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jtsredsox24
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PORTLAND ME
Age: 27
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College Hoops Preview
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jtsredsox24 wrote this 2 years ago | Permalink |
The college hoops season is less than a week away from starting so it’s time to preview what should be an amazing season.
My Preseason Top 10:
1. Duke Blue Devils: The defending national champs return most of the core from their title team plus the additions of McDonalds All-American point guard Kyrie Irving who has the potential to be the best point guard in the nation this year. They also get transfer Seth Curry who is expected to make big contributions. Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith are the key returning starters from last season’s team. Singler is a pre season All American so big things are expected out of him in this his senior season. The Plumlee brothers should also be improved and will be big contributors on the defensive end as well as the post game. Duke is going to be the clear favorite to repeat but there are plenty of competitors that are looking to steal the spotlight.
2. Michigan State Spartans: The Spartans look to make it back to the final four for the third straight year and return the core of last season’s team. Raymar Morgan is gone but they still have a talented set of guards in Kalin Lucas, Korie Lucious, Durrell Summers and highly touted freshman Keith Appling. They also have veteran bigs Delvon Roe and Draymond Green. Even more important is that all of them have experienced deep tournament runs which will help them not only in big ten play but on their journey to another final four.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes: It’s not often you lose the national player of the year and still remain in the top 10 never mind the top 5. This year’s version of the Buckeyes is talented and has added some big time freshman. Jared Sullinger is the most touted of the freshman and will be an immediate contributor but welcome Deshaun Thomas, Aaron Craft and J.D. Weatherspoon. Thad Matta is going to rely on his veterans David Lighty, Jon Diebler and William Buford to assist in the freshmen’s transition to the college game. Lighty who is a fifth year senior has final four experience from the days of Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daquean Cook. If the freshman play as expected this will be a dangerous team.
4. Kansas State Wildcats: Kansas State was a win away from a final four last season and will look to improve on that this year. Their best player Jacob Pullen is back and ready to take this team to the next level. They lose Dennis Clemente who a very big part of the team. Curtis Kelly will anchor the inside in this his senior season. The Wildcats are hoping for some improvement in their sophomore bigs Wally Judge and Jamar Samuels. Judge was a McDonalds All-American and showed flashes of his potential at times last season but their success this season could rely on the jump he makes from freshman to sophomore.
5. Villanova Wildcats: Villanova loses their All-American point guard Scottie Reynolds but still brings back the core of a team that was upset early in the tournament last season. Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes will anchor the back court now and they have the ability to put points up in a hurry. They also have tons of depth in the back court in their Sophomore guards Malik Wayns and Dominic Cheek. Along with those talented guards Nova has a solid interior with Antonio Pena and Mouphtaou Yarou leading the way. Look for Isiah Armwood to have a bigger role this season and McDonalds All-American JayVaughn Pinkston should provide more depth at the forward position.
6. Pittsburgh Panthers: Pitt is always ready to play big time basketball and this season is going to be no different. Them and Nova should compete for the league title in the big east but the Panthers feel like this is the year they break through and make it to the final four. Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wannamaker lead the team this season who is always sound on defense and rebounds very well. Dante Taylor needs to make big strides from his Freshman season and give Pitt a dominate inside presence. Gilbert Brown should also see an increase in his scoring with the graduation of Jermaine Dixon.
7. Kentucky Wildcats: Kentucky lost 5 players to the first round of the NBA draft but still rank in my top ten because they bring in the nations best recruiting class. John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton are now in the NBA but Coach Calipari reloads with Brandon Knight, Enes Kanter, Doron Lamb, Terrance Jones and Stacey Poole Jr. all of which were ranked in the top 40 in the national recruiting rankings. Kanter has some questions about his eligibility and if he is not allowed to play Kentucky will be hurt. Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins are the veteran players on this years team and will need to make solid contributions. Like last year Kentucky will go as far as their freshman take them.
8. Baylor Bears: Like Kansas State Baylor was also just short of making the final four. They lose Tweedy Carter and Ekde Udoh but bring in one of the best freshman in the class Perry Jones. J’Mison Morgan was granted the ability to play immediately after transferring from UCLA. Morgan was once a highly touted recruit who couldn’t quite get it together at UCLA so a change of scenery might be what he needs. Quincy Acy is also back after having a strong tournament. Baylor would be rated higher but the uncertainty of their start shooting guard Lacedarious Dunn is still in question. Dunn was suspended indefinitely after being arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. If Dunn plays Baylor will be in contention for a final four.
9. North Carolina Tar Heels: The Tar Heels are coming off of a very disappointing season after starting last year with high ones. The freshman class Roy Williams brought in didn’t pan out as well as he hoped. This year they are bringing in a sure thing in Harrison Barnes who was picked as a first team All-American by the AP which never happens for a freshman. Kendal Marshall also joins the program and is billed as a big time point guard prospect. The other big freshman addition is Reggie Bullock who has range well beyond the three point line. Tyler Zeller, John Henson and Larry Drew will really determine how this team plays this season. Zeller needs to stay healthy which he hasn’t done in his first two seasons. John Henson needs to continue with the way he played in the tail end of the season after he came in with big expectations.
10. Kansas Jayhawks: Kansas lost a lot off of a team that was expected to win it all last season. Gone is Cole Aldrich, Sharron Collins, and Xavier Henry but the Jayhawks added Josh Selby who they expect big things from. The Morris twins Marcus and Markieff give the Jayhawks a very good starting frontcourt but lacks experienced depth. Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed give Kansas veteran backcourt help. The most important member of this years team might be junior guard Tyshawn Taylor. Taylor has big expectations coming into Kansas and has been up and down his first two seasons. If he can make a big leap than Kansas will be a player in the Big 12.
Preseason All American team
Jacob Pullen- Kansas State
Malcolm Delaney- Virginia Tech
Kalin Lucas- Michigan State
Kyle Singler- Duke
JaJuan Johnson- Purdue
Freshman of the Year: Harrison Barnes- North Carolina
Final Four:
Duke
Michigan State
Baylor
Kansas State
National Champ: Michigan State
-jtsredsox24
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