Poll: Who Should be College Basketball's Preseason #1?

austin rivers and seth curry mmm championship

Purdue should deffinately be the number 1 team at the begining of the year. Especially because of the "big 3" Robbie Hummel, Jajaun Johnson, and E'twaun Moore

Unquestionably, if Purdue keeps their top players healthy they will be able to beat any team in the country a high percentage of the time. With that said they will lose a few here and there due to a lack of depth but Boilers have the best shot to win it all with top Coach Painter and best starting 5 in the country.

I have to say that after watching college basketball through the years I have definitely learned something; pay attention to major risers on the collegiate landscape. K-State appears to be just that with HCFM and company, given the success they have had in such a short time. If Coach Martin continues to get the best out of his talented players, I would seriously keep an eye on the Wildcats as they push for a Final 4 and possibly a National Title. The early season (possible/probable*knock on wood*) of Duke vs. K-State will offer an early season glimpse into the legitimacy of this team for that type of run.

I have to say that after watching college basketball through the years I have definitely learned something; pay attention to major risers on the collegiate landscape. K-State appears to be that. If Coach Martin continues to get the best out of his talented players, I would seriously keep an eye on the Wildcats as they push for a Final 4 and possibly a National Title. The early season (possible/probable*knock on wood*) of Duke vs. K-State will offer an early season glimpse into the legitimacy of this team for that type of run.

Self disclosure: Die hard KSU fan.

With that, KSU is loaded with talent. They lost 2 key players in Dominique Sutton and Denis Clemente...but they were a deep team to begin with. Look for juniors Russel, McGruder and Irving to really step in to fill the gaps left by Sutton and Clemente's departures. Back them up with a couple of Juco transfers and some very promising freshmen and this team appears to be as deep and talented as any team in the country.

The only wild card is Jamar Samuels. He has tremendous talent, but can't start because he makes too many bad fouls. Fouls that aren't necessary or beneficial. I'd bet the bank that Frank Martin is working with him to end that problem, but only game time experience can prove that he's overcome his fault.

As for the coach, Frank Martin is the real deal. He doesn't teach players basketball. He teaches discipline and hard work. Those attributes translate into good basketball.

The only thing left to be seen is for K-state to finish the season. With the talent they have, they need to top the Big XII in the regular season and tournament, get that #1 seed and take it all the way. That is the only way they can get the national recognition that they want.

Nick Russel and Rodney McGruder are both sophomores... not juniors. Jamar Samuels fouling has absolutely nothing to do with him being the first off the bench, remember back when Huggins had Cartier Martin (the best player on that team) come off the bench. Frank uses this same strategy to help give the team a lift a few minutes after the tip.

You are right. I checked one website that listed them as Juniors but they are 2nd year guys.

However, J-Sam is coming of the bench because he fouls quick and often. Even as a bench player he fouled out of more games than any other player.

Yeah Purdue brings back the Big 3 but Michigan State only loses Raymar Morgan and he saw minutes. I'll admit, Michigan State is going to struggle just as always but with Tom Izzo as there coach it hard to doubt them. Call me brainwashed with all of these "God of March" articles. If Purdue had Robbie Hummel wouldn't of gotten injured then I think Purdue would have been a 2 seed and beat Duke in the Elite 8. Michigan State got lucky with Kansas losing to UNI because with Kalin Lucas injured I don't believe Michigan State could of beat Kansas. I have Purdue in my Final Four beating Kansas and Michigan State beating Ohio State and in the championship I have Michigan State over Purdue.

Maybe FM could teach his players how to win the State before you talk about a NC. Silly Kitty.

I guess i didn't see your Kansas Jayhawks listed as an option....hmmmmm.....?????
Guess you are hurt by your lack of talent this year or the fact that Josh Selby may be KU's first 1/2 and done.

This is my top 25
1.Michigan State
2.Purdue
3.Duke
4.Kansas State
5.Ohio State
6.Villanova
7.Pittsburgh
8.Kansas
9.Kentucky
10.Baylor
11.Memphis
12.Illinois
13.Tennessee
14.Syracuse
15.North Carolina
16.Florida
17.New Mexico
18.Washington
19.Virginia Tech
20.Butler
21.Georgetown
22.BYU
23.Texas
24.Temple
25.Wisconsin

Just missed:Missouri,Xavier,San Deigo State,Wake Forest,West Virginia,and Clemson.

russel, mcgruder, and irving are sophmores actually

Duke all the way.. ....go Duke ..

There is no way that you can rank anybody #1 to start the year except Purdue. To have all 3 seniors back, a healthy Lewis Jackson at the beginning of the year, and some other new players will will contribute immediately.........well, there is just nobody else who should be in the discussion of #1. Last year when Hummel got hurt they were #3 in the country, in sole possession of 1st place in the Big 10, had just beaten Michigan State and Ohio State on the ROAD, and would have been ranked #1 in the country by winning their next game (The #1 & #2 teams had just lost). So they were that close to being #1 going into the tournament. Hummel is absolutely the best player in the country this year if he stays healthy, and Johnson gained a lot of experience playing against the U.S. national team in Las Vegas over the summer. The only thing that can prevent Purdue from winning the national championship is further injuries (Unfortunately Purdue has been unlucky in that respect over the years).

There is no way that you can rank anybody #1 to start the year except Purdue. To have all 3 seniors back, a healthy Lewis Jackson at the beginning of the year, and some other new players will will contribute immediately.........well, there is just nobody else who should be in the discussion of #1. Last year when Hummel got hurt they were #3 in the country, in sole possession of 1st place in the Big 10, had just beaten Michigan State and Ohio State on the ROAD, and would have been ranked #1 in the country by winning their next game (The #1 & #2 teams had just lost). So they were that close to being #1 going into the tournament. Hummel is absolutely the best player in the country this year if he stays healthy, and Johnson gained a lot of experience playing against the U.S. national team in Las Vegas over the summer. The only thing that can prevent Purdue from winning the national championship is further injuries (Unfortunately Purdue has been unlucky in that respect over the years).

UNC at 15, they will be be much higher than that at years end, what a joke.

Duke won the National Title, and they should be #1 until someone proves otherwise. It's not like they lost a lot of talent either. They are definitely deserving of the top spot going into the 2010-2011 season. I'm not a fan of the Blue Devils, but that's still the way things should be.

This is forum must have a strong following in the midwest....purdue is a great team and one could definately make a point for why they would be deserving of a top preseason ranking. I also believe that the tournament may have turned out differently had Hummel not been hurt. But Duke has a ton of returning talent including two of thier own big three in Singler and Smith. They also add Kyrie Irvin and Seth Curry, and until someone proves otherwise they deserve the Pre-Seasoon number 1.

This looks pretty good, including the near misses.

how do you figure Purdue has the best starting 5 in the country? Top 3 maybe, but those big 3 don't necessarily make the other 2 starters top in the country.

To my recollection, without one of those starters (Hummel, precisely), Purdue was above-average at best. I have a hard time believing Purdue will be BETTER than last year, after losing their senior captain, best defender and relief scorer in Kramer. I understand what a major impact his loss will have on this team (as an MSU fan, i learned just how important Travis Walton was).

The odds of all three, especially Hummel, staying healthy is not great, especially with how often all 3 will be required to be on the court throughout each game. They will be forced to play better D without Kramer, find a fourth scorer and backup ball handler.

* I think Purdue will do very well, still. But they wont be as good as early without Kramer. Hopefully they can adjust by March, and can excel, perhaps, without major injury.

Rivers is a 2011; you have to wait a year for him. You mean Kyrie Irving, who could very well be an All-American as a freshman. I like Duke right now as well though.

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