, meaning though the Longhorns are missingtheir All-American point guard there are still enough pieces in place to win the Big 12. Leading the way are A.J. Abrams and Damion James. They combined toaverage 29.4 points last season for a 31-win team that made the Elite Eight.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: Augustin's loss cannot be discounted. With him, Texas might have been the preseason No.1 team (even ahead of North Carolina). But without him they aren't even the clear choice to win the Big 12, at least according to league officials whotabbed Oklahoma the favorite. Abrams will play some point, but he's not really a point guard. Justin Mason is another option, as is Dogus Balbay. Buteither way, the position is a huge question mark, and it's likely Rick Barnes won't know exactly what he has until the games get started.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: The opinion here is that if UT can overcome the loss of Kevin Durant, it can do thesame this time around. Obviously, solid point guard play is necessary to achieve greatness. But it's hard to imagine Barnes not figuring it out and leadingthe Longhorns into the Sweet Sixteen, at least.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]2. Oklahoma[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: Blake Griffin delayed the opportunity to be a top 10 pick so he could return to school.His reward? The honor of being named the Big 12's preseason Player of the Year, plus the chance to team with dynamic freshman Willie Warren and lead theSooners to the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: Longar Longar wasn't spectacular, but he was worth 11.4 points and 5.6 rebounds pergame. That he's gone means Griffin lost a frontcourt mate, but the hope is that Ryan Wright, a 6-foot-9 transfer from UCLA, can help fill some of that voidand develop into a steady presence.[/font]

[table][tr][td]Predicted Finish[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Team[/td] [td]Postseason[/td] [/tr][tr][td]1. Texas[/td] [td]NCAA[/td] [/tr][tr][td]2. Oklahoma[/td] [td]NCAA[/td] [/tr][tr][td]3. Baylor[/td] [td]NCAA[/td] [/tr][tr][td]4. Kansas[/td] [td]NCAA[/td] [/tr][tr][td]5. Texas A&M[/td] [td]NCAA[/td] [/tr][tr][td]6. Missouri[/td] [td]NIT/CBI[/td] [/tr][tr][td]7. Oklahoma State[/td] [td]NIT/CBI[/td] [/tr][tr][td]8. Kansas State[/td] [td]NIT/CBI[/td] [/tr][tr][td]9. Nebraska[/td] [td]none[/td] [/tr][tr][td]10. Texas Tech[/td] [td]none[/td] [/tr][tr][td]11. Iowa State[/td] [td]none[/td] [/tr][tr][td]12. Colorado[/td] [td]none[/td] [/tr][/table]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: Jeff Capel inherited a mess but has turned it around quickly and admirably. Now theSooners are in position to win the Big 12, and if Warren and Griffin play well off each other then something as big as a Final Four is certainlypossible.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]3. Baylor[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: The Bears made the NCAA tournament less than five years after one player murdered anotherand sent the program into a spiral, and only Aaron Bruce is missing. What that means is that the top five scorers are back, including a trio of guards --Curtis Jerrells, Henry Dugat and LaceDarius Dunn -- who combined to average 41.1 points in 2007-08.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: Yes, Baylor's season was nice, but it's tough to forget how the Bears weredemolished in the tournament by Purdue. Was that any way to act on the big stage against a capable opponent? Of course not. But it must be noted that for allthe success, Baylor finished just 3-9 against BCS opponents who were good enough to make the NCAA tournament. The wins were against Texas A&M, Kansas Stateand Notre Dame. The losses were to Texas A&M, Kansas, Washington State, Arkansas, Oklahoma (twice), Texas (twice) and Purdue.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: Barring injuries, Baylor will make the NCAA tournament. But that's not goodenough anymore. A team with this talent needs to advance to show progress and make it clear to John Wall that it wouldn't be a waste for him to spend hisone year of college in Waco.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]4. Kansas[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: Kansas managed to win a national title, keep its coach from jumping to his alma mater andenroll a top three recruiting class. Combine that with the fact that Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich provide a nice nucleus of veterans, and yeah, things areOK at Allen Fieldhouse, even if this roster doesn't compare to the one Bill Self had last season.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: That roster from last season I mentioned is basically gone, save Collins and Aldrich. Thereare zero returning starters and zero returning double-digit scorers. So though the incoming talent is nice -- specifically freshman forward Marcus Morris --the Jayhawks are going to be very much learning as they go, which isn't always as simple as fans like to think.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: Because it's Kansas and Self -- i.e., two entities that never suck -- youalmost have to give the Jayhawks the benefit of the doubt. But Billy Donovan learned last season how difficult it can be to take a roster filled with giftednewcomers to the NCAA tournament following a national title. The Jayhawks had better be aware of that story because if the adjustment lasts longer thanexpected the nonleague schedule will yield losses that could be tough to overcome on Selection Sunday.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]5. Texas A&M[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: Mark Turgeon made the NCAA tournament and put a scare into UCLA before ending his firstseason, meaning though his move had some bumpy parts it was manageable and a success. Josh Carter, Bryan Davis and Donald Sloan return to help Turgeon furtherestablish himself in his second season, and that's a solid nucleus that should blend well with freshmen David Loubeau and Dashan Harris.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: The loss of DeAndre Jordan was neither a surprise nor a disappointment. Addition bysubtraction and all that. But it'll be no easy task to replace Joseph Jones and Dominique Kirk. Those two were keys to the Aggies' emergence firstunder Billy Gillispie and then Turgeon. They averaged 10.3 and 8.4 points last season and were a big part of those 25 victories.[/font]
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DainTexas: What is there to say about the Big 12, other than it never fails to provide its fans with an exciting season? Last year, the Jayhawks provided the conference with another National Title in an amazing win over the Memphis Tigers. It seems that there is always a team or two making a run at the championship, or at the very least, a Final Four appearance. Whether it's Kansas, Texas or Oklahoma State, the Big 12 always provides contenders and big stars. It has provided back to back "one-and-done" sensations in Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley, and this coming season promises nothing less.

The up-and-coming OU Sooners are the preseason No. 1., and look to prove that they can hold on to it with a young and talented team. Nipping at OU's heals would be the Texas Longhorns, who played in last year's Elite Eight. Kansas is, and always will be, a "big dog" of the Big 12... especially with that title in it's posession. As the Big 12 does in every other sport, it will prove this year why it is the most dominant conference in college basketball. This preview will cover all 12 teams, and show each team's strength, weakness, and potential. Read more[/td] [/tr][/table]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: This is clearly a transitional season, but it still appears enough pieces are inplace to push the Aggies back to the NCAA tournament. They should get there as long as Loubeau makes an immediate impact in the frontcourt, Davis continues toprogress and Carter keeps making shots.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]6. Missouri[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: DeMarre Carroll is a potential all-league player after averaging 13.0 points and 6.7rebounds last season. He'll be joined in the frontcourt by Leo Lyons, a 6-9 forward who averaged 18.6 points and 12.2 rebounds in Missouri's final fivegames of the 2007-08 season.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: Keon Lawrence wasn't the best teammate or leader, but he was worth 11.0 points from theguard position. His transfer to Seton Hall leaves the Tigers without an established backcourt scorer.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: Mike Anderson has been criticized for the off-the-court problems that have plaguedMissouri the past two years. Honestly, it's hard to tell whether the messes were merely bad luck or more of a trend, but either way it's important forAnderson to put them in the past, move forward, win and keep his players out of trouble. If that happens, everything will be fine. If not, the heat couldintensify regardless of whether it's fair or not.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]7. Oklahoma State[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: When there are coaching changes it's not unusual for players to bolt for new campuses,but OSU managed to make it through the offseason with its roster mostly intact. The best of the returning players is James Anderson, a 6-6 wing who averaged13.3 points as a freshman and could be one of the Big 12's best if he becomes a little more consistent. He's one of four returning players who averagedat least nine points last season.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: What Travis Ford inherited in backcourt talent is at risk of being offset by a questionablefrontcourt. Marcus Dove was the only Cowboy who averaged at least five rebounds last season, and he's gone. For a team that was outrebounded in 2007-08,this is a concern.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: A roster with Anderson, Byron Eaton, Terrel Harris and Obi Muonelo isn't bad onpaper, but it did lose 16 games last season. Put another way, I'm intrigued by the possibilities, but the lack of frontcourt depth combined with thegrowing pains that come with most coaching changes make it wise to avoid predicting an NCAA tournament berth.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]8. Kansas State[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: Jacob Pullen is back after averaging 9.7 points last season, and he'll be joined byMiami transfer Denis Clemente. The duo gives Frank Martin a nice pair of point guards, and though both are small they are good enough to play together and makethe Wildcats a different kind of threat.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: Did you hear about Michael Beasley turning pro? He averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 reboundslast season, and was the most dominant figure in the sport regardless of what you might have read somewhere else. Again, the best player in the country lastseason was Kansas State's star freshman, and that he won't be a star sophomore will make Martin's job a lot tougher. Also a problem is that BillWalker turned pro too, and Abdul Herrera -- i.e., somebody who is supposed to help offset the losses -- has been hobbled all preseason withinjuries.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: The fact that Martin (with the help of assistant Delonte Hill) is recruiting at ahigh level suggests he's going to survive in this league. This season will be a step back because of the losses of Beasley and Walker. But with top 20recruit Wally Judge set to enroll next season, it's clear good things are going to continue to happen for Kansas State, even if the Wildcats dip a bit in2008-09.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]9. Nebraska[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: Steve Harley, Ade Dagunduro and Ryan Anderson are three key parts from a team that won 20games last season while notching victories over Kansas State, Oklahoma and Oregon. None of them averaged double-figures, but they all averaged at leasteight.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: Aleks Maric wasn't all that glamorous, but he did average 15.7 points and 10.2 reboundslast season. His departure leaves a gaping hole in the frontcourt, one that can't be filled with anyone on the current roster. Also worth noting is theloss of recruit Roburt Sallie. He was ruled ineligible after previously enrolling at Nebraska and is now at Memphis, which is good for Memphis and bad forNebraska.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: Doc Sadler has proved himself as a coach, which is why there's a chance thisteam could be a surprise. But the loss of Maric (after four years) and Sallie (before one) likely means another NIT/CBI bid is about all that can be reasonablyexpected.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]10. Texas Tech[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: Four starters are back from a team that finished with a winning record, which should helpPat Knight in his first full season on the job. Alan Voskuil is the team's leading returning scorer. The 6-3 guard averaged 13.1 points last season andmade 50 percent of his 3-point attempts.[/font]

[table][tr][td]Accolades[/td] [/tr][tr][td]First team[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G - Sherron Collins, Kansas[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G - A.J. Abrams, Texas[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F - Curtis Jerrells, Baylor[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F - Damion James, Texas[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F - Blake Griffin, Oklahoma[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Second team[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G - Willie Warren, Oklahoma[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G - Josh Carter, Texas A&M[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G - James Anderson, Oklahoma State[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F - Cole Aldrich, Kansas[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F - DeMarre Carroll, Missouri[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Player of the year
Blake Griffin, Oklahoma[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Newcomer of the year
Willie Warren, Oklahoma[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Breakthrough player
Cole Aldrich, Kansas[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Coach on the hot seat
Mike Anderson, Missouri[/td] [/tr][/table]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: Yes, the Red Raiders had a winning record last season, but they were just 4-7 under PatKnight compared to 12-8 under Bob Knight. In other words, the younger Knight still has to show himself worthy of this job. In a perfect world, he'll be thenext Tony Bennett (son of %%+! Bennett). But the fear is that things won't go quite that well, and it's a reasonable fear given thecircumstances.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: It's hard to follow a legend and even harder when that legend is your father.Trying to bust out of that shadow will prove impossible for Pat Knight, but if he can just keep the program respectable this season, then recruit and upgradetalent he'll be on his way to becoming a success story.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]11. Iowa State[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: Craig Brackins is one of the best unknown players in the country, just a skilled big mancapable of playing around the rim and away from the basket. He averaged 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds as a freshmen and will do more now that he must do morewith the absence of Wesley Johnson and Jiri Hubalek.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: The loss of Johnson via transfer caught the ISU staff by surprise and really left GregMcDermott in a bad spot. Remember, this could in theory be a team with a trio of Brackins, Johnson and Shawn Taggart. But now Johnson is at Syracuse, Taggartis at Memphis and McDermott is in charge of a roster lacking the type of talent it takes to compete in a league of this caliber.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: Simply put, there is no reason to envision the Cyclones being much (if any) betterthan they were last season when they finished 4-12 in the Big 12. Brackins is gifted, but not to the point where he can beat good teams without a strongersupporting cast.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]12. Colorado[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]The good: Colorado has finally started to invest in its program with facility upgrades, which shouldhelp secure more talented recruits like Nate Tomlinson. He's a 6-3 point guard from Australia who has received nice reviews this preseason, and it'sclear he's one of the building blocks -- along with sophomore Cory Higgins -- who could help Jeff Bzdelik get this program turned around.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bad: Richard Roby's reputation dipped drastically the past two years, but he still finishedas Colorado's all-time leading scorer after averaging 17.0 points last season. Marcus Hall and Xavier Silas are also gone. That's 40.7 points that mustbe replaced.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]The bottom line: Bzdelik was a candidate for the Chicago Bulls' opening this past offseason, andthis is the type of season that's going to make him wish he got the gig. Instead of coaching Derrick Rose, he's coaching, well, a bunch of guys whoaren't quite Derrick Rose. That's the nicest way to put it and the way it'll remain until the talent at Colorado is upgraded and these young guysget older.[/font]

 

[jamesonnt]

Baylor's turnaround has indeed been crazy.

 

[shannonscrooks]

Chase Budinger and Ty Lawson top 10 NBA prospects?

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

[table][tr][td][/td] [/tr][tr][td]G - Sherron Collins, Kansas[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G - A.J. Abrams, Texas[/td] [/tr][/table]

 

[bigmike23]

Mike Moser, the 6-7 wing from Portland (Oreg.) Grant, will visit UCLA officially this weekend, according to sources.
Moser, one of the most talented players on the west coast for 2009, de-committed from Arizona a couple of weeks ago after Lute Olson announced his retirementas the Wildcat head coach.

Since then, Moser has been inundated with recruiting attention, from around the country.

Schools like Indiana and Louisville have contacted Moser to gauge interest.

Sources are telling us, however, that he, as of now, wants to stay on the west and in the Pac-10. The schools in serious contention are UCLA, Oregon andWashington.

Moser has indicated in recent interviews that he wanted to wait until the spring signing period to decide. But we're hearing, with how much attentionhe's been getting, he could commit considerably before that, in fact, in the next few weeks.

The fall signing period begins next Wednesday, November 12th and extends one week.

Sources close to the recruitment feel that UCLA is in good shape with Moser, and that his official visit this weekend could make a huge impact on him. UCLAHead Coach Ben Howland and assistant Donnie Daniels visited Moser's high school Tuesday.

Moser had previously visited just Arizona officially, so he'll have three more official visit available if he chooses to take them

 

[philballa09]

Moser

he's more of a offensive Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, he canplay the 2-3-4 position...i hope he commits

 

[allen3xis]

Here's my first mailbag and it concerns the recent recruitment of elite uncommitted senior point guard John Wall. Remember, send any questions to [email protected]
``Do you think that Duke has a legitimate shot at getting John Wall?" - Jim in North Carolina

Duke wasn't a factor until recently after they lost Kenny Boynton to Florida, but I think the Blue Devils may be able to make up significantground. The scenario could make a lot of sense for Wall because his mother is sick and his father died when he was younger. If he wants to stay close to home,it's a place where he can go for a year, get a ton of exposure and compete for a national title.

Duke has reached out to Wall and his AAU coach, Brian Clifton, recently and Coach Krzyzewski and his staff have basically offered Wall a scholarship. Look forWall to take a visit down the road (he goes to school in Raleigh) soon.

He would come right in and start for the Blue Devils at point guard over Nolan Smith - and would play on a veteran team with guys like Gerald Henderson Jr.,Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler.

It would be similar to what Derrick Rose walked into at Memphis.

RANDOM NOTES: One score I forgot to mention yesterday was that Rhode Island blew out Conconrdia, 123-84, behind Delroy James' 24 points.Jimmy Baron and Keith Cothran each added 20. … Chipola knocked off top-ranked Indian Hills, 62-61, on the road last night. Casey Mitchell led Chipola with 15points and also scored the game-winning basket. … One day after getting a commitment from Mater Dei (Calif.) junior guard Gary Franklin, USC also received apledge from La Mirada (Calif.) 6-foot-7 senior forward Derrick Williams. ``I just felt it was the right fit for me," Williams told Scout.com. Williams hashad a couple of big games against high-profile guys. He went for 40-plus against UCLA commit Tyler Honeycutt and went for 42 against Renardo Sidney as asophomore. … Word is Middlesex School 6-foot-8 junior forward Rod Odom will have Georgetown coach John Thompson III and BC's Al Skinner in the gym onSunday. Odom, a Long Island native, already has offers from West Virginia and Seton Hall - and significant interest from Rutgers and Stanford. Odom visitedGeorgetown for Midnight Madness.

USC and Xavier both picked up junior commitments today.

The Trojans got local guard Gary Franklin out of Mater Dei (Calif.).

``He's happy it's off his shoulders now," Gary Franklin Sr. told Rivals.com's Justin Young.

Xavier received a pledge from Columbus Northland (Ohio) 6-foot-6 forward J.D. Weatherspoon, who joins Jordan Latham as Musketeer commits in the Class of 2010.

``It was the right fit because their forwards go to the NBA," Weatherspoon told Brian Snow of MusketeerScoop.com. ``Coach (Sean) Miller told me if I workmy butt off I can be an NBA player. Xavcier plays on ESPN all the time, and you can't argue with that."

..
Roscoe, Kendrick, Odom...should be interesting. 90% of getting 2/3

 

[allen3xis]

Bob McClellan
Rivals.com College Basketball Editor

Big East picks

[table][tr][td]1. Connecticut*[/td] [/tr][tr][td]2. Pittsburgh*[/td] [/tr][tr][td]3. Notre Dame*[/td] [/tr][tr][td]4. Louisville*[/td] [/tr][tr][td]5. Georgetown*[/td] [/tr][tr][td]6. Villanova*[/td] [/tr][tr][td]7. Marquette*[/td] [/tr][tr][td]8. West Virginia*[/td] [/tr][tr][td]9. Syracuse*[/td] [/tr][tr][td]10. Providence#[/td] [/tr][tr][td]11. Cincinnati#[/td] [/tr][tr][td]12. Rutgers#[/td] [/tr][tr][td]13. Seton Hall[/td] [/tr][tr][td]14. St. John's[/td] [/tr][tr][td]15. DePaul[/td] [/tr][tr][td]16. USF[/td] [/tr][tr][td]*-projected NCAA tournament team[/td] [/tr][tr][td]#-projected NIT team[/td] [/tr][/table]

The Big East comes off a season in which it tied its record of eight NCAA tournament bids.

Anyone for nine? Go ahead - throw out 10 if you want.

Yes, the Big East is that good this season. Seven of its teams are in each of the top 25 polls, and the Rivals.com Top 65 had nine Big East teams among thetop 32.

Anyone who survives should get a medal. Anyone who finishes .500 or better should get an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

"Look around at many of the preseason polls and we have eight teams in the top 25 in the country," Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said atthe league's media day. "We return 10 of our leading 11 rebounders from last year. We return 13 of our leading 18 scorers. We return our player of theyear, our defensive player of the year and our co-rookies of the year. … That in itself is enough to scare you if you're coaching in this league."

Louisville coach Rick Pitino isn't one to be scared. He has one of the BigEast teams ranked the highest in the polls (the Cardinals are No. 3 in both polls; Connecticut is No. 2 in both). But he is bracing himself.

"Since I've been a coach 33-some odd years, I think this is the strongest league in the history of college basketball in terms of its depth, interms of the returning players coming back," he said. "I've never seen a league with 11 teams that could be ranked in the top 30."

Team on the rise: Rutgers
First off, it's hard to pick a team on the rise in the Big East because the first eight or nine teams are established programs with legitimate top-25aspirations. You can't call UConn, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Villanova, Marquette, Syracuse or even West Virginia a team on the rise.Their elevators go to the top floor. The Scarlet Knights, though, are coming off a season in which they were in the basement. They went 11-20 overall and 3-15in the Big East. The good news is it was a young team that got better throughout the season. It managed consecutive victories over top-25 teams last seasonwhen it upset Villanova, then went on the road and stunned Pittsburgh. All five starters and the top seven scorers return, and coach Fred Hill adds a recruiting class that Rivals.com ranked No. 30 nationally. The classincludes two four-star prospects who could make a major impact immediately in center Greg Echenique (No. 50 prospect overall) and shooting guard Mike Rosario (No. 55). Rosario is the first McDonald's All-American to sign withRutgers. The league's coaches see a little something brewing, too: They picked the Scarlet Knights 12th in their preseason poll.

Rivals.com Preseason All-Big East Teams

[size=-2]Notre Dame's Luke Harangody is our preseason Big East Player of the Year.[/size]

[table][tr][td]First Team[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G A.J. Price, UConn, Sr., 6-2/181[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-0/196[/td] [/tr][tr][td]C Hasheem Thabeet, UConn, Jr., 7-3/263[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, Jr., 6-8/255[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F Sam Young, Pittsburgh, Sr., 6-6/220[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Second Team[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, Soph., 6-0, 185[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, Jr., 6-2, 195[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Jerel McNeal, Marquette, Sr., 6-3, 200[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F Terrence Williams, Louisville, Sr., 6-6/210[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F Earl Clark, Louisville, Jr., 6-8/220[/td] [/tr][tr][td]All-Freshman Team[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Kemba Walker, Connecticut, 6-1/172[/td] [/tr][tr][td]G Mike Rosario, Rutgers, 6-3/180[/td] [/tr][tr][td]C Greg Monroe, Georgetown, 6-11/250[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F Samardo Samuels, Louisville, 6-8/240[/td] [/tr][tr][td]F Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, 6-9/255[/td] [/tr][/table]
Team on the decline: DePaul
The 2007 recruiting class included five-star center Mac Koshwal (10.7 ppg, 8.4rpg) and four-star guard Dar Tucker (13.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Each was solid as afreshman, but it wasn't enough to get the Blue Demons back on track in the Big East. Now, they lose leading scorer Draelon Burns and leading assist manCliff Clinkscales, and the league's coaches tabbed them 15th in the preseason vote. This season's recruiting class included only one player in theRivals150, point guard Jeremiah Kelly at No. 141. Some teams have to lose, andlose a lot, in a league where it's possible nine teams make the NCAA tournament.
Coach on the rise: Pittsburgh's Jamie Dixon
Dixon is entering his sixth season with the Panthers, and he has fashioned a 132-40 record, including 55-27 in the Big East. His teams always have managed awinning record in conference play. They had their worst regular-season finish (seventh) of the Dixon Era last season, but they followed it with a run to theBig East tournament title. That feat included consecutive victories over Louisville, Marquette and Georgetown. Dixon already is being mentioned as apossibility to take over at Arizona in the wake of Lute Olson's retirement. Each of his five teams have won at least 20 games and made the NCAA tournament.If he's ever going to leave Pittsburgh, this could be the time. He has a team capable of reaching his first Final Four.

Coach on the hot seat: St. John's Norm Roberts
He enters his fifth season at the helm of the Red Storm, and he can see the storm clouds brewing. A lot of people are surprised he wasn't dismissed afterlast season, after St. John's went 11-19 overall and 5-13 in the Big East. Roberts has an overall record of 48-67, including 20-46 in conference play. TheRed Storm has qualified for the Big East tournament only once during his tenure, and the league's coaches don't seem to believe they're much of athreat this season. They were picked 14th in the coaches' preseason poll, one spot ahead of DePaul.

Best offensive player: Notre Dame's Luke Harangody
Harangody tore through the Big East last season, averaging 23.3 points in conference play. That was 5.0 points more than any other player. He attempted morefree throws than anybody in the league, too, and shot a respectable 76.8 percent from the line. Harangody had three games of 30-plus points against Big Eastopponents, including 40 against Louisville and 32 against UConn. Word out of South Bend is he has expanded his range, which is a scary thought for theleague's coaches trying to devise ways to defend him.

Best 3-point shooter: Notre Dame's Kyle McAlarney
Mr. Outside to Harangody's Mr. Inside, McAlarney led the Big East in 3-pointers made (10 last season and was second in 3-point percentage (44.1).That's a lethal combination. He gets a lot of open looks on the perimeter with Harangody pounding away on the inside and with Tory Jackson's ability to penetrate. The 3-point line moving back a foot will be ofno concern.

Best defensive player(s): Connecticut's Hasheem Thabeet andMarquette's Jerel McNeal
The Big East has two previous defensive players of the year still in the conference. Thabeet took the honor last season after finishing first in the conferenceand third in the nation in blocks (4.5 per game). Thabeet, who is 7-3, has a 7-7 wingspan and great timing. McNeal won the award in 2007 and remains aball-hawking guard who can shut down just about anyone on the perimeter. He was second in the Big East in steals (2.2 per game).

Best player you don't know yet: Marquette's JosephFulce
Fulce is a 6-7 transfer from Tyler (Texas) College. He was a second-team NJCAA All-American after averaging 16.6 points and 13.2 rebounds last season. TheGolden Eagles need help in the frontcourt, and anyone who can rebound has a chance to see significant minutes.
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td]

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

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Louisville coach Rick Pitino may have the Big East's deepest bench.[/td] [/tr][/table]Deepest bench: Louisville
The Cardinals return four starters and the sixth man from an Elite Eight team, and they add Mississippi State transfer Reginald Delk and a four-man recruiting class ranked sixth nationally by Rivals.com.The class includes two five-star power forwards who will see major playing time immediately (see below) and another member of the Rivals150 (see below). CoachRick Pitino likes to rotate nine or 10 players, and he will do so again this season.
Impact newcomer: Louisville's Samardo Samuels
The Cardinals need help in the frontcourt after the departures of David Padgett, Juan Palacios and Derrick Caracter. In comes Samuels, a five-star prospectwith NBA size (6-8/240) and strength. He has been praised early by Pitino for his desire and worth ethic, and he led the Cardinals with 20 points in theirfirst exhibition. His rebounding and low-post presence will be a key if Louisville is to live up to Final Four expectations.

Freshman sleeper: Louisville's Jared Swopshire
The 6-7 forward is a three-star prospect (ranked No. 131 overall) with a high ceiling. He has a smooth game and is a good scorer in the mid-range. Swopshirehad 14 points and 11 rebounds in Louisville's first exhibition in just 19 minutes of action.


..


Bob McClellan
Rivals.com College Basketball Editor
There are two ways for coaches to get off the hot seat: Get fired or win.[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td]

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

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Things aren't looking good for Bill Carmody at Northwestern.[/td] [/tr][/table]It's that simple. If you're on this list and can wave a 20-win season and NCAA tournament bid in the face of your athleticdirector (a la Miami's Frank Haith) you may not only be safe butget a contract extension.
The last place you want to be is on this list for the second consecutive season. That usually means you're hotter than leftover Domino's forgottenin the oven. That usually means it's postseason or bust.

Last season's list had one holdover: South Carolina's Dave Odom announced his resignation in January. This year's list has a whopping five.

What it does not have is a single coach from the Big 12 or the Pac-10. They can only hope we're correct.

2008-09 10 Coaches on the Hot Seat

1. Bill Carmody, Northwestern
It's not easy to be at the helm of the Wildcats, and no one will pretend that it is. But Carmody, a returnee to the list, is entering his ninth season andthe program is no better off than when he arrived. After hitting a high-water mark with an 8-8 Big Ten record and tie for fifth in his fourth season, Carmodyhas gone 15-51 in conference games. That's an abysmal .227 winning percentage. It's even worse over the course of the past two seasons (3-31). Theathletic administration has shown plenty of patience, maybe too much. But there's a new athletic director - Jim Phillips came on board in April - and thisis a chance for him to make a statement. Barring making the postseason with a team that went 8-22 overall and 1-17 in the Big Ten last season, Carmody will beout in March.

2. Norm Roberts, St. John's
Roberts enters his fifth season at the helm of the Red Storm, and he can see the storm clouds brewing. A lot of people are surprised the thunder didn'tcome down on him after last season, in which St. John's went 11-19 overall and 5-13 in the Big East. Roberts, another holdover on this list, now sports arecord of 48-67, including 20-46 in conference play. The Red Storm has qualified for the Big East tournament only once during his tenure, and the league'scoaches don't seem to believe they're much of a threat this season: They were picked 14th in the coaches' preseason poll, one point ahead ofDePaul.

3. Jeff Lebo, Auburn
The SEC West isn't nearly the murderers' row the East is, yet Lebo has gone only 19-45 in the league in his four seasons. Included in that mark arethree 4-12 seasons. OK, his teams have been unusually beset by injuries by anybody's standards, but he's winning only 29.7 percent in conference. Thatcan get you fired anywhere. Usually, no one is paying much attention to basketball on the Plains, but with the football program on a downward spiral, Lebodoesn't have that luxury this season. The West is wide open, so Lebo could hang on. But a poor season in a mediocre division would spell doom.

4. Ed DeChellis, Penn State
DeChellis, a returnee to the hot seat, enters his sixth season in Happy Valley with nothing better than a seventh-place finish in the Big Ten to show for it.His record is 56-91, including 19-63 in the conference. That's a .232 winning percentage in Big Ten games. He may have held on to his job last seasonbecause he won seven Big Ten games, his career-high, despite a season-ending injury to star Geary Claxton in January. He also has the benefit of no one oncampus realizing basketball has started with the way the school's football team is going.

5. Mark Gottfried, Alabama
Even Gottfried was surprised when the Crimson Tide was picked to win the West in the SEC preseason media poll. They went 17-16 last season, including 5-11 inthe SEC. It left them in fifth in the West, ahead of only Auburn (see above). The Tide ended a streak of seven consecutive postseason appearances when theydeclined to play in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational. Gottfried has been at the helm in Tuscaloosa for 10 seasons, but he has had a winning recordin conference play only three times. He's 12-20 in the SEC in the past two seasons.
[table][tr][td]

[/td] [td]

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

[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Alabama has gone just 12-20 in SEC play over the last two years under Mark Gottfried.[/td] [/tr][/table]6. Sidney Lowe, N.C. State
High expectations can be hard on a coach; if you don't live up to them, the heat gets turned up quickly. Lowe is entering his third season. His firstseason, the Wolfpack went 5-11 in the ACC and tied for 10th, but they made a surprising run to the ACC tournament final and snuck into the NIT. Last season,Lowe's team was picked third in the preseason poll but finished in the basement after going 4-12. That means a two-year conference record of 9-23. NC Statecarries a nine-game losing streak into the start of this season.
7. Bobby Gonzalez, Seton Hall
Sometimes coaching changes are expedited by strained relations with the athletic director. It's fair to say Gonzalez and Pirates AD Joe Quinlan are notgolfing buddies. Quinlan has suspended Gonzalez for the first Big East game this season because of the coach's criticism of the officiating after a March 9loss to Rutgers.Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese called the behavior of Gonzalez and Scarlet Knights coach Fred Hill unacceptable: "I was embarrassed for ourconference. I was embarrassed for our coaches. … I can promise you, it's not going to happen again." Gonzalez is 30-31 in two seasons at the Hall,including 11-23 in the Big East.

8. Leonard Hamilton, Florida State
The Seminoles are 106-86 in Hamilton's six seasons but have not made an NCAA appearance during his tenure. He also is only 35-61 in the ACC, a .365 winningpercentage. He has had one season with a winning league record. Florida State has a new athletic director, Randy Spetman, who - should the Seminoles struggleagain - could choose to move the program in another direction. FSU was picked to finish 10th in the ACC preseason media poll.

9. Paul Hewitt, Georgia Tech
Hewitt enters his ninth season in Atlanta with an overall mark of 142-112, but only 58-70 in the ACC. His teams have had one winning mark in conference playduring his tenure, and the Yellow Jackets have missed the postseason in two of the past three seasons. The ACC preseason media poll listed Georgia Tech eighth,just ahead of NC State and FSU. Hewitt has been victimized by early defections to the NBA, but he also has lost some top area recruits to his ACC competition.He could use a big season.

10. Dennis Felton, Georgia
Felton enters his sixth season probably only because of the surprising finish to his fifth. After finishing last in the SEC East during the regular season andwith buzzards circling overhead, the Bulldogs made a miracle run to the SEC tournament title and received the league's automatic bid to the NCAAtournament. Still, they are 75-80 overall under Felton with a dismal SEC mark of 26-54. The SEC East is a difficult mountain to climb with Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, and it won'ttake long for Felton to be feeling the heat again.

 

[wings90]

I want to see how Balbay does. I doubt that Abrams will work at the point.

 

[tmay407]

Originally Posted by JamesOnNT

Baylor's turnaround has indeed been crazy fishy.

Fixed...

Scott Drew has done a hell of a job turning that program around, though. I remember going to see them when they were playing Oklahoma State a few years ago(when OK State had the Grahams), and Aaron Bruce was the star of that team

They've come a long way...

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

Here's my first mailbag and it concerns the recent recruitment of elite uncommitted senior point guard John Wall. Remember, send any questions to [email protected]
``Do you think that Duke has a legitimate shot at getting John Wall?" - Jim in North Carolina

Duke wasn't a factor until recently after they lost Kenny Boynton to Florida, but I think the Blue Devils may be able to make up significant ground. The scenario could make a lot of sense for Wall because his mother is sick and his father died when he was younger. If he wants to stay close to home, it's a place where he can go for a year, get a ton of exposure and compete for a national title.

Duke has reached out to Wall and his AAU coach, Brian Clifton, recently and Coach Krzyzewski and his staff have basically offered Wall a scholarship. Look for Wall to take a visit down the road (he goes to school in Raleigh) soon.

He would come right in and start for the Blue Devils at point guard over Nolan Smith - and would play on a veteran team with guys like Gerald Henderson Jr., Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler.

It would be similar to what Derrick Rose walked into at Memphis.

 

[allen3xis]

Evans ready after first-practice jitters pass

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 | PrintEntry

Posted by Andy Katz
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Tyreke Evans wasnervous for his first practice.
That's over, and so, too, are the nerves.

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Richard Clement/Icon SMI

Tyreke Evans didn't arrive at Memphis with the hype Derrick Rose did, but the freshman hopes to make a similar impact offensively in the Tigers' system.
He showed little sign of being on edge during practice at Memphis, where he will be counted on to provide energy and points on a new-look Tigers teamthis season. The heralded freshman from Chester, Pa., is the latest in a long line of first-year Memphis players with plenty of hype. "With this offense Ican be unstoppable and have an impact,'' Evans said. "I love the style of the play, the Dribble-Drive [Motion]. I can score off the drive alot.'' Evans was rather blunt in saying that if the current NBA draft rule weren't in effect, he would have gone to the NBA out of high school. Buthe said he is noncommittal about being one-and-done. Memphis coach John Calipari said Evans isn't exhibiting any thoughts about being a one-and-done atthis point. And why should he? The season hasn't even started yet. But Evans is nowhere near receiving the hype Derrick Rose did a year ago. Rose came inas the player who was expected to push the Tigers over from being an Elite Eight team to a Final Four team with his play at the point. He did just that,dazzling everyone in his path en route to being the leader of the Tigers by March. "He hasn't had as much pressure as D-Rose had,'' Memphissenior guard Antonio Anderson said. "Derrick had photo shoot after photo shoot.Tyreke is handling it like a normal high school kid. A lot of people say he doesn't pass the ball, but I played with him all summer and he just wants towin. He'll pass the ball and he can play defense. He does a lot of things. He'll surprise people.'' Memphis senior forward Robert Dozier said that Evans is an unselfish scorer. "He's a superdefender,'' Dozier said. "He'll make up for some of the scoring from Chris Douglas-Roberts.'' Other Memphis nuggets
• The Tigers scrimmaged Saint Louis over the weekend and 6-8 freshman WesleyWitherspoon and junior Willie Kemp shared the point. The hope among the Tigers isthat they can have multiple points to get into their driving offense. Look for Evans to have the ball a fair amount as well.
• Anderson has been out withshin splints. He is expected to be back later in the week. He didn't play against the Billikens. • Memphis is hopeful it will get word on the eligibilityof freshmen big men Matt Simpkins and Angel Garcia. Both players were allowed to practice before Friday, when they were put on holduntil a ruling comes from the NCAA Clearinghouse on their academic eligibility. • Memphis officials said the NCAA has informed its attorneys that aninvestigation into whether or not a FedEx official made calls on its behalf to the mother of Abdul Gaddy for recruiting purposes (the mother worked for the Memphis-basedFedEx in its Seattle office) is closed. Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson was informed that since Gaddy isn't attending Memphis (he committed toWashington after getting out of a commitment to Arizona), there is no reason to penalize Memphis. And if he had attended Memphis, the Tigers were told it wouldhave been a secondary violation, which usually doesn't amount to a severe penalty. • Calipari is working on a number of big-time games in the years tocome. He said he has tentative agreements with Duke for a game in Chicago in 2009, at Memphis in 2010 and in Durham, N.C., in 2011; a home-and-home with NorthCarolina to start in 2009 or 2010; a game with Louisville in Nashville, Tenn., in 2009; and a possible game with Kansas in St. Louis in 2009. In 2009-10, theTigers will take a year off with the Georgetown series next season, play Gonzaga and Tennessee at home, play at Syracuse and play UMass in Boston.

 

[jamesonnt]

allen3xis wrote:
Odom, a Long Island native,

Seriously though, LI has been putting out high major talent like crazy the last few years.

Seriously though, why isn't my avy changing?

 

[ricardo malta]

He would come right in and start for the Blue Devils at point guard over Nolan Smith - and would play on a veteran team with guys like Gerald Henderson Jr., Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler.
Not only that, he'd get to play with Ryan Kelly as well

Things lookin' on the up and up for us now. If we snag Wall nobody would be able to keep up with our backcourt and that includes UNC's which ain'tlooking too bad either.

 

[allen3xis]

Holiday's over as UCLA frosh prepares for college game

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 | PrintEntry

Posted by Andy Katz
WESTWOOD, Calif. -- Jrue Holiday found out as soonas he had to defend Darren Collison that college basketball may not be as easy as theheralded freshman class of a year ago made it look.
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AP Photo/Gus Ruelas

UCLA freshman Jrue Holiday hopes to make a quick transition to the college game.
The 2007-08 freshman class skewed the learning curve for this fall's crew. Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo, Kevin Love and Eric Gordon cameinto college looking like men, played like adults, put up huge numbers, dominated their position at times, and moved on to be the focus of the NBA draft lastJune. Two of the top five freshmen this fall play in Los Angeles -- Holiday is at UCLA and friend and longtime local rival DeMar DeRozan is at USC. Unlike Love and Mayo, who had to produce immediately for theirrespective squads to challenge for the NCAAs, DeRozan and Holiday don't face the same pressure. They will produce, but their teams won't be relying onjust them. Holiday can hide behind Collison if need be at the start of the season, while DeRozan can yield to Daniel Hackett, DwightLewis or Taj Gibson. "On the first day of workouts, just the intensity levelfrom a high school practice was different," the 6-foot-3 Holiday said. "In high school you could mess around. But here they go hard every singleplay." Holiday and Collison went to an adidas event over the summer, which gave the freshman a chance to learn from the three-year UCLA point guard."I learned how he cuts people off, usually dribbles by them and slows down, too, so they can't get past him," Holiday said, describing howCollison uses different speeds to his advantage. "He sees the floor well." Holiday said the freshmen from a year ago did make it look too easy. Butearly on in practice he found his legs were dead. "They made it look super easy," Holiday said of last year's freshmen. Holiday says the rightthings and doesn't even talk about being one-and-done. He said he didn't hear much of that kind of chatter among the freshmen in this class. He saidthe only people he will listen to are his close friends and family. He said no one is pushing him to the NBA. The eye-opening experience came during pickupgames when the three seniors -- Collison, Josh Shipp and Alfred Aboya -- all showed how they can play a fast game, but under control. "Theydidn't rush, they saw the whole floor and you can see their maturity," Holiday said. But Holiday is fine with the expectations that ultimately thisUCLA freshman class -- Holiday and fellow guards Malcolm Lee and Jerime Anderson and forwards Drew Gordon and J'mison Morgan -- are expected to help the veterans of Aboya, Shipp, Collison, James Keefe and MichaelRoll get to a fourth straight Final Four. "I love the expectations," Holiday said. "I've been so excited since the last game of my highschool career. I wish I could have played last year." Final nugget
• Aboya and Shipp both said the hardest of the three Final Fours was the first because they made it to the title game before losing to Florida. The Bruinslost in the national semifinals in 2007, again to Florida, and then in the national semifinals to Memphis last April in San Antonio.
"You don'twant to lose like that," Shipp said. "We want to do whatever it takes to get back and win it this time." The Bruins expect to play more up-tempothis season without Love in the middle. Love could run, but the Bruins weren't about to leave him out of the offense so the team played at his pace.Funneling the offense through Love made the most sense since he could generate open shots with his exceptional passing skills. Shipp said he anticipates theBruins will be much more guard-oriented, press a bit more and push the ball as much as possible this season. "The heartbreaker was the first year, makingit to the championship game," Aboya said. "We get to the finish line but we haven't crossed it."

...
..If Wall went to Duke, I'd be surprised if Nolan didn't spend his last 2 years elsewhere.

 

[jamesonnt]

...

 

[jamesonnt]

how bout now ...

 

[seymore cake]

Originally Posted by dreClark

Here's my first mailbag and it concerns the recent recruitment of elite uncommitted senior point guard John Wall. Remember, send any questions to [email protected]
``Do you think that Duke has a legitimate shot at getting John Wall?" - Jim in North Carolina

Duke wasn't a factor until recently after they lost Kenny Boynton to Florida, but I think the Blue Devils may be able to make up significant ground. The scenario could make a lot of sense for Wall because his mother is sick and his father died when he was younger. If he wants to stay close to home, it's a place where he can go for a year, get a ton of exposure and compete for a national title.

Duke has reached out to Wall and his AAU coach, Brian Clifton, recently and Coach Krzyzewski and his staff have basically offered Wall a scholarship. Look for Wall to take a visit down the road (he goes to school in Raleigh) soon.

He would come right in and start for the Blue Devils at point guard over Nolan Smith - and would play on a veteran team with guys like Gerald Henderson Jr., Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler.

It would be similar to what Derrick Rose walked into at Memphis.

GET IT DONE GOTDAMNIT!!!

 

[allen3xis]

Derrick Favors and Xavier Henry to decide this week most likey..

I say Henry = Memphis....and Favors stays in state.


[h2]Karron JohnsonUpdate
Posted on Nov 5, 2008 2:46 pm[/h2]
Karron Johnson, a 6-foot-7,210-pound power forward from Mount Zion Academy in North Carolina who has been compared to Kenyon Martin, is still on the board.

Johnson took a visit to Oklahoma State last weekend, and Memphis and Seton Hall are also involved. Johnson also previously mentioned USC, UCLA, Miami andVirginia.
"I think his leaders are Oklahoma State and Memphis," Mount Zion coach Antonio Fozard said by phone

 

[jamesonnt]

Originally Posted by allen3xis

Derrick Favors and Xavier Henry to decide this week most likey..

I say Henry = Memphis....and Favors stays in state.

Damn, that's major. Henry to Memphis and Favors to GTech.

Seriously, why the $+#+ isn't my avy changing?

 

[allen3xis]

John Wall, the No. 1 basketball recruit in the nation, and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had a phone conversation Monday nightthat could be the precursor to Duke offering Wall a scholarship.
"We talked about recruiting," Wall said Tuesday in a text message.

Wall said he plans to take an unofficial visit to Duke, but it won't be Wednesday when the Blue Devils play Lenoir-Rhyne in anexhibition.
"I'm going to visit but not this week," said Wall, whose home is 45 minutes from the Duke campus.

 

[lazy b]

Originally Posted by JamesOnNT

Originally Posted by allen3xis

Derrick Favors and Xavier Henry to decide this week most likey..

I say Henry = Memphis....and Favors stays in state.

Damn, that's major. Henry to Memphis and Favors to GTech.

Seriously, why the $+#+ isn't my avy changing?

Clear your cache.

 

[seymore cake]

Originally Posted by allen3xis

John Wall, the No. 1 basketball recruit in the nation, and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had a phone conversation Monday night that could be the precursor to Duke offering Wall a scholarship.
"We talked about recruiting," Wall said Tuesday in a text message.

Wall said he plans to take an unofficial visit to Duke, but it won't be Wednesday when the Blue Devils play Lenoir-Rhyne in an exhibition.
"I'm going to visit but not this week," said Wall, whose home is 45 minutes from the Duke campus.

MmmmmmmHmmmm... Bout time K actually stepped onto the field. Next step is to go visit him

 

[jamesonnt]

Lazy B wrote:

---

Originally Posted by JamesOnNT

Originally Posted by allen3xis

Derrick Favors and Xavier Henry to decide this week most likey..

I say Henry = Memphis....and Favors stays in state.

Damn, that's major. Henry to Memphis and Favors to GTech.

Seriously, why the $+#+ isn't my avy changing?

Clear your cache.


what?

i still use AOL btw.

 

[allen3xis]

And I'm reading Daniel Orton is out for the year? Wildcat?