Non-Conference Games To Watch

(Posting about a week early. Anyway, guys, I’m planning on writing a column every Sunday previewing the upcoming week’s games, so I didn’t go too in-depth. Plus, I’m building a Charlie Weis statue for my yard. Kinda looks like the Hunchback. Whatev.)

This non-conference season is shaping up to be one of the best. The list includes a contest that could match the #1 and #2 teams in the nation, NCAA teams playing top mid-majors, and tournament stocked with possible blockbuster matchups from the second round to the finals. Folks, we’re not that far away from the non-conference season with key games that could decide whether a contender is actually a pretender.

TOP TOURNAMENTS

2K Sports College Hoops Classic- Assuming the top four teams make it out of their respective regionals with ease playing on their home court, the semifinal and final games at MSG will be great. The first game pits Michigan State vs. Texas on November 16 and St. John’s vs. Maryland later that night. The finals then will be on the 17th.

NIT Season Tip-Off- This tournament is one to watch. The second round games are very entertaining, nationally televised matchups, including Notre Dame/Butler vs. Indiana on November 14, UNC-Wilmington vs. Tennessee on the 14th, North Carolina vs. Winthrop/Iona on November 15 and Baylor vs. Gonzaga on Nov 15. All of those games are on the ESPN family of networks. We’re looking at UNC/Gonzaga and Tennessee/Indiana semis at MSG, potentially, with the finals looming.

Paradise Jam- Final four teams barring major upset will be Alabama, Iowa, Xavier and Villanova. Two teams are down, two are up. Should make for a fascinating tournament with many storylines.

CBE Classic- This tournament, formally known as the Guardians Classic, is organized very similarly to the Coaches vs. Cancer (2K). I’m assuming Duke and Stanford meet in the semis on November 20, and Marquette faces Texas Tech that same night, with the final on the 21st. It hasn’t been announced, but expect these games to be on ESPN straight from Kansas City.

Maui Invitational- Nothing will ever beat the epic games we witnessed last season, but this field might be almost as competitive. Besides Chaminade-UCLA, every other game will be wildly entertaining. Oklahoma plays Memphis, Purdue plays Georgia Tech and DePaul vs. Kentucky….all on the same day (Nov 20). Wow. With this tournament, any of these teams can match up in the later games (5 vs. 6, etc.) I’ll be glued to the TV for this tourney.

ACC Big-Ten Challenge Top Games
November 28- Florida State at Wisconsin, Maryland at Illinois, Indiana at Duke
November 29- Ohio State at North Carolina, Michigan State at Boston College

November
November 12- Arizona at Virginia
November 18- Wichita State at George Mason
November 24- Florida State at Pittsburgh
November 25- Florida vs. Kansas (Vegas)
November 25- Wichita State at LSU
November 25- George Mason at Creighton
November 29- Kansas State at California

Week of December 2-9
December 2- Georgetown at Duke
December 2- Kentucky at North Carolina
December 2- Texas vs. Gonzaga (Neutral)
December 2- Wichita State at Syracuse
December 2- Kansas at DePaul
December 3- Florida at Florida State
December 5- Oklahoma State vs. Syracuse (MSG)
December 5- Louisville vs. Arizona (MSG)
December 5- Texas A&M at LSU
December 6- Memphis at Tennessee
December 9- UCLA vs. Texas A&M (Anaheim)
December 9- Xavier vs. Creighton
December 9- Wisconsin at Marquette
December 9- Kentucky at Indiana
December 9- LSU at Texas

Week of December 10-17
December 16- Pittsburgh at Wisconsin
December 16- Kentucky at Louisville

Week of December 18-25
December 20- LSU at Washington
December 20- Memphis at Arizona
December 21- Gonzaga vs. Duke (MSG)
December 21- Virginia Tech vs. Seton Hall (MSG)
December 21- Pittsburgh at Oklahoma State
December 23- Ohio State at Florida
December 23- Boston College at Kansas
December 23- Michigan at UCLA
December 23- Texas at Tennessee

January
January 3- Gonzaga at Virginia
January 3- Kansas State at Xavier
January 6- Connecticut at LSU
January 13- Tennessee at Ohio State
January 20- Texas at Villanova (Wachovia)
January 20- Indiana at Connecticut
January 27- North Carolina at Arizona

February
February 11- Connecticut at Georgia Tech
February 17- Washington at Pittsburgh
February 17- Memphis at Gonzaga

I'm sure more great games will spring up as the season progresses. Looking at that list, I can't wait for this year to start. Very promising for my Irish.....

Preseason Top 10 Centers

1. Tyler Hansbrough- North Carolina (18.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.3 APG)
Tyler played the role of Super Frosh for the Heels surprising season in 05-06, scoring in double digits in all but one game. His relentless efforts on the offensive and defensive glass gives Hansbrough many easy buckets, and his attacks to the basket are rarely halted. He can also step outside and drain the mid-range shot. Look for Tyler’s numbers to stay around the same for 06-07 with all the talent surrounding him improving and the outstanding recruiting class.

2. Glen Davis- LSU (18.6 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.4 APG)
Big Baby shed 40 pounds during the off-season to make up for his tiring problem that was evident during the Final Four. This year, Davis will go strong the entire season and continue to dominate the paint for LSU. His unique physical strength make defending Davis practically impossible. The wingspan and shooting ability is not exceptional, but uses his body so well down low he can still put up 25 any time out.

3. Joakim Noah- Florida (14.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.1 APG)
Along with his teammates, it was well publicized that Noah decided to stay in school, even with rumors surfacing he could have been chosen #1 overall. I find that a bit ridiculous given that Noah still has some holes in his game and seemed to peak just at the right moment while the hype hadn’t cleared from the Final Four. Don’t get me wrong, Noah is a tremendous player for Florida. His fierce, passionate intensity seems to make Noah better- and his ability to create certain shots, or passes, are unparalleled in the college game today.

4. Nick Fazekas- Nevada (21.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.1 APG)
The statistics speak for themselves. Even if Fazekas shines with a lower profile team, there’s no doubt he will be a 1st or 2nd team All American this season. Nick shined with three games dropping more than 35 points, including 35 at Kansas early in the year. Unlike any of the previous big men, Fazekas can drain the three with absolute ease.

5. Aaron Gray- Pittsburgh (13.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.8 APG)
Pittsburgh all of a sudden becomes a national title threat with Gray back on the bench. Gray has improved drastically over the past couple of years to become, arguably, the best rebounder in the nation. His agility and athleticism are definitely in question, possibly the reason he pulled out of the draft, and the scoring needs a little touch. Still, Gray is a very complete player.

6. Joseph Jones- Texas A&M (15.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.5 APG)
The huge-framed Aggie never stops banging down low. He is a pure forward who contains superior athleticism for a guy with his weight. While he lacks that explosive move to the basket, Jones can muscle with the best in college basketball and is a solid NBA prospect.

7. Jermareo Davidson- Alabama (14.3 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.2 APG)
Davidson, along with Steele and Hendrix, make a dynamic trio for Mark Gottfried this season. Davidson might be the best of the bunch- a ferocious shot blocker and rebounding talent who loves to mix in the jump hook with his already complete game on the defensive end. The offensive capabilities are limited, but did get better as the season progressed. He needs to add muscle.

8. Roy Hibbert- Georgetown (11.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.3 APG)
Hibbert is still developing. His post moves have improved during his tenure at Georgetown. The rebounding and shot-blocking, vital for a true center, are strengths. He’s also, surprisingly, a great free throw shooter. Hibbert just needs to become a better decision maker and not fade out in certain games.

9. Randolph Morris- Kentucky (13.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 0.3 APG)
After returning to the court for Kentucky, Morris was anything but spectacular. Still, he had some potent games offensively- 20 and 22 in two meetings vs. Tennessee. Morris can be dominating if he really sets his mind to it and stops becoming lazy- he’s got a remarkable jump hook and tremendous rebounding abilities. His moves around the hoop are also very good.

10. Josh McRoberts- Duke (8.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 APG)
Duke is now Josh McRoberts’ team. He shied away from scoring in bunches last year with Redick and Williams, but will now get the chance to score 25-30 on occasion. He contains a jumper that extends pretty deep and the best footwork in the post of any freshman in the country. Finishes with easy buckets very frequently, as well.

Preseason Top 10 Power Forwards

1. Al Thornton- Florida State (16.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.2 APG)
If anyone knows the undeniable talent of Al Thornton, it’s me. I saw him drop 37 on BC on 15-of-18 shooting in the most dominating performance I’ve ever seen live of any college player. Not only did Thornton never miss, I don’t think he scraped the rim. Then in a few weeks, he goes nuts on Duke for 37 on 32 shot attempts. Thornton has a great chance to be the scoring champion in America this season.

2. Jeff Green- Georgetown (11.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.3 APG)
Maybe the most complete player in the Big East. Even if Green doesn’t put up scoring numbers in bunches, his decision making, passing ability and rebounding efforts are extremely important to the Hoyas. He’s an Al Harrington-type forward with great versatility. Green really stepped up his game last season in the big upset over Duke.

3. Al Horford- Florida (11.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.0 APG)
By far the most consistent player on the Gators. He’ll rarely go out and control the tempo of the game, but he’s always reliable for 13 points each and every outing. Even if Chad Ford projected Horford as a lottery pick, he needed to return to school to perfect his post game and kick up the scoring a notch, even if it’s tough with this loaded Gators team.

4. D.J. White- Indiana (9.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.0 APG)
White is a quality post presence who has the strength to score muscling down low, or play face-up and nail a mid-range jumper. The knock on White is that he needs to be more assertive. I can see him proving critics wrong as the leader of an Indiana team looking to rekindle old success.

5. Carl Landry- Purdue (15.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.0 APG)
Landry scored 35 points early in the year but went down with an injured knee, nailing the coffin on an already failing Purdue season. Now Landry is back as a possible candidate for All Big-Ten. Back in his junior season, Landry was second in the conference in FG percentage and scoring. Now that he’s healthy, look for a big year from Carl.

6. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute- UCLA (9.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.3 APG)
We can all credit Luc for the moment when Gus Johnson’s head exploded after his winning shot vs. Gonzaga. This Cameroon native can play the small forward because of his quickness and his surprisingly accurate shooting stroke. He has the tools to become a versatile, athletic power forward for UCLA in a Luol Deng mold, or a wing player in the NBA if his shooting gets even better.

7. Lamont Hamilton- St. John’s (12.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.1 APG)
Hamilton shone last year in his 24-point effort in a 55-50 win over Pittsburgh, but is overall very reliable for double digits every time out. St. John’s could be a national sleeper this season and Hamilton will be a big reason for their success. He has the size to take over a game, but the scoring premise needs to improve slightly.

8. Jeff Adrien- Connecticut (6.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.5 APG)
With the completely new look for Uconn, Adrien and A.J. Price are all of a sudden responsible for carrying the scoring load, with the help of five-star freshmen of course. Adrien had his best game in the losing effort to George Mason with 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting, mixing in some jumpers while also creating his own shots closer to the basket. This Brookline native may burst onto the national scene.

9. Richard Hendrix- Alabama (9.4 PPG, 8.0 RPG. 0.8 APG)
Hendrix was hugely recruited out of high school and ultimately decided to stay local. Good decision. Along with Steele and Davidson, Alabama is a real threat. I can see Hendrix blossoming into one of the top forwards in the country by his junior year. Along with a great last name, Hendrix can block shots with ease and score down low on bigger opponents.

10. Julian Wright- Kansas (8.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.8 APG)
Often compared to the NBA’s Boris Diaw, which is an excellent comparison for the game of Wright. He is the best passer on the Kansas team with his long arms and tremendous athleticism. Wright has all of the attributes to become a golden talent on the college basketball map, but the jump shot has to improve.

Preseason Top 10 Small Forwards

1. Alando Tucker- Wisconsin (19.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.7 APG)
Tucker has the size of an NBA shooting guard, but will play the small forward position on a Wisconsin team loaded with guard talent. Tucker has shown inconsistency with his shot, but always seems to end up with 20 points and 5 boards every night. He has exceptional athleticism, driving ability and would win defensive player of the year in the Big Ten, if there was one.

2. Jared Dudley- Boston College (16.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.2 APG)
Unflappable, consistent, dependable- all attributes you can associate with Jared Dudley. Dudley shined at BC right from the beginning, showing his ability to nail the long ball, while also hitting the boards when his jumper wasn’t 100%. While his rebounding numbers were slightly down from 04-05, he should be much more involved with Craig Smith’s graduation. Dudley will be the go-to scorer for BC, an honor he richly deserves.

3. Curtis Sumpter- Villanova (15.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.0 APG)
Villanova might have won the national championship with a post presence like Sumpter for the season, but unfortunately he was lost with a devastating injury. Now that Sumpter is healthy, look for him to take it out on the Big East, where he may average a double-double during conference play. Sumpter has incredible size and good athleticism, along with an aggressive style, that gets him many easy buckets.

4. Brandon Rush- Kansas (13.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.0 APG)
Rush led Kansas in points and rebounding last season. This might mean a Big 12 player of the year award for Brandon this March. Rush is a perfect NBA prospect with tremendous athleticism who can score from any spot on the floor. The defense is shaky but improving.

5. Corey Brewer- Florida (12.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.3 APG)
This defensive specialist was the unsung key to success for the Gators last year. His presence makes the Gators defense mobbing and relentless. Brewer also has a decent trigger and has shown sparks of toughness on the boards, but is a little undersized. His defense is NBA-ready, but not the offense quite yet.

6. Adam Haluska- Iowa (13.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.3 APG)
We saw Haluska disappear at certain points in big games, but overall put together a quality conference season for Steve Alford. Now he has to put up 19-20 a game for Iowa to be true contenders for the Big 10. He’s the best shooter on the team and arguably the best in the conference, plus he can drain on the move, coming off a pick, or from way downtown.

7. Marcus Williams- Arizona (13.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 APG)
Struggled mightily at the beginning of the season to get fully involved in the Arizona offense, but found some shots and finished with 24 vs. Villanova. In the Pac-10 tourney, he scorched UCLA for 25 on 9 of 19. This super sophomore has great range and ball-handling ability, but seems to lack on the defensive end and becomes lazy. He also needs to improve on free throws.

8. Tasmin Mitchell- LSU (11.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.8 APG)
People forget about Mitchell because of his complete and utter disappearance in the NCAA tournament and down the stretch last year, but this kid can play. Mitchell is a very solid rebounder who seems to hit the boards or make the key pass when his shot is struggling.

9. Malik Hairston- Oregon (15.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.2 APG)
For a bulky forward, Hairston loves to show off his impressive outside shot. He is an excellent catch-and-shoot athlete on a below average Oregon team, so he needs to carry the load. The rebounding numbers surely need to go up, and his passing skill is nothing to brag about.

10. Reyshawn Terry- North Carolina (14.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.4 APG)
You’ll most likely see Terry’s numbers go south this season with more scoring help in Chapel Hill. Still, Terry can sometimes be unconscious from the floor and go on huge scoring streaks. Roy Williams hopes those streaks come in bigger games in 06-07. Terry is also a very prolific rebounder.

Preseason Top 10 Shooting Guards

1. Arron Afflalo- UCLA (15.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 APG)
Afflalo is college basketball’s best mid-range shooter, and remarkably, he almost never forces up a bad shot or makes a poor decision on the court. One of the smartest players in the Pac-10, who is known to be clutch and wants to take the big shot.

2. Chris Lofton- Tennessee (17.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.9 APG)
Lofton can flat-out stroke the ball. 29 points vs. Florida and 31 @ Kentucky last season shows he won’t shy away from the spotlight. Will be Tennessee’s go-to guy for all the big shots this year.

3. Brandon Heath- San Diego State (18.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.5 APG)
Brandon could very well be a late first round pick in the upcoming draft with a polished year. With Marcus Slaughter’s departure, it will be Heath’s team to lead back to the tournament. Heath scored in double digits in every game last season, including 33 of the team’s 72 points vs. New Mexico.

4. Richard Roby, Colorado (17.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 APG)
Roby tested the NBA draft waters but made the right move by returning for his senior season. Roby is already a tough rebounder and will perfect his game at Boulder before NBA scouts drool over his fluid athletic abilities and smooth offensive game. Roby can create shots off the dribble or use his muscle to finish under the basket.

5. Sammy Mejia- DePaul (15.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.5 APG)
Straight out of the Bronx, Mejia has proved from Day 1 he is the centerpiece of a DePaul team on the rise. The expectations this season for the Blue Demons is an NCAA tournament birth, and Mejia is a likely candidate to make the All-Big East team and lead them to the promised land.

6. J.R. Reynolds- Virginia (17.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.1 APG)
Forget about Singletary, J.R. Reynolds may be the best Virginia guard. If the Cavs get any frontcourt production, they might finish in the top 3 in the conference. Reynolds’ sharp shooting ability will give ACC head coaches nightmares all season.

7. Nate Funk- Creighton (17.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.3 APG)
Remember this guy? Funk missed most of last season with an injury, the only reason he is this low on this list. We need to see Funk bounce back strong because an NCAA tournament birth is not out of the question for Creighton. Funk is a prototype of Kyle Korver in their shooting skill.

8. Mario Chalmers-Kansas (11.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.8 APG)
Once Bill Self got Chalmers more involved with the offense, the Jayhawks excelled. This speedy guard will do a tremendous job of setting up the right shots for an immensely talented Kansas group.

9. Eric Devendorf- Syracuse (12.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.3 APG)
An All Big-East freshman team member last season, Devendorf is mostly known for his game-winning layup against Georgetown in the BE Tourney. He was huge to McNamara’s success last season after he moved to point guard, proving capable of playing the position.

10. Blake Ahearn, Missouri State (16.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.5 APG)
The J.J. Redick of the MVC for 06-07. Ahearn never misses a free throw (93.6) and has shown some lethal three point range for Missouri State.

Preseason Top 10 Point Guards

1. Jarrius Jackson- Texas Tech (20.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.9 APG)
My POY sleeper will need to step up his game in a big way for the Red Raiders to make the NCAA tournament. There’s no doubt Jackson has matured into one of the fiercest scorers in the country. Don’t be surprised if his already gaudy scoring average moves up 5-6 points this year.

2. Ronald Steele- Alabama (14.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.3 APG)
Following Chuck Davis’ injury, Steele stepped in as the score-first star for Alabama. While he still loves to pass, he’s the number one scoring threat in the SEC and will surely be looking for revenge following his missed chances vs. UCLA in last years tournament.

3. Dominic James- Marquette (15.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.4 APG)
Even if James was highly touted coming out of high school, nobody expected him to emerge as the key to Marquette’s success in 2005-06. Novak was the shooter, but James always made sure he got the ball. Maybe the best penetrator in all of college hoops.

4. Acie Law- Texas A&M (16.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.0 APG)
The Aggies program is on the rise in a big way. While the recruiting classes continue to improve for the future, Law is dominating the present. He is the unspoken leader of a Texas A&M team with nationally televised games and more attention than ever before.

5. Sean Singletary- Virginia (17.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.2 APG)
I still see Singletary and the Cavaliers in my dreams after they torched BC last season. Now Sean could replace Redick as the ACC’s most feared three-point threat.

6. Jamar Butler- Ohio State (10.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.6 APG)
Butler really developed into a top-flight point guard for Thad Matta in 05-06. Some turnover and shooting habits need perfecting, but Butler is a fine player to lead a talented OSU team.

7. Mustafa Shakur- Arizona (11.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.7 APG)
Shakur still has yet to show the nation the hype was for real. Olsen needs him to mold into not only the team leader at the PG position, but a non-stop scoring threat. The assist totals for Shakur last season are encouraging.

8. Kammron Taylor- Wisconsin (14.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.4 APG)
The shot selection could improve. Yet, Taylor still managed to drop 14 a game for the Badgers. With players like Tucker and Butch going to the next level this season, don’t let his low assist number fool you. It will surely improve for this upcoming season.

9. Taurean Green- Florida (13.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.7 APG)
With all of the weapons in Florida’s artillery, Green could realistically lead the nation in APG in 05-06. He was basically awful from the field against UCLA, and the shooting definitely needs improvement.

10. Greg Paulus- Duke (6.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 5.2 APG)
You know Paulus will be well-prepared to excel at the PG role, because frosh Gerald Henderson might fight for valuable playing time. At times, some of Paulus’ passes looked puzzling and cost Duke valuable possessions, but at other points he showed his superior court vision and potential for stardom.

Top Freshman: Tywon Lawson, North Carolina

2006-07 College Basketball Preview

On November 7, another season of college basketball will be upon us. With the Democrats taking back Congress (hopefully) and the first jumpball of the new season, it should be a great night. Here is the upcoming schedule as the three losers here preview College Hoops 2006-2007.

September 20th-25th- National Position Rankings by Zach
October 1st- Key Non-Conference Games To Watch by Billy
October 4th- SEC Preview by Billy
October 7th- Big 10 Preview by Zach
October 11th- Pac-10 Preview by Billy
October 14th- Big 12 Preview by Zach
October 21st- November 5th- Big East Preview by Brian
October 24th- Mid-Major Conference Champs by Billy
October 25th- November 5th- ACC Preview by Zach
November 6th- All-American Awards by Zach/Brian/Billy
November 7th- Final Preseason Top 25 by Brian

More posts with news/predictions may be coming as well.

Are you ready?

Are you ready?

Now You Know Why I Hate Duke

I was looking at Duke's basketball schedule today and came across these outrageous numbers reminiscent of last season:

Duke plays 31 regular season games this season (assuming they reach the final of the CBE classic)

- 3 of these games are on CBS (vs. GT, @SJU, @UNC)
- 1 game is on ABC (@NCST...not a joke)
- an astounding 12 games on ESPN including Kent State, Virginia and Clemson TWICE
- up to 7 games on ESPN2 including Georgia Southern/UC Davis, Holy Cross and Temple
- 5 nationally televised games on FSN including San Jose State
- 1 game on ESPNU.....freaking Columbia

That leaves 2 games. UNC Greensboro and Davidson (FSN South). And this doesn't even include the ACC tournament.

This makes me angry.