With my slacking on the blogs lately because of family being in town, I forgot that the NBA season was with full day schedules and that means college basketball season is starting as well. This is still too soon for me to follow the NBA so I have few to write about with that league. As far as college is concerned, I read the College Basketball Preview in USA Today and would like to make some points going into this season.
The NBA season has started and I more than likely will take glimpses at games for now and probably not get into the season until the New Year. All I know is that Kobe Bryant needs to go to Chicago so that I can follow the NBA again. I was a huge Bulls fan but when Jordan left, I basically left the NBA as the league started to fall off alittle. It looks to me again this season that the Western Conference is a powerhouse again, and any of 4 to maybe 5 teams could go to the Finals. As for the East, you got the trio in Boston, the Bulls (who I noticed hasn't gotten off to a great start, and possibly the Detroit Pistons. I really don't feel that Lebron James and the Cavs won't make the type of run like they made last season. This is all I got for the NBA for now, referees maybe later. Here's my picks...
Phoenix Suns over the Dallas Mavericks in the West
Boston Celtics over the Chicago Bulls in the East
Celtics are your NBA Champs!!!
With 62 coaching changes in Division 1 this season, most programs will be rebuilding, some trying to get their program where they want to be, and others that have their core group back and wanting that coveted National Championship. It'll be easy for me to tell you that North Carolina, Memphis, and UCLA are the best teams in the nation and all three will be #1 seeds this March and contend for the title. That being said, there is a lot of teams that are all bunched up and could turn some heads heading into the February. Here's a look at my teams to look for in the power conferences this year followed by the picks.
BIG EAST- It's safe to say that Georgetown and Louisville are the favorites. Georgetown's Roy Hibbert who decided to come back for another chance at winning a title looks to improve his talent for another year, and be a force in the middle and get the Hoyas back to the Final Four. Louisville is returning 4 starters this season and the top 7 scorers from last year's team. As always the deep Big East is always wide open for some surprises. My surprise team this season is Syracuse (your welcome Marc), the Orangemen have two players that are pre-season co-rookie of the year candidates in forward Donte Green and guard Jonny Flynn. Both were teammates on the USA under 19 team that placed silver in the world championships this summer.
BIG 12- Bill Self has brought 3 teams to the Elite Eight now and his Kansas Jayhawks are looking to make a return trip this year and some. Kansas the hands down favorite will have a bunch of contenders fighting for the conference title including a couple of teams that lost their stars. Texas and Texas A&M will be there til the end, even though A&M lost their coach in Billy Gillispie, they are returning a couple of very talented seniors in Joseph Jones and Josh Carter and have pried talented Mark Turgeon from Witchita State. Surprise team this season is hard but I have to go with Kansas State, since he is receiving Bob Huggins recruits...if they go to class.
ACC- The North Carolin Tarheels are the Preseason #1 team and are the class of the ACC this year barring injuries. The ACC has taken some hits the past couple of years with questions about how deep and good is this once powerful conference. Lots of teams are going to be looking to get the NCAA committee voters attention this season including, N.C. State, Clemson, and Florida State. I think that Duke and Virginia will both be there in March, and something tells me that the Blue Devils will be making a push at the Tarheels this year returning 4 starters, with Marcus Nelson being their go-to guy. I could be wrong though, since the starter they lost was their man in the middle in Josh McRoberts to the NBA.
BIG TEN- Even with a lost to a Division 2 school this past week, Michigan State is still one of the favorites in a conference that doesn't get a whole lot of love anymore. The Indiana Hoosiers is the other team I am seeing as a favorite to win the conference. With Bo Ryan as coach of the Wisconsin Badgers they have finished in the top 4 in each of the last six seasons. Ohio State and Purdue could be around this year but you never know in this conference. I got two sleepers for you with each having two new coaches. Minnesota has Tubby Smith and Michigan has John Beilein, both coming from two great programs in Kentucky and West Virginia respectively. I am not saying that they are going to go to the NCAA tourney but I have always like the way both these coaches have coached their teams, offensively and defensively.
PAC-10- UCLA is seeking their 3 consecutive trip to the Final Four and are the favorites going into a very deep Pac-10 this season. Washington State will be competing for the crown as well with their all-everything player in guard Kyle Weaver. The Oregon Ducks will be fighting as well, returning 3 players that averaged double figures in points last season. Freshman of the Year Chase Budinger from Arizona will keep the Wildcats around all season. My surprise team this year will be USC. Even with the loss of the backcourt following a sweet sixteen appearance last season, they have two studs in Taj Gibson that averaged 12 points and 8+ boards a game and freshman of the year candidate in the highly recruited O.J. Mayo.
SEC- Tennessee is back this season again as one of the most potent offenses in the nation with returning guard Chris Lofton. The Vols offense is so tough it's hard to imagine anyone in the league to keep up with this team. Kentucky, even with the loss of Smith, is returning a loaded backcourt and will be a tourney team this season. Replacing all five starters the back-2-back champs in the Florida Gators have a great incoming class. As you can tell most of my surprise teams have a bunch of returning players and that will stay the same in the SEC. Arkansas is returning all 5 back and last season freshman standout in guard Patrick Beverley, who averaged 13.9 points last year, won't have to do too much with a senior based team back.
FINAL FOUR
North Carolina
Memphis
Tennessee
Washington State
ROY WILLIAMS WILL BE CUTTING DOWN THE NETS FOR A SECOND TIME AS THE TARHEELS WILL NOT BE DENIED WITH THE PLAY OF THE NAISMITH PLAYER OF THE YEAR TYLER HANSBROUGH!
The NBA season has started and I more than likely will take glimpses at games for now and probably not get into the season until the New Year. All I know is that Kobe Bryant needs to go to Chicago so that I can follow the NBA again. I was a huge Bulls fan but when Jordan left, I basically left the NBA as the league started to fall off alittle. It looks to me again this season that the Western Conference is a powerhouse again, and any of 4 to maybe 5 teams could go to the Finals. As for the East, you got the trio in Boston, the Bulls (who I noticed hasn't gotten off to a great start, and possibly the Detroit Pistons. I really don't feel that Lebron James and the Cavs won't make the type of run like they made last season. This is all I got for the NBA for now, referees maybe later. Here's my picks...
Phoenix Suns over the Dallas Mavericks in the West
Boston Celtics over the Chicago Bulls in the East
Celtics are your NBA Champs!!!
With 62 coaching changes in Division 1 this season, most programs will be rebuilding, some trying to get their program where they want to be, and others that have their core group back and wanting that coveted National Championship. It'll be easy for me to tell you that North Carolina, Memphis, and UCLA are the best teams in the nation and all three will be #1 seeds this March and contend for the title. That being said, there is a lot of teams that are all bunched up and could turn some heads heading into the February. Here's a look at my teams to look for in the power conferences this year followed by the picks.
BIG EAST- It's safe to say that Georgetown and Louisville are the favorites. Georgetown's Roy Hibbert who decided to come back for another chance at winning a title looks to improve his talent for another year, and be a force in the middle and get the Hoyas back to the Final Four. Louisville is returning 4 starters this season and the top 7 scorers from last year's team. As always the deep Big East is always wide open for some surprises. My surprise team this season is Syracuse (your welcome Marc), the Orangemen have two players that are pre-season co-rookie of the year candidates in forward Donte Green and guard Jonny Flynn. Both were teammates on the USA under 19 team that placed silver in the world championships this summer.
BIG 12- Bill Self has brought 3 teams to the Elite Eight now and his Kansas Jayhawks are looking to make a return trip this year and some. Kansas the hands down favorite will have a bunch of contenders fighting for the conference title including a couple of teams that lost their stars. Texas and Texas A&M will be there til the end, even though A&M lost their coach in Billy Gillispie, they are returning a couple of very talented seniors in Joseph Jones and Josh Carter and have pried talented Mark Turgeon from Witchita State. Surprise team this season is hard but I have to go with Kansas State, since he is receiving Bob Huggins recruits...if they go to class.
ACC- The North Carolin Tarheels are the Preseason #1 team and are the class of the ACC this year barring injuries. The ACC has taken some hits the past couple of years with questions about how deep and good is this once powerful conference. Lots of teams are going to be looking to get the NCAA committee voters attention this season including, N.C. State, Clemson, and Florida State. I think that Duke and Virginia will both be there in March, and something tells me that the Blue Devils will be making a push at the Tarheels this year returning 4 starters, with Marcus Nelson being their go-to guy. I could be wrong though, since the starter they lost was their man in the middle in Josh McRoberts to the NBA.
BIG TEN- Even with a lost to a Division 2 school this past week, Michigan State is still one of the favorites in a conference that doesn't get a whole lot of love anymore. The Indiana Hoosiers is the other team I am seeing as a favorite to win the conference. With Bo Ryan as coach of the Wisconsin Badgers they have finished in the top 4 in each of the last six seasons. Ohio State and Purdue could be around this year but you never know in this conference. I got two sleepers for you with each having two new coaches. Minnesota has Tubby Smith and Michigan has John Beilein, both coming from two great programs in Kentucky and West Virginia respectively. I am not saying that they are going to go to the NCAA tourney but I have always like the way both these coaches have coached their teams, offensively and defensively.
PAC-10- UCLA is seeking their 3 consecutive trip to the Final Four and are the favorites going into a very deep Pac-10 this season. Washington State will be competing for the crown as well with their all-everything player in guard Kyle Weaver. The Oregon Ducks will be fighting as well, returning 3 players that averaged double figures in points last season. Freshman of the Year Chase Budinger from Arizona will keep the Wildcats around all season. My surprise team this year will be USC. Even with the loss of the backcourt following a sweet sixteen appearance last season, they have two studs in Taj Gibson that averaged 12 points and 8+ boards a game and freshman of the year candidate in the highly recruited O.J. Mayo.
SEC- Tennessee is back this season again as one of the most potent offenses in the nation with returning guard Chris Lofton. The Vols offense is so tough it's hard to imagine anyone in the league to keep up with this team. Kentucky, even with the loss of Smith, is returning a loaded backcourt and will be a tourney team this season. Replacing all five starters the back-2-back champs in the Florida Gators have a great incoming class. As you can tell most of my surprise teams have a bunch of returning players and that will stay the same in the SEC. Arkansas is returning all 5 back and last season freshman standout in guard Patrick Beverley, who averaged 13.9 points last year, won't have to do too much with a senior based team back.
FINAL FOUR
North Carolina
Memphis
Tennessee
Washington State
ROY WILLIAMS WILL BE CUTTING DOWN THE NETS FOR A SECOND TIME AS THE TARHEELS WILL NOT BE DENIED WITH THE PLAY OF THE NAISMITH PLAYER OF THE YEAR TYLER HANSBROUGH!
2 comments:
Deez,
Thanks for Syracuse but even as a fan I am a little skeptical about this year. The young guys have played great so far in the preseason but this will be a learning year. Donte Green could be the next DC or John Wallace(God I hope so!)and Jonny Flynn will be a great point but this years team will depend on how far Devendorf and Paul Harris carry them. There is too many questions about those guys. Devendorf has the balls to be a stud player but he's not always in the game. Paul Harris is a beast but doesn't have a jumper. Hopefully he worked hard on that in the off season. The Big East is still the best or one of the top two conferences in the country. We added teams like Louisville and Marquette to an already deep conference. G'town is back in the mix since JT3 got there. Pitt is tough, Uconn also young but very athletic(they won't miss Marcus Johnson all that much.)and even some of the other teams that have fallen off are still tough to beat(Nova, W. Virginia, St. John's and Seton Hall).Even Cincinnati and ND can still upset teams. This is going to be a hell of a year with some great battles.
Knicks...Huskies...end of story!
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