NCAA Tournament Predictions: South Region

Here's our picks and bracket breakdown of the South Region

1st Round

1. Kentucky vs. 16. Western Kentucky
The battle for Kentucky. I'm sure a lot of WKU fans like the Wildcats as well. WKU is below .500, the Cats have NBA talent all over the floor.
The Pick: Kentucky

8. Iowa St. vs. 9. UConn
The Clones love to shoot the 3 and do it well shooting at a 38% clip. They also have Royce White, who is a rebounding machine and a tough matchup inside. UConn has been inconsistent the whole season. Their defense is terrible and they turn it over quite a bit. UConn has some of the best talent in the country though, but we're still not believing some of their hype.
The Pick Iowa State

5. Wichita State vs 12. VCU
We all know VCU made the epic run last season.  They did so because they had athletes and size all over the court.  They also shot the 3 very well.  This season they only shoot 33% from long range. The Rams will win if they can force their tempo and cause turnovers.  The problem is, Wichita St. doesn't turn it over. They can play any style but they will try to force VCU into a half court game.  The play of 7-0 Center Garrett Stutz will  be a key factor as well.
The Pick: Wichita State

4. Indiana vs. 13. New Mexico State
Indiana plays very well as a team. Tom Crean has really turned this program around.  Cody Zeller and Christian Watford are beasts down low. NMSU relies on it's interior play. They're one of the best rebounding teams in the country.  Wendell McKines avg a double-double and 6'11 post Hamidu Rahman is a beast down low. These two can counter Zeller and Watford. The Hoosiers will be missing Verdell Jones III as well.
The Pick: NMSU

6. UNLV vs. 11. Colorado
UNLV is a transition team and all of their losses have come when the pace was slowed and they were forced to play a half court game. The Buffs like to get out and run as well. I think this will tend to favor UNLV; esp. with Mike Moser and Chase Stanback. Colorado could take this one but on a neutral floor I'll give the Rebs the edge.
The Pick: UNLV

3. Baylor vs. 14 South Dakota State
Baylor has been inconsistent all season. They have the ability and tremendous athleticism and length, but they tend to take way too many jump shots instead of getting to the bucket in transition. Coach Scott Drew will utilize his zone to stop the shooters from SDSU. Nate Wolters is one of the best scorers in the country and Jordan Dykstra can stretch the defense for the Jacks.
The Pick: Baylor

7. Notre Dame vs. 10. Xavier
This is a huge toss-up. Notre Dame plays ugly and when their guards aren't hitting shots they are dead in the water. Xavier has been inconsistent but guards Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons are great slashers that can cause problems.
The Pick: Xavier

2. Duke vs. 15. Lehigh
Ryan Kelly's status is still up in the air but it won't matter.
The Pick: Duke

2nd Round

1. Kentucky vs. 8. Iowa State
If ISU wants to pull off the upset they need to be hot from the outside. There's no way they'll be able to do that with Anthony Davis down low. Royce White will be their only chance and he must get Davis in foul trouble. The Cats have too much talent.
The Pick: Kentucky


5. Wichita St. vs. 13. New Mexico State
NMSU's size could give fits to WSU, but this is where I see the Shockers guards coming into play. NMSU is not known for their guard play.
The Pick: Wichita State

3. Baylor vs. 6. UNLV
This looks more like a Sweet 16 matchup. Baylor will try to slow it down a little bit to catch UNLV off guard. The size and length will be a huge problem for the Rebels.
The Pick: Baylor

2. Duke vs. 10. Xavier
Holloway and Lyons need to be on their A game going against Austin Rivers and Seth Curry. Duke will outwork you and likely out shoot you. I see the Musketeers inconsistent play coming back to bite them.
The Pick: Duke

Sweet 16

1. Kentucky vs. 5. Wichita State
Kentucky has so many pieces that WSU will need to account for. Stutz must stay out of foul trouble but they might use a lot of pick and rolls to keep Davis out of the lane. The athleticism and length bodes well for the Cats.
The Pick: Kentucky

2. Duke vs. 3. Baylor
Duke's 3 point shooting will go cold at some point in the tourney.  This could be that game. They do not matchup well at all with the athletes of Baylor. The Bears defense can get lazy at times but they defend the 3 well enough.
The Pick: Baylor

Elite 8

1. Kentucky vs. 3 Baylor
This is my ideal matchup in this region. Both teams can get up and down the floor and have tremendous NBA talent and length. Kentucky has better guards and that could be the difference.
The Pick:: Kentucky

TSF Bracketology 2/20

Here's our projected bracket as of today.

Boston Region

1. Syracuse
16. Vermont/LIU-Brooklyn
8. Virginia
9. Harvard

5. Temple
12. Texas
4. Marquette
13. Drexel

6. New Mexico
11.Cincinnati
3. Baylor
14. Nevada

7. St. Mary's
10. Alabama
2. Ohio St
15. Weber State

Phoenix Region

1. Kansas
16. Texas-Arlington
8. West Virginia
9. California

5. Indiana
12. Miami
4. Gonzaga
13. Oral Roberts

6. Notre Dame
11. Long Beach State
3. Michigan
14. Cleveland State

7. Vanderbilt
10. Kansas State
2. North Carolina
15. Davidson

St. Louis Region

1. Missouri
16. UNC-Asheville
8. Mississippi St.
9. Southern Mississippi

5. Florida St
12. Washington/Xavier
4. Louisville
13. Middle Tennessee

6. Wichita St.
11.BYU
3.Florida
14. Akron

7. San Diego St.
10. Connecticut
2. Michigan St.
15. Bucknell

Atlanta Region

1. Kentucky
16. Mississippi Valley St./Savannah St.
8. Memphis
9. Saint Louis

5. UNLV
12. Seton Hall
4. Wisconsin
13. Arizona/NC State

6. Creighton
11. Purdue
3.Georgetown
14. Iona

7. Murray St.
10. Iowa State
2. Duke
15. Belmont

College BBall Talk 2/14

We're getting closer and closer to March. It's my favorite time of the year.  Nothing in sports is better than the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Lets talk Final Four and sleepers.

One thing people seem to over look in College Basketball is how teams are playing heading into March.  They remember the struggles of November and December, and even early January. That was a long time ago and teams change over the marathon that is college hoops.  Lets look at some sleepers.

Louisville

They struggled in December losing to St. Johns, Notre Dame and Providence, but we also have to remember they lost to Kentucky, Georgetown, and now Syracuse.  They could have easily won that game tonight vs the Orange, but  I think the Cards have shown they can get back to their preseason hype.  They've won 6 of their last 7, their defense has improved, and they're starting to play better as a team.

Vanderbilt

Most people remember Vandy's loss to Cleveland State.  They were without one of the best posts in the SEC in Festus Ezeli until mid December.  They've lost 3 of their past 4 but those were to number one Kentucky, on the road to a tough Florida team, and Arkansas, who is 17-1 at home.  Vandy has two terrific guards in Jeff Taylor and John Jenkins who can both shoot it, and a tough post down low in Ezeli.

Mississippi St
 The Bulldogs started off the year winning 12 of 13.  They've been up and down lately but Arnett Moultrie is one of the best power fowards in the country.  Renardo Sidney has been playing better recently and guards Dee Bost and Rodney Hood are quality guards.  This team is talented and can matchup with many teams across the country.  They play solid defense and rarely turn it over.  Those factors bode well for the tournament.

Wichita State

This team manhandled Creighton on Saturday.  They have good size around their lineup and can shoot it from the outside.  Their defense ranks in the top 25 of the Ken Pom Adjusted Defensive Rankings.  The Shockers have won 12 of their last 13 and are playing great at the right time.  Don't forget this team took down UNLV earlier in the season.

Temple

We all saw what this team can do with the win over Duke.  And they did without their best post in Michael Eric.  Eric is a solid post, Ramone Moore is a good scoring guard avg. 19 ppg, and Juan Fernandez can shoot it from the outside.

College Hoops Power Rankings

Here's our first in-season power poll...

1. Ohio State
Clear cut number one right now.

2. Duke
Even without Kyrie Irving they are still very good.

3. Kansas
Despite the loss to Texas, Kansas is very dangerous.

4. Pittsburgh
No super stars but they're experienced.

5. Texas
A lot of talent.  Rick Barnes finally has them playing some D.

6. Syracuse
The Orange are deep and can beat anybody.

7. San Diego St.
Very athletic.  But not many impressive wins.

8. Washington
The Huskies are one of the most athletic and dangerous teams in the nation.

9. Villanova
This team has more options this season and is much tougher on D.

10.Kentucky
Young, but extremly athletic and talented team.

College Hoops Extravaganza

Well, the College Hoops 24 hour marathon was a success. I stayed up for much of the night and early morning and watched the games.  Here's a few early and maybe obvious thoughts I have for the season.

Jared Sullinger is the real deal and Ohio State is easily one of the favorites to win it all.

San Diego State could possibly be the next Butler.

Florida is an improved team and will be dangerous in March.

Gonzaga looks like the same old team that will dominate the WCC, pull off some big wins but falter to more physical and talented teams.

Kansas State will be very good, but do they have the depth to be a premier team?

Duke needs more depth in the frontcourt.

Tennessee is overrated.

Delvon Roe will finally live up to his potential and help carry Michigan State to another Final Four run.

2010-2011 College Basketball Predictions

Final Four Predictions:

Stefan Ming's Picks:
Michigan State
Duke
Ohio State
Florida

2011 National Champion:

Michigan State Spartans

Grittysquirrels Picks:

Duke
Kansas
Ohio State
Michigan State

2011 National Champion: 

Duke Blue Devils

All-American Team:

Stefan Ming:
Jacob Pullen (Kansas St.)
Kalin Lucas (Michigan St.)
Jimmer Fredette (BYU)
Malcolm Delaney (Virginia Tech)
Harrison Barnes (UNC)

Player of the Year: Jacob Pullen (Kansas State)
Coach of the Year: Billy Donovan (Florida)

Grittysquirrels:
Kalin Lucas (Michigan St.)
Jacob Pullen (Kansas St.)
Kyle Singler (Duke)
Marcus Morris (Kansas)
JaJuan Johnson (Purdue)

Player of the Year: Jacob Pullen (Kansas St.)
Coach of the Year: Thad Matta (Ohio St.)

2010-2011 College Basketball Preseason Rankings 2.0

Here's our latest and up to date rankings.

1. Michigan St.
Key returnees:  Kalin Lucas, Korie Lucious, Draymond Green, Delvon Roe
The Spartans are loaded and experienced.  They're also coming off of back-to-back Final Fours.

2. Duke
Key returnees: Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler, Mason Plumlee, Miles Plumlee
Duke should have one of the best backcourts in the nation.  With three starters back and the additions of recruit Kyrie Erving and transfer Seth Curry, the Devils have a good shot to repeat.

3. Purdue
Key returnees: Robbie Hummsel, Etwaun Moore, Jajuan Johnson, Lewis Jackson
Purdue was in this same spot in last years preseason rankings. If Robbie Hummel stays healthy who knows how far they go. They may not have much depth, but there's plenty of talent around to make a Final Four run.

4. Pittsburgh
Key returnees: Gilbert Brown, Ashton Gibbs, Brad Wanamaker, Trayvonn Woodall
6 of their top 7 scorers return.

5. Ohio St.
Key returnees: David Lighty, Jon Diebler, Willie Buford, Dallas Lauderdale
Add in recruits Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas with David Lighty, Jon Diebler, Willie Buford, and Dallas Lauderdale, and the Bucks could be just as good as last year.

6. Kansas St.
Key returnees: Jacob Pullen, Curtis Kelly, Jamar Samuels, Wally Judge
The loss of Denis Clemente will hurt, but Jacob Pullen is good enough to have the Cats as the early Big XII favorite.

7. Villanova
Key returnees: Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes, Antonio Pena, Maalik Wayns
Nova will once again have a solid backcourt lead by Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes.

8. Kansas
Key returnees: Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, Tyshawn Taylor, Brady Morningstar
Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich, and Xavier Henry are impossible to replace. But the Jayhawks will still be a very deep team. They just need to find a consistent go-to scorer.

9. Florida
Key returnees: Alex Tyus, Kenny Boynton, Vernon Macklin, Erving Walker
Watch out for Billy Donovan and his Gators. They return the whole squad. Look for Alex Tyus and Kenny Boynton to impress.

10. North Carolina
Key returnees: John Henson, Tyler Zeller, Larry Drew, Dexter Strickland
Regardless of what people might think UNC should be back again next season. Harrison Barnes is already regarded as the number one pick for 2011.  Depth could be an issue though.

11. Baylor
Key returnees: LaceDarius Dunn, Quincy Ace, Anthony Jones, A.J. Walton
Ekpe Udoh and Tweety Carter will be big losses but recruit Perry Jones should help keep them as one of the best in the Big XII.

12. Missouri
Key returnees: Kim English, Marcus Denmon, Michael Dixon, Justin Safford
Mike Anderson has people talking again in Columbia. They do lose 3 starters but return their top 3 scorers. Kim English is ready to break out; Tony Mitchell and Phil Pressey lead Zou's best class in several years.

13. Washington
Key returnees: Isiah Thomas, Venoy Overton, Justin Holiday, Matt Bryan-Amaning
The Huskies finally lived up to their potential in the postseason. They do lose Quincy Pondexter, but there's still plenty left in the stable.

14. Illinois
Key returnees: Demetri McCamey, Mike Tisdale, Mike Davis, D.J. Richardson
This will be a senior-laden team that has been scratching the surface waiting to break open. Next year will be that year.

15. Syracuse
Key returnees: Kris Joseph, Brandon Triche, Scoop Jardine, Rick Jackson
The loss of Wes Johnson, Arinze Onuaku, and Andy Rautins hurts, but frosh Fab Melo is ready to step up.  The starting five should be one of the best in the land. 

16. Gonzaga
Key returnees: Steven Gray, Robert Sacre, Demetri Goodson, Elias Harris
With a dominant front line and talented backcourt,  this could potentially be the Zags' best team yet.

17. Kentucky
Key returnees: Darius Miller, Darnell Dodson, DeAndre Liggins
They'll be one of the youngest teams in the nation again. But they'll be very good despite losing 5 draft picks.

18. Temple
Key returnees: Juan Fernandez, Lavoy Allen, Ramone Moore, Michael Eric
The Owls lose their stud in Ryan Brooks, but a strong nucleus returns to keep this team a huge threat.

19. Georgetown
Key returnees: Austin Freeman, Chris Wright, Jason Clark, Julian Vaughn
This team would have been top 3 had Greg Monroe stayed, but everyone else is back.

20. Virginia Tech
Key returnees: Malcolm Delaney, Dorenzo Hudson, Jeff Allen, J.T. Thompson
This is a senior-laden team ready to make some in the ACC.

2010 Final Four Predictions

Kansas, West Virginia, Duke and BYU will make the Final Four. Yes, that's right. BYU will make the Final Four. I said it. I got a great feeling they will take down Kansas State in the 2nd round and head to Salt Lake City; Where they would then be the favorite in the regional to advance to Indy.

Here me out with my analysis of why BYU and the others will make it:

Every single Final Four team ever participated in the tournament the year before. So that eliminates Kentucky and Kansas State. Every single Final Four team since 1999 (When the rankings started) finished in the Top 25 for defensive efficiency (which computes ppg, fg %, etc). That eliminates Villanova, Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Maryland, New Mexico, and Baylor.

So the east bracket comes down to Kansas and Ohio State. OSU isn't deep at all and depends A LOT on Evan Turner. I'll take Kansas.

With Kansas St. being eliminated in the West it comes down to Syracuse and BYU. I think BYU will take down Kansas St with Jimmer Fredette and will be motivated to play in Salt Lake. Syracuse vs. BYU in Salt Lake. Who knows how healthy Onawaku will be and BYU has good size. Advantage BYU.

In the South Nova and Baylor are eliminated for defensive reasons. Purdue is without star Robbie Hummel, so by default Duke advances.

In the East Kentucky is too inexperienced/young. New Mexico is already eliminated. Wisconsin doesn't have the firepower offensively to advance. West Virginia will move on because of their defense, athleticism, and size.

So there you have it. Those four teams including BYU will make the Final Four. Mark it.

Count On It/Don't Count On It

We have a new addition to the blog titled: "Count on It/Don't Count on It". Today I'll be talking about the NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga plays in it's backyard of Spokane

With no teams playing better on the West Coast than Gonzaga and the Pac 10 down this year, will Gonzaga be playing with the hometown crowd on hand?

Count On It

Kansas and Missouri meet up in the Elite 8 in St. Louis
How epic would this be? One of the most heated rivalries in the game and there's a chance they both could meet up in St. Louis. If Missouri finishes the season strong and Kansas holds on to the overall number one seed there's a chance. But...

Don't Count On It

BYU plays in Salt Lake City
Nobody wants to face BYU in Salt Lake City. If they finish the season strong the tournament committee could give them the benefit of the doubt. Of course they'd have to win their first two games to get there but you know they'd play with extra motivation.

Count On It

Purdue plays in Indy for the Final Four
Can the Boilers be this years Michigan State? Can they play in Indianapolis like the Spartans did in Detroit last season? The Final Four is wide open as ever this season and if they get in to the Syracuse bracket, watch out.

Count On It

College Basketball Talk: 2/17

Hey guys. Long time no blogging. We've been lagging behind on updating TSF but we're promising to get things going again especially with March Madness coming up. Here's a few thoughts on the NCAA Tournament and College Hoops in general.

Tourney Sleepers

Ohio State
They're peaking at the right time. Evan Turner should be Big Ten player of the year. They have a solid starting five. Turner is a tough match-up, Jon Diebler is a deadly shooter, David Light is finally coming into his own and Dallas Lauderdale is tough down low.

Butler
The Bulldogs haven't lost a game since December. They match-up well with a lot of power conference teams. Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard down low is one of the best one-two front court punches in the nation.

Richmond
The Spiders have a good back court lead by Kevin Anderson. They have great size at each position. They're also battle tested, playing a tough non-conference schedule which included: Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Florida, and Wake Forest.

Baylor
Nobody should want to play the Bears in the tourney. They're extremely athletic and have great guard play. They'll be a tough match up for just about anybody.

Kansas State
This team has played well on the road and on neutral courts. That's always a good indicator of a great team. They have two quality guards in Denis Clemente and Jacob Pullen. The front court isn't terrible either.

BYU
They have tremendous size and a great scorer in Jimmer Fredette. This is a team that could make a huge run if they get into the Salt Lake City Bracket.

Overrated

Texas
Texas will probably not make it past the Sweet 16. Especially if they're not in the Houston bracket. They have no true point guard. Dogus Balbay makes mistakes and is afraid to shoot. Plus they rely too heavily on their 3 frosh.

Duke
Once they play a more athletic team they'll struggle. They also struggle on the road. They're 4-4 playing away from Cameron. The front court is improved from past seasons, but the Devils will once again fail to make another Final Four.

Georgia Tech
Tech has arguably the best talent in the country. But talent only gets you so far. They're point guard play has been lackluster and Derrick Favors is very limited offensively. Plus, they're young. They remind me of last years Wake Forest team; a lot of talent, little experience. They'll bow out early in the tourney.

My Final Four as of now:
Kansas
Kentucky
Michigan State
Purdue

College Basketball Power Rankings: November 23

First rankings of the year!

1. Kansas- First game was an eye opener, but they've been great since. Frosh Xavier Henry will be the X-Factor.

2. Michigan State- Toughed out a win vs. Gonzaga. Now need to find some kind of consistent inside presence.

3. Texas- This team is loaded. How will they find enough minutes to keep everyone happy?

4. Villanova- Some impressive wins thus far. The guards are stellar, while Jay Wright is working on developing his young frontcourt.

5. West Virginia- They were impressive in their first win showing some tough defense; even without their best player Devin Ebanks.

6. Purdue- Team struggled vs. South Dakota State, but their tough defense prevailed.

7. North Carolina- Still not impressed with the backcourt. Frontcourt will win them some games though.

8. Kentucky- Team has no identity. Defense has been suspect and still need a few more games to create some chemistry.

9. Tennessee- They haven't played anybody yet but the offense has been very impressive.

10. Ohio State- Struggled vs. UNC's bigs, but Evan Turner is one of the best players in the country.

11. Duke- Defense has stepped up so far this season.

12. Butler- This team plays so well together and they don't turn the ball over.

13. UConn- Not much of a bench. Will depend on older guys to carry them.

14. Washington- Some less than expected performances from the Huskies.

15. Syracuse- They've had a couple impressive wins. Lets see if they can keep it up outside of MSG.

TSF Bracketology: November 21

Throughout the season TSF will be doing it's own bracketolgy and giving you their own seeds for the NCAA Tournament.

(Conference Champs in Parenthesis)

1. Kansas (Big XII)
1. Michigan State (Big Ten)
1. Texas
1. Villanova (Big East)

2. Kentucky (SEC)
2. Purdue
2. West Virginia
2. Duke

3. Tennessee
3. North Carolina (ACC)
3. Butler (Horizon)
3. Connecticut

4. Washington (Pac 10)
4. Ohio State
4. California
4. Oklahoma

5. Illinois
5. Louisville
5. Mississippi State
5. Syracuse

6. Georgia Tech
6. Georgetown
6. Gonzaga (WCC)
6. Memphis (C-USA)

7. Michigan
7. Dayton (A 10)
7. Clemson
7. Minnesota

8. Kansas State
8. Texas A&M
8. Xavier
8. Siena (MAAC)

9. Oklahoma State
9. Wake Forest
9. UCLA
9. Florida

10. Pittsburgh
10. Missouri
10. Wisconsin
10. BYU (MWC)

11. Florida State
11. UNLV
11. Tulsa
11. Cincinnati

12. Northern Iowa (MVC)
12. Western Kentucky (Sun Belt)
12. Utah State (WAC)
12. Boston College

13. Vanderbilt
13. Cornell (Ivy)
13. Akron (MAC)
13. Old Dominion (CAA)

14. Oakland (Summit)
14. Sam Houston (Southland)
14. Wofford (Southern)
14. Long Beach (Big West)

15. Northern Colorado (Big Sky)
15. Jacksonville (A-Sun)
15. Radford (Big South)
15. Mt. St. Mary's (NEC)

16. Morgan State (MEAC)
16. Murray State (OVC)
16. Holy Cross (Patriot)
16. Prairie View A&M (SWAC)

2009-2010 College Basketball Preview: Preseason Rankings

Okay here's my updated version of my preseason top 25.


1. Michigan St.- Sure, they lose Suton and Walton, but Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen, and Raymar Morgan are back. Look for the in-coming 6-10 recruits to make an impact.

2. Kansas- All five starters will return, add-in recruit Xavier Henry and this team looks like a national title threat.

3. Purdue- Will Purdue be 2009's Spartans? The 2010 Final Four is in home state Indianapolis and return 7 of their top 8 scorers.

4. Kentucky- The Cats are on the rise once again with John Calipari taking over. Patrick Patterson returns but the loss of Jodie Meeks will be a huge blow. Recruits DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall will make this team the favorite in the SEC.

5. Texas- The Longhorns were a PG away from being an elite team; Florida transfer Jai Lucas should help fill that void.

6. Villanova- Nova will once again have a dominant backcourt lead by Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher.

7. West Virginia- With Devin Ebanks returning they will be one of the best in the Big East. Da'Sean Butler, Darryl Bryant, Joel Mazzula, and Kevin Jones are back as well.

8. North Carolina- This will be a totally different Heel team, but there will still be plenty of talent.

9. Connecticut- Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, and Stanley Robinson will be back. A decent recruiting class is coming in as well to help fill some voids.

10. Duke- It will be very tough to replace Gerald Henderson and Elliot Williams. But look for frosh Mason Plumlee to finally give them a valuable inside presence.

11. Butler- This past season was supposed to be a rebuilding year after losing a lot. All five starters are back.

12. Washington- Look for Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter to keep the Huskies atop the Pac 10.

13. Tennessee- the Vols had some problems last year, but there's still too much talent to go around. I think they'll be back again.

14. Ohio St.- The Buckeyes will be good and I mean that.

15. California- This will be a senior-laden team that has been scratching the surface waiting to break open. Next year will be that year.

16. Clemson- 3 of the top 4 scorers are back including ACC POY Trevor Booker. Plus star recruit Milton Jennings should help.

17. Louisville- They lose Terrence Williams and Earl Clark, but still have plenty in the stable. Samardo Samuels should have a breakout year.

18. Siena- A nice nucleus (5 of Top 6 scorers) returns for the Saints.

19. Dayton- The Flyers are flat-out athletic and talented.

20. Illinois- With another year of experience under sophomores Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis, and Mike Tisdales' belts, they'll improve.

21. Oklahoma- They lose the Griffin brothers but Willie Warren is one of the best guards in the country and their role players are outstanding.

22. Mississippi State- With Jarvis Varnado back and top recruit Renardo Sidney coming in they will challenge Kentucky and Tennessee for the SEC Crown.

23. Michigan- The Wolverines were very inconsistent but looked good in March. The dynamic duo of Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims will keep them in the thick of things.

24. Minnesota- Keep an eye on the Gophers. Royce White is a top recruit who will make the Gophers a top contender in the Big Ten.

25. Gonzaga- The Zags will reload with Demetri Goodson, Matt Bouldin and Stephen Gray all back.

Just missed the cut:
Georgia Tech, Florida State, Wake Forest, Missouri, Texas A&M, Oklahoma St., Wisconsin, Mississippi, Florida, Georgetown, Syracuse, Creighton, UNLV, UCLA, Northern Iowa, Oakland

2009-2010 College Basketball Preview: Player Rankings

The time has come. It's time to begin our College Basketball Preview for the coming season.

2009/2010:

Top 5 PG:
1. Kalin Lucas- Michigan St.
2. Sherron Collins- Kansas
3. John Wall- Kentucky
4. Kemba Walker- UConn
5. Devan Downey- South Carolina

Top 5 SG:
1. Willie Warren- Oklahoma
2. Greivis Vasquez- Maryland
3. Manny Harris- Michigan
4. Scottie Reynolds- Villanova
5. Jerome Dyson- UConn

Top 5 SF:
1. Evan Turner- Wisconsin
2. Devin Ebanks- West Virginia
3. Kyle Singler- Duke
4. Robbie Hummel- Purdue
5. Gordon Hayward- Butler

Top 5 PF:
1. Luke Harangody- Notre Dame
2. Patrick Patterson- Kentucky
3. Al Faroq-Aminu- Wake Forest
4. Craig Brackins- Iowa State
5. Ed Davis- UNC

Top 5 C:
1. Cole Aldrich- Kansas
2. Greg Monroe- Georgetown
3. Larry Sanders- VCU
4. Jarvis Varnado- Mississippi State
5. Keith Benson- Oakland

2009-2010 College Basketball Preseason Rankings 2.0

Okay here's my updated version of my preseason top 25.


1. Michigan St.- Sure they lose Suton and Walton, but Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen, and Raymar Morgan are back. Look for the in-coming 6-10 recruits to make an impact.

2. Kansas- All five starters will return, add-in recruit Xavier Henry and this team looks like a national title threat.

3. Purdue- Will Purdue be 2009's Spartans? The 2010 Final Four is in home state Indianapolis and return 7 of their top 8 scorers.

4. Kentucky- The Cats are on the rise once again with John Calipari taking over. Patrick Patterson returns but the loss of Jodie Meeks will be a huge blow. Recruit's DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall will make this team the favorite in the SEC.

5. Texas- The Longhorns were a PG away from being an elite team, Florida transfer Jai Lucas should help fill that void.

6. Villanova- Nova will once again have a dominant backcourt lead by Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher.

7. North Carolina- This will be a totally different Heel team but there will still be plenty of talent.

8. Duke- It will be very tough to replace Gerald Henderson and Elliot Williams. But look for frosh Mason Plumlee to finally give them a valuable inside presence.

9. West Virginia- With Devin Ebanks returning they will be one of the best in the Big East. Da'Sean Butler, Darryl Bryant, Joel Mazzula, and Kevin Jones are back as well.

10. Connecticut- Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, and Stanley Robinson will be back. A decent recruiting class is coming in as well to help fill some voids.

11. Butler- This past season was supposed to be a rebuilding year after losing a lot. All five starters are back.

12. Clemson- 3 of the top 4 scorers are back including ACC POY Trevor Booker. Plus star recruit Milton Jennings should help.

13. Louisville- They lose Terrence Williams and Earl Clark, but still have plenty in the stable. Samardo Samuels should have a breakout year.

14. Illinois- With another year of experience under sophomores Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis, and Mike Tisdales' belts, they'll improve.

15. Washington- Look for Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter to keep the Huskies atop the Pac 10.

16. Siena- A nice nucleus (5 of Top 6 scorers) returns for the Saints.

17. Ohio St.- The Buckeyes will be good and I mean that.

18. Dayton- The Flyers are flat-out athletic and talented.

19. Tennessee- the Vols had some problems last year, but there's still too much talent to go around.

20. Georgia Tech- The Jackets return a solid core. With Gani Lawal, Zach Peacock and frosh Derrick Flavors they could make some noise in the ACC. DeAndre Bell is also back from injury.

21. Minnesota- Keep an eye on the Gophers. Royce White is a top recruit who will make the Gophers a top contender in the Big Ten.

22. California- This will be a senior-laden team that has been scratching the surface waiting to break open. Next year will be that year.

23. Gonzaga- The Zags will reload with Demetri Goodson, Matt Bouldin and Stephen Gray all back.

24. Xavier- They drop after Derrick Brown stayed in the draft. But they'll reload with Dante Jackson, Terrence Holloway, Jason Love and IU transfer Jordan Crawford.

25. Michigan- The Wolverines were very inconsistent but looked good in March. The dynamic duo of Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims will keep them in the thick of things.

Just missed the cut:
Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas A&M, Oklahoma St., Wisconsin, Mississippi, Mississippi St., Florida, Georgetown, Syracuse, Creighton, UNLV, UCLA

Just make a decision already!

The nations top two high school basketball prospects John Wall and Lance Stephenson have yet to make a decision on their college careers. The late signing period runs from April 15-May 20, so they now have 5 days to make a decision. Time is ticking boys!

This really irks me, these two fine young men have been recruited vastly for the past few years. Why is it taking this long to make a decision? With all due respect to these kids, but they need to just make a decision already!

All of this has been drug on long enough. You just can't keep coaches, recruiters and colleges on their toes this long. I'm sorry that it comes down to this, but I have no other reason than to believe that these guys just want to be in the spotlight. More specifically John Wall.

Wall goes on interview after interview telling multiple sides to his decision. One week he liked Kentucky, then Duke, the next was UNC, believe it or not he was interested in North Carolina Central at one point. And now all of a sudden he loves Miami... Come on Mr. Wall, enough with the games. Just make a decision already.

This is so ridiculous, I just cannot take it anymore and the NCAA is partially to blame. I do not think these kids need a little more than a month to decide. A lot of colleges give you until mid-April to accept admission for regular students. Why should it be any different for the athletes?

The NCAA should reduce it to one week. April 15-22 should be the late signing period for college basketball. This won't keep the coaches waiting so they can get on with their lives and job instead of lurking around waiting and waiting.

I know that this is a tough decision and some refer to it as a business decision. But from the looks of it, it seems more like monkey business. John Wall is just taking advantage of the system and dragging out this process to remain in the spotlight as long as he can. Because once he picks a school, the media will only make a big deal about it for a day or two and the spotlight will end.

I hope the NCAA looks in to this because it's something that should be fixed and kids shouldn't exasperate the decision.

2009-2010 College Basketball Preseason Rankings

To me it's never too early to speculate about next season. Sure, we don't know who is officially in and out of the draft yet, but that's what revisions are for... I'll try my best.

Preseason Top 25:

1. Michigan St.- Sure they lose Suton and Walton, but Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen, and Raymar Morgan are back. Look for the in-coming 6-10 recruits to make an impact.

2. Kansas- It looks as all five starters will return, add in some solid recruits that could potentially include Xavier Henry or Lance Stephenson.

3. Syracuse- The Orange will likely return everybody. Johnny Flynn will arguably be the best PG in the country.

4. Duke- They become a title threat again if Gerald Henderson returns. Look for frosh Mason Plumlee to finally give them a valuable inside presence.

5. Purdue- Will Purdue be 2009's Spartans? The 2010 Final Four is in home state Indianapolis and return 7 of their top 8 scorers.

6. Villanova- Nova will once again have a dominant backcourt lead by Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher.

7. North Carolina- This will be a totally different Heel team but there will still be plenty of talent.

8. Texas- The Longhorns were a PG away from being an elite team, Florida transfer Jai Lucas should help fill that void.

9. West Virginia- If Devin Ebanks returns they will be one of the best in the Big East. Da'Sean Butler, Darryl Bryant, Joel Mazzula, and Kevin Jones are back.

10. Kentucky- The Cats are on the rise once again with John Calipari taking over. Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson will likely return. Add-in recruit DeMarcus Cousins too.

11. Connecticut- Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, and Stanley Robinson will be back. A decent recruiting class is coming in as well to help fill some voids.

12. Clemson- 3 of the top 4 scorers are back including ACC POY Trevor Booker. Plus star recruit Milton Jennings should help.

13. Wake Forest- Wake could go from a top 15 team to nothing. They already lost James Johnson, but look for Jeff Teague and Al-Farouq Aminu to return.

14. Louisville- They lose Terrence Williams and Earl Clark, but still have plenty in the stable. Samardo Samuels should have a breakout year.

15. Butler- This past season was supposed to be a rebuilding year after losing a lot. All five starters are back.

16. Illinois- With another year of experience under sophomores Demetri McCamey, Mike Davis, and Mike Tisdales' belts, they'll improve.

17. Xavier- Sure, they lose salty veterans CJ Anderson and BJ Raymond, but they'll reload with Derrick Brown (assuming he stays), Dante Jackson, Terrence Holloway, and IU transfer Jordan Crawford.

18. Washington- Look for Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter to keep the Huskies atop the Pac 10.

19. Gonzaga- The Zags will reload with Demetri Goodson, Matt Bouldin, Stephen Gray and potentially Austin Daye all back.

20. Siena- A nice nucleus (5 of Top 6 scorers) returns for the Saints.

21. Ohio St.- The Buckeyes will be good and I mean that.

22. Tennessee- the Vols had some problems last year, but there's still too much talent to go around.

23. Minnesota- Keep an eye on the Gophers. Royce White is a top recruit who will make the Gophers a top contender in the Big Ten.

24. Dayton- I will probably have this team higher in my next rankings. The Flyers are flat-out athletic and talented.

25. California- This will be a senior-laden team that has been scratching the surface waiting to break open. Next year will be that year...

Just missed the cut:
Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas A&M, Oklahoma St., Michigan, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Mississippi St., Florida, Georgetown, Creighton, UNLV, UCLA, Oakland

2009 College Basketball National Championship Prediction

North Carolina vs Michigan St.
The Spartans have done the unthinkable. They were a pretty inconsistent team at times this season but turned on their game in March. Give credit to MSU coach Tom Izzo, he always has his team ready to play in the Big Dance. Defense, rebounding, and offensive efficiency have gotten them over the top.

Michigan St. will get to play in front of their home faithful in Detroit. With 40K+ Spartan fans in attendance to watch MSU try to win a fourth national championship, will that spark them to the top? Well they have to first beat the UNC Tar Heels, who demolished them by 32 back in December.

3 Reasons why UNC will win:

1. Ty Lawson
Lawson is the best PG in the nation and he's what makes this Heel offense go. He is such a great distributor and is so good in the open court with the ball in his hands. If Lawson is on his game and MSU lets the Heels get easy buckets in transition, it could be a long night for the green and white.

2. Offensive Firepower
The Tar Heels have arguably the best offense in the country. They're so good in transition and that's when they're at their best. This is where the Spartans need to make their shots and rebound in order to keep the Heels at bay.

3. Perimeter Shooting
When Danny Green, Wayne Ellington, and Ty Lawson are making their shots from the outside (like we saw vs. Villanova) this team is unbeatable. The Spartans do not wont to see these 3 guys making most of their shots from the arc.

3 Reasons why Michigan St. will win:

1. Tom Izzo
Izzo is one of the top coaches in the country. He always has his team playing their best ball during the tourney and he's one of the best strategists out there. You know he will have a pretty good gameplan to stop the Heels.

2. Defense/Rebounding
The Spartans have one of the best defenses out there and are one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. We saw them clamp down on UConn, making them earn their shots and not giving them too many extra opportunities. If they can guard the perimeter against UNC and not give them extra scoring opportunities, they will have a great shot to win this game.

3. Raymar Morgan
This team pretty much comes and goes as Morgan does. Morgan had 18 points vs. UConn and it is a must that he play well vs. the North Carolina. They're a tough team to beat when he's getting it done. As we know the Heels' aren't that dominate on the defensive side, they tend to give up a good amount of points at times and if Morgan's on, he's another component they'll need to keep in check.

Prediction:
This should be a close game. The home court advantage and momentum of Michigan St. will be a factor. It all depends on who is hot and who's not tonight. I can guarantee it will be a complete different game then from the first time they met. But UNC has been on a mission this whole season, Hansbrough, Lawson, and Ellington all came back to get a ring. Which is why I like the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Tar Heels firepower and talent alone will get it done. But expect a very close game that will be decided at the buzzer.

Advice to John Calipari: Take the UK job!

The word is John Calipari and Kentucky are in talks and discussing a potential 8 year/$35 million contract.

Well Mr. Calipari, this is your opportunity. This is what you've been waiting for your whole coaching career! You now have an opportunity to coach for what is IMO, the best coaching job in all of college basketball. I can tell from seeing interviews and you on ESPN over the years, that this job is made for you.

The Kentucky job is what most and every college coach should dream about. Kentucky has some of the best facilities, pay, fan base, and history in all of college basketball.

If you turn down this offer, it will come back to bite you. But I personally doubt you will.

I know you've been working on building Memphis and you've come a long way with it. But this is your opportunity to take a job with such a history-rich program back to where it belongs. This is your ticket to the Hall of Fame coach!

John Calipari is the best man for this job. He is one hell of a recruiter, he's done a very good job making Memphis a household name in College Basketball. But I cannot stress enough how big of a deal this job is.

Like I've said, Kentucky is the best college program in all of College Basketball. It is the winningest program ever, tied for 4th in Final Four appearances, 2nd in total national championships... what is there not to like?

If Calipari takes this job, the SEC and everybody else (including UNC, Duke, Kansas, UConn, Michigan St, etc.) need to watch out! Calipari is a terrific coach and if you give him the resources that Kentucky has, he'll have this program back to where it once was.

Sweet 16 Predictions: Friday Edition

Kansas vs. Michigan St.
A rematch of two teams that met in the regular season where the Spartans dominated; the game was never really close and the Kansas young guns were exposed, but look for a closer result this time. Kansas has been an up and down team lately. They shot very well from the field (50%) against a pesky North Dakota State team in the first round and then defeated Dayton in the 2nd round in a less than stellar performance. Tom Izzo always has his team ready in the tournament and he should have a terrific game plan for the Jayhawks. The guard play for the Spartans matches up very well with Kansas. Kalin Lucas showed Sherron Collins up in East Lansing last time with 22 points. If Collins and Cole Aldrich don't get any help from their teammates, Kansas will not be defending their national championship.

The Pick: Michigan St.- Look for Michigan State's depth and ability to control Aldrich to be the difference in the game.

Louisville vs. Arizona
What a ride it's been for Arizona. Going from a bubble team to a Sweet Sixteen team. Although some may be surprised the Wildcats are this far, I am not. They have 3 very good players in Nic Wise, Chase Budinger, and Jordan Hill. Also, they've been the better team in both of their match-ups. The Utah win wasn't really an "upset" and the Wildcats were flat out better than Cleveland St. Zona will have a tougher time vs. a Louisville team that loves to pressure and some gives tough matchups. Louisville is one of the most athletic teams out there with Earl Clark and Terrence Williams, also Samardo Samuels is a tough draw down low. Louisville's guard depth could be a problem as well for Zona. I don't know if the Cats have enough depth to overcome the Cards.

The Pick: Louisville- I like Rick Pitino over Russ Pennell coaching wise and Zona relies way too much on their "big three".

North Carolina vs. Gonzaga
This is a very intriguing matchup. Gonzaga matches up fairly well with UNC. They could give some tough match-ups on the perimeter with Austin Daye, Micah Downs, and Steven Gray size wise. UNC has the edge down low even with the Zags' Josh Heytvelt. Gonzaga just isn't tough enough down-low and their frontline would prefer to play on the outside mostly. Defense could be a problem for the Zags' as they will face the best offense in the nation. If Ty Lawson is healthy for UNC they should win, but they could have some trouble defensively with Gonzagas size. But other than that, Tyler Hansbrough and Deon Thompson down low along with Wayne Ellington and Danny Green on the outside should be too much.

The Pick: UNC- Too much firepower for the Heels' and the Zags just aren't tough enough.

Syracuse vs. Oklahoma
Another intriguing match-up. I am interested to see how Blake Griffin does against the Syracuse zone. If Cuse is able to not let OU dominate down low, they will win this game. It will be a tall task though. Johnny Flynn will have a big advantage over Willie Warren and Austin Johnson at point.

The Pick: Oklahoma- Too much Blake Griffin down low.