10 Memphis
9 UCLA
8 Florida
7 Purdue
6 Duke
5 Oklahoma
4 Notre Dame
3 Connecticut
2 Louisville
1 North Carolina
Notes: Welcome to the show, the big dogs of the yard...John Calipari loses Derrick Rose, but continues to reload, Tyreke Evans is the latest star to come into the Music City, another 30-win season and at least a Sweet 16 for the Tigers...UCLA starts the season scraping by Miami Ohio, but the Bruins still have alot of talent; Darren Collison could be an all-American, Josh Shipp and Alfred Aboya are back and Kevin Love shouldn't be missed too much. Ben Howland has himself another squad that can lock up...The Baby Gators are growing up; Billy Donovan will get the kids playing again as they finished strong last season. Nick Calathes is the next big time Gator scorer and look for him to make huge strides this season and take Florida back to prominence in the NCAA tournament... Purdue lost nobody from an exceptional squad last season; Matt Painter's fourth season has the highest expectations with forward Robbie Hummel leading the Boilers. First time favorites in the Big Ten since the days of Glenn Robinson...Back to back first weekend exits from the NCAAs has Dookies worried, but this season they should remain in the top ten all season. Kyle Singler is a year older as is Jon Scheyer and that spells trouble for anyone coming into Cameron (that's you Carolina)...My darkhorse national champion, Oklahoma features two big time NBA prospects, Blake Griffin and Orlando Allen will bolster down the frontcourt as the best duo west of the Mississippi and the backcourt is young but extremely talented. Point guard Willie Warren will bring excitement to Norman not seen since the Hollis Price days...Luke Harangody returns for his junior season and Kyle McAlarney returns for his senior season. These two Irishmen can fill it up for ND and are the best 1-2 punch in the Big East. Mike Brey has his best Notre Dame team, but every year expectations have been highest, the Irish have underachieved, since the days of Troy Murphy and Chris Thomas...First round disappointment for UCONN last year against San Diego showed immaturity they never seemed to have early last season. Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Adrien and AJ Price is the foundation for Jim Calhoun this year and they are a tough, athletic trio that can win games solely on their athleticism within the Big East. If they can find some perimeter scoring to combine with the frontcourt they could cut down the nets in Detroit...Rick Pitino has a really young and really really good team that will press the hell out of Big East foes and make life miserable for small, finesse teams (Notre Dame save Harangody). The Cards have Edgar Sosa and for most teams that would be enough. The junior guard will be the explosive scorer the 'Ville needs to get back to the Final Four...The consensus number one team in all of the land: North Carolina loses no starters from last year's Final Four team, and will be better. Tyler Hansbrough (when he returns from injury) will be the expected POY and Felton will help him acheive that honor. It's possible these Heels could sweep all-ACC first team, that's how good they are. Consensus opinion is even Roy Williams can't screw this team up. If they don't cut down the nets at Ford Field on April 7th something went terribly wrong.
Friday, November 14, 2008
20-11
20 Tennessee
19 Arizona
18 Arizona State
17 Georgetown
16 Pittsburgh
15 Texas
14 Marquette
13 Miami
12 Wisconsin
11 Michigan State
Notes: Slew of Final Four darkhorses here...Tennessee, athletic? Can't believe that; the loss of Chris Lofton will not be felt guaranteed. The Vols will be more high-octane than ever, just ask Tyler Smith...Lute Olsen, gone. Brandon Jennings, gone. Chase Budinger is still there, and will keep things under control in the desert...No March uneasiness for Herb Sendek this year, he has a powerhouse squad in Tempe that could challenge UCLA for the Pac-10 crown led by guard James Harden...The familiar faces are gone in D.C., but DaJuan Summers will be the next Jeff Green; the kid can score and defend just like him. If Summers reaches potential, Georgetown could make it deep in March...Levance Fields, Sam Young and DeJuan Blair are back for the Panthers; they feature depth, experience and defense. They cannot score with Louisville and will have difficulty keeping pace with offenses that can fill it up...Texas lost DJ Augustin, but that's it and they were certainly more of a one man show; Guard A.J. Abrams and forward Damion James will have to pick up where Ford, Durant and Augustin have left off...Not much will change in Milwaukee with Tom Crean's departure; assistant Brent Williams and all-Big East guard Dominic James will keep the Golden Eagles steady...Do the Dews; Miami is primed for its best season in years in the ACC, get on board, they are big, athletic, fun and can shoot the lights out...Best home court advantage statistically since the turn of the century; Bo knows these Badgers- four big time returnees including junior guard Trevon Hughes...Michigan State freshman Delvon Roe is supposed to be the next Greg Oden, not the next Kosta Koufos. If he fulfills his expectations, the loss of Drew Neitzel won't be nearly as felt. Combine Roe with Goran Suton and the Spartans are the deepest in the Big Ten.
19 Arizona
18 Arizona State
17 Georgetown
16 Pittsburgh
15 Texas
14 Marquette
13 Miami
12 Wisconsin
11 Michigan State
Notes: Slew of Final Four darkhorses here...Tennessee, athletic? Can't believe that; the loss of Chris Lofton will not be felt guaranteed. The Vols will be more high-octane than ever, just ask Tyler Smith...Lute Olsen, gone. Brandon Jennings, gone. Chase Budinger is still there, and will keep things under control in the desert...No March uneasiness for Herb Sendek this year, he has a powerhouse squad in Tempe that could challenge UCLA for the Pac-10 crown led by guard James Harden...The familiar faces are gone in D.C., but DaJuan Summers will be the next Jeff Green; the kid can score and defend just like him. If Summers reaches potential, Georgetown could make it deep in March...Levance Fields, Sam Young and DeJuan Blair are back for the Panthers; they feature depth, experience and defense. They cannot score with Louisville and will have difficulty keeping pace with offenses that can fill it up...Texas lost DJ Augustin, but that's it and they were certainly more of a one man show; Guard A.J. Abrams and forward Damion James will have to pick up where Ford, Durant and Augustin have left off...Not much will change in Milwaukee with Tom Crean's departure; assistant Brent Williams and all-Big East guard Dominic James will keep the Golden Eagles steady...Do the Dews; Miami is primed for its best season in years in the ACC, get on board, they are big, athletic, fun and can shoot the lights out...Best home court advantage statistically since the turn of the century; Bo knows these Badgers- four big time returnees including junior guard Trevon Hughes...Michigan State freshman Delvon Roe is supposed to be the next Greg Oden, not the next Kosta Koufos. If he fulfills his expectations, the loss of Drew Neitzel won't be nearly as felt. Combine Roe with Goran Suton and the Spartans are the deepest in the Big Ten.
30-21
30 UNLV
29 Wake Forest
28 Kentucky
27 Villanova
26 Baylor
25 Davidson
24 Gonzaga
23 Syracuse
22 UAB
21 Clemson
Notes: Best name in college basketball, UNLV guard Wink Adams; leading scorer for the Rebels will fill it up out west all season long and help Lon Kruger take UNLV back to the sweet 16...Wake Forest had the best recruiting class in the ACC this season (!) and as a result will be a major force come February...Don't expect Paatrick Patterson to struggle too much for Billy Gillespie this season; the Wildcats should be a sound force in the SEC this season...Nova is back to thier four guard set led by gas guzzler Scottie Reynolds; the scoring machine is the best guard in the Big East, maybe America...Baylor won't be surprising anyone this season, but their defense could help them capture a Big 12 title if Curtis Jerrells has anything to do with it...Stephen Curry is back. Again. He is the best raw scorer in America, but can the Wildcats do it again with less of a supporting cast?...Mark Few has potentially his best Zag team; Jeremy Pargo could be the best guard since Dan Dickau to come out of SPokane. Combine that with the scoring of Austin Daye and the power of Josh Heytvelt and power is restored in the WCC...Paul Harris is back for the Orange, Jim Boeheim needs to find the swagger left behind by Gerry McNamara; Eric Devendorf's return should assist in the renaissance...Robert Vaden will win C-USA player of the year and Mike Davis will bring the Blazers back to the tourney as they hand Memphis their first conference loss in three years on February 26 in Birmingham... No way Oliver Purnell can keep up the success in Death Valley? Clemson is bigger and stronger than ever; the reason they can contend in the ACC.
29 Wake Forest
28 Kentucky
27 Villanova
26 Baylor
25 Davidson
24 Gonzaga
23 Syracuse
22 UAB
21 Clemson
Notes: Best name in college basketball, UNLV guard Wink Adams; leading scorer for the Rebels will fill it up out west all season long and help Lon Kruger take UNLV back to the sweet 16...Wake Forest had the best recruiting class in the ACC this season (!) and as a result will be a major force come February...Don't expect Paatrick Patterson to struggle too much for Billy Gillespie this season; the Wildcats should be a sound force in the SEC this season...Nova is back to thier four guard set led by gas guzzler Scottie Reynolds; the scoring machine is the best guard in the Big East, maybe America...Baylor won't be surprising anyone this season, but their defense could help them capture a Big 12 title if Curtis Jerrells has anything to do with it...Stephen Curry is back. Again. He is the best raw scorer in America, but can the Wildcats do it again with less of a supporting cast?...Mark Few has potentially his best Zag team; Jeremy Pargo could be the best guard since Dan Dickau to come out of SPokane. Combine that with the scoring of Austin Daye and the power of Josh Heytvelt and power is restored in the WCC...Paul Harris is back for the Orange, Jim Boeheim needs to find the swagger left behind by Gerry McNamara; Eric Devendorf's return should assist in the renaissance...Robert Vaden will win C-USA player of the year and Mike Davis will bring the Blazers back to the tourney as they hand Memphis their first conference loss in three years on February 26 in Birmingham... No way Oliver Purnell can keep up the success in Death Valley? Clemson is bigger and stronger than ever; the reason they can contend in the ACC.
40-31
40 Tulsa
39 Northeastern
38 Southern Cal
37 Alabama
36 West Virginia
35 Ohio State
34 VCU
33 Xavier
32 Saint Mary
31 Kansas
Notes: Defending champion Kansas will have alot of holes to fill as their most prominent returnee Sherron Collins will shoulder the load...West Virginia loses Joe Alexander, but still should be a force in the Big East; Joe Mazzulla will lead Huggins and the Mounties to another NCAA berth...Two CAA schools will figure prominently in the national spectrum: remember Northeastern raw scorer Matt Janning and conference player of the year VCU point guard Eric Maynor. It will be an exciting year in the Colonial...Saint Mary's looks to rebound after a disappointing NCAA appearance last season; guard Patrick Mills could repeat as WCC Player of the Year, he needs to increase his scoring for the Gaels to stay here...Tulsa will rely on their defense to get to the top of C-USA, should be third and a bubble team behind UAB and Memphis...Ronald Steele is back for Bama and still is one of the top point guards in the SEC; he will need to stay healthy, but if he does the Tide could be rolling like they did in '04.
39 Northeastern
38 Southern Cal
37 Alabama
36 West Virginia
35 Ohio State
34 VCU
33 Xavier
32 Saint Mary
31 Kansas
Notes: Defending champion Kansas will have alot of holes to fill as their most prominent returnee Sherron Collins will shoulder the load...West Virginia loses Joe Alexander, but still should be a force in the Big East; Joe Mazzulla will lead Huggins and the Mounties to another NCAA berth...Two CAA schools will figure prominently in the national spectrum: remember Northeastern raw scorer Matt Janning and conference player of the year VCU point guard Eric Maynor. It will be an exciting year in the Colonial...Saint Mary's looks to rebound after a disappointing NCAA appearance last season; guard Patrick Mills could repeat as WCC Player of the Year, he needs to increase his scoring for the Gaels to stay here...Tulsa will rely on their defense to get to the top of C-USA, should be third and a bubble team behind UAB and Memphis...Ronald Steele is back for Bama and still is one of the top point guards in the SEC; he will need to stay healthy, but if he does the Tide could be rolling like they did in '04.
53-41
As the beginning of the season has commenced, the countdown concludes at Midnight to March. The rest of the countdown goes as follows:
53 Virginia Tech
52 LSU
51 American
50 Kent State
49 Drake
48 Washington
47 Siena
46 Nevada
45 Mississippi
44 BYU
43 Missouri
42 Texas A&M
41 San Diego
53 Virginia Tech
52 LSU
51 American
50 Kent State
49 Drake
48 Washington
47 Siena
46 Nevada
45 Mississippi
44 BYU
43 Missouri
42 Texas A&M
41 San Diego
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