Top 144 Previews

The BIG List: CHN's 2009-10 Preview Index

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:34:09 -0500

2009-10 PREVIEW: THE BIG LIST

No one has more college basketball preview material than collegehoops.net.. not even ESPN (and if you don't believe me, I dare you to read every single preview article we put online.. it might blind your eyes.. and maybe even your ears). Here's a comprehensive list of 2009-10 preview content to keep you busy for the next few months. Bookmark this page and check back daily for new preview goodness. Like what you see? Spread the word..

As always, thanks for stopping by the site!

By Shawn Siegel

CHN Editor

Latest Additions 11/17 - Check out Conference by Conference Previews

144 Teams in 144 Days runs from June to November!

Top 144 RSS Feed

Top 144 Team Previews

- #1 Kansas, #2 Villanova, #3 Michigan State..

By Joel Welser

Preview Editor

- Teams #26 to 40 - #26 Georgia Tech, #27 Louisville, #28 Texas A&M..

- Teams #41 to 60 - #41 Creighton, #42 ASU, #43 BYU..

- Teams #61 to 80 - #61 Richmond, #62 Utah, #63 LSU..

- Teams #81 to 100 - #81 Marquette, #82 Buffalo, #83 VCU..

- Teams #101 to 120 - #101 Long Beach St, #102 Northeastern, #103 TCU..

- Teams #121 to 144 - #121 Santa Clara, #122 Mt. Saint Mary's, #123 Iowa..

- Alphabetical Team Previews/Ranking - Easy access to your favorite team's preview/ranking.

- Complete 348 Team D1 Ranking: 145-200 - 201-275 - 276-348

DAILY CONFERENCE POLLS

Who will win all 31 D1 conferences?..


ACC?	A10?	B. East?	Big Ten?	Big 12?	HL?	MVC?	MWC?	P-10?	SEC?	WCC?

..ALL 31 LEAGUES vote early, vote often

Other Polls

- Who will the National Title?

- What will be the best conference?

- Best Non-BCS conference?

- Best Freshman?

- Best Non-BCS Team? (new)

- all polls..

CONFERENCE BY CONFERENCE

In-depth previews of all D1 conferences, including league & team rankings, previews, CHN's All-Conference teams, and more.

CONFERENCE PREVIEWS / RANKING

- conference previews including projected standings, all-league, top freshman, leaders, and related league content.

1 Big Ten

2 Big 12

3 ACC

4 SEC

5 Big East

6 Pac-10

7 Atlantic 10

8 MVC

9 MWC

10 CUSA

11 WAC

12 Horizon

13 Colonial

14 Sun Belt

15 MAAC

16 WCC

17 MAC

18 Big West

19 Summit

20 Big Sky

21 Southland

22 Ivy

23 Southern

24 America East

25 Atlantic Sun

26 Patriot

27 OVC

28 Big South

29 NEC

30 MEAC

31 SWAC

Five-Year Rankings - BCS teams ordered by a formula that counts postseason success & conference winning %

- ACC - Big 12 - Big East - Big Ten - Pac-10 - SEC (new)

High-Low Rankings - A range or projected finishes for BCS teams

ACC - Big 12 - Big East - Big Ten - Pac-10 - SEC

BRACKETOLOGY, OTHER NATIONAL RANKINGS & POLLS

Get a head start on your 2009 NCAA Tournament bracket

2010 TOURNEY BRACKET

CHN's Top 144 plugged into a bracket. Start drooling about March in October.

PRESEASON TOP 50: Kansas #1

The Editor's take.. different from the official Top 144 ranking

2010 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Preseason (new!)

Its never to early to project the Field.. all 65 heading to the Dance

National Media Rankings

- Coaches Poll

- AP Top 25

- The Preview Magazines: Consensus Top 25

How Athlon, Lindy's, and Sporting News compare

PLAYER AWARDS & RANKINGS

All-Americans, All-Conference & More

CollegeHoops.net Awards

- All-America Team (& commentary)

- High-Major All-Americans (& commentary)

- Mid-Major All-Americans (& commentary)

- All-Freshman Team (& commentary)

..all awards

Power Conferences: Top 25 Players

Ranking the best players per position in each conference (by Shawn Siegel)

- ACC - Big 12 - Big East - Big Ten - Pac-10 - SEC

Editor's Picks

- 2009-10 All-America Teams

National Awards

- AP All-America Team (off-site)

Official Coaches/Media Polls & All-Conference Teams

- ACC

- MVC

- SEC

- More

CHN Top 100

1	John Wall
2	Sherron Collins
3	Luke Harangody
4	Cole Aldrich
5	Evan Turner
Complete Top 100 our annual favorite, ranking the game's best

MARCH MADNESS ALL SEASON

Get prepared for the season with CHN's Jeff Borzello. Players, teams, conferences -- it's all here.

- Position Rankings: PG SG SF PF C

- Best Backcourts

- Best Frontcourts

- Group Rankings: Inside-Outside Combos Trios Wing Duos

- Old Faces, New Places: Impact Transfers

- Fifty Impact Freshmen

- Player Rankings: Defenders, Three-point Shooters, Break-Out Players, Mid-Major Stars, Go-to Guys

- Biggest Shoes to Fill

- Non-Conference Games to Watch

- Non-BCS Top 25

- Mid-Major Sleepers

Conference Previews

No. 33: Independents Preview

No. 32: Great West Conference Preview

No. 31: SWAC Preview

No. 30: MEAC Preview

No. 29: Atlantic Sun Conference Preview

No. 28: Northeast Conference Preview

No. 27: America East Conference Preview

No. 26: Patriot League Preview

No. 25: Southland Conference Preview

No. 24: Ohio Valley Conference Preview

No. 23: Big South Conference Preview

No. 22: Ivy League Preview

No. 21: Big Sky Conference Preview

No. 20: Summit League Preview

No. 19: Southern Conference Preview

No. 18: Mid-American Conference Preview

No. 17: Big West Conference Preview

No. 16: Sun Belt Conference Preview

No. 15: MAAC Preview

No. 14: Horizon League Preview

No. 13: West Coast Conference Preview

No. 12: CAA Preview

No. 11: WAC Preview

No. 10: Missouri Valley Conference Preview

No. 9: Conference-USA Preview

No. 8: Mountain West Conference Preview

No. 7: Atlantic-10 Conference Preview

No. 6: Pac-10 Conference Preview

No. 5: SEC Preview

No. 4: Big East Conference Preview

No. 3: ACC Preview

No. 2: Big Ten Conference Preview

No. 1: Big 12 Conference Preview

March Madness All Season Feed

By Jeff Borzello

March Madness All Season Blog

FANTASY COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Projected stats, player rankings, etc

Fantasy Stats Previews - Fantasy Preview Archive

Projected stats for all starting BCS players

- ACC - Big East - Big 12 - Big Ten - Pac-10 - SEC

Kansas Basketball Preview: #1

Joel Welser — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:11:54 -0500

Overall Rank: #1

Conference Rank: #1 Big 12 Conference

2008-09: 27-8, 14-2

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Bill Self (169-40 at Kansas, 376-145 overall)

Kansas returns all five starters and all their key reserves from a team that went 14-2 in Big 12 conference play last year and made it to the Sweet Sixteen. Obviously that was a young team since nobody was a senior and now this group is growing up and ready to take the next step. Add an amazing recruiting class to mix in with the veterans and you have yourself the favorites to take home the NCAA Championship Trophy.

Key Losses: none

Key Newcomers:

Kansas does not need much production from their newcomers, but they will get it anyway. Transfers Jeff Withey, who will be eligible after the first semester, and C.J. Henry who came from Memphis, provide a couple dynamic options. Shooting guard Xavier Henry and combo guard Elijah Johnson will push the returning backcourt players for minutes. Henry is the most polished of the incoming freshmen and is expected to play a big role. Thomas Robinson gives the frontcourt yet another weapon, but he will have to fight hard for minutes as a freshman.

Backcourt:

It is on the wings where this team occasionally ran into problems last season. Tyshawn Taylor had a great freshman campaign, averaging 9.7 points and 3.0 assists and has cemented his starting spot, but Brady Morningstar averaged over 30 minutes per game and only tallied 6.5 points per game. With the addition of Henry, Morningstar (whose playing time took a serious blow to begin with following a 1st semester suspension) could be relegated to minimal time off the bench. Tyrell Reed is not quite as good of a shooter as Morningstar, but he does get to the basket as well. Mario Little was slowed by injuries last year, but the 6-5 wing can provide more size at the small forward position.

Frontcourt:

Cole Aldrich certainly laid to rest any uncertainties about his game during his sophomore campaign. The 6-11 center averaged 14.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. Now that he is an upperclassman, even bigger things are expected from Aldrich. His presence under the basket opens up space for the Morris brothers. Marcus Morris tallied 7.4 points per game and was second on the team in rebounding last year. His ability to stretch out the defense with his mid-range jumper also helps get Aldrich more space in the paint. Markieff Morris is not the shooter that his brother is, but he is a tough player who will hit the glass hard.

Who to Watch:

Obviously there are plenty of scorers on this team, but the guy who gets them the ball is also the best scorer. Sherron Collins is one of the best point guards in the country and is coming off a great season in which he tallied 18.9 points and 5.0 assists per game. He is a prolific outside shooter, but has more than enough strength to attack the basket and either finish himself or find one of his teammates.

Final Projection:

This is Collins’ team and he is one of two seniors who will play a significant role on this squad. With Collins leading the way, the Jayhawks have a smart leader who can take over a game or give the ball off to Aldrich and let him dominate. Either way, Kansas will dominate and are the early favorites to win it all.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Sherron Collins, Senior, Guard, 18.9 points per game

Tyshawn Taylor, Sophomore, Guard, 9.7 points per game

Xavier Henry, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Marcus Morris, Sophomore, Forward, 7.4 points per game

Cole Aldrich, Junior, Center, 14.9 points per game

Next Top 144 Teams
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College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Villanova Basketball Preview: #2

Joel Welser — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:06:23 -0500

Overall Rank: #2

Conference Rank: #1 Big East Conference

2008-09: 30-8, 13-5

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Jay Wright (178-90 at Villanova, 300-175 overall)

Since Coach Jay Wright arrived at Villanova, the Wildcats have been turning into a consistent force in the Big East. There are some big losses in the frontcourt, but few teams can match the talent and depth on the perimeter. The Final Four was nice last year, but this is a team that can reach for even loftier goals.

Key Losses: F Dwayne Anderson, F Shane Clark, F Dante Cunningham, C Frank Tchuisi

Key Freshmen:

There is a reason most recruiting services rank Villanova’s 2009 class as one of the best in the nation. Point guard Maalik Wayns hardly gets mentioned since he will struggle to find playing time in a crowded backcourt. Wing Dominic Cheek is in a similar position, despite being a Top 40 prospect nationally. The real need is in the paint and that is where Mouphtaou Yarou steps in. The 6-10, 250 pound freshman is physically ready to play in the Big East and will be a beast on the glass. Isaiah Armwood and redshirt freshman center Maurice Sutton need to be ready to play some minutes off the bench.

Backcourt:

This is easily one of the most dynamic and talented backcourts in the nation. The return of Scottie Reynolds, who averaged 15.2 points and 3.4 assists last year, is a big boost to the Wildcats. Reynolds could just as easily be off in the NBA, but instead he will be knocking down threes and attacking the basket one more year in Philadelphia. Reggie Redding was a part-time starter last year and his versatility is his greatest strength. Although he will miss the first semester due to a suspension, Redding will be back in December to grab some rebounds, dish out some passes and even block a shot or two. In the meantime the Corey’s will take over. Corey Fisher is a point guard with a scoring mentality. The turnover numbers were a little high, but he should be able to fix that now that he is an upperclassman. Corey Stokes is nearly as effective of a scorer as the other Corey, but he does most of his damage from beyond the arc.

Frontcourt:

The loss of Dante Cunningham is huge. He led the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots a year ago and most of the players who would step into the frontcourt are gone as well. The only returning player who saw any significant playing time is Antonio Pena. The 6-8 junior started 20 games last year, but now he will be asked to do much more than average 17.6 minutes, 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. The Wildcats expect Pena to be steady and play about 25 minutes per game. If he has a bad year, the frontcourt will be very inexperienced.

Who to Watch:

But there is another option besides Pena or a freshman to man one of the forward positions. Two years ago Taylor King was averaging 5.5 points per game for Duke as a freshman. King showed flashes of his potential with the Blue Devils and had reached double digits in the scoring column six times, but he is stronger now and fits very well in this system. His ability to hit the outside shot and his strength to defend opposing power forwards should give him the early lead on the starting job.

Final Projection:

But do not be surprised if Yarou starts eating away at King’s minutes. This is a team that returns a lot of talent, but there will be five freshmen who are more than capable of making an impact. Coach Wright also has the possibility of playing small once Redding is back. It was not long ago that the Wildcats ran a four guard offense. As long as Pena, or Yarou, are comfortable being the only big man, Stokes could play the four spot and this team could run up and down the floor all day.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Corey Fisher, Junior, Guard, 10.8 points per game

Scottie Reynolds, Senior, Guard, 15.2 points per game

Corey Stokes, Junior, Guard, 9.3 points per game

Mouphtaou Yarou, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Antonio Pena, Junior, Forward, 5.1 points per game

Next Top 144 Teams
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College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Michigan State Basketball Preview: #3

Joel Welser — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:59:53 -0500

Overall Rank: #3

Conference Rank: #1 Big Ten Conference

2008-09: 31-7, 15-3

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Tom Izzo (336-137 at Michigan State, 336-137 overall)

Michigan State was one game away from winning a National Championship in their own backyard, but once again North Carolina got the best of the Spartans. Still, MSU had a very successful season and there's no reason not to shoot for another Final Four appearance, but that is what Coach Tom Izzo always aims for.

Key Losses: F Marquise Gray, C Idong Ibok, C Goran Suton, G Travis Walton

Key Newcomers:

The big losses are in the frontcourt and Derrick Nix and Garrick Sherman will have to play a role on this team when the Spartans want to play big. Both freshmen are traditional back to the basket players and that is exactly what this team needs. Nix needs to continue to drop a little weight and add a little muscle, but he is the likely candidate to help replace the loss of Goran Suton and Marquise Gray, although Sherman will certainly get an opportunity as well.

Backcourt:

Kalin Lucas has turned into the star of this team after winning the conference’s Player of the Year Award during his sophomore campaign. Lucas led the team with 14.7 points and 4.6 assists per game and is ready to become the unquestioned leader of the team. And that will be very important since Travis Walton is no longer around to help him out. Korie Lucious will take over the backup point guard duties and could be in for a big year after an inconsistent freshman campaign. Durrell Summers and Chris Allen will dominate the playing time on the wings. Summers is a great athlete who also knocks down the outside shot, but it is Allen who is the best shooter on this team. He just needs to figure that out and start being more consistent.

Frontcourt:

A couple freshmen were roleplayers last year and need to step up and become bigger contributors this time around. Delvon Roe was slowed by injuries early in the year, but he showed plenty of promise and ended up starting 31 games. His scoring output needs to improve, but he has already proven that he can be a great rebounder and a decent shot blocker. Draymond Green is undersized to play the four spot, but he makes up for it with his toughness. Largely unnoticed during the regular season, Green came on strong at the end of his freshman campaign and should be ready to make a big impact off the bench. Ideally those two are power forwards, leaving Tom Herzog as the only returning player who is really a center and Herzog rarely played last season.

Who to Watch:

Unless Herzog or one of the freshmen are on the floor, Roe will have to play the center position and that leaves the 6-8 Raymar Morgan at the four spot. Ideally, Morgan would be a small forward, but no matter where he plays, he will put up some great numbers…especially if he can stay healthy. In a season that was marred with injuries, Morgan still managed to rank second on the team in points and rebounds.

Final Projection:

The absence of Suton and his outside shooting, not to mention his rebounding ability will be missed. However, Coach Izzo played small most of last year and putting Roe under the basket with Morgan at the four spot is nothing new. In fact, that will allow the Spartans to run even more and capitalize on the talent in the backcourt. It would be beneficial if somebody emerged as a consistent low post scorer and defender, but even if this team plays small, Coach Izzo will not let last year’s best rebounding team get beat on the glass.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Kalin Lucas, Junior, Guard, 14.7 points per game

Chris Allen, Junior, Guard, 8.4 points per game

Durrell Summers, Junior, Guard, 8.6 points per game

Raymar Morgan, Senior, Forward, 10.2 points per game

Delvon Roe, Sophomore, Forward, 5.6 points per game

Next Top 144 Teams
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College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

UNC Basketball Preview: #4

Joel Welser — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:46:36 -0500

Overall Rank: #4

Conference Rank: #1 Atlantic Coast Conference

2008-09: 34-4, 13-3

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Roy Williams (176-37 at North Carolina, 594-138 overall)

North Carolina has been here before. This is not the first time the Tar Heels lose a whole slew of talent and it will not be the last time. Rebuilding and fitting the pieces together is what Coach Roy Williams does and he does it better than anybody. While players like Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson and Tyler Hansbrough dominated the headlines during UNC’s National Championship run, younger players were sitting on the bench waiting for their turn. Now it is their turn.

Key Losses: G Wayne Ellington, G Bobby Frasor, F Danny Green, F Tyler Hansbrough, G Ty Lawson

Key Newcomers:

But there are also five incoming freshmen who are more than capable of contributing right away. Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald will have to play an important role on this slim backcourt. Both could end up starting sooner or later. Strickland can handle the ball very well and will battle for the starting point guard position. If he loses that battle, he will still get minutes as the backup or as a starter on the wing. McDonald is expected to be the next great Tar Heel shooter. That alone will make him a valuable player whether he starts or not. Those two are important newcomers, but believe it or not, the best freshmen heading to Chapel Hill are in the frontcourt.

Backcourt:

Larry Drew II will be given the opportunity to win the starting point guard spot. That is what he was expected to do once Lawson left, but he did not have the greatest freshman campaign. But to be fair he averaged less than ten minutes per game and was never really given a real opportunity. He will get it now. Wing Marcus Ginyard, who missed nearly all of last season with an injury could run the point, but Strickland would be the likely successor if Drew II fails. Another wing, Will Graves, would then join Ginyard providing valuable experience and depth on the perimeter.

Frontcourt:

The frontcourt already has three great players and that is not even counting the three incoming freshmen. Deon Thompson started all but one game last season and averaged 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. Even at 6-9 and 245 pounds, Thompson could end up spending much of his time at the small forward position due to the vast amount of talent in the frontcourt. Ed Davis averaged less than 20 minutes per game, but he still tallied 6.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per contest. With Davis under the basket it will not be long before UNC fans forget about Hansbrough. Tyler Zeller, a seven-foot center, averaged a mere 7.8 minutes per game last year and it is hard to see where he will find any more.

Who to Watch:

There has to be a spot somewhere in the starting lineup for John Henson. The 6-10 freshman is on top of nearly every recruiting list and will be a dominating force under the basket once he gains some strength. For now he could spend some time at the small forward position where his lack of toughness will not be as big of a concern. Yet, Davis’ lack of size was an issue last year too and he did just fine under the basket. David Wear and Travis Wear are almost afterthoughts in this recruiting class, but both were McDonald’s All-Americans.

Final Projection:

This team will all come down to chemistry. North Carolina has more than enough talent to win the National Championship again, but this is a young team. Coach Williams will find the right pieces and put them in the right places and that should be enough to get this team on top of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings, but the inexperience will get the best of them sooner or later.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Larry Drew II, Sophomore, Guard, 1.4 points per game

Marcus Ginyard, Senior, Guard, 1.3 points per game (injured)

John Henson, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Deon Thompson, Senior, Forward, 10.6 points per game

Ed Davis, Sophomore, Forward, 6.7 points per game

Next Top 144 Teams
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College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Texas Basketball Preview: #5

Joel Welser — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:39:15 -0500

Overall Rank: #5

Conference Rank: #2 Big 12 Conference

2008-09: 23-12, 9-7

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Rick Barnes (270-105 at Texas, 472-239 overall)

The 2008-2009 season was not what Texas fans have come to expect. The team struggled to a 9-7 conference record and was home by the end of the first weekend of NCAA Tournament play. A poor assist-to-turnover ratio and a complete lack of consistent outside shooting did them in, but Coach Rick Barnes hopes a year of experience and a talented group of newcomers can change all of that.

Key Losses: G A.J. Abrams, C Connor Atchley

Key Newcomers:

Jai Lucas, a transfer from Florida, could put an end to the point guard concerns once he is eligible after the fall semester. He is not a true point guard and will do his fair share of scoring, but Lucas is a talented ball handler who will run the point at times. Avery Bradley has improved greatly over his last year of high school and is ranked among the best recruits in the nation. He will attack the basket with ease and has a nice mid-range game, but it might be asking a little too much to expect him to replace Abrams outside shooting. J’Covan Brown will add some quality depth on the perimeter. The wings get a couple potential stars in Jordan Hamilton and Shawn Williams. At 6-7 and 6-6, respectively, those two will bring some size to the backcourt.

Backcourt:

Dogus Balbay improved as last season progressed, but the 6-1 junior only started 13 games. He is not much of a scorer, but he did dish out 3.1 assists per game and only turned the ball over 1.4 times. Justin Mason filled in much of the time at the point, leading the team with 4.0 assists per contest, but he does his best work off the ball. Mason struggled to score because he spent so much time on the ball. Mason is not much of a shooter either, but he can be a very dangerous scorer if Balbay and Lucas can handle the point. Varez Ward, another potential starter at point guard, had a decent freshman campaign and has the ability to create his own shot off the dribble and get to the foul-line.

Frontcourt:

Hamilton and Williams may battle for the starting small forward spot if Coach Barnes wants to play big, but the 6-7 Damion James will likely spend most of his time at the four spot. That leaves Dexter Pittman as the starter at the five spot. Pittman, a 6-10, 290 pound center, emerged as a relatively consistent scorer around the basket and a capable rebounder and shot blocker. Gary Johnson averaged 10.0 points per game while coming mostly off the bench. With a player of Johnson’s caliber, assuming he can stay healthy, able to come off the bench will make this frontcourt nearly impossible to stop. Add Clint Chapman, Matt Hill and Alexis Wangmene to the mix and this group has a ton of quality depth.

Who to Watch:

But it is still James who is the star of this team and when he pulled out of the NBA Draft, Texas’ expectations went through the roof. After tallying 15.4 points and 9.2 rebounds a year ago, James will be a consistent double-double threat. James is only 6-7, but he is a strong 225 pounds who is obviously not afraid to mix it up in the paint. Yet, James can also step outside and hit the long ball.

Final Projection:

Williams might be the best pure shooter on this team and his versatility will be a big plus. But can he and Bradley turn a team that finished last in the Big 12 in three-point field-goal percentage into a team that can knock down the long ball to compliment their already established interior scorers? That appears to be a bigger issue than the point guard situation which should at least be serviceable with Balbay, Lucas and Mason.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Varez Ward, Sophomore, Guard, 4.2 points per game

Justin Mason, Senior, Guard, 6.1 points per game

Shawn Williams, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Damion James, Senior, Guard, 15.4 points per game

Dexter Pittman, Senior, Center, 10.1 points per game

Next Top 144 Teams
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College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Kentucky Basketball Preview: #6

Joel Welser — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:45:32 -0500

Overall Rank: #6

Conference Rank: #1 Southeastern Conference

2008-09: 22-14, 8-8

2008-09 postseason: NIT

Coach: John Calipari (First year at Kentucky, 445-140 overall)

No starting job is safe at Kentucky. Since Coach John Calipari took the team over, a great recruiting class has turned into easily the best in the nation. Coach Calipari has not only increased the level of talent on this team, but he has also brought with him the confidence to get the Wildcats back where they belong among college basketball’s elite.

Key Losses: G Kevin Galloway, G Jodie Meeks, G Michael Porter

Key Newcomers:

Many consider John Wall to be the best freshman in the nation. The 6-4 guard certainly fills a need on this team as the starting backcourt was relatively ineffective last year and most of them are gone anyway. Fellow point guard Eric Bledsoe will likely work his way into the starting rotation as well, but that is not all Kentucky has coming into Lexington. Jon Hood was the state’s Mr. Basketball last year, but he will have a hard time finding minutes and wing Darnell Dodson is one of the best junior college transfers out there. The frontcourt gets two of the best big men possible in DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton. Cousins is a very polished player for a freshman and is surprisingly agile for a 6-11, 260 pound forward.

Backcourt:

With the influx of newcomers, the roleplayers, and even the former starters, will have to battle for minutes. Ramon Harris started 28 games last year, but he is pretty much on the floor for his defense and rebounding abilities. It is Darius Miller who has the potential to blossom into a prolific scorer. After spending his summer at the Under 19 World Championships, the 6-7 wing is ready to average more than 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds…especially in Coach Calipari’s system. DeAndre Liggins had a relatively successful freshman campaign, averaging 4.2 points, 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds. His ability to do a little bit of everything makes him a very dangerous option.

Frontcourt:

Patrick Patterson is the star of the frontcourt and was second to the now departed Jodie Meeks averaging 17.9 points per game. Patterson is also a superb rebounder and shot blocker and the influx of talent around him will only make him more dangerous. Perry Stevenson started beside Patterson last year, but that job may be in jeopardy. Stevenson is an athletic big man who will not bang under the basket as effectively as Patterson. Although Stevenson ranked third on the team with 7.8 points per game, he is not a prolific scorer, but he is a solid rebounder and a very good defender. At 265 pounds, Josh Harrellson has the ability to eat up space in the paint, but he can also step outside and hit the mid-range jumper.

Who to Watch:

What this team lacks is a pure shooter. The best option on the team is Dodson, the junior college transfer. He may not make it into the starting lineup and will be used as a spark off the bench and that means it could be up to Bledsoe and Wall to start hoisting up the long balls. Bledsoe is more of a true point guard than Wall. Wall’s best attributes are his speed and ability to get to the basket and he is not really known for his shooting abilities. That is something that he has worked on, but this is a team that had nobody hit more than one three-pointer per game except Meeks.

Final Projection:

Finding minutes for all these talented players is one concern, but the bigger issue is the outside shooting. Miller is the best returning shooter and he only averaged 0.5 per contest and hit a mere 32.7 percent of his attempts. Patterson was so effective last year because the opposition had to worry about Meeks and his shooting. If nobody can hit the outside shot consistently, the opposition can pack it in and try to stop the slashing guards and the big guys under the basket.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Eric Bledsoe, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Jon Wall, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Darius Miller, Sophomore, Guard, 5.3 points per game

Patrick Patterson, Junior, Forward, 17.9 points per game

DeMarcus Cousins, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Next Top 144 Teams
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College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

West Virginia Basketball Preview: #7

Joel Welser — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:41:34 -0500

Overall Rank: #7

Conference Rank: #2 Big East Conference

2008-09: 23-12, 10-8

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Bob Huggins (49-23 at West Virginia, 639-234 overall)

Coach Bob Huggins has been bringing his type of players into West Virginia and those players are now experienced veterans. Only one player is gone from a team that went 23-12 overall and 10-8 in a very difficult Big East conference. The Big East will not be as good as it was last year and the Mountaineers will be much better.

Key Losses: G Alex Ruoff

Key Newcomers:

The biggest issue in this recruiting class is replacing Alex Ruoff at the shooting guard spot. Coach Huggins did just about as well as he could with the addition of the much acclaimed junior college transfer Casey Mitchell. The National Junior College Player of the Year is a superb shooter and could immediately replace the impressive shooting of Ruoff. This group needs some depth on the perimeter too and the versatile Dalton Pepper is just what the doctor ordered. The newcomers up front will find it more difficult to find playing time, but Deniz Kilicli should be a great player in a year or two and Danny Jennings is a physical presence under the basket.

Backcourt:

The point guard position looked good for a while when freshman Darryl Bryant replaced the injured Joe Mazzulla seven games into the 2008-2009 season. Everybody expected both to be back, but some off the court issues made their return questionable. However, both have been cleared to play and that gives the Mountaineers two superb ball handlers. Bryant will use his strength to get to the basket, but he is also a decent shooter. Mazzulla will not score as much, but he is a better distributor at this point in his career. Due to a lack of depth on the perimeter, do not be surprised if both are playing at the same time during certain situations.

Frontcourt:

This is where WVU gets really good. Wellington Smith, Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks all started at least 34 games last year and should once again find themselves in the starting lineup, although younger players will be pushing them for minutes. Smith will not put up eye popping numbers, but he is the prototypical glue guy. Butler led the team in scoring, averaging 17.1 points per game last season and is one of the most dangerous inside-outside players in the nation. Sixth man Kevin Jones was very productive when he could find minutes and John Flowers is an active forward who can score in bunches.

Who to Watch:

Yet, it is Ebanks who is the emerging star of this team. As a freshman he averaged 10.5 points and a team high 7.8 rebounds and those numbers should go up with a year of experience. More importantly, Ebanks is tilting the scales at about 220 pounds now as opposed to about 195 pounds when he arrived in Morgantown. That extra strength will make him a dominating player in a frontcourt that should dominate most teams.

Final Projection:

Thanks to the return of Bryant and Mazzulla, West Virginia has everything it needs to win the Big East. Even if it takes the newcomers some time to adjust to the level of play, Bryant and Mazzulla can do enough to get the ball to the forwards. Having Mitchell emerge as a consistent outside shooter would be beneficial, but Butler and Bryant are both capable shooters and can stretch out the defense enough to give space to Ebanks under the basket.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Joe Mazzula, Junior, Guard, 5.6 points per game

Casey Mitchell, Junior, Guard, DNP last season

Wellington Smith, Senior, Forward, 5.2 points per game

Da’Sean Butler, Senior, Forward, 17.1 points per game

Devin Ebanks, Sophomore, Forward, 10.5 points per game

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Duke Basketball Preview: #8

Joel Welser — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:28:20 -0500

Overall Rank: #8

Conference Rank: #2 Atlantic Coast Conference

2008-09: 30-7, 11-5

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (760-215 at Duke, 833-274 overall)

Duke continues to do what Duke has been doing lately. They finish in the top two in the Atlantic Coast Conference, beat the teams they should beat and lose a couple times to North Carolina. Then they make a run in the conference tournament before bowing out earlier than Blue Devil fans hope in the NCAA Tournament. Expect more of the same this time around.

Key Losses: G Gerald Henderson, F David McClure, G Greg Paulus, G Elliot Williams

Key Newcomers:

The lack of guards in this recruiting class is painful. Andre Dawkins is not the highly touted recruit one would expect to step foot in Cameron Indoor Stadium and make a huge impact. He will have to play some minutes due to lack of options, but he will not be a game changer as a freshman. Power forwards Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee are the highly touted recruits. Kelly is a big man at 6-10 and 220 pounds, but he also is a superb outside shooter who can stretch out the defense. Plumlee is a skilled player, but he might need some time to add some strength before he can effectively battle under the basket in the ACC.

Backcourt:

Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer are the only two returning guards who will make an impact. Unfortunately, neither are point guards. Smith can try, but he almost committed as many turnovers last year as he did assists. While Smith could turn into a decent scorer and is not a bad defender, he is not a point guard. Neither is Scheyer, but at least he can take care of the ball. Last season Scheyer tallied 14.9 points, 2.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest. He may not be as effective of a scorer with the ball in his hands, but if Smith does not get his act together, Coach Krzyzewski will not have much choice.

Frontcourt:

The strength and depth of this team has moved into the frontcourt. Kyle Singler can finally play at the small forward spot and that leaves Brian Zoubek, Miles Plumlee and Lance Thomas to battle it out with the newcomers for playing time under the basket. Zoubek will be the man in the paint after starting 17 games there last season. The 7-1 senior is a massive presence under the basket and, while his numbers may not reflect it, he is an important player on this team. Miles Plumlee, brother of incoming freshman Mason, will at least add some depth, but it is Thomas who could be in for a surprisingly decent senior season if given the opportunity.

Who to Watch:

Singler is the star of this team after averaging 16.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists during his sophomore campaign. Singler was forced to spend most of his time at the power forward position last year due to lack of frontcourt options. The exact opposite is true this year and the 6-8 junior could play some shooting guard in a pinch. But no matter where he plays, Singler has proven that he can score and do everything his team needs him to do to win.

Final Projection:

The lack of depth on the perimeter could be a huge problem for the Blue Devils. After Smith and Scheyer, the pickings are slim. Singler is athletic enough to play the two guard spot and this would suddenly turn into a team that is very large, athletic and has a surprising amount of outside shooting. There are not many shooting guards out there that Singler cannot shoot over. But Scheyer and Singler cannot play 40 minutes per game without tired legs in March. This might be a great team on any given day, but they will rely on the outside shot too much and get tired by the end of the year. That means another early NCAA exit for Duke.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Jon Scheyer, Senior, Guard, 14.9 points per game

Nolan Smith, Junior, Guard, 8.4 points per game

Lance Thomas, Senior, Forward, 5.3 points per game

Kyle Singler, Junior, Forward, 16.5 points per game

Brian Zoubek, Senior, Center, 4.1 points per game

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Tennessee Basketball Preview: #9

Joel Welser — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:23:16 -0500

Overall Rank: #9

Conference Rank: #2 Southeastern Conference

2008-09: 21-13, 10-6

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Bruce Pearl (98-37 at Tennessee, 415-121 overall)

Tennessee underachieved last year, but it was a young team that relied on some unproven talent who had some big shoes to fill. It took some time for the Volunteers to find their way and consistency was an issue. However, Coach Bruce Pearl’s team still won 21 games and made the NCAA Tournament and now they return every player of importance and the high expectations are warranted.

Key Losses: none

Key Newcomers:

Point guard was a problem last year and junior college Melvin Goins will compete for a starting job right away. Even if he does not win that job, the 5-11 speedster will at least give the team a capable backup. Josh Bone, a transfer from Southern Illinois and Skylar McBee will help bolster the depth on the perimeter. Yet, outside of Goins, it is power forward Kenny Hall who has the skills to make an impact right away. Hall is a true low post scorer and while the Vols have a superb frontcourt, they could use a big body who will stay in the paint.

Backcourt:

Bobby Maze did an admirable job running the point. His assist to turnover ratio was two-to-one and he averaged 8.2 points per game. But his minutes will likely go down with the addition of Goins. Josh Tabb spent some time playing the point, but now he will be able to play off the ball and provide the team with some solid defense off the bench. Cameron Tatum was the team’s sixth man a year ago and is a good, albeit streaky, three-point shooter. Scotty Hopson and J.P. Prince are the likely starters on the wing. Hopson had huge expectations heading into his freshman campaign and he did pretty good with his 9.2 points per game. If his outside shot starts falling more consistently, he will turn into the dominating scorer that everybody thought he would be from day one. Prince is not much of a shooter, but he does everything else. He was the backcourt’s top scorer last year and also averaged 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals.

Frontcourt:

Wayne Chism is the big man who will spend most of his time under the basket, although he does have the ability to stretch out the defense with his three-point shooting ability. Even though Chism spends quite a bit of time on the perimeter, he is a great rebounder and a decent shot blocker. Brian Williams is an underappreciated rebounder who grabbed 5.6 rebounds per game despite only averaging 16.4 minutes. Add the emerging sophomore Emmanuel Negedu, if he can stay healthy, and Hall to the rotation and Coach Pearl has more than enough bodies to go ten deep without much of a drop off in talent.

Who to Watch:

It seems like every year we wonder if Tyler Smith is coming back or going to the NBA. Once again, Smith is back in college and the do-it-all forward is poised for a huge senior season. Last year he easily led the team with 17.4 points per game. He got to the free-throw line an incredible 6.5 times per contest, but he is not just a slasher or post player…Smith can hit the long ball, although he would be better off sticking to his mid-range game and attacking the basket. No matter how he does it, Smith will score in bunches and help the team out on the glass and create open looks for his teammates.

Final Projection:

Last year’s relatively disappointing season has somewhat stymied the expectations of the 2009-2010 Tennessee team, and that should not be the case with so many players returning. This is a team that has the talent, depth and experience to win the Southeastern Conference and make a deep, deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Bobby Maze, Senior, Guard, 8.2 points per game

Scotty Hopson, Sophomore, Guard, 9.2 points per game

J.P. Prince, Senior, Guard, 9.9 points per game

Tyler Smith, Senior, Forward, 17.4 points per game

Wayne Chism, Senior, Forward, 13.7 points per game

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College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews