2011-12 Preview

Which is the Best Non-BCS Conference This Year?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:09:53 -0500

Who Will Win the 2011-12 Big East Title?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:05:30 -0500

Who Will Win the 2011-12 Big Ten Title?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:52:54 -0500

Who Will Win the 2011-12 Big WestTitle?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:49:55 -0500

Who Will Win the 2011-12 America East Title?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:39:16 -0500

Who Will Win the 2011-12 Big 12 Title?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:32:08 -0500

Who Will Win the 2011-12 ACC Title?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:50:23 -0500

Who Will Win the 2011-12 Atlantic 10 Title?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:38:00 -0500

#4 Pittsburgh: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 23:05:46 -0500

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

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#1 Duke: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 23:10:52 -0500

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

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