Top 144 Previews

#4 Pittsburgh: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:06:10 -0800

Overall Rank: #4

Conference Rank: #1 Big East Conference

2009-10: 25-9, 13-5

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Jamie Dixon (188-54 at Pittsburgh, 188-54 overall)

Pittsburgh keeps winning games, but faltering in the NCAA Tournament. It has been the story for the Panthers for too long. However, this year could be different. There is little doubt that the Panthers are one of the favorites in the Big East after returning just about every impact player except for Jermaine Dixon, but how prepared they will be in March is always a question.

Key Losses: G Chase Adams, G Jermaine Dixon

Key Newcomers:

What may be a difference maker come March is the depth on the perimeter. Isaiah Epps is a tough, pass first point guard who should be forced into action as a freshman. He is a good fit in the system and should be more than capable of filling in ten minutes per game. Shooting guard Cameron Wright will be in the same situation at the two guard spot. J.J. Moore will add a little more size and depth on the wing and could be a surprise player this year if he continues to improve as much as he has lately. The frontcourt adds walk-on Aron Nwankwo and redshirt freshman Talib Zanna, who still needs some work before he is ready to contribute.

Backcourt:

Travon Woodall started 11 games as a freshman and did a superb job running the point. Without Dixon, this is Woodall’s team. After dishing out 3.2 assists per game and only tallying 1.7 turnovers, Woodall should be a steady point guard who can find the scorers on the floor. Woodall is not much of a scorer, but he will be asked to do a little more of that this time around. Woodall has plenty of experienced help in the backcourt with the return of Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker. Gibbs had a breakout season as a sophomore and led Pitt with 15.7 points per game. He is a prolific outside shooter, but will also use his quickness to attack the basket and finish above the rim. Wanamaker is one of the most intriguing players in the Big East. He is not a great shooter, but the 6-4 senior can hit the long ball on occasion. Most of his 12.3 points per game of last year came around the basket. However, it is not his scoring that makes Wanamaker so valuable. On top of his scoring, Wanamaker led the team with 4.7 assists per contest and ranked second with 5.7 rebounds. Lamar Patterson was a capable wing off the bench during his freshman campaign until he injured his ankle. Now healthy, he will have to team up with the other freshmen to provide a majority of the depth on the perimeter.

Frontcourt:

The frontcourt returns starters Nasir Robinson and Gary McGhee. Robinson, a 6-5 junior, will rarely put up big numbers, but he is a strong rebounder and a capable scorer who can hit the mid-range jumper. McGhee is the true big man at 6-10 and 250 pounds. The senior has developed into a decent interior scorer and a very good rebounder and shot blocker. Dante Taylor failed to live up to expectations as a freshman, but he is full of potential and should be a fine player off the bench or even as a starter over Robinson. J.J. Richardson is the only other experienced big man on the roster, but he too can build off of his freshman season where he rarely saw the floor.

Who to Watch:

Gilbert Brown is one of the best sixth men in the nation. The 6-6 senior is a superb small forward who has the size to fill in at the four spot when necessary. However, with his ability to hit the long ball and his relative ineffectiveness on the glass, he fits better at the three spot. No matter where he plays, what Brown provides is a superb scorer off the bench who was third on the team in scoring last year with 10.7 points per game.

Final Projection:

Yet again this is a Pitt team that does not lack in talent. All the pieces are there for this to be a Final Four team. The only thing stopping them is themselves. After performing well through a tough Big East Conference, it seems like the Panthers would be ready for anything in the NCAA Tournament, but that has not been the case and Pittsburgh needs to put that stigma behind them and finally make a deep run in March.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Travon Woodall, Sophomore, Guard, 5.0 ppg

Ashton Gibbs, Junior, Guard, 15.7 ppg

Brad Wanamaker, Senior, Guard, 12.3 ppg

Nasir Robinson, Junior, Forward, 6.6 ppg

Gary McGhee, Senior, Center, 6.9 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
5		6		7		8		..All

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

#1 Duke: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:11:16 -0800

Overall Rank: #1

Conference Rank: #1 Atlantic Coast Conference

2009-10: 35-5, 13-3

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (795-220 at Duke, 868-279 overall)

After leading Duke to an NCAA Championship, Kyle Singler is back to try it again. There are a few new faces, but with Singler back after averaging 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds, it is difficult to find another team who should be favored to cut down the nets in early April. Singler is a superb all-around scorer and with his 6-8, 230 pound frame, he is nearly impossible for most opponents to guard both inside and out.

Key Losses: G Jon Scheyer, F Lance Thomas, C Brian Zoubek

Key Newcomers:

Kyrie Irving may be the best freshman point guard in the nation. His addition, along with fellow freshman Tyler Thornton, will finally give the Blue Devils some depth on the perimeter. With the new found depth, especially from players like Irving and Thornton who can handle the ball, Duke will press more and push the ball up the floor more often. Irving may not even crack the starting lineup right away, but he will be on the floor quite a bit. Josh Hairston is a solid 6-8, 210 pound forward who will be asked to play some minutes up front. He may not be spectacular as a freshman, but he will add some quality depth.

Backcourt:

Nolan Smith is still the star on the perimeter despite the addition of Irving and transfer Seth Curry. Smith is now the senior leader of this team and he will probably be on the floor about 35 minutes per game. Coming off a junior campaign in which he averaged 17.4 points and 3.0 assists, there is little doubt that Smith is ready to take over. Surely Jon Scheyer will be missed, but Smith can be the star of the backcourt and there are plenty of options to help replace Scheyer. Andre Dawkins is one of those options, although he will have trouble finding too many more minutes with the influx of talent on the perimeter. However, Dawkins proved to be a fine shooter during his freshman campaign and he could provide a nice spark off of the bench.

Frontcourt:

Losing Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek may be a cause of concern, but Duke should simply reload with the return of Miles and Mason Plumlee. Miles started 24 contests last season and averaged 5.2 points and 4.9 rebounds. He was pretty much a roleplayer last year, but certainly has the ability to step into a starting role and increase his production. This was not a team that lost an interior scorer, so if Miles can average eight points per game, it would give the Blue Devils a legitimate interior scoring threat that they did not have last year. Mason played less than his brother during his sophomore campaign, but he is a solid shot blocker and rebounder and that is all this team needs him to be. Ryan Kelly was a highly touted recruit last year, but was stuck behind all of the talent in front of him. Now he will be given the opportunity to come in off of the bench and be a major contributor.

Who to Watch:

Two years ago Curry led all freshmen in scoring with 20.2 points per game. Sure, that was at Liberty against inferior competition compared to the ACC, but all college basketball fans know that they should never underestimate a Curry. The 6-2 sophomore is a fabulous outside shooter who can also attack the basket and finish in the paint. If Duke is looking for somebody to replace Scheyer’s outside shooting, they need not look any further than Curry.

Final Projection:

Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s way of recruiting players who generally stick around for more than a year paid off last season. It should pay off again this year with a healthy mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers. With Smith and Singler leading the way, this team has to compete for an ACC title. With Curry and the newcomers adding depth on the perimeter and the Plumlee’s ready to step up in the post, Duke has their eye on another NCAA title.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Nolan Smith, Senior, Guard, 17.4 ppg

Seth Curry, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season

Kyle Singler, Senior, Forward, 17.7 ppg

Miles Plumlee, Junior, Forward, 5.2 ppg

Mason Plumlee, Sophomore, Forward, 3.7 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
2		3		4		5		..All

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

#2 Michigan St: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:09:39 -0800

Overall Rank: #2

Conference Rank: #1 Big Ten Conference

2009-10: 28-9, 14-4

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Tom Izzo (364-146 at Michigan State, 364-146 overall)

Michigan State made yet another trip to the Final Four in 2010, but fell short of another National Championship at the hands of Butler in the semifinals. The Spartans return a ton of experience and have a nice group of newcomers as well. That should add up to another battle for a Big Ten title, but as usual, Coach Tom Izzo has scheduled a tough slate for his team and the only results that matter will come in March and possibly April.

Key Losses: G Chris Allen, F Raymar Morgan

Key Newcomers:

The dismissal of guard Chris Allen will affect the team’s perimeter depth, but Keith Appling is ready to fill the void. Voted Michigan’s Mr. Basketball, the 6-2 freshman can handle the point or move off the ball and do some scoring. He will likely be asked to do both right away. Russell Byrd could add some more depth eventually, but the 6-7 small forward broke his foot in early October and will likely be out until January. The frontcourt adds Alex Gauna and Adreian Payne. Payne is a superb defender and should be a great shot blocker from day one if he can stay healthy.

Backcourt:

The starters on the perimeter will remain intact from last season if everybody can get healthy and stay out of trouble. Kalin Lucas spent his summer recovering from a torn Achilles and his mentality heading into the season will likely be a bigger issue than the actual injury. After leading MSU with 14.8 points and 4.0 assists, the Spartans need him to be the leader on the floor. Korie Lucious is dealing with some injuries and off-court issues, but he could step into a full-time starting role at the point. Like Lucas, Lucious is a decent outside shooter, but Lucious is more of a true point guard and rarely finishes around the basket. Yet, if Lucious can run the point most of the time, Lucas can concentrate more on scoring. Shooting, scoring and finishing above the rim is what wing Durrell Summers does best. The 6-4 senior averaged 11.3 points per game last year and added an impressive 4.7 rebounds.

Frontcourt:

Delvon Roe is ready to blossom into a superstar as long as he can stay healthy. Roe has been hampered by injuries since before he even arrived in East Lansing. Yet, right now he is as healthy as he has been in a long time and should become the dominating force in the paint that many expected from the 6-8, 230 pound junior. He is a very capable scorer in the paint and a strong rebounder and now he just has to put it all together. Derrick Nix, a 6-8, 280 pound center, had an impressive freshman campaign despite only averaging 7.8 minutes per contest. He started 16 games because he has the hustle and skills Coach Tom Izzo likes out of his big men, but now he should be ready to play closer to starter minutes instead of just starting. Garrick Sherman is another young big man who should see increased playing time.

Who to Watch:

Draymond Green will likely replace Raymar Morgan in the starting lineup. However, Green has been a superb sixth man for the last two years. The 6-6, 235 pound junior is in the best shape he has been in since arriving on the banks of the Red Cedar and is the heart and soul of this team. Green is always around to make a play and his versatility is extremely impressive. After averaging 9.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals as a sophomore, Green should be in for a big year and garner some national attention.

Final Projection:

This Michigan State team will have to rely on some freshmen, most notably Appling, in the backcourt, but the frontcourt is actually healthy and that should make the best rebounding team in the nation even better on the glass. What could improve the most with this group is the defense due to the shot blocking abilities of Payne, Roe and Green. Neither Roe or Green are that great in that department individually, but Morgan was more of a wing who played power forward and having two bruisers in the paint most of the time should help the overall defense.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Korie Lucious, Junior, Guard, 5.6 ppg

Kalin Lucas, Senior, Guard, 14.8 ppg

Durrell Summers, Senior, Guard, 11.3 ppg

Draymond Green, Junior, Forward, 9.9 ppg

Delvon Roe, Junior, Forward, 6.4 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
3		4		5		6		..All

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

#3 Ohio St: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:07:46 -0800

Overall Rank: #3

Conference Rank: #2 Big Ten Conference

2009-10: 29-8, 14-4

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Thad Matta (156-54 at Ohio State, 258-85 overall)

It is not possible to replace point forward Evan Turner. During his last season with Ohio State, the 6-7 guard averaged an amazing 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.7 steals. Nobody could stop him and there was enough talent around him to make it very difficult to double team him. The Buckeyes will make due without Turner and what is left behind is a very good group of players that are ready to take the spotlight.

Key Losses: G P.J. Hill, C Kyle Madsen, G Jeremie Simmons, G Evan Turner

Key Newcomers:

The newcomers, dubbed quite dubiously the ‘Thad Six’ will need to make an impact right away. In the frontcourt Jared Sullinger should step right into a starting role and power forwards Deshaun Thomas and J.D. Weatherspoon will need to provide some quality depth. Thomas is a little undersized at 6-6 to play the four spot, but he is extremely tough on the glass and has a knack for scoring. Weatherspoon is a superb athlete and not as much of a bruiser as Thomas, but he may need some time to develop his game. The new guys on the perimeter will need to provide almost all of the depth. Jordan Sibert is the most talented scorer of the bunch, but Lenzelle Smith is a pretty good shooter who can make a splash off the bench. Aaron Craft will battle for the starting point guard job, but that may be asking too much from a freshman.

Backcourt:

William Buford, Jon Diebler and David Lighty can all run the point. It turned out Turner was the best option last season, but if those three can share the ball handling duties, they should be fine. If needed, Craft can step right into the lineup and OSU can play a little smaller. Buford is the most dynamic scorer and ranked second to only Turner in points, rebounds and assists last season. The 6-5 junior takes care of the ball and is the most likely candidate to handle the ball a majority of the time. Diebler is the shooter of the bunch and knocked down an amazing 42.0 percent of his 7.5 attempts from beyond the arc. Lighty has struggled with some injuries, but when healthy he is a great wing who can score in a variety of ways and help out on the glass. His ability to handle the ball will give the Buckeyes a whole lot of versatility in the backcourt.

Frontcourt:

Dallas Lauderdale was the lone big man last season, but with a bunch of guards that are at least 6-5, it made his life easier. Lauderdale is not a great scorer, but he made the most of his attempts by connecting on 77.3 percent of his shot attempts. Having so many other weapons around him usually meant Lauderdale just had to catch the ball and dunk it. Yet, having an interior scoring threat did open up the offense enough for the shooters to knock down plenty of long balls. More important than his scoring is Lauderdale’s ability to hit the glass and block shots. Lauderdale will not be the best rebounder in the Big Ten, but he is capable and his 2.1 blocks per game made OSU tough to score against.

Who to Watch:

Sullinger may be the key to this team. The younger, yet taller and more talented brother of former OSU great J.J., the 6-9, 280 pound freshman should give the Buckeyes a legitimate scoring threat in the paint and a tough rebounder under the basket. If Lauderdale and Sullinger are both in the starting lineup, OSU will be a much better rebounding team and could even shoot better than 49.2 percent from the floor as a team…and that was fifth best in the nation. Sullinger is a shooter and a passer as well, which will allow Lauderdale to stay in the lineup and do the dirty work while Sullinger is roaming around and doing the scoring.

Final Projection:

The lack of depth last year may have been a problem by March. This team had to survive for six games without Turner and it became clear that there was a big drop off in talent after the starting five. The story may be the same this year if the freshmen, outside of Sullinger, are not ready to make a major contribution. Bufford, Diebler and Lighty all averaged at least 34 minutes per game last year and giving them a break every once in a while would be beneficial as long as there is somebody who can fill their minutes effectively.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

William Buford, Junior, Guard, 14.4 ppg

Jon Diebler, Senior, Guard, 13.0 ppg

David Lighty, Senior, Forward, 12.6 ppg

Dallas Lauderdale, Senior, Forward, 6.5 ppg

Jared Sullinger, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Next Top 144 Teams
4		5		6		7		..All

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

#5 Kentucky: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:04:03 -0800

Overall Rank: #5

Conference Rank: #1 Southeastern Conference

2009-10: 35-3, 14-2

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: John Calipari (35-3 at Kentucky, 480-143 overall)

Kentucky may not win 35 games again this year with a whole lot of rebuilding to do. But that is how things will work at Kentucky with Coach John Calipari at the helm. Every year there will be some players who are around for one season before they head off to the NBA. Each year Coach Calipari will reload, weather some early season struggles, compete for a conference title and be an extremely dangerous team by March.

Key Losses: G Eric Bledsoe, F DeMarcus Cousins, G Darnell Dodson, G Ramon Harris, F Daniel Orton, F Patrick Patterson, F Perry Stevenson, G John Wall

Key Newcomers:

Every newcomer at Kentucky will be a key newcomer. In the backcourt the Wildcats add Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb and Jarrod Polson. Knight has the job of replacing John Wall. That sounds like a tough assignment, but Knight is a tough player who can do it all. The 6-3 freshman can easily attack the basket, but he does his best work setting up his teammates and that is what Kentucky needs him to do. Lamb could step into a starting role right away due to lack of other options. He is not much of a shooter, but Lamb will attack the basket and knock down the mid-range jumper with consistency. Perhaps more importantly on this young team is his intelligence. Knight will be the leader handling the ball, but Lamb can help team this team moving up and down the floor while remaining under control.

Backcourt:

There are some more experienced options in the backcourt. Darius Miller is the lone returning starter and he was the unheralded member of the bunch. He may be yet again with so much talent headed to Lexington, but Miller is ready to become a leader on the floor. The 6-7 junior averaged 6.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists last year and should be ready to see all of those numbers increase. DeAndre Liggins will not score much even with more of an opportunity, but he is a great defender and that is why the 6-6 junior averaged over 15 minutes per game last season. He should fill that role nicely again during the 2010-2011 campaign. Jon Hood was overlooked on and off the court during his freshman season due to the immense talent that was around him. However, if his outside shot starts falling, Hood could turn into a solid roleplayer.

Frontcourt:

Josh Harrellson is the lone returning forward and he averaged a mere 4.0 minutes per game in 22 contests a year ago. The 6-10 senior, who happens to be the only senior on the roster, did quite well when he was in the game, but obviously he was not in the game too often. Most of the frontcourt production will come from the newcomers. Stacey Poole is an amazing athlete and a great defender who should develop into a fine small forward. The bigger guys are Terrence Jones and Eloy Vargas. At 6-9 and 210 pounds, Jones looks like a forward, but he can play like a guard too. He is a match-up nightmare at the four spot and should step right into a starting role. Eloy Vargas, a junior college transfer who spent a little time at Florida, has bulked up quite a bit and now has the muscle to compete with anybody in the SEC.

Who to Watch:

For now Vargas is penciled in as the starter at the five spot, but that will change quickly if incoming freshman Enes Kanter is ruled eligible to play this season. Kanter is a well polished post player who is a superb rebounder who can run the floor and finish with ease. If Kanter can play, Kentucky will have a deep frontcourt. If not, they lost their best recruit and all Kentucky can do at the moment is wait on the NCAA’s decision regarding his amateur status.

Final Projection:

So much depends on Kanter. He is the interior player that can really replace DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton in the paint. Jones, Vargas and Harrellson just cannot handle all of the minutes at the four and five spots. That would force Coach John Calipari to play small. Playing small would not be that bad since this team has the athleticism to do so, but this would be a much, much better team with Kanter.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Brandon Knight, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Doron Lamb, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Darius Miller, Junior, Guard, 6.5 ppg

Terrence Jones, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Eloy Vargas, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

Next Top 144 Teams
6		7		8		9		..All

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

#6 Villanova: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:02:22 -0800

Overall Rank: #6

Conference Rank: #2 Big East Conference

2009-10: 25-8, 13-5

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Jay Wright (203-99 at Villanova, 325-184 overall)

Villanova did not necessarily lack depth last season, but they did lack experienced depth. In the end that was a major reason for their early departure in the NCAA Tournament. The system should be the same, but now all the inexperienced freshmen are veteran sophomores and will be ready to play a much bigger role than they did last season. Without Scottie Reynolds, Reggie Redding and Taylor King, they will have to.

Key Losses: F Taylor King, G Reggie Redding, G Scottie Reynolds

Key Newcomers:

James Bell should be able to work his way into the regular rotation, especially if and when Coach Jay Wright plays with a smaller lineup. At 6-5 and 222 pounds, Bell has the size and athleticism to hit the glass hard and help out a team that may, for all practical purposes, run a four guard offense yet again. However, power forward JayVaughn Pinkston is one reason why Villanova may be able to play big more often. Pinkston is a tough interior player, but also has the ability to step outside and hit the long ball. He may not be ready for major minutes as a freshman, but he should be a capable player off the bench and a major contributor in the years to come.

Backcourt:

For three years Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes have taken a back seat to Scottie Reynolds. Now it is time for the Corey’s to take over the show. Fisher has never disappointed and averaged 13.3 points, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals last season. Fisher is more than capable of taking over what Reynolds did for this team last year. Stokes has been less consistent during his collegiate career, but he is a fine outside shooter who has been adding more to his overall game every year. As a senior, he will be asked to add to his 9.5 point per game average and continue to be a tough rebounder from the wing. Dominic Cheek is one of those many talented sophomores who are ready to play a bigger role. Maalik Wayns falls into the same category. What makes Cheek a more likely candidate to step into a starting role is his 6-6 frame and ability to help out on the glass, but Wayns is a better all-around scorer. Either way, both sophomores will see significant playing time after averaging around 15 minutes per game as freshmen.

Frontcourt:

If there was more backcourt depth, it would not be out of the question for Cheek and Wayns to both find a spot in the starting lineup. However, Villanova should have too much talent in the frontcourt to play small. Antonio Pena has played the five spot a lot more than he should, but still managed to average 10.5 points and 7.0 rebounds as a junior. At 6-8 and 235 pounds, Nova hopes Pena can move back to his more natural power forward spot this year. Maurice Sutton and Isaiah Armwood are a couple players who can bolster the frontcourt depth. Sutton has the size to play the five spot and allow Pena to move to the four, but Armwood would likely only fill in at the power forward position.

Who to Watch:

What has Villanova fans most excited is the emergence of Mouphtaou Yarou. The 6-10, 250 pound sophomore spent the fall slowed by an illness and did not get on the floor until January. That lack of playing time really stalled his development. Yet, by March, Yarou was having some great games and ended up earning eight starts on the year. If he can pick up where he left off, the Wildcats frontcourt will be very deep and very dangerous.

Final Projection:

With Pena, Yarou, Pinkston, Armwood and Sutton available, this may be the deepest frontcourt Villanova has had in a long time. Usually, the Wildcats win games with their guards and there is a big man or two who simply grabs some rebounds and gets a few easy buckets because the opposing defense forgets about them. That will not the case this year, but Coach Wright’s team does not lack the firepower in the backcourt either. That balance will catapult Villanova back towards the top of the Big East standings.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Corey Fisher, Senior, Guard, 13.3 ppg

Corey Stokes, Senior, Guard, 9.5 ppg

Dominic Cheek, Sophomore, Guard, 4.9 ppg

Antonio Pena, Senior, Forward, 10.5 ppg

Mouphtaou Yarou, Sophomore, Center, 4.5 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
7		8		9		10		..All

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

#7 Kansas St: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:00:40 -0800

Overall Rank: #7

Conference Rank: #1 Big 12 Conference

2009-10: 29-8, 11-5

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Frank Martin (72-32 at Kansas State, 72-32 overall)

Coach Frank Martin has turned Kansas State into a consistent contender in the Big 12. This year the Wildcats are hoping to take the next step and win the conference crown. Rival Kansas will have something to say about that, but there is no doubt that KSU is here to stay and will look to build on their Elite Eight appearance of a year ago.

Key Losses: G Denis Clemente, C Luis Colon, F Dominique Sutton

Key Newcomers:

The Wildcats have plenty of talent returning, but there is certainly room for the newcomers. Freddy Asprilla had a tremendous freshman campaign at Florida International where he averaged 13.7 points and 9.2 rebounds. After spending a little time at a couple junior colleges, the 6-10 forward will add some depth to the frontcourt. Small forward Nino Williams was expected to go to prep school this year, but the transfer of Dominique Sutton gives KSU a need at small forward. Shane Southwell will also add some depth at that position. Juevol Myles will battle for playing time at the point guard position after spending one year at the junior college level. Myles could end up starting if he can keep the team under control. Fellow point guard Will Spradling rounds out this relatively impressive class.

Backcourt:

Jacob Pullen is the obvious star of this team. After averaging 19.3 points and 3.4 assists last year, Pullen will win a ton of preseason and postseason accolades. Pullen is a superb outside shooter and knocked down three three-pointers per contest and shot nearly 42 percent overall. The question is whether or not Pullen should be running the point. Last year Clemente helped him out in that department. Can Pullen be as effective if he has to have the ball in his hands most of the time? If Pullen has to run the show, the Wildcats will need Rodney McGruder to step up his game. The 6-4 sophomore is a quality outside shooter, but he needs to continue being productive while seeing more playing time. Martavious Irving was a highly touted recruit, but failed to make much of a splash last year. With more of an opportunity to play, Irving could be in for a huge year. Nick Russell is yet another sophomore who did not play much last season. However, Russell is a candidate to play some minutes at the point and allow Pullen to play off the ball.

Frontcourt:

Curtis Kelly is to the frontcourt what Pullen is to the backcourt. Kelly, a former Huskie of Connecticut, averaged 11.5 points and a team high 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per contest during the 2009-2010 campaign. Kelly got into form during the second half of the season and is poised to put up even better numbers than he did last year. Jamar Samuels is one of the options to take over for Sutton at the small forward position. The 6-7 junior was a superb sixth man last year and is a fine do-it-all player. The issue in the frontcourt may be the depth. Jordan Henriquez-Roberts is the biggest player on the roster at 7-0 and 245 pounds and could see a bigger role this season. Victor Ojeleye is not big enough to play the five spot, but he could see some quality minutes at the three or four spots.

Who to Watch:

Wally Judge was a great recruiting pickup last year, but he started off very slow and only averaged 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds during his freshman campaign. However, Judge was playing his best ball late in the season and he should be ready to step into a starting role and become the major interior force that everybody expected him to be. If that is the case, Kansas State’s frontcourt will be just fine without Sutton and center Luis Colon.

Final Projection:

Kansas State has just as much talent as they did last year and that is scary. Pullen and Kelly are a great inside/outside duo, but there are some very talented sophomores on this team who are ready to blossom and become major contributors. With this much talent on the squad, the Wildcats are poised to make another deep NCAA Tournament run.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Jacob Pullen, Senior, Guard, 19.3 ppg

Rodney McGruder, Sophomore, Guard, 3.9 ppg

Jamar Samuels, Junior, Forward, 11.0 ppg

Curtis Kelly, Senior, Forward, 11.5 ppg

Wally Judge, Sophomore, Forward, 3.3 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
8		9		10		11		..All

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

#8 North Carolina: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:15:48 -0800

Overall Rank: #8

Conference Rank: #2 Atlantic Coast Conference

2009-10: 20-17, 5-11

2009-10 postseason: NIT

Coach: Roy Williams (196-53 at North Carolina, 614-155 overall)

North Carolina had all the talent they needed last year and that is why many pegged them to compete with Duke for the Atlantic Coast Conference title. Instead, the Tar Heels had an awful season, at least by their standards. Much of the talent is gone as Coach Roy Williams loses four starters, but another superb recruiting class and a few holdovers should have UNC back in the mix. Coach Williams will not allow this team to finish as poorly as they did a year ago.

Key Losses: F Ed Davis, G Marcus Ginyard, F Deon Thompson, F David Wear, F Travis Wear

Key Newcomers:

It is possible that the starting backcourt could be all freshmen. Point guard Kendall Marshall, shooting guard Reggie Bullock and wing Harrison Barnes are all more than capable of starting in the ACC from day one. Marshall has some competition, but he is a big pure point guard who could see a ton of minutes if he can keep the turnovers down. At 6-7, Bullock has nice size for a shooting guard. He can easily hit the long ball by shooting over opposing defenders and his size also makes him a strong defender. Those are two skills the Tar Heels could use right now. Barnes is the star of the class and will be a lottery pick sooner than UNC fans would hope. He can do it all and has the toughness to do it as a freshman. What this team really needs is depth in the frontcourt. They got more than just depth when they picked up Alabama transfer Justin Knox. Knox is the only senior on the roster and will be eligible to play immediately after averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds for the Tide last season.

Backcourt:

Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald spent their freshmen campaigns coming in off of the bench and will likely do the same as sophomores. Strickland showed flashes last year, but McDonald needs to shoot better if he wants to see quality playing time. Justin Watts even saw some minutes last year, but the walk-on should be relegated to even a lesser role, but is a decent enough player to throw out there on occasion if Strickland or McDonald fail to improve. On most teams in this situation Strickland and McDonald would step into a starting role after learning the ropes as freshmen. However, with Bullock and Barnes coming into the equation, the returning guards will stay on the bench.

Frontcourt:

John Henson tried to play on the wing, but he really grew as a player at the power forward position. Now physically trained to bang in the basket by adding 25 pounds of muscle, Henson is ready to be the player that most thought he would be last season. Henson only averaged 15.8 minutes per game during the 2009-2010 campaign, but he did score 5.7 points per game and grabbed 4.4 rebounds. Henson also proved to be a solid shot blocker. With more minutes and more weight, the 6-10 sophomore should be in for a big season. A healthy Tyler Zeller would be nice too. Zeller has all the talent in the world, but is continually slowed by injuries. Averaging a mere 17.4 minutes per game last year, the 7-0 junior still averaged 9.3 points and 4.6 rebounds. If he can stay on the floor for 20 to 25 minutes per game and be healthy at the same time, he will be a superstar.

Who to Watch:

Larry Drew II has a tenuous hold on the starting point guard spot. Drew II had a decent sophomore campaign, averaging 8.5 points and 6.0 assists, but his shooting numbers are sub par and the turnover numbers were not any better. A lot of the blame for last season unfairly fell on his shoulders, but this is a team that needs a leader in the backcourt who can run this team up and down the floor, but also keep it under control. If Drew II is not that guy, Marshall better be.

Final Projection:

The addition of Knox is huge, especially with the injury concerns that are always surrounding Zeller. Barnes can play the four if he has to, but if Henson, Zeller and Knox can handle nearly all of the minutes in the paint, this team is really, really good. Yet, the real question is at the point where Drew II has to improve or Marshall has to be ready to take over or it could be another disappointing season in Chapel Hill.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Larry Drew II, Junior, Guard, 8.5 ppg

Reggie Bullock, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Harrison Barnes, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

John Henson, Sophomore, Forward, 5.7 ppg

Tyler Zeller, Junior, Forward, 9.3 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
10		11		12		13		..All

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

#9 Kansas: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:14:25 -0800

Overall Rank: #9

Conference Rank: #2 Big 12 Conference

2009-10: 33-3, 15-1

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Bill Self (234-45 at Kansas, 441-150 overall)

Kansas will not quite be the same without point guard Sherron Collins, multi-faceted scorer Xavier Henry and big man Cole Aldrich. However, Coach Bill Self has brought in another great recruiting class and the recruiting classes of years past have yet to reach their full potential with so much talent in front of them. The result will be a less experienced team, but a more athletic team that should be just as dangerous by March of 2011 as they were in March of 2010.

Key Losses: G Sherron Collins, G Xavier Henry, C Cole Aldrich

Key Newcomers:

Josh Selby is not the point guard of the future; he is the point guard right now. The 6-2 freshman will likely be done with his collegiate career after one season and he will be up for the task of taking over this team. Selby may be young, but he can create opportunities for his teammates or score himself from just about anywhere on the floor. Royce Woolridge is the only other scholarship newcomer and his ability to shoot and attack the basket could be valuable to the Jayhawks right away.

Backcourt:

The backcourt is not full of big time names quite yet, but Tyshawn Taylor is a returning starter who can do a little bit of everything. Taylor was second on the team in assists last season and should make a fine backcourt mate for Selby. With Taylor’s experience, Selby will not have to handle the load himself. Taylor is not much of a shooter, but he is a fine scorer who will attack the basket with ease. Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar are the shooters in the backcourt. Reed connected on an amazing 47.3 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc and Morningstar nearly reached the 40 percent plateau. Those two will likely come in off the bench for a quick offensive spark. Another guard to keep an eye on is sophomore Elijah Johnson. By the time conference play rolled around, Johnson barely saw the floor, but he will compete for more minutes with a year of experience under his belt.

Frontcourt:

The Morris twins are ready to take over this frontcourt. Marcus Morris was a starter last year and is Kansas’ leading returning scorer and rebounder. Marcus has emerged into a consistent interior scorer and a strong power forward who most opposing defenses have trouble dealing with. It is Markieff Morris who played fewer minutes and came in off the bench last season who needs to turn his moments of brilliance as a sophomore into a consistent threat as a junior. Markieff, at 6-9 and 232 pounds, has a little more size and strength than his brother and could be the better interior threat. What makes both Morris’ so threatening is their ability to stretch out the defense with their shooting. While neither will neglect their interior duties, both can step out beyond the arc. Sophomores Jeff Withey, who is coming off of a broken foot, and Thomas Robinson never saw much action as freshmen, but they will be asked to contribute more this season…and both have the talent to play at least ten minutes per game.

Who to Watch:

Mario Little and Travis Releford both redshirted last season after having relatively successful campaigns in 2008-2009. Releford is a good shooter and this team could use another shooter, but it is Little who could make a big impact on this team. Little has the size and strength to fill in at the small forward position. Without an obvious starter at that spot, Little will be right in the mix. Releford could be too if Coach Self can afford to play a little smaller.

Final Projection:

Usually relying on a freshman point guard is not a good thing, but Selby is different. The fact that he is a freshman and not a senior may keep Kansas from winning the Big 12, but by March he will be a few months away from being in the NBA. Everywhere else on the floor this group has plenty of weapons and, for the most part, plenty of experience as well. However, they were experienced last year and became the biggest disappointment in the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Josh Selby, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season

Tyshawn Taylor, Junior, Guard, 7.2 ppg

Mario Little, Senior, Guard, DNP last season

Marcus Morris, Junior, Forward, 12.8 ppg

Markieff Morris, Junior, Center, 6.8 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
10		11		12		13		..All

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

#10 Syracuse: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:12:53 -0800

Overall Rank: #10

Conference Rank: #3 Big East Conference

2009-10: 30-5, 15-3

2009-10 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Jim Boeheim (829-293 at Syracuse, 829-293 overall)

Coach Jim Boeheim did it again at Syracuse. There were a lot of questions heading into last season, but the Orange emerged as a superb team that finished with an extremely impressive 30-5 overall record. This time around nobody is undervaluing what Coach Boeheim can do. This season, despite the loss of three starters, there are fewer questions and once again the Orange should be ready for a nice NCAA run.

Key Losses: F Wesley Johnson, C Arizne Onuaku, G Andy Rautins

Key Newcomers:

The newcomers could be the key to the success of this team. While there are plenty of returning players to pick up the slack, especially since Syracuse would prefer to go just seven or eight deep, Dion Waiters, C.J. Fair and Fabrico De Melo will all battle for major minutes. Waiters is not much of a shooter for a shooting guard, but he does a great job attacking the basket. Fair is yet another lanky forward who could immediately be a major presence on the defensive end. De Melo is garnering all of the headlines and for good reason. The 7-0 center is probably a one and done player and he should step right into a starting role. Baye Moussa Kieta rounds out the impressive class, but he will likely redshirt.

Backcourt:

Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche split the point guard duties last season. One of them will always be running the show this year too, but both could also be in the starting lineup. Jardine put up better overall numbers during his sophomore campaign and would likely be the primary ball handler if both were to start. However, it was Triche who started all 35 games last season while Jardine came in off of the bench. If both are starting, they need to improve their outside shooting…or at least take more shots. Last season they left a majority of the shooting to the now departed Andy Rautins. Now they both need to take more shots. Waiters would be the other starting option if Coach Boeheim wanted to have Jardine come in off the bench once again. Mookie Jones, a 6-6 sophomore, showed glimpses of his shooting ability last season, but he needs to start using his size to attack the basket if he wants to find a spot in the regular rotation.

Frontcourt:

Kris Joseph is another forward who can stretch out the defense. His range does not quite go out beyond the arc, but he shoot or attack the basket. After averaging 10.8 points and 5.5 rebounds last season, Joseph is ready to step into a starting role and continue to put up solid numbers. The departure of Rautins does put some pressure on Joseph to improve his outside shooting and it would be extremely beneficial if Joseph can connect on more than 22.0 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. If Joseph cannot do it, Jardine and Triche better. Otherwise, the best long range shooting threat on the team would be Jones and it remains to be seen if he can even work his way into Coach Boeheim’s tight rotation. DaShonte Riley is a seven-footer who played sparingly during his freshman campaign. He will not be asked to do much, but he is a fine rebounder and shot blocker. However, a foot injury will likely keep Riley out for the season.

Who to Watch:

Rick Jackson is the new star of the frontcourt. After averaging 9.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game last season, Jackson is ready for a huge year. Without having Wesley Johnson and Arizine Onuaku with him in the frontcourt, Jackson needs to prove that he can consistently be the Orange’s go-to-guy under the basket. At times last season he would disappear, but it did not really matter since Johnson and Onuaku would pick up the slack. Syracuse cannot afford Jackson to take a night off this season even with De Melo on the floor.

Final Projection:

This is a young team, but a team with a whole lot of talent. Syracuse will get the most out of that talent and Coach Boeheim will find a nice seven or eight man rotation by the time conference play starts. That means the Orange will once again be a contender in the Big East and a dangerous team in March.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Scoop Jardine, Junior, Guard, 9.1 ppg

Brandon Triche, Sophomore, Guard, 8.1 ppg

Kris Joseph, Junior, Forward, 10.8 ppg

Rick Jackson, Senior, Forward, 9.7 ppg

Fabrico De Melo, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Next Top 144 Teams
11		12		13		14		..All

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