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College Hoops: Andy Katz' Preseason Top 50
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Author:  Coast2Coast [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:55 pm ]
Post subject:  College Hoops: Andy Katz' Preseason Top 50
The ESPN Preseason Top 50
by Andy Katz

50. George Washington
What we like: The style of play and Carl Elliott returning with Maureece Rice in the backcourt. The Colonials won't repeat the magic of the 27-3 season but they're not going away, either. GW should regularly be in the NCAA Tournament mix. What concerns us: Losing the leadership of Mike Hall, Omar Williams, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Danilo Pinnock (who left
early for the NBA draft) will hurt. Experience will be a factor early as the Colonials figure out who can be counted on up front and in the locker room, outside of Elliott and Rice.
Power-rating push: GW will get a good taste of where it stands by playing a depleted USC in the John Wooden Classic in Anaheim in early December.

49. Iowa
What we like: Adam Haluska might be one of the more underrated players in the Big Ten, and Tyler Smith is one of the top freshmen in the country. Mike Henderson and Tony Freeman should shine, too, now that they'll get more touches. Iowa is also a pain to beat at home. What concerns us: Losing Jeff Horner, Erek Hansen and Greg Brunner will be tough to overcome and the Hawkeyes will need to develop a different identity. It might take this squad some time to find itself.
Power-rating push: The Hawkeyes will be tested early when they play at Virginia Tech in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

48. Air Force
What we like: The core of the team, save Antoine Hood, returns from a squad that went to the NCAA Tournament and won 24 games. The Falcons also get former league co-player of the year Nick Welch back from injury. Jeff Bzdelik has kept up the Joe Scott/Chris Mooney Princeton offense tradition to near perfection. What concerns us: The Falcons will always have issues athletically on the defensive end. They've handled being the front-runners in the Mountain West Conference rather well the past couple of seasons, but that's another possible concern.
Power-rating push: Air Force had a hard time getting games but did manage to get into the CBE (formerly the Guardians Classic) and will draw Stanford. Beat the Cardinal and the Falcons could face Duke, Texas Tech or Marquette.

47. California
What we like: We know Leon Powe left, but the Bears have another NBA talent up front in DeVon Hardin. In addition, Ayinde Ubaka gives the Bears a scoring guard and there is decent depth with Omar Wilkes, Jordan Wilkes and Theo Robertson. What concerns us: The Bears will miss Powe's prowess in the post. There are questions about Hardin's consistency. The Bears also need to be as tough as they were with Powe. Toughness and avoiding scoring droughts are a must.
Power-rating push: Cal will play DePaul and Nevada, which should do wonders for the Bears' self-esteem (or crush it) early enough.

46. Oregon
What we like: Call us fools for believing in the Ducks yet again, but it's hard to pass up on this talent. Oregon should be an NCAA Tournament team with Malik Hairston, Aaron Brooks and Bryce Taylor. They can't honestly go their whole careers without a sniff of the NCAAs, can they? What concerns us: Why this team folds is a puzzling question. Also, the lack of consistent inside presence can be an issue. Reestablishing home-court dominance is a must, too.
Power-rating push: The Ducks will have shots to pump up their profile at Georgetown and Rice.

45. Michigan State
What we like: Tom Izzo won't let this team fade. Expect the Spartans to be scrappy enough to make the field of 65, led by Drew Neitzel, Travis Walton and Goran Suton. What concerns us: The lack of a go-to scorer, the uncertainty surrounding Marquise Gray's foot injury, and the overall inexperience.
Power-rating push: The Spartans will, as usual, play a big-time schedule. There are possible games with Maryland, Texas or St. John's in New York in the CVC and then a road game at Boston College in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

44. Michigan
What we like: The Wolverines return the core of their team, save Daniel Horton and Graham Brown. Lester Abram should be healthy after missing much of the last two seasons with injuries. Courtney Sims and Brent Petway are imposing shot-blockers who can cause fits. What concerns us: The Wolverines should be fine, but they have found ways to fade in February. We know injuries have been a factor, but the fact is they haven't closed out recent seasons well enough to earn NCAA bids.
Power-rating push: We'll know a lot about the Wolverines if they can go into N.C. State and win in the opener of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

43. Hofstra
What we like: The backcourt of Loren Stokes, Antoine Agudio and Carlos Rivera is as good a trio as there is at this level. The Pride also have plenty of, well, pride at stake after they felt snubbed last March. What concerns us: The frontcourt will be green and the Pride will rely too much on their backcourt.
Power-rating push: Hofstra has a shot to make a name for itself early in the Great Alaska Shootout. The slate isn't that daunting, with Cal and Hawaii as the most likely roadblocks to the title.

42. Southern Illinois
What we like: Everyone of note returns from a Missouri Valley Conference tournament title team, including guards Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young. This may be the most controversial pick of our top 50, since we're sure there will be critics that think the 40s are too low for the Salukis. What concerns us: The Salukis did win the conference tournament, but Wichita State has more experience, especially in the NCAAs (having reached the Sweet 16). The talent is there but SIU has to do a better job against the top tier of the league on the road.
Power-rating push: SIU doesn't have many opportunities, so it has to make the most of the Old Spice Classic against Arkansas and possibly Virginia Tech.

41. Xavier
What we like: The Musketeers came on strong at the end of the year to snag the Atlantic 10 conference tournament title. Back for more are Stanley Burrell, Justin Cage, Brandon Cole and Justin Doellman, to complement the arrival of Oklahoma transfer Drew Lavender. What concerns us: The Musketeers can't afford too many missteps early if they want to be an at-large candidate. After a midseason swoon (and losing star big man Brian Thornton) last year, they had no shot at the NCAAs without winning the conference tournament.
Power-rating push: Xavier will have plenty of chances with the Paradise Jam field. Kansas State and Cincinnati are on the schedule.

40. Florida State
What we like: Al Thornton. Al Thornton. Al Thornton. He is an immense talent whom the Seminoles will feature. Getting Auburn transfer guard Toney Douglas eligible should help offer up some balance.What concerns us: Losing Alexander Johnson means the Seminoles are thin up front.
Power-rating push: Playing Florida, Wisconsin and Pitt is plenty.

39. Virginia
What we like: Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds. Ask any coach in the ACC and they'll rave about how good this backcourt is. The Cavs are the ultimate sleeper in the ACC. Opening a new arena isn't too bad, either.What concerns us: The frontcourt. The Cavs need to get reliable scorers in the post.
Power-rating push: Getting Arizona to open the new building is a coup. Playing Gonzaga is another tough draw.

38. San Diego State
What we like: Brandon Heath and Mohamed Abukar are back from a 24-win Aztecs team. San Diego State should be the class of the Mountain West, and has a legit shot to be a regular in the dance.What concerns us: Losing Marcus Slaughter's versatility means the Aztecs need another viable scoring option in the frontcourt.
Power-rating push: The Aztecs play Arizona and Cal at home.

37. DePaul
What we like: Get the tape of the 39-point blowout over Syracuse near the end of last season. That's what this DePaul team is capable of doing. The starting five is back, led by Sammy Mejia. The other plus is Jerry Wainwright, one of the top coaches in the country who doesn't get enough pub.What concerns us: The Blue Demons still haven't experienced winning consistently and need to get through any adversity. They were strong at the end of the season but can they be as assertive at the outset?
Power-rating push: DePaul can make a name for itself early at the Maui Invitational.

36. Virginia Tech
What we like: Well, it's not just us. The majority of ACC coaches say Virginia Tech will be a factor in the league race. The reason is the core of players returning, notably Coleman Collins, who had a difficult year dealing with his father's death.What concerns us: The Hokies still haven't been a consistent team, with or without all their distractions in the last year. They need to find a way to be just as tough on the road as at home.
Power-rating push: The Hokies will be pushed in the Old Spice Classic, possibly by Arkansas or Montana, but Virginia Tech needs to come out of Orlando as the winner for an early-season pop.

35. Kansas State
What we like: Bob Huggins. It starts with Huggs in purple and white. That said, the addition of center Jason Bennett and shooting guard Blake Young to a team that was probably three wins away from strong NCAA bid consideration should mean this squad is ready for the dance.What concerns us: We're assuming that leading scorer Cartier Martin will come off suspension by the time the season starts. Also, we're banking on the team taking on Huggins' personality early.
Power-rating push: Kansas State has upgraded its schedule with possible games against Wichita State and New Mexico in a Las Vegas tournament as well as a road game at Xavier.

34. Maryland
What we like: No way does Gary Williams let this squad go three seasons without an NCAA bid. We cannot see it happening, not with a solid nucleus returning with D.J. Strawberry, Ekene Ibekwe, Mike Jones, James Gist and a pair of ballhandlers -- Eric Hayes and Greivis Vasquez -- who will allow Strawberry to move to a more natural off-guard spot.What concerns us: Still need to see the points in action, and the confidence of this group must be sound after getting jilted last season.
Power-rating push: The Terps could shoot out of the box with a Coaches vs. Cancer win over Texas, St. John's or Michigan State.

33. Illinois
What we like: The Illini will find a way to be a factor in the Big Ten. The Illini's home court is too tough for them not to be a tough out. Plus, there is talent like Rich McBride, Brian Randle, Jamar Smith, Shaun Pruitt and Warren Carter. What concerns us: We're not sure who the go-to guy will be, and learning to play without Dee Brown and James Augustine is an issue.
Power-rating push: The Illini wanted the Arizona game in Phoenix for an early-season barometer.

32. Nevada
What we like: Nick Fazekas returned for his senior season. He should be the preseason WAC player of the year. The core of this team is all back, save for Demarshay Johnson -- at least for the first semester as he attempts to get academically eligible. Nevada has a winning atmosphere around its program now and expects to be in the NCAAs.What concerns us: The Wolf Pack still could use a third or fourth option to count on when Fazekas gets into trouble. He will be doubled quite often.
Power-rating push: Nevada will play Cal in the Bay Area and Gonzaga in Seattle, two games that should give us a good read on the Wolf Pack before New Year's.

31. Tennessee
What we like: The Vols hardly were a fluke last season. They are still a major player in the SEC with the return of Chris Lofton, Dane Bradshaw and a stellar recruiting class, led by forward Duke Crews.What concerns us: Losing point C.J. Watson creates a bit of a leadership void. The uncertainty surrounding Major Wingate after a suspension isn't a good vibe, either.
Power-rating push: The Vols could get to New York for the NIT Season Tip-Off against the likes of North Carolina, Gonzaga and Indiana. They also will play Memphis.

30. Louisville
What we like: The Cards did lose Taquan Dean but there was enough remaining, like a healthy David Padgett, Brandon Jenkins, Juan Palacios and Terrence Williams, along with a stellar recruiting class led by big man Derrick Caracter that makes it worth putting the Cards in the top 30.What concerns us: Caracter's girth, Padgett's nagging injuries and the inexperience off the bench.
Power-rating push: The Cards play Kentucky and Arizona in New York. That should be a decent gauge.

29. Texas Tech
What we like: Jarrius Jackson and Martin Zeno. These are two of the more underrated players in any high-major conference. The Red Raiders had their moments last season but weren't able to be consistent enough to make the postseason. That won't be an issue this season. What concerns us: The depth on this squad is inexperienced. They've also got to be more productive on the road.
Power-rating push: The Red Raiders have plenty of high-profile games like possibly Duke, Marquette and Stanford/Air Force in the CBE in Kansas City, Arkansas, New Mexico, Stanford again (maybe) and UNLV.

28. Indiana
What we like: D.J. White. He's healthy and should be a force in the post. The guard play, led by Earl Calloway, Rod Wilmont and A.J. Ratliff, is palatable enough to keep the Hoosiers in the Big Ten hunt. What concerns us: The depth behind White is young and inexperienced. Kelvin Sampson will still have to instill his style, so there could be an adjustment period.
Power-rating push: Indiana plays Kentucky, Duke, Connecticut -- all on the road -- and could face North Carolina, Gonzaga or Tennessee in the NIT Season Tip-Off. Yikes.

27. Kentucky
What we like: Sure, the guards are gone, with Rajon Rondo in the NBA and Patrick Sparks' eligibility having expired, but Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley are talented enough to carry this perimeter. The Cats also have a power player inside in Randolph Morris. And, remember, this is Kentucky. What concerns us: The depth up front is incredibly thin. Replacing Rondo's defense also is a problem.
Power-rating push: Kentucky always plays a big-time schedule and this season is going to Maui with a loaded field, plus facing Indiana, North Carolina and Louisville.

26. Oklahoma State
What we like: The Cowboys are loaded with veterans, save the recent dumping of Torre Johnson. This is finally Sean Sutton's team and there shouldn't be any distractions now that Eddie Sutton has officially retired. Expect JamesOn Curry to bust out with a high-teen average.What concerns us: Losing Johnson doesn't help the frontcourt depth and not having the elder Sutton will be an interesting twist. We're still waiting to see how Sean handles the pressure of this being his team.
Power-rating push: Oklahoma State will play Syracuse in the Jimmy V Classic in New York, giving the Cowboys a big-time opponent in early December.

25. Texas
What we like: The talent is immense. The Longhorns haul in the recruiting class of 2006, led by Kevin Durant and D.J. Augustin, was impressive. Texas will be as young as it has been under Rick Barnes, but don't be foolish and sleep on this squad.What concerns us: Really, it's only the experience. Texas has the talent to score at every position.
Power-rating push: Texas could play Maryland in New York at the CVC in New York and gets Gonzaga in Phoenix in early December.

24. Creighton
What we like: Guard Nate Funk is back after injuries and so is Josh Dotzler, a point who was out for the final seven games (3-4) last season. The Bluejays also have a host of experience, one of the best coaches in the country and one of the toughest home-court environments for opponents. What concerns us: The Bluejays will need to be a bit tougher on the road in the Valley and need a few statement wins in nonconference play.
Power-rating push: Playing in the Rainbow Classic gives Creighton a chance to make a name early. The Bluejays also face Xavier.

23. Villanova
What we like: The Wildcats lost a ton with Randy Foye, Allan Ray and Kyle Lowry departing, but they return the potential Big East player of the year in Curtis Sumpter, who sat out last season with an ACL injury. There's also Mike Nardi on the wing, plenty of role players in Will Sheridan, Shane Clark, Dante Cunningham, and a deft point recruit in Scottie Reynolds. What concerns us: Perimeter scoring will be an issue. It has to be after losing players like Foye and Ray.
Power-rating push: 'Nova is in that Paradise Jam tourney in the Virgin Islands in November and will be tested plenty.

22. Wichita State
What we like: The Shockers were no fluke in making the Sweet 16 last season. They return four of five starters, including Kyle Wilson, who could be one of the tougher players in the Valley. Adding Gal Mekel from Israel could give the Shockers the newcomer of the year in the league, too.What concerns us: Losing Paul Miller means the Shockers need a reliable post player or else they could be too predictable inside.
Power-rating push: Wichita State could draw Kansas State and New Mexico in a Las Vegas holiday tournament in December, and going to George Mason will be a tough test early in the year.

21. Syracuse
What we like: The Orange return four of five starters, including their frontcourt, and they added one of the best freshmen in the country in Paul Harris.What concerns us: The big men have been inconsistent, and if they are again, the Orange won't be a top-five Big East team.
Power-rating push: Playing Oklahoma State in the Jimmy V in New York should give us an early indicator for this squad.

20. Marquette
What we like: The Golden Eagles could be the new Villanova, with three guards you must take notice of in Dominic James, Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal.What concerns us: These three got plenty of shots because of Steve Novak and now he's gone to the NBA. The big men must be more consistent.
Power-rating push: The Golden Eagles could play Duke, Stanford, Air Force or Texas Tech in Kansas City. Playing in-state rival Wisconsin in Milwaukee will be one of the toughest tests of the season.

19. Washington
What we like: The Huskies did lose Brandon Roy but still have a core group returning and they added the next-best big man (outside of Greg Oden) in Spencer Hawes.What concerns us: Experience will be a factor with this squad, even with the help of its great home-court atmosphere.
Power-rating push: The Huskies play LSU at home and Gonzaga and Pitt on the road. That's a tall order outside of the Pac-10 schedule.

18. Gonzaga
What we like: GU is usually known as Guard U and this season shouldn't be any different with Derek Raivio, Jeremy Pargo and Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes as the focal point. Josh Heytvelt isn't too shabby as a post presence, either. What concerns us: Losing Adam Morrison is no joke. The Zags, as good as they have been year in and year out since 1999, still need to come up with a go-to guy.
Power-rating push: Need you ask? The Zags play Duke in New York on Dec. 21, will face some combo of North Carolina, Indiana and Tennessee (two of three) in New York for the NIT Season Tip-Off, and play Memphis at home, at Stanford and Virginia and against Washington in Spokane.

17. Georgia Tech
What we like: The Yellow Jackets added a pair of studs in Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton to go along with a team that was close to being a postseason squad a year ago.What concerns us: Finishing games. Coach Paul Hewitt projected the Yellow Jackets would struggle last season in the final five minutes. He was prophetic.
Power-rating push: Georgia Tech is in the Maui field we've discussed and that will give us a good indicator before Thanksgiving where this team stands.

16. Memphis
What we like: The Tigers may have lost Darius Washington, Rodney Carney and Shawne Williams but they still have the most talent in C-USA with Chris Douglas-Roberts, Robert Dozier, Joey Dorsey, Antonio Anderson, Andre Allen and a big-time talent arriving in Willie Kemp. What concerns us: There is a leadership vacuum without Carney, and the bench won't be as experienced either.
Power-rating push: The Tigers once again are playing anyone they can during the nonconference season, starting out with the Maui Invitational and potential games against Purdue, Georgia Tech, UCLA, Kentucky and DePaul. A February trip to play Gonzaga will be a challenge during the C-USA season.

15. Alabama
What we like: The Tide bring back one of the top point guards in the country in Ronald Steele and a versatile, hard-to-match-up forward in Jermareo Davidson. What concerns us: The reserves will be inexperienced and the Tide must play two of the top five teams in the country a total of three times -- LSU twice and Florida once.
Power-rating push: The Paradise Jam will be a decent gauge for the Tide early, with potential games against Villanova, Xavier and Toledo.

14. Connecticut
What we like: The Huskies loaded up with one of their best recruiting classes ever, including a freakish shot-blocker in 7-3 Hasheem Thabeet. Jim Calhoun is hungry to mold this team into a title contender. What concerns us: Other than Jeff Adrien, Marcus Johnson and Craig Austrie, the Huskies are incredibly green.
Power-rating push: UConn goes to LSU, gets Indiana at home and plays Georgia Tech on the road. That's not bad for a team in transition.

13. Boston College
What we like: Jared Dudley is still one of the toughest players to keep out of the lane and off the glass. Sean Williams could lead the ACC in blocked shots. Sean Marshall is an experienced wing. Tyrese Rice is a big-time scorer at the point. What concerns us: There is no backup behind Rice at the point. None.
Power-rating push: The Eagles play Michigan State at home in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and have a game at Kansas. That's plenty of power before the ACC.

12. Duke
What we like: The Blue Devils still have one of the best forwards in the country in Josh McRoberts, a deft passing playmaker in Greg Paulus, an athletic wing in DeMarcus Nelson and a stellar recruiting class.What concerns us: This is still an inexperienced team overall and finding a reliable perimeter threat will be a priority.
Power-rating push: Duke always has a solid nonconference slate. This season's no exception with the possibility of playing Texas Tech, Stanford, Air Force or Marquette in Kansas City, as well as Indiana at home and Gonzaga in New York.

11. UCLA
What we like: The Bruins still have a core group that got to the title game including Arron Afflalo, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Lorenzo Mata and Alfred Aboya. Getting Josh Shipp healthy and handing the point guard role to Darren Collison will change this team -- possibly for the better.What concerns us: Collison was Jordan Farmar's backup, so point depth could be an issue and being the hunted all year won't be any fun.
Power-rating push: Playing in a loaded Maui field, where seven of the eight teams could win it, and facing A&M in the Wooden Classic give the Bruins early NCAA-like tests.

10. Ohio State
What we like: Well, let's see. They only added the best center to come to the college game in years in Greg Oden and an overall top-three recruiting class. They also have some starters back from a Big Ten title team.What concerns us: Experience. The Buckeyes won't have much of it in the starting lineup or off the bench.
Power-rating push: Playing North Carolina on the road in November will be a significant barometer for this crew.

9. Texas A&M
What we like: Billy Gillispie. Acie Law. Joseph Jones. The rest of the crew also returns, save Chris Walker. The Aggies were a shot away from moving onto the Sweet 16 a year ago.What concerns us: Aggies still need to score a bit more this season to avoid low-scoring affairs of the type that nipped them at times last season. There is enough talent to put the ball in the hole.
Power-rating push: Hey, guess what! Gillispie is actually playing folks like LSU on the road and UCLA in Anaheim.

8. Wisconsin
What we like: Everyone is back that matters for this squad, like potential Big Ten player of the year Alando Tucker, point Kammron Taylor and consummate role players like Brian Butch. Bo Ryan always maximizes his talent.What concerns us: The bench will be a bit inexperienced and finding reliable scorers outside of Tucker on a game-by-game basis could be an issue.
Power-rating push: The Badgers go to Marquette and play host to Pitt. That's plenty.

7. Georgetown
What we like: Roy Hibbert has slimmed down to be an imposing center. Jeff Green is the most versatile and maybe most coveted player in the Big East. John Thompson III's system is a winner.What concerns us: Point guard won't be the most experienced position and a reliance on youth off the bench.
Power-rating push: Games against Oregon, Duke and Vanderbilt should suffice.

6. Arizona
What we like: Folks at Arizona say Chase Budinger may be one of the best freshmen ever to play at the school. Marcus Williams could be the Pac-10 player of the year. Mustafa Shakur will settle down at the point.What concerns us: We wonder a bit about Arizona's post scoring.
Power-rating push: Coach Lute Olson doesn't shy away from anyone. The Cats are playing Memphis, at Virginia, against Illinois in Phoenix, versus Louisville in New York. They also face North Carolina in Tucson during the Pac-10 season.

5. LSU
What we like: Glen Davis looked like a slimmed-down Corliss Williamson at the Nike Camp in Indianapolis. He finally looked comfortable in his own skin around the basket after dropping 20-plus pounds. The Tigers lost Tyrus Thomas and Darrel Mitchell off the Final Four team, but the rest of the crew is back. What concerns us: Mitchell was a clutch shooter last season. He was also a solid leader at the point. Not sure if Tack Minor can do that for the Tigers, but he must for them not to slip.
Power-rating push: Coach John Brady didn't get the necessary pub for playing a tough slate last season. This season, he gets UConn back at home, against Witchita State, Texas A&M in Houston, and is going out to Washington and Oregon State.

4. Pitt
What we like: We've heard from quite a few that this is too high for the Panthers. Well, they did get back a monster in the middle in Aaron Gray. He should be immovable at times in the post. The big secret, though, is in the rest of this squad. Big East coaches love Levon Kendall and Sam Young, two players that don't get a ton of rep.What concerns us: The heat will be on the perimeter to replace Carl Krauser's toughness and moxie. That means Ronald Ramon must be more verbal to ensure the Panthers meet these expectations.
Power-rating push: Coach Jamie Dixon didn't shy away from big-time games this season, with a trip to Wisconsin, a game with Washington and potential pests UMass and Florida State on the slate.

3. North Carolina
What we like: They have the best low-post power player in college in Tyler Hansbrough and they added arguably one of the top two recruiting classes in the country. What concerns us: The returnees say they won't have an issue being in a competitive environment with big-time newcomers like Tywon Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Brandan Wright. We'll see.
Power rating push: The Tar Heels play Ohio State in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and are in the NIT Season Tip-Off where they could take on Gonzaga, Indiana or Tennessee. The Tar Heels never shy away from top games and this season is no exception.

2. Kansas
What we like: The starting five returns and the Jayhawks once again picked up the best remaining player the class of 2006 in Darrel Arthur. He along with Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Julian Wright, C.J. Giles, Russell Robinson and Sasha Kaun make up one of the most talented rosters in the country.What concerns us: Just have to make sure the Jayhawks don't become like UConn last year, when it was hard at times to find a rotation with so much talent.
Power-rating push: Kansas plays Florida and Boston College, two games that show (as always) that this team isn't running from anyone.

1. Florida
What we like: The defending national champs return their entire starting lineup. The Gators might have the top forwards in the country in Joakim Noah and Al Horford, one of the more versatile wings in Corey Brewer and an underrated lead guard in Taurean Green.What concerns us: Florida will be hunted from Day One. How the Gators handle the pressure will determine how far this team advances.
Power-rating push: Florida will face Ohio State at home in late December. The Gators already had determined they were going to play Kansas in Las Vegas before winning the national title. Now this game looks like a potential Final Four preview over Thanksgiving weekend.



 
Author:  good dolphin [ Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:58 am ]
Post subject: 
I have seen a good amount of like for Villanova this year. I must have been the only one who saw a team based entirely on permiter play who then lost three 1st round draft picks from the perimeter.

I see Mejia mentioned in every De Paul evaluations, when it is Chandler who is the key to the season.

Loyola will make the tournament this year.
Author:  Coast2Coast [ Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:53 am ]
Post subject: 
We're on the same page. Nova still gets a lot of love...at least until they start losing in conference. I'm with you...Loyola may win the conference. And DePaul may be the best team in the state of Illinois for the first time in years. Should be some very good games in Chicago this winter.
Author:  Weezy F. Baby [ Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:57 am ]
Post subject: 
I like bc to win the acc, they owned NC last year and duke has no JJ to win the game down the strech. Dudley and big time (sean williams) will dominate the acc
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