The Road to March is About to Begin

by Trevor Freeman

Ahhhhh…..it is finally creeping closer.  Midnight Madness.  Rivalry Week.  March.  That’s right…..college basketball season is right around the corner.  From Sporting News to Blue Ribbon, college hoops previews are beginning to flood the coffee tables of houses across a nation.  The terms “Sleeper” and “Diaper Dandy” have begun to invade the everyday vocabulary as hope always springs eternal at the start of each campaign.  This year is particularly big for me as the boys from Fordham University have a legitimate shot at the postseason for the first time in years.
With my San Francisco 49ers not worth following, I have spent the last week devouring message boards, studying various previews, and rewatching some of the games I taped from last year.  What makes this year very intriguing is a lot of the premier squads from last year are returning most of their key guys.  I have formulated my preseason Top 25 and it begins with a familiar face.  Drumroll please………….

1.  Duke

Outside of Daniel Ewing, the Blue Devils return every significant player from last year’s team.  The leader of the Cobra Kai dojo is of course their sensei, Coach K.  His cupboard is bursting at the seams, as J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams will both contend for the Wooden Award.  DeMarcus Nelson along with the sweet-shooting Lee Melchionni also return.  If Josh McRoberts isn’t a stiff like Shavlik Randolph was and if Greg Paulus can be the 2005 version of Bobby Hurley then the Blue Devils have an extremely good chance of cutting down the nets in March.

2.  Connecticut

Jim Calhoun’s bunch is flat out loaded.  This is despite Charlie Villanueva taking his underachieving self to the NBA.  With Marcus Williams, Rudy Gay, Rashad Anderson, Josh Boone, Hilton Armstrong, and Denham Brown all returning the Huskies stand a great chance to be cutting down the nets in March.  Rudy Gay is the star as he is probably the most athletic player in college basketball.  He needs to step up his game and be the go-to guy.  Josh Boone has to take another step forward and establish himself as an NBA lottery big man.          

3.  Michigan State

Another team that has the whole farm coming back.  Paul Davis will once again anchor the interior.  Davis is a senior who is one dominating year away from convincing some NBA GM to take him in top ten (btw, I’m giggling as I predict this).  Maurice Ager and Shannon Brown give the Spartans an absolutely electric set of wings.  Drew Neitzel should handle the point guard position better in his sophomore season.  Tom Izzo has his best team since the “Flintstones.”

4.  Gonzaga

Basketball is a sport where if you have the best player on the floor, then you have a chance to win every single night.  While I said up above Redick and Williams will contend for the Wooden, they will not win it.  Adam Morrison will.  Ammo is the best player not currently playing in the NBA.  If people want to toss Greg Oden or Rudy Gay at me then bring it.  Adam Morrison’s decision to return for his junior year makes Gonzaga a Final Four threat.  Morrison is basically unguardable as he can drill it from outside, put it on the floor and post-up.  His height and floppy hair draw constant comparisons to Larry Legend.  I think when his playing days are over people will know of him for who he is.  Returning with Morrison are frontcourt beast J.P. Batista and Derek “Opie” Raivio.

5.  Kentucky

Nobody is sure as to when Randolph Morris will be able to play this year.  He stupidly declared for the NBA Draft and needs to find out if he can pay back his expenses and be eligible to play college basketball this year.  Even without him, I think Kentucky has a great chance to get to the Final Four.  In my opinion, Rajon Rondo is the premier all-around point guard in the nation.  With his long arms and quick foot speed he is a matchup nightmare on both ends of the court.  Patrick Sparks will join him in the backcourt and he is their “cajones” guy.  Sparks is one of those players who wants to take big shots down the stretch of games.  Watch out for JUCO transfer Rekalin Sims.  Originally from De La Salle HS in Northern California, Sims is a big-time talent who has had to overcome a troubled past to get to this point.  I have personally watched him play on several occasions (one of those was against Leon Powe and Sims more than held his own) and I think he can step in and be better than Chuck Hayes was.    

6.  Nevada

See what I wrote about Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison.  The same reasoning for placing Gonzaga that high applies to Nevada and Nick Fazekas.  If Fazekas was from Lithuania and his name was Nick Fazekovicius he would have been a lottery pick two years ago (sadly….probably by my beloved Golden State Warriors).  Nevada may have the most underrated frontcourt in the country, as Juco transfer DeMarshay Johnson was a big-time talent coming out McClymonds High School in Oakland, CA.  Johnson was originally committed to Louisville.  Him and Fazekas will be scary together.

7.  Oklahoma

The frontcourt will be scary as both Taj Gray and Kevin Bookout return to anchor it.  Terrell Everett is back as well and he gives the Sooners another versatile threat at the forward spot.  However this team’s success will be determined by Juco transfer Chris Walker and how he handles the point guard position.  Drew Lavender transferred to Xavier and left a gaping hole at the 1.  There could be a little more fan pressure on the Sooners basketball team this year since this is the first time in awhile that the football team has sucked.

8.  Arizona

Lute Olson’s team is stacked with Hassan Adams, Mustafa Shakur, Jawann McClellan, Isaiah Fox, and Chris Rodgers all returning.  There’s no question as to the talent level of this team, it is the focus and grit that is in question…………and when I say that I am looking directly at Mustafa Shakur.

9.  Louisville

Taquan Dean is just nasty.  I guarantee you as good as he looks on TV, Dean looks even more ridiculous if you drop him on a playground.  Just great quicks, handle, and jump shot.  Could be another version of Ben Gordon.  Juan Palacios also returns after a stellar freshman year and David Padgett is now eligible after transferring from Kansas.  Once again, Rick Pitino has a team that could find its way into the Final Four.

10.  Charlotte

The cream of the A-10 crop will be the newcomer in Charlotte.  The 49ers (no better team nickname in sports than that one) boast a legitimate Wooden Award candidate in Curtis Withers.  He’s going to form a potent inside-outside duo with Oklahoma transfer De’Angelo Alexander.  The key to this team is Mitchell Baldwin returning to full health after offseason shoulder surgery.

11.  Texas

Remember when I said that Rajon Rondo is probably the best all-around point guard earlier in this article.  Well, Daniel Gibson is probably offended by that.  Gibson is a tremendous penetrator and scorer.  P.J. Tucker, Brad Buckman and LaMarcus Aldridge give the Longhorns a very experienced and strong frontcourt.  That being said, the Longhorns will need somebody to step up as a shooter if they want to find their way into the Final Four.

12.  Villanova

I had them ranked fifth until Curtis Sumpter went down.  How the Wildcats respond with him being out will be key.  Randy Foye and Allan Ray are a dynamic set of guards and Jason Fraser is a big boy down low.  Villanova has a ton of depth on the perimeter, however they will need somebody other than Fraser to get some “dirty” points.

13.  Memphis

Do you think Darius Washington is laughing his a$$ of after hearing that Sebastian Telfair just got beat out for Trailblazers starting point guard job by Jarrett Jack?  I think he is.  Washington used to eat Telfair’s lunch in high school and he is poised to have a huge season.  This is my sleeper team to get into the Final Four.  The Tigers have a tremendous group of athletes.  From Washington to Rodney Carney to Chris Douglas-Roberts, this team will win track meets.  

14.  West Virginia

On the list of my favorite players in college basketball, Kevin Pittsnogle is firmly entrenched in the top ten.  With Pittsnogle, Mike Gansey, Joe Herber, and J.D. Collins all returning, the Mountaineers are a Final Four contender.  I absolutely love the way they play basketball.  Get five guys who can shoot the triple and space it out.  The only difficulty West Virginia may have is that they are now going to be getting everybody’s best shot.  I’m not sure if West Virginia ever had to deal with that before.

15.  Boston College

Craig Smith and Jared Dudley return to lead the Eagles inaugural campaign into the ACC.  On the list of things that just don’t feel right about college hoops this season, BC being in the ACC resides at #3.  In fact, this is all you’re getting on Boston College.  I think their decision to leave the Big East for Conference Football Title game money was an absolute travesty.

16.  Maryland

Losing John Gilchrist was a blow, however Maryland will still be bringing back a nice squad and may benefit in terms of team chemistry.  Nik Caner-Medley is the big gun here however Chris McCray can also put it in the bucket.  Mike Jones, Travis Garrison, and D.J. Strawberry are all back and ready to go.  Maryland should contend for second place in the ACC behind Duke.

17.  UCLA

This is the team that could get UCLA back as a national player.  Jordan Farmar and Arron Affalo form a terrific backcourt.  Josh Shipp gives them another potent offensive threat at the 3.  Cedric Bozeman also returns from injury to give them depth along the perimeter.  However this team desperately needs Michael Fey to step up inside and give them a real post presence.

18.  Old Dominion

Old Dominion is the best team you’ve never heard of and Alex Loughton is the best big man you’ve never watched.  The Monarchs return four starters from a team that won 28 games and gave Michigan State all they wanted in the first round of the Big Dance.  The backcourt is strong with Drew Williamson and Isiah Hunter and that is important when considering a small conference team.  You’ll look like a smart guy when you put this team in your Sweet 16 come March.  That all being said………….let’s hope the whole team gets a bad case of diarrhea and loses to Fordham on November 19th.

19.  Syracuse

This is Gerry MacNamara’s last go-round and I wouldn’t be shocked if he shoots Syracuse deep into March.  The key will be the junior class, which came in highly touted.  Terrence Roberts, Demetris Nichols, Louie McCroskey, and Daryl Watkins have to step up and be accounted for this year.

20.  George Washington

The Colonials had to sweat out the NBA Draft deadline, but fortunately Mike Hall and Pops Mensah-Bonsu came to their senses and stayed in school.  Karl Hobbs has the second best group in the Atlantic 10 conference.  The only significant loss they had was T.J. Thompson graduating.  The Colonials will need J.R. Pinnock to step up and fill that void.  Remember the name of Regis Koundija.  He becomes eligible this year for GW.

21.  Texas Tech

Bobby Knight is the ultimate “he’ll take his and beat yours and then he’ll take yours and beat his” coach in the business.  The Red Raiders will be loaded and should make a run for the Big 12 title.  Guards Jarius Jackson and Martin Zeno return to share the offensive load.  If Daryl Dora can make the jump, the Red Raiders will be solid inside.  Watch out for forward Jonathan Plefka who is a sensational athlete (Played baseball at Vermont and hoops at James Madison before landing in Lubbock.  Committed out of high school to play football for Rutgers).

22.  Stanford

I reserve the right to change this ranking if Dan Grunfeld isn’t all the way back from surgery on his ACL.  Chris Hernandez and Matt Haryasz give Stanford a nice inside-outside combo.  However if Grunfeld isn’t healthy, this team goes nowhere.

23.  Indiana

No coach has more pressure on his shoulders than Mike Davis does.  If newcomers Marco Killingsworth and Earl Calloway can blend in seamlessly with Robert Vaden, D.J. White, Sean Kline, A.J. Ratliff and Marshall Strickland then this team could contend for the Big Ten title.  If they don’t, Indiana will be the highest profile head coaching job available next April.

24.  Iowa State

If Louisville and Iowa State don’t make the Final Four they should have a sideshow event and invite Taquan Dean and Curtis Stinson to play one on one.  If I had to bet on which player will score 50 points in a game first this season, I would go with Stinson.  His backcourt mate, Will Blalock, is also pretty ridiculous.  The Cyclones are a Sweet 16 sleeper.

25.  Illinois

Over 45 million people watched Illinois battle North Carolina in the national title game (or very close to quadruple the 12.1 million households that watched Game 2 of the World Series).  On the floor were six guys that got taken in the first round of the NBA Draft.  The only guy left on either team that is capable of going in the first round this year is point guard Dee Brown.  Brown would have to have the season/tournament of his life for the Fighting Illini to get back to the first Monday night of April.  

If you have any questions or comments feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]