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Looking at the semifinals of the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic on paper many expected Duke and Kansas State to advance to Tuesday's title game, and they took care of business at the Spirit Center in Kansas City. But while the Wildcats had some perimeter shooters other than the explosive Jacob Pullen step up in their 81-64 whipping of Gonzaga, Duke had to rely on a change from last season's title team to get past Marquette.

We've already had a matchup between Top 10 teams this season (Ohio State at Florida), but Tuesday brings about the first matchup between Top 5 teams as Duke and Kansas State meet in the finals of the CBE Classic. The Wildcats, playing in front of a partisan crowd in Kansas City, scored 49 points in the first half and knocked down 12 three pointers in beating Gonzaga 81-64 in the nightcap of Monday's doubleheader.

Duke

Kansas St

Kentucky

Michigan St

Purdue

Other (Ohio St, Pittsburgh, Villanova, etc)

Back in April, I posted my 2010-11 "Super-Early" Top 50 Ranking.  Now that the Draft has passed and more recruits have found a home, it's time for an update.

 

Projected lineups for all 30 teams with McDonald's High School All-Americans on their rosters,
Plus 9 teams whose All-Americans will no longer be with their prior team (updated 6/6/10)
www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/13033792/-nba-draft-early-entry-watch-list
(All-American year in parentheses)
Incoming 2010 All-Americans in Bold
Underclassmen who have declared for draft

Wow. What a game.

Like every year, I had a lot of fun putting together the annual early Top 50 ranking. It might seem too early to rank teams, but I nailed all four of this year's Final Four participants in last April's ranking: Duke #1, Michigan St #5, West Virginia #9, and Butler #10. It goes without saying that a lot can change in coming weeks as final Draft decisions are made and the final recruits get "hired" by their respective programs. A Brandon Knight or a Josh Selby could put a contender over the top..

#1 Duke Blue Devils

Team Preview

You might say that grading individual matchups is a waste of time.. that it's all about the "team".. and I say, you're half right. But its still fun to compare individual talent.. and ultimately, when there's a few seconds left on the clock, it takes one guy to win the game.

 

Note: Player grades take into account health status heading into Monday night.

 

It wasn't pretty but because of their defensive grit and the ability to take advantage of Michigan State mistakes, the Butler Bulldogs find themselves forty minutes away from striking a significant blow for all schools whose operating budgets reside below the "Red Line".