Well hoops fans, I am back. I do apologize for my lack of postings lately, but I have been swamped at work and am just getting caught up on my games that I recorded. The big question is, how is the season going for your team up to this point? Did they win their preseason tournament? Were they the victims of a huge upset? Are you surprised, disappointed, happy? I am going to do my best to get in all my thoughts and feelings about some teams, games, and players that have jumped out at me to this point.
Who looks good...
1) Syracuse- The Orangemen have shocked me this season. I will be the first one to admit that I had the Big East written down as a one team league, with Nova' being the only team with a chance to win it. Although I still pick the Wildcats to win, Syracuse has a legitimate shot to contend for this title. Their shooting performances against Cal and UNC in the 2K Sports classic were mind blowing. I couldn't believe how well they were shooting the basketball. Watch this team...mark my words
2) Kentucky- Aside from a close call with Stanford, the Wildcats have been blowing teams out of the water. They did play a close game with UNC, but the Heels are a great team and Kentucky was able to fight off a fierce 2nd half rally to seal the win. They are still a growing team that has problems holding on to the ball, however this team has the potential to grow to do great things. If they can keep Wall their for more than 1 season, Kentucky is on the fast track to a national championship next season
3. Kansas - No one is surprised by this. In fact people are so unsurprised by this that no one is really talking about the Jayhawks right now because they are expected to win. No good basketball team wants to be talked about in November and December. They want to be talked about in March and April. I'm sure most people got a look at the Jayhawks when they played Memphis earlier this season, but if you get a chance I suggest checking them out again before the Big 12 season starts, because they score in bunches.
Who looks bad....
1. California - Its hard to say a team looks bad early on in the season, especially in the case of Cal who has had some early injuries but folks Cal looks bad. The Golden Bears are a dismal 4-3 right now and will more than likely be unranked come Monday morning. Cal was blown off the court by Syracuse and Ohio Sate in the 2K Classic, when many people were expecting them to be meeting the Heels in the title game. We wont even get into the fact that they were beat by New Mexico the other night too. I am suddenly much less excited for their 12/22 clash with Kansas.
2. Michigan State - I know that your thinking I am being a little harsh on the Spartans here. Your going to tell me that their 2 losses came to UNC and Florida, both high ranked good programs. While I can't deny that, I press you to go take a look at those 2 games. Michigan State played terribly in their 2 losses, especially the loss to UNC, where they were an unheard of 2-20 from behind the 3-point line. I understand that the season is young but these are 2 big tests that MSU has failed and coupled with the solid play of some other Big 10 teams, leaves me wondering if the Big 10 is more up for grabs than I had originally thought.
Who has surprised me...
Florida - I knew hardly nothing about Florida coming into the season. Trust me, I know a lot about the Gators now. I know they are 8-0, I know their average margin of victory is about 15 points, I know they beat MSU, and I know they have a very balanced unselfish scoring attack. Florida is creeping up the ranks slowly and people are just starting to realize what they are capable of. Glue yourself to the television when the Gators meet Syracuse this week because its going to be one of the best games of the year so far.
Best games I have got a chance to watch...
1. Illinois vs. Clemson - If you missed this game, I feel sorry for you. The comeback the Illini made in this game was unreal. For those of you who didn't catch it, Clemson had a 22 point lead in the second half before allowing the Illini to come roaring all the way back and win the game. The fight that I saw from Illinois, on the road, to make that comeback was nothing short of impressive.
2. North Carolina vs. Kentucky - Now if your a fan of either team there are both highs and lows for your club in this game. North Carolina fired out early and grabbed a big lead. Kentucky went on an unreal 24-2 run to take a massive lead into the half and the early 2nd half. Then it was UNC's turn to make a close again, getting all the way back within 2 late in the game. Kentucky ended up pulling out this game by 3 (was pretty much 6 as Will Graves hit a meaningless 3 point shot as time expired) but it showed that both teams have great potential, and a lot to work on still.
3. Wisconsin vs. Duke - Well Duke, and the ACC in general, finally lost their edge in the ACC-Big 10 challenge, giving the Big 10 their first ever win. No one really gave Wisconsin much of a chance in this game, except for Wisconsin, their fans, and anyone that realizes how hard it is to go into The Kohl Center and win a game. Wisconsin is one of the best home teams in all of the NCAA and their showed it by outplaying the Blue Devils for all 40 min of the game. Wisconsin then followed that up by losing to Green Bay. Not the best way to come back after beating the No. 5 team in the nation.
Player to watch right now...
1. John Wall (Kentucky) - UNREAL. That is truly the only word that can describe John Wall. The way he scores, moves with the ball, and slashes to the hoop mystifies me every time I get to watch him play. He can score off the dribble so quickly most defenders never see him coming. If he has one weakness it would be his turnovers, which plague the entire Kentucky team. If Wall is not 1 and done, which I fully assume he will be, expect him to be the front runner for POY next season.
Well there we go. I realize there is a lot I've missed in this stretch, but that will at least get us back into things. I am watching Kentucky vs. UConn right now and its been a fantastic game so expect a posting about that tomorrow or even tonight if I feel up to it. Lets see those comments!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I Know What You Are Thinking...Lets Clear This Up
What an amazing tip off marathon we were treated to this season! If you didn't get a chance to catch some of the earlier games hopefully you were at least able to weigh in on some of last evening's games. If not, then I am sure you are dying to ask, "Mastermind, Michigan St. and Kansas did the same thing Kentucky did, why aren't we hearing about them being overrated?" On the surface, this is a very valid question. However, there are a few factors in both games that set them apart from Kentucky's loss. Aside from those two games, there are a few other points in the night session of the marathon that I would like to address also.
The Good...
1. The biggest factor here is that Michigan State and Kansas were up against good teams. Don't get me wrong I don't take any team lightly or take away anything that Miami of Ohio did against Kentucky, but Gonzaga and Memphis are a much different level of competition. I will agree that both the Bulldogs and the Tigers may be down a little bit from their past couple of seasons, but they are still fantastic ball clubs that have legitimate shots to win their conferences again this season.
2. This doesn't apply to Michigan State who was at home, but Kansas was on a neutral court. Play that game at Phog Allen Field House and Kansas wins by 10. Move it to Memphis, and they escape with a quality road win.
3. The stars for both teams shined tonight. For Michigan State Durrell Summers, Kalin Lucas, and Raymar Morgan combined for 56 of the Spartans 75 points. For Kansas Cole Aldrich, Xavier Henry, and Sherron Collins combined for 41 points and Aldrich added 11 rebounds to complete the double-double.
The Bad...
1. Well Michigan State...20 turnovers is not really something most teams aim to achieve. I hate to single out any players but Draymond Green and Delvon Roe did not rise to the occasion tonight. Although Green had 10 rebounds, he added only 6 points and was responsible for 5 of the Spartans turnovers. Roe on the other hand, had no bright spots with no points and 4 turn overs while playing in foul trouble all night before fouling out. Michigan State is going to need production out of these 2 if they are hoping to return to where they were last season.
2. Kansas did you take a lesson from MSU? The number one team in the country shouldn't be committing 21 turnovers against anyone. Tyshawn Taylor played 33 out of 40 minutes for Kansas and had a whopping 7 turnovers to only 5 assists and managed just 2 points. The Jayhawks may not be a 3 point shooting team but they attempted only 5 and made just 1, which could present a problem when they are playing in come from behind situations which, believe it or not, they will eventually be in.
The Other...
1. Memphis played hard and came painfully close to upsetting the number 1 team in the nation. This should be a huge boost for a program that took massive hits in the off season, has all young players, and a new head coach. Elliot Williams had a monster game, throwing down 21 points and somehow managing to not pick up a single foul in 39 min. Memphis showed tonight that although things may have them down, they are definitely not out.
2. The score of the Tennessee-UNCA game can only be described as...you know what I don't even have a word for it. A 75 point win for the Volunteers is just ridiculous. Every player on the Tennessee roster with the exception of one scored in this game. Now I didn't get a chance to watch this one but something tells me maybe Bruce Pearl should have a pulled his boys off a little sooner in this game. Although I guess he is still controlling his players a little better than his Football counterpart on the other side of the university.
3. I won't go into specifics here but the Georgetown-Temple game was one of the worst displays of basketball I have ever had to witness. The Hoyas played horrible basketball with their fouls and turnovers and the Owls played just a little bit worse which you will notice is clearly reflected in the score. Lets hope we don't have to see another game like that again this season, my eyes can't handle it
The Good...
1. The biggest factor here is that Michigan State and Kansas were up against good teams. Don't get me wrong I don't take any team lightly or take away anything that Miami of Ohio did against Kentucky, but Gonzaga and Memphis are a much different level of competition. I will agree that both the Bulldogs and the Tigers may be down a little bit from their past couple of seasons, but they are still fantastic ball clubs that have legitimate shots to win their conferences again this season.
2. This doesn't apply to Michigan State who was at home, but Kansas was on a neutral court. Play that game at Phog Allen Field House and Kansas wins by 10. Move it to Memphis, and they escape with a quality road win.
3. The stars for both teams shined tonight. For Michigan State Durrell Summers, Kalin Lucas, and Raymar Morgan combined for 56 of the Spartans 75 points. For Kansas Cole Aldrich, Xavier Henry, and Sherron Collins combined for 41 points and Aldrich added 11 rebounds to complete the double-double.
The Bad...
1. Well Michigan State...20 turnovers is not really something most teams aim to achieve. I hate to single out any players but Draymond Green and Delvon Roe did not rise to the occasion tonight. Although Green had 10 rebounds, he added only 6 points and was responsible for 5 of the Spartans turnovers. Roe on the other hand, had no bright spots with no points and 4 turn overs while playing in foul trouble all night before fouling out. Michigan State is going to need production out of these 2 if they are hoping to return to where they were last season.
2. Kansas did you take a lesson from MSU? The number one team in the country shouldn't be committing 21 turnovers against anyone. Tyshawn Taylor played 33 out of 40 minutes for Kansas and had a whopping 7 turnovers to only 5 assists and managed just 2 points. The Jayhawks may not be a 3 point shooting team but they attempted only 5 and made just 1, which could present a problem when they are playing in come from behind situations which, believe it or not, they will eventually be in.
The Other...
1. Memphis played hard and came painfully close to upsetting the number 1 team in the nation. This should be a huge boost for a program that took massive hits in the off season, has all young players, and a new head coach. Elliot Williams had a monster game, throwing down 21 points and somehow managing to not pick up a single foul in 39 min. Memphis showed tonight that although things may have them down, they are definitely not out.
2. The score of the Tennessee-UNCA game can only be described as...you know what I don't even have a word for it. A 75 point win for the Volunteers is just ridiculous. Every player on the Tennessee roster with the exception of one scored in this game. Now I didn't get a chance to watch this one but something tells me maybe Bruce Pearl should have a pulled his boys off a little sooner in this game. Although I guess he is still controlling his players a little better than his Football counterpart on the other side of the university.
3. I won't go into specifics here but the Georgetown-Temple game was one of the worst displays of basketball I have ever had to witness. The Hoyas played horrible basketball with their fouls and turnovers and the Owls played just a little bit worse which you will notice is clearly reflected in the score. Lets hope we don't have to see another game like that again this season, my eyes can't handle it
Monday, November 16, 2009
Lets have a little chat about Kentucky shall we?
At first I had every intention of slapping down a big helping of "I told you so" right now in regards to my preseason comments about Kentucky being overrated. However, before I started this post I watched some highlights, looked at some footage and ran a few numbers and have decided to go a bit of a different direction. Now don't get me wrong, I still think Kentucky is overrated, I still think they proved that against Miami of Ohio tonight, and you can still plan on hearing that out of me all season long. But......
1. Kentucky got another early double double out of Patterson (17 &10)
2. John Wall had a big first game for the Wildcats (he was suspended for taking gifts from an AAU coach, what a shocker) and had the confidence to take the ball up the court and hit a game winning shot without calling a time out and setting up a play. Now that is a lot of guts for a kid playing in his first game in Rupp Arena.
3. They didn't lose. Despite the score, despite being down an unbelievable 18 points at home to a mid-major team, despite not playing well, the Wildcats at 2-0 and did not lose this game. But....
1. The obvious here, this is Kentucky playing against Miami of Ohio. Need I say more? This game should never have even been worth writing about. Instead, it was one of the most exciting games of this young season, that is unless you are a Kentucky fan.
2. Did anyone get a look at Kentucky's free throw shooting? In case you didn't catch that the Wildcats shot a dismal 14-24 (58%) from the charity stripe. You just cant do that, especially at home. Lets see how many games Kentucky will win this season when they shoot under 60% from the free throw line, on the road, in the SEC. But...
I guess after looking at it, the positives for Kentucky out weigh the negatives in the this game. However, I think after this performance a few more people will be joining my, "Kentucky is overrated and hasn't proven anything yet" movement that I have started.
I hope everyone is watching the all night tip off marathon. If you are not turn it on right now! This Cal State Fullerton v. UCLA game is in overtime and its a thriller!
1. Kentucky got another early double double out of Patterson (17 &10)
2. John Wall had a big first game for the Wildcats (he was suspended for taking gifts from an AAU coach, what a shocker) and had the confidence to take the ball up the court and hit a game winning shot without calling a time out and setting up a play. Now that is a lot of guts for a kid playing in his first game in Rupp Arena.
3. They didn't lose. Despite the score, despite being down an unbelievable 18 points at home to a mid-major team, despite not playing well, the Wildcats at 2-0 and did not lose this game. But....
1. The obvious here, this is Kentucky playing against Miami of Ohio. Need I say more? This game should never have even been worth writing about. Instead, it was one of the most exciting games of this young season, that is unless you are a Kentucky fan.
2. Did anyone get a look at Kentucky's free throw shooting? In case you didn't catch that the Wildcats shot a dismal 14-24 (58%) from the charity stripe. You just cant do that, especially at home. Lets see how many games Kentucky will win this season when they shoot under 60% from the free throw line, on the road, in the SEC. But...
I guess after looking at it, the positives for Kentucky out weigh the negatives in the this game. However, I think after this performance a few more people will be joining my, "Kentucky is overrated and hasn't proven anything yet" movement that I have started.
I hope everyone is watching the all night tip off marathon. If you are not turn it on right now! This Cal State Fullerton v. UCLA game is in overtime and its a thriller!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Big performances out of New Faces Shine on Opening Weekend
Well we've officially gotten underway now with the bulk of the top 25 seeing their first action on Friday night. I'm sure no one out there is all that shocked that the night was filled with blowouts and fantastic first games from a lot of players both old an new. Here is a few of the bright spots that I noticed on Friday.
- Xavier Henry threw down 27 points, a school record for a freshman, in his Kansas Jayhawks debut. Kansas is scary good people, and if Henry Continues to play games like that Kansas will crush anyone in his path. Henry (27), Sherron Collins (21) and Cole Aldrich (11), combined for over half of Kansas' 101 points in their impressive season opener. If the Jayhawks can manage to get about a combined 15 ppg out of their bench, they may not lose a game all season.
- Eric Patterson also had a stellar debut for the Kentucky Wildcats, dropping down 24 points in the season opener. Patrick Patterson threw in a double double (20 and 12) and showed that he is going to provide the leadership that this Kentucky team is going to desperately need with all the freshman on the roster.
- Duke won tonight. That in itself is not impressive as they were playing UNC Greensboro. What is impressive is that they were able to do so with only one actual guard on the floor, Jon Scheyer, who didn't turn the ball over once in the entire game. With Nolan Smith out for the first 2 games and Mason Plumlee out with a broken wrist, Duke proved that it can win even when they are short handed.
- UConn has got to having some mixed feelings this morning. On one hand, Jerome Dyson came back from his knee injury and put in 27 for the Huskies, something they have to be thrilled about. On the other hand, UConn only won by 9 points, and couldn't out rebound William and Mary. I didn't get the chance to watch this game, but I'm wondering if this is a sign of bad things to come for the Huskies this season?
The Mastermind's Game of the Day: Rider @ #19 Mississippi State
If you refer back to my preseason post about Mississippi State, you will see that the Bulldogs decided to take the route that I outlined in their weakness section, and not come out prepared to play with a target on their backs. Take nothing away from the sharp shooting of the Rider Broncs (how many of you out there knew that mascot?) who shot 50.8% from the field and a staggering 62.5 % from beyond the 3-point line. However the Bulldogs looked sloppy all game, had twice as many turnovers as their opponents, and shot horrible from 3-point land. Mississippi State can bounce back from this loss and it could prove to be a good eye opener early in the season, but the Bulldogs are going to have to play much better than this if they want a shot at the SEC title.
- Xavier Henry threw down 27 points, a school record for a freshman, in his Kansas Jayhawks debut. Kansas is scary good people, and if Henry Continues to play games like that Kansas will crush anyone in his path. Henry (27), Sherron Collins (21) and Cole Aldrich (11), combined for over half of Kansas' 101 points in their impressive season opener. If the Jayhawks can manage to get about a combined 15 ppg out of their bench, they may not lose a game all season.
- Eric Patterson also had a stellar debut for the Kentucky Wildcats, dropping down 24 points in the season opener. Patrick Patterson threw in a double double (20 and 12) and showed that he is going to provide the leadership that this Kentucky team is going to desperately need with all the freshman on the roster.
- Duke won tonight. That in itself is not impressive as they were playing UNC Greensboro. What is impressive is that they were able to do so with only one actual guard on the floor, Jon Scheyer, who didn't turn the ball over once in the entire game. With Nolan Smith out for the first 2 games and Mason Plumlee out with a broken wrist, Duke proved that it can win even when they are short handed.
- UConn has got to having some mixed feelings this morning. On one hand, Jerome Dyson came back from his knee injury and put in 27 for the Huskies, something they have to be thrilled about. On the other hand, UConn only won by 9 points, and couldn't out rebound William and Mary. I didn't get the chance to watch this game, but I'm wondering if this is a sign of bad things to come for the Huskies this season?
The Mastermind's Game of the Day: Rider @ #19 Mississippi State
If you refer back to my preseason post about Mississippi State, you will see that the Bulldogs decided to take the route that I outlined in their weakness section, and not come out prepared to play with a target on their backs. Take nothing away from the sharp shooting of the Rider Broncs (how many of you out there knew that mascot?) who shot 50.8% from the field and a staggering 62.5 % from beyond the 3-point line. However the Bulldogs looked sloppy all game, had twice as many turnovers as their opponents, and shot horrible from 3-point land. Mississippi State can bounce back from this loss and it could prove to be a good eye opener early in the season, but the Bulldogs are going to have to play much better than this if they want a shot at the SEC title.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Let the Games Begin!
Hoops fans, I don't care what anyone tries to tell you, Christmas comes in November! The season is underway and I couldn't be happier right now. I will start by saying I am sorry I haven't posted in awhile but it was a mixture of me being very busy and to be completely honest I was getting a little bit bored about writing about preseason rankings and not getting to watch any ball. Never fear though, with the season kicking off last night I have a renewed sense of energy and some day after thoughts to share about the opening night of the season.
Well I would like to start out by giving Isiah Thomas credit for coaching against UNC last night mostly because his mother had just had surgery earlier in the day, and that takes a lot of guts to do. But also because he was so over matched it wasn't even funny. The real thing I would like to discuss here is the glaring number of turnovers that the North Carolina Tar Heels committed in this game. Now I realize that its so early in the season and the Heels are playing with almost a completely new team, but Roy Williams himself admitted that the turnover situation had been plaguing the Heels all season long. On the bright side for the Heels, very few of those turnovers were committed by their new point man, Larry Drew. As for FIU, well as Isiah Thomas stated, they never gave up. This program has been through 9 straight losing seasons and the players seem excited to play under Thomas. If Marvin Roberts can continue to play games like that (18 points) the Golden Panthers may see their program start to turn around a little.
Another point of contention from last night: Ohio State is going to be a force in the Big 10 this season. Now you may ask how I can possibly come to that conclusion after seeing them play Alcorn State. The answer lies in the statistics from last nights game. The Buckeyes had 5 players score in double figures (2 of them came off the bench), only committed 6 turnovers, and possibly the most impressive figure of the night, had all but 2 of their players play over 10 minutes in the game. Ohio State is a deep team folks, and depth is one of the biggest factors come late in the season. Don't be surprised to see the Buckeyes in the top 10 for a good part of this season, be even less surprised if they upset the number 4 Tar Heels in 10 days on their home court.
The Mastermind's Game of the Day: Murray State @ #12 California
Welcome to the radar California Golden Bears. This is going to be the story of your whole season. Folks Cal is not used to be such a force in the Pac-10 not to mention being picked to win it. This is just the first of many games where under matched, under ranked, teams are going to push the Bears to the brink. Cal was caught off guard last night by a mixture of a possibly underrated Murray State team and the Golden Bears taking their opponent lightly. Now I am still calling Cal the favorite to win the Pac-10 but they need to harden up a little, and check the target on their backs because its not going away anytime soon.
Its gonna be a fantastic Season hoop heads! Thoughts, comments, concerns, as usual, are encouraged!
Well I would like to start out by giving Isiah Thomas credit for coaching against UNC last night mostly because his mother had just had surgery earlier in the day, and that takes a lot of guts to do. But also because he was so over matched it wasn't even funny. The real thing I would like to discuss here is the glaring number of turnovers that the North Carolina Tar Heels committed in this game. Now I realize that its so early in the season and the Heels are playing with almost a completely new team, but Roy Williams himself admitted that the turnover situation had been plaguing the Heels all season long. On the bright side for the Heels, very few of those turnovers were committed by their new point man, Larry Drew. As for FIU, well as Isiah Thomas stated, they never gave up. This program has been through 9 straight losing seasons and the players seem excited to play under Thomas. If Marvin Roberts can continue to play games like that (18 points) the Golden Panthers may see their program start to turn around a little.
Another point of contention from last night: Ohio State is going to be a force in the Big 10 this season. Now you may ask how I can possibly come to that conclusion after seeing them play Alcorn State. The answer lies in the statistics from last nights game. The Buckeyes had 5 players score in double figures (2 of them came off the bench), only committed 6 turnovers, and possibly the most impressive figure of the night, had all but 2 of their players play over 10 minutes in the game. Ohio State is a deep team folks, and depth is one of the biggest factors come late in the season. Don't be surprised to see the Buckeyes in the top 10 for a good part of this season, be even less surprised if they upset the number 4 Tar Heels in 10 days on their home court.
The Mastermind's Game of the Day: Murray State @ #12 California
Welcome to the radar California Golden Bears. This is going to be the story of your whole season. Folks Cal is not used to be such a force in the Pac-10 not to mention being picked to win it. This is just the first of many games where under matched, under ranked, teams are going to push the Bears to the brink. Cal was caught off guard last night by a mixture of a possibly underrated Murray State team and the Golden Bears taking their opponent lightly. Now I am still calling Cal the favorite to win the Pac-10 but they need to harden up a little, and check the target on their backs because its not going away anytime soon.
Its gonna be a fantastic Season hoop heads! Thoughts, comments, concerns, as usual, are encouraged!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
And The Numbers are In....Part III
Hello again hoops fans! I apologize for the delay as I have been extremely busy lately, but I am back and ready to dissect our next set of 5. Its great to see that we have the first follower here and that some comments are starting to come in the on the posts, and very insightful comments I might add. Keep up the good work. Alright, enough small talk, lets get down to what you came here for. This is what we have at 11-15.
11. California
12. Mississippi State
13. Michigan
14. Washington
15. Butler
Now as I said before the farther we go down this list, the less I will have to say. So do not be too surprised if you see a little less analysis here.
11. California- This season Cal is going to be playing in a Pac-10 conference that is going to be at its weakest point in a few seasons, and you can expect the Golden Bears to be at the top of it. The Bears bring back Jerome Randal, Patrick Christopher, and Theo Robertson, the trio that combined for 45.9 ppg last year and as you may be able to guess that was the bulk of Cal's scoring.
Strengths: I can't imagine anyone being able to argue that returning basically your entire team from the previous season isn't a huge advantage. I still think the biggest thing that will work in Cal's favor this season is going to be the competition within the Pac-10. Although Washington will give them a couple good games, they won't be up against the UCLA and Arizona teams they are used to seeing or even the Arizona State they saw last season. Like most other people, the Golden Bears are my pick for Pac-10 champs.
Weaknesses: Although you may not see a lot of weaknesses out of Cal during the season, you will see them in March. The committee will take into account Cal's weak schedule, but if they walk away with the Pac-10 regular season and the Pac-10 tournament, they will more than likely get a 3 or 4 seed. After seeing less than powerful competition all season, the Golden Bears may be primed for an upset. However, I do suggest you do tune in for their December 22nd match up at Kansas. Even if they lose, which they most likely will, pay attention to how they play under pressure against a good team. This will show if Cal is for real or not.
12. Mississippi State- I cannot tell a lie, my knowledge of the Bulldogs is somewhat limited. However, I do know that they are returning Jarvis Varnado, and from the little I saw last season he blocks shots like it is his job (I guess it kinda is?). Being second in this conference says something, because the SEC is going to be a dog fight this season. From what I am hearing about Mississippi State combined with the fact that I am not sold on Kentucky, prompts me to put the Bulldogs on the top of my SEC list.
Strengths: As I said before, Varnado can block shots. Last season he also added a nice 12.9 ppg to his shot blocking average of 4.7 bpg. I personally believe the Bulldogs will reap the benefits of all eyes being focused on Kentucky this season. For awhile at least, Mississippi State should be able to fly under the radar before everyone notices that they may be the ones the beat in the SEC and not Kentucky.
Weaknesses: First of all, Mississippi State only gets Kentucky once. Although it is at home, if the Bulldogs don't play well in that in game and come out on the wrong end, it may have bad psychological effects for the team. The Bulldogs are also not a program that is used to being in the spotlight. It's going to be interesting to watch this year's Mississippi State team unfold as they are actually expected to win every time they step on to the court.
13. Michigan- Although Michigan has cracked the top 15, the Big Ten is still a 2 team league in my mind. The Wolverines did however make a little noise in the NCAA tournament last season, knocking out a Clemson team that many though would roll them. Manny Harris and his 16.9 ppg will be returning to lead Michigan, and don't be surprised if you see the Wolverines deal Michigan State or Purdue a loss in the Big Ten.
Strengths: The Wolverines are starting to gel again under coach John Beilein, and this is a good year for them to be doing so. Although the Spartans and Boilermakers may be the teams to beat in the Big Ten, the Wolverines the top of the next tier. This is a good season for Michigan to regain some confidence and pride in their basketball program (oddly enough they are doing the same on the gridiron). It is teams like this years Michigan team that I usually watch for to sneak in and win their conference tournament, slip into the NCAA's as a 7-9 seed, and bust some brackets when they make their way into the Sweet 16.
Weaknesses: All season long Michigan is going to be overshadowed by Michigan State and Purdue. The Wolverines may be on their way back up, but they aren't quite there yet. Although I said they have the potential to make some noise late in the season, doesn't mean they will. If they roll quietly through the season and can't come up with any big wins, their tournament resume will be a whole lot weaker than they hope for.
14. Washington- The Huskies will be the main competition for Cal in the Pac-10 this season. My pick to click for the Huskies this season is Quincy Pondexter. Pondexter should have a huge year inside for the Huskies and open up play for their tremendous guards led by Isaiah Thomas. Pac-10 basketball will be defined this season by the match-ups between between Washington and Cal.
Strengths: The guard play is going to be the biggest strength for the Huskies. Thomas (15.5 ppg) will be in the running for Pac-10 player of the year. The leadership that Pondexter will bring to the table will be crucial for this team in both finding themselves at the beginning of the season and gearing up for the stretch run in February and March. Just like Cal, Washington will be benefiting from the weakened state of their conference this season.
Weaknesses: The biggest problem that the Huskies will have is finding a way to replace Jon Brockman and his 14.9 ppg and more importantly his 11.5 rebounds a game. As much as I think Pondexter will do for Washington, its going to be a tall order for him to fill the gap made left by Brockman. The Huskies are also a very young team. There is a lot of inexperience on this roster and it may end up biting Washington down the stretch.
15. Butler- Its about time the Bulldogs stop flying under the radar and quit getting called a Cinderella team. It seems like every season Butler makes a ton of noise in the tournament and everyone seems surprised. Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward (combined 27.9 ppg) both return for the Bulldogs this season. Butler is looking to be more than a Cinderella story this year and should easily win the Horizon league with their eyes closed.
Strengths: Well playing in the Horizon league is definitely a strength. As much as I love mid-majors (I went to school at one) a team of Butler's caliber may just run through this conference untouched. The Bulldogs will get big early season tests when they meet Ohio State and Georgetown, where they will get a chance to help toughen up their teams and show the world that they deserve their ranking.
Weaknesses: Playing in the Horizon league isn't exactly going to work in the Bulldog's favor. All season long they are going to be playing against competition that will more than likely be of less quality than 90% of the teams they will see in the tournament. It will also be looked down upon by the selection committee when they seed Butler in March. If the Bulldogs are going to make any noise, they are going to have to make it themselves.
There you have it! 15 down and 10 to go as we creep ever closer to the start of our season. I for one have already put my order in for ESPN Full Court and am mapping out what games I can watch and how many more I can record to make sure I do miss a second of the action. Some may call me obsessed, I say they just don't understand the magic of this game like we do! Please weigh in your thoughts and keep your eyes peeled for 16-20!
11. California
12. Mississippi State
13. Michigan
14. Washington
15. Butler
Now as I said before the farther we go down this list, the less I will have to say. So do not be too surprised if you see a little less analysis here.
11. California- This season Cal is going to be playing in a Pac-10 conference that is going to be at its weakest point in a few seasons, and you can expect the Golden Bears to be at the top of it. The Bears bring back Jerome Randal, Patrick Christopher, and Theo Robertson, the trio that combined for 45.9 ppg last year and as you may be able to guess that was the bulk of Cal's scoring.
Strengths: I can't imagine anyone being able to argue that returning basically your entire team from the previous season isn't a huge advantage. I still think the biggest thing that will work in Cal's favor this season is going to be the competition within the Pac-10. Although Washington will give them a couple good games, they won't be up against the UCLA and Arizona teams they are used to seeing or even the Arizona State they saw last season. Like most other people, the Golden Bears are my pick for Pac-10 champs.
Weaknesses: Although you may not see a lot of weaknesses out of Cal during the season, you will see them in March. The committee will take into account Cal's weak schedule, but if they walk away with the Pac-10 regular season and the Pac-10 tournament, they will more than likely get a 3 or 4 seed. After seeing less than powerful competition all season, the Golden Bears may be primed for an upset. However, I do suggest you do tune in for their December 22nd match up at Kansas. Even if they lose, which they most likely will, pay attention to how they play under pressure against a good team. This will show if Cal is for real or not.
12. Mississippi State- I cannot tell a lie, my knowledge of the Bulldogs is somewhat limited. However, I do know that they are returning Jarvis Varnado, and from the little I saw last season he blocks shots like it is his job (I guess it kinda is?). Being second in this conference says something, because the SEC is going to be a dog fight this season. From what I am hearing about Mississippi State combined with the fact that I am not sold on Kentucky, prompts me to put the Bulldogs on the top of my SEC list.
Strengths: As I said before, Varnado can block shots. Last season he also added a nice 12.9 ppg to his shot blocking average of 4.7 bpg. I personally believe the Bulldogs will reap the benefits of all eyes being focused on Kentucky this season. For awhile at least, Mississippi State should be able to fly under the radar before everyone notices that they may be the ones the beat in the SEC and not Kentucky.
Weaknesses: First of all, Mississippi State only gets Kentucky once. Although it is at home, if the Bulldogs don't play well in that in game and come out on the wrong end, it may have bad psychological effects for the team. The Bulldogs are also not a program that is used to being in the spotlight. It's going to be interesting to watch this year's Mississippi State team unfold as they are actually expected to win every time they step on to the court.
13. Michigan- Although Michigan has cracked the top 15, the Big Ten is still a 2 team league in my mind. The Wolverines did however make a little noise in the NCAA tournament last season, knocking out a Clemson team that many though would roll them. Manny Harris and his 16.9 ppg will be returning to lead Michigan, and don't be surprised if you see the Wolverines deal Michigan State or Purdue a loss in the Big Ten.
Strengths: The Wolverines are starting to gel again under coach John Beilein, and this is a good year for them to be doing so. Although the Spartans and Boilermakers may be the teams to beat in the Big Ten, the Wolverines the top of the next tier. This is a good season for Michigan to regain some confidence and pride in their basketball program (oddly enough they are doing the same on the gridiron). It is teams like this years Michigan team that I usually watch for to sneak in and win their conference tournament, slip into the NCAA's as a 7-9 seed, and bust some brackets when they make their way into the Sweet 16.
Weaknesses: All season long Michigan is going to be overshadowed by Michigan State and Purdue. The Wolverines may be on their way back up, but they aren't quite there yet. Although I said they have the potential to make some noise late in the season, doesn't mean they will. If they roll quietly through the season and can't come up with any big wins, their tournament resume will be a whole lot weaker than they hope for.
14. Washington- The Huskies will be the main competition for Cal in the Pac-10 this season. My pick to click for the Huskies this season is Quincy Pondexter. Pondexter should have a huge year inside for the Huskies and open up play for their tremendous guards led by Isaiah Thomas. Pac-10 basketball will be defined this season by the match-ups between between Washington and Cal.
Strengths: The guard play is going to be the biggest strength for the Huskies. Thomas (15.5 ppg) will be in the running for Pac-10 player of the year. The leadership that Pondexter will bring to the table will be crucial for this team in both finding themselves at the beginning of the season and gearing up for the stretch run in February and March. Just like Cal, Washington will be benefiting from the weakened state of their conference this season.
Weaknesses: The biggest problem that the Huskies will have is finding a way to replace Jon Brockman and his 14.9 ppg and more importantly his 11.5 rebounds a game. As much as I think Pondexter will do for Washington, its going to be a tall order for him to fill the gap made left by Brockman. The Huskies are also a very young team. There is a lot of inexperience on this roster and it may end up biting Washington down the stretch.
15. Butler- Its about time the Bulldogs stop flying under the radar and quit getting called a Cinderella team. It seems like every season Butler makes a ton of noise in the tournament and everyone seems surprised. Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward (combined 27.9 ppg) both return for the Bulldogs this season. Butler is looking to be more than a Cinderella story this year and should easily win the Horizon league with their eyes closed.
Strengths: Well playing in the Horizon league is definitely a strength. As much as I love mid-majors (I went to school at one) a team of Butler's caliber may just run through this conference untouched. The Bulldogs will get big early season tests when they meet Ohio State and Georgetown, where they will get a chance to help toughen up their teams and show the world that they deserve their ranking.
Weaknesses: Playing in the Horizon league isn't exactly going to work in the Bulldog's favor. All season long they are going to be playing against competition that will more than likely be of less quality than 90% of the teams they will see in the tournament. It will also be looked down upon by the selection committee when they seed Butler in March. If the Bulldogs are going to make any noise, they are going to have to make it themselves.
There you have it! 15 down and 10 to go as we creep ever closer to the start of our season. I for one have already put my order in for ESPN Full Court and am mapping out what games I can watch and how many more I can record to make sure I do miss a second of the action. Some may call me obsessed, I say they just don't understand the magic of this game like we do! Please weigh in your thoughts and keep your eyes peeled for 16-20!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
And the Numbers are in...Part II
Well hoops fans I must apologize, I didn't even realize how long my top 5 preview was until I went back and read it myself. Sorry, but when I get on a roll I'm harder to stop than a John Wooden team in the late 60's-early 70's. Never the less we will try to keep the rest of the top 10 a little bit shorter, but no promises can be made. With my disclaimer out of the way, here is what we are looking at to round out the preseason top 10.
6. Purdue
7. Kentucky
8. Tennessee
9. West Virginia
10. Duke
No need for pointless rambling here, lets get right down to it...
6. Purdue- Michigan State's only real roadblock to the Big 10 championship. After high expectations Purdue saw their season start to go downhill after being embarrassed in a non-conference contest at Duke (they lost 76-60) and around the same time star Robbie Hummel started having health problems that would plague him all season. However, this year Hummel is back and healthy and coupled with E'Twaun Moore (13.8 ppg) and JaJuan Johnson (13.4 ppg) the Boilermakers are locked, loaded, and ready to live up to their expectations this season.
Strengths: Experience. Purdue is returning the core of its team from last season, a team that pulled it together at the end of the season to win the Big 10 tournament. In fact, the Boilermakers only lost 12.7 ppg in their 4 graduating seniors. Much like Michigan State, Purdue will reap the benefits of spending all season battling Big 10 teams that are surrounded by question marks.
Weaknesses: Last season, with nearly an identical team (aside from the unhealthy Hummel) the Boilermakers were full of inconsistency. When Purdue was truly tested, especially on the road, they lost and more often than not by a considerable margin to Duke, Illinois, and Michigan State by 16, 2o, and 11 respectively. After squeaking by Washington in the 2nd round of the NCAA's, The Boilermakers suffered another double digit loss to UConn in the Sweet 16. Purdue needs to find a way to play good basketball as a team night in and night out, at home and on the road, if they plan on staying in the top 10 and on the heels of the Spartans this season.
7. Kentucky- Oh Kentucky, Kentucky Kentucky. No team has been surrounded by more off season buzz than the Kentucky Wildcats (well except maybe Memphis, Mr. Calipari are you ready for your close up?). John Calipari has been brought into Lexington in hopes of digging the Wildcats out of the basement of the SEC and back to the glory days of Adolph Rupp, Rick Pitino, and Tubby Smith, but he's going to have to find a way to do it without leading scorer Jodie Meeks.
Strengths: Well with Calipari at the helm, the Wildcats have went out and hired a coach that can make up for the failed Billy Gillispie experiment. Although losing Meeks is a huge blow for Kentucky, they will have the luxury of returning second leading scorer, and now team leader, Patrick Patterson (17.9 ppg). Calipari also brought along with him a slew of talented freshman that either made Kentucky their school after he got the job or broke their commitment to Memphis when he left. Looks like everyone is a winner in this situation. (Memphis fans may wish to disregard that last sentence)
Weaknesses: Where do I begin? Yes, returning Patterson is a great for the Wildcats but lets be real folks, Jodie Meeks was Kentucky's team last season. This team looked to Meeks to be the play maker and game changer, and now they will take the court without him. John Calipari was a great coach in Memphis...once he had good players and was able to develop them. Although Calipari has brought his army of young talent with him to Lexington, Rome wasn't built in a day. There is no doubt in my mind that Kentucky is on their way back up, but this is not the year. I think they are over rated and will fall from this spot early. Tune in December 5th when they battle UNC to watch the Wildcats try to prove me wrong.
8. Tennessee- The SEC East this season will be Bruce Pearl's Volunteers against Calipari's Wildcats. Tennessee returns their leading scorer from last season, Tyler Smith (17.4 ppg), which is always a plus starting a new season. The Volunteers also have a star studded sophomore class that will play a huge part in the success of this team. The true test whether or not this team is for real will come on Jan. 10th when they play host to Kansas.
Strengths: The most important thing for the Volunteers is returning Tyler Smith. Without Smith Tennessee struggles to even crack my top 25. However, what a lot of people are overlooking between Smith coming back and the huge class of sophomores, is the fact that Tennessee is also returning their second leading scorer and possibly their best man on the glass, Wayne Chism. His offense, defense and senior leadership, when coupled with Smith, may prove to be just as valuable, if not more so, than Smith's return.
Weaknesses: A lot of people in the hoops world preach its importance and I am no different, free throw percentage. Last season the Volunteers shot a dismal 67% from the free throw line. Now some people may say that if that is their only weakness, then the are in good shape. I would strongly disagree. Tennessee is going to find themselves in a lot of trench battles in the SEC East this year. Their inability to shoot from the charity stripe could swing many of their close games to the loss column. The Volunteers are also green when it comes to March play, after a first round exit from the tournament last season. It will be a very interesting battle between Tennessee and Kentucky for the SEC crown this season.
9. West Virginia- I personally ranked the Mountaineers this high based on the strength of their conference. Although they will tangle with Villanova this season, which I feel the Wildcats will handle them easily, that is all they have to deal with. Da'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks will be the anchors of this team, combining for 27.6 ppg last season. Bob Huggins's squad, in my mind, is a lock for runner-up in the big east.
Strengths: Just like Villanova, the Mountaineers will cash in huge on a depleted Big East conference this season. Ebanks in my opinion is even more important to West Virginia than Butler is. With the numbers Ebanks put up as a freshman last season against the most powerful conference in the nation, Huggins should be expecting him to move mountains (no pun intended) this season. This years Mountaineers team also runs very deep, making them a threat come tournament time.
Weaknesses: Although Butler and Ebanks are back, the Mountaineers lost senior Alex Ruoff, and the 15.7 points a game that he brought along with him. While some people may view an easy schedule as a strength for a team, I would argue that it hurts a team. Besides their 2 games with Villanova and a non-conference clash with Purdue, West Virginia is playing a pretty easy schedule. This has the potential to make their team soft and send them into the NCAA tournament untested and prime to be upset by a more hardened, battle tested team.
10. Duke- With the way the Blue Devils have been dying out early in March the last few seasons (and yes the Sweet 16 is early for Duke), I considered dropping them down much lower than the preseason poll had them. Then I remembered who their coach was and quickly dismissed that absurd notion. Duke is back on the rise after a few disappointing seasons, and Kyle Singler will lead the way for the Devils this year. Combine him with Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils will once again be battling the Tar Heels for ACC supremacy.
Strengths: Returning Singler and Scheyer means the Blue Devils have one of the best 1-2 punches in the nation. When Scheyer is on from beyond the arc he is lights out and Singler is a nightmare to defend, being able to step out and shoot or bang bodies down in the post. Aside from Gerald Henderson and Greg Paulus, the Devils return the meat of their squad and add on a solid group of freshman to boot.
Weaknesses: The Devils gave up a lot of points in a lot of games last season, and then again in some games played rock solid defense. Duke is going to have to bring some defensive consistency to their squad this season if they want to compete for an ACC title. Not to mention as good as Kyle Singler may be down low, Duke needs another big man, whether that be Lance Thomas or Brian Zoubek, to step up this season and do something in the paint. The point guard position was also a revolving door for the Blue Devils last year, with Paulus and Nolan Smith splitting time, and neither of them getting it quite right. Smith needs to step up and run a solid point for Singler, Scheyer and company if they want to return to some of the post season success that the Blue Devils had become accustomed to.
Well there you have it, 6-10 in the books. I am now realizing that I clearly did not stick to my words, as this is just as long as the last post, but hey things happen. I will say that from here on out the previews should get shorter (and I mean it this time) as I have less to say about teams that I feel can not legitimately compete for a national championship. Look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts and stay tuned for 11-15!,
6. Purdue
7. Kentucky
8. Tennessee
9. West Virginia
10. Duke
No need for pointless rambling here, lets get right down to it...
6. Purdue- Michigan State's only real roadblock to the Big 10 championship. After high expectations Purdue saw their season start to go downhill after being embarrassed in a non-conference contest at Duke (they lost 76-60) and around the same time star Robbie Hummel started having health problems that would plague him all season. However, this year Hummel is back and healthy and coupled with E'Twaun Moore (13.8 ppg) and JaJuan Johnson (13.4 ppg) the Boilermakers are locked, loaded, and ready to live up to their expectations this season.
Strengths: Experience. Purdue is returning the core of its team from last season, a team that pulled it together at the end of the season to win the Big 10 tournament. In fact, the Boilermakers only lost 12.7 ppg in their 4 graduating seniors. Much like Michigan State, Purdue will reap the benefits of spending all season battling Big 10 teams that are surrounded by question marks.
Weaknesses: Last season, with nearly an identical team (aside from the unhealthy Hummel) the Boilermakers were full of inconsistency. When Purdue was truly tested, especially on the road, they lost and more often than not by a considerable margin to Duke, Illinois, and Michigan State by 16, 2o, and 11 respectively. After squeaking by Washington in the 2nd round of the NCAA's, The Boilermakers suffered another double digit loss to UConn in the Sweet 16. Purdue needs to find a way to play good basketball as a team night in and night out, at home and on the road, if they plan on staying in the top 10 and on the heels of the Spartans this season.
7. Kentucky- Oh Kentucky, Kentucky Kentucky. No team has been surrounded by more off season buzz than the Kentucky Wildcats (well except maybe Memphis, Mr. Calipari are you ready for your close up?). John Calipari has been brought into Lexington in hopes of digging the Wildcats out of the basement of the SEC and back to the glory days of Adolph Rupp, Rick Pitino, and Tubby Smith, but he's going to have to find a way to do it without leading scorer Jodie Meeks.
Strengths: Well with Calipari at the helm, the Wildcats have went out and hired a coach that can make up for the failed Billy Gillispie experiment. Although losing Meeks is a huge blow for Kentucky, they will have the luxury of returning second leading scorer, and now team leader, Patrick Patterson (17.9 ppg). Calipari also brought along with him a slew of talented freshman that either made Kentucky their school after he got the job or broke their commitment to Memphis when he left. Looks like everyone is a winner in this situation. (Memphis fans may wish to disregard that last sentence)
Weaknesses: Where do I begin? Yes, returning Patterson is a great for the Wildcats but lets be real folks, Jodie Meeks was Kentucky's team last season. This team looked to Meeks to be the play maker and game changer, and now they will take the court without him. John Calipari was a great coach in Memphis...once he had good players and was able to develop them. Although Calipari has brought his army of young talent with him to Lexington, Rome wasn't built in a day. There is no doubt in my mind that Kentucky is on their way back up, but this is not the year. I think they are over rated and will fall from this spot early. Tune in December 5th when they battle UNC to watch the Wildcats try to prove me wrong.
8. Tennessee- The SEC East this season will be Bruce Pearl's Volunteers against Calipari's Wildcats. Tennessee returns their leading scorer from last season, Tyler Smith (17.4 ppg), which is always a plus starting a new season. The Volunteers also have a star studded sophomore class that will play a huge part in the success of this team. The true test whether or not this team is for real will come on Jan. 10th when they play host to Kansas.
Strengths: The most important thing for the Volunteers is returning Tyler Smith. Without Smith Tennessee struggles to even crack my top 25. However, what a lot of people are overlooking between Smith coming back and the huge class of sophomores, is the fact that Tennessee is also returning their second leading scorer and possibly their best man on the glass, Wayne Chism. His offense, defense and senior leadership, when coupled with Smith, may prove to be just as valuable, if not more so, than Smith's return.
Weaknesses: A lot of people in the hoops world preach its importance and I am no different, free throw percentage. Last season the Volunteers shot a dismal 67% from the free throw line. Now some people may say that if that is their only weakness, then the are in good shape. I would strongly disagree. Tennessee is going to find themselves in a lot of trench battles in the SEC East this year. Their inability to shoot from the charity stripe could swing many of their close games to the loss column. The Volunteers are also green when it comes to March play, after a first round exit from the tournament last season. It will be a very interesting battle between Tennessee and Kentucky for the SEC crown this season.
9. West Virginia- I personally ranked the Mountaineers this high based on the strength of their conference. Although they will tangle with Villanova this season, which I feel the Wildcats will handle them easily, that is all they have to deal with. Da'Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks will be the anchors of this team, combining for 27.6 ppg last season. Bob Huggins's squad, in my mind, is a lock for runner-up in the big east.
Strengths: Just like Villanova, the Mountaineers will cash in huge on a depleted Big East conference this season. Ebanks in my opinion is even more important to West Virginia than Butler is. With the numbers Ebanks put up as a freshman last season against the most powerful conference in the nation, Huggins should be expecting him to move mountains (no pun intended) this season. This years Mountaineers team also runs very deep, making them a threat come tournament time.
Weaknesses: Although Butler and Ebanks are back, the Mountaineers lost senior Alex Ruoff, and the 15.7 points a game that he brought along with him. While some people may view an easy schedule as a strength for a team, I would argue that it hurts a team. Besides their 2 games with Villanova and a non-conference clash with Purdue, West Virginia is playing a pretty easy schedule. This has the potential to make their team soft and send them into the NCAA tournament untested and prime to be upset by a more hardened, battle tested team.
10. Duke- With the way the Blue Devils have been dying out early in March the last few seasons (and yes the Sweet 16 is early for Duke), I considered dropping them down much lower than the preseason poll had them. Then I remembered who their coach was and quickly dismissed that absurd notion. Duke is back on the rise after a few disappointing seasons, and Kyle Singler will lead the way for the Devils this year. Combine him with Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils will once again be battling the Tar Heels for ACC supremacy.
Strengths: Returning Singler and Scheyer means the Blue Devils have one of the best 1-2 punches in the nation. When Scheyer is on from beyond the arc he is lights out and Singler is a nightmare to defend, being able to step out and shoot or bang bodies down in the post. Aside from Gerald Henderson and Greg Paulus, the Devils return the meat of their squad and add on a solid group of freshman to boot.
Weaknesses: The Devils gave up a lot of points in a lot of games last season, and then again in some games played rock solid defense. Duke is going to have to bring some defensive consistency to their squad this season if they want to compete for an ACC title. Not to mention as good as Kyle Singler may be down low, Duke needs another big man, whether that be Lance Thomas or Brian Zoubek, to step up this season and do something in the paint. The point guard position was also a revolving door for the Blue Devils last year, with Paulus and Nolan Smith splitting time, and neither of them getting it quite right. Smith needs to step up and run a solid point for Singler, Scheyer and company if they want to return to some of the post season success that the Blue Devils had become accustomed to.
Well there you have it, 6-10 in the books. I am now realizing that I clearly did not stick to my words, as this is just as long as the last post, but hey things happen. I will say that from here on out the previews should get shorter (and I mean it this time) as I have less to say about teams that I feel can not legitimately compete for a national championship. Look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts and stay tuned for 11-15!,
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