Well Thanksgiving is next week which means that all across the country preseason tournaments are in full swing. With that in mind here is a look at some of tonight's most intriguing match ups.
Illinois-Chicago vs. Winthrop
I love mid-major basketball, and this pairing of the Big South against the Horizon League should make for a great game. Winthrop has had a strangle hold on their conference for years, and are led by a trio of seniors, including tiny guard Chris Gaynor who put up 17 points in the Eagles season opening win over Queens NC.
Illinois-Chicago is going to be fun to watch this season due in large part to another guard, Josh Mayo. The 5'10" senior has averages of 23.5 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in his first two games. His 34 point performance on 11-17 shooting against Bradley was very impressive as the Flames won their season opener.
#18 Arkansas vs. Providence
The Razorbacks have had a an easy time to start the season, winning their first two games over Wofford and the College of Charleston by 22 and 27 points respectively. Dynamic sophomore guard Patrick Beverley has picked up where he left off last season, posting averages of 15.5 points and 6 rebounds in his first two games. Senior Steven Hill has not been seeing much time in the post after many thought he would make the leap from role player to impact player this season.
The Friars escaped with a 66-64 win over Temple yesterday, and without a ton of talented size, they will likely struggle with Arkansas.
Gardner-Webb vs. Oklahoma
Could the Runnin' Bulldogs pick up another win against a BCS conference team? Don't count out the possibility. Despite dropping their first game of the season to UConn last night 78-66, Gardner-Webb has still be getting great production out of their top players. Sophomore Grayson Flittner has impressed, putting up 18 points per game in his first four contests, while undersized senior forward Thomas Sanders has been a monster, averaging 18 points and nearly 12 rebounds thus far.
The Sooners however did look solid in a 10 point loss to Memphis last night. If Oklahoma can slow down the pace of the game they should be able to hold off the 'Dogs.
#3 Memphis vs. UConn
This is the marquee game for Friday night. The Tigers have looked every bit a national title contender thus far thanks to stellar play by freshman phenom Derrick Rose and backcourt running mate Chris Douglas-Roberts. Of course the fact that Joey Dorsey has been a man possessed on the boards doesn't hurt matters either.
After struggling with Morgan State on opening night, the Huskies have picked up their play in their next two games. Jerome Dyson and A.J. Price have been pacing UConn in the backcourt, while junior Jeff Adrien has been averaging close to a double-double inside. A big key in this one will be the play of 7'3" Hasheem Thabeet who certainly has the capability of slowing down Memphis's frontcourt, but it wont be easy.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Opening Week Wrap Up
Rejoice, the college basketball season is officially underway. The first week was highlighted by a couple of big upsets and the arrival of several heralded freshman. Here's a look at some of the big stories from the season's opening.
Gardner-Webb Who?
New Kentucky head coach Billy Gillispie certainly didn't anticipate his second career game in blue to pan out like this. Unranked Gardner-Webb out of the Atlantic Sun Conference shocked the 22nd ranked Wildcats 84-68 in front of a sold out crowd of Kentucky faithful. Despite a solid 12-point 12-rebound performance from blue chip freshman forward Patrick Patterson, Kentucky shot a paltry 35.5% from the floor and were outrebounded 36-28. The Runnin' Bulldogs however had no trouble finding the basket, shooting 53% from the field, and seeing four starters reach double figures in scoring.
This by no means sinks Kentucky, it just was an unexpected upset, and not a solid way for Gillispie to begin his coaching career in the bluegrass state. For Gardner-Webb though this is the kind of win that can make a season. Now this isn't to say that they are going to run away with their conference and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in March; of course the chances of them making the tournament as an at-large bid is small too. At the end of the season though, having a signature win like Kentucky on your resume is never a bad thing for a mid-major team.
Other Early Season Upsets of Note
O.J. Mayo had his college debut spoiled by Mercer who shocked #18 USC in the Trojans season opener. The Bears could not have been hotter, hitting on nearly 60% of their shots, and were led by sophomore guard James Florence who poured in 30 points, despite shooting just 2-9 from beyond the arc. This loss drops USC coach Tim Floyd's opening game record with USC to 0-3.
A couple of lesser upsets were UNC-Greensboro's 83-74 win on the road at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets obviously lost a lot with the early departures of Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton, but the team still has a decent amount of talent, including guard Anthony Morrow who put up a 23-point performance in the loss. Greensboro's senior forward Kyle Hines was by far the best player on the court though. The 6'6" bruiser posted 25 points and 9 rebounds in leading all players in scoring.
Freshman Make Early Statements
Entering the season there were those who though this year's crop of freshman could be deeper and more talented than last years group which produced Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. Well, so far so good. Here's a look at the stat lines thus far of some of the most heralded freshman in the country.
Kevin Love (UCLA) - 22 points, 13 rebounds vs. Portland St
Michael Beasley (Kansas St) - 32 points, 24 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks vs. Sacramento St
Derrick Rose (Memphis) - 2 game averages: 19 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3 assists
O.J. Mayo (USC) - 32 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Mercer
Nick Calathes (Florida) - 21 points, 3 assists vs. North Dakota St
Gardner-Webb Who?
New Kentucky head coach Billy Gillispie certainly didn't anticipate his second career game in blue to pan out like this. Unranked Gardner-Webb out of the Atlantic Sun Conference shocked the 22nd ranked Wildcats 84-68 in front of a sold out crowd of Kentucky faithful. Despite a solid 12-point 12-rebound performance from blue chip freshman forward Patrick Patterson, Kentucky shot a paltry 35.5% from the floor and were outrebounded 36-28. The Runnin' Bulldogs however had no trouble finding the basket, shooting 53% from the field, and seeing four starters reach double figures in scoring.
This by no means sinks Kentucky, it just was an unexpected upset, and not a solid way for Gillispie to begin his coaching career in the bluegrass state. For Gardner-Webb though this is the kind of win that can make a season. Now this isn't to say that they are going to run away with their conference and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in March; of course the chances of them making the tournament as an at-large bid is small too. At the end of the season though, having a signature win like Kentucky on your resume is never a bad thing for a mid-major team.
Other Early Season Upsets of Note
O.J. Mayo had his college debut spoiled by Mercer who shocked #18 USC in the Trojans season opener. The Bears could not have been hotter, hitting on nearly 60% of their shots, and were led by sophomore guard James Florence who poured in 30 points, despite shooting just 2-9 from beyond the arc. This loss drops USC coach Tim Floyd's opening game record with USC to 0-3.
A couple of lesser upsets were UNC-Greensboro's 83-74 win on the road at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets obviously lost a lot with the early departures of Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton, but the team still has a decent amount of talent, including guard Anthony Morrow who put up a 23-point performance in the loss. Greensboro's senior forward Kyle Hines was by far the best player on the court though. The 6'6" bruiser posted 25 points and 9 rebounds in leading all players in scoring.
Freshman Make Early Statements
Entering the season there were those who though this year's crop of freshman could be deeper and more talented than last years group which produced Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. Well, so far so good. Here's a look at the stat lines thus far of some of the most heralded freshman in the country.
Kevin Love (UCLA) - 22 points, 13 rebounds vs. Portland St
Michael Beasley (Kansas St) - 32 points, 24 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks vs. Sacramento St
Derrick Rose (Memphis) - 2 game averages: 19 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3 assists
O.J. Mayo (USC) - 32 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Mercer
Nick Calathes (Florida) - 21 points, 3 assists vs. North Dakota St
Sunday, November 4, 2007
All-American Selections
With the season just a couple of weeks away, and preaseason action already underway, I felt it was time to unveil my All-American selections for the upcoming year. So without further wait, here they are.
Darren Collison - UCLA - Junior
There may not be a faster player in the entire country than Collison. The Bruin point guard brings so much to the table on both sides of the ball. He has proven to be an effective scorer, able to penetrate the lane and light it up from beyond the arc (44.7% shooting last year). More than simply a scorer though, Collison has tremendous court vision and with his stellar first step is able to draw and kick to open teammates, to the tune of nearly 6 assists per game last season.
Defense is where Collison steps up a level though from good player to All-American. He may be the best perimeter defender in the country. He led the Pac-10 last year with 2.2 steals per game thanks to his quickness and phenominal anticipation. With Collison at the helm this season, UCLA is primed for another Final Four run.
Chris Lofton - Tennessee - Senior
How happy were Vol fans when Lofton decided to put the NBA on hold for one more year? They were thrilled. One of the best pure shooters at the college level, the reigning SEC player of the year will bring his 20.8 points of scoring back to Tennessee this season, along with his veteran leadership.
Behind Lofton and a roster filled with talent, Tennessee is the early favorite in the SEC this season, and should be near the top of the polls for most of the year.
Chase Budinger - Arizona - Sophomore
The youngest player on my list, Budinger is a physically gifted player with plenty of talent. The first thing that jumps out about the sophomore's game is his tremendous athleticism. Budinger has great leaping ability and is very quick with the basketball. Those abilities translated into nearly 16 points and 6 rebounds as a freshman. With the departure of Ivan Radenovich and Marcus Williams, Budinger will likely be the focal point of the Wildcat offense along with highly touted freshman guard Jerryd Bayless.
Tyler Hansbrough - North Carolina - Junior
In Hansbrough you are looking at the clear preseason favorite for national player of the year. There is no player that works harder throughout the course of a game, and there may be no post player more polished than him. Despite not being an off the chart athlete, Hansbrough still posted averages of 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds in leading the Tar Heels to the elite eight. With plenty of talent back, and another year of experience under his belt, Hansbrough could be hoisting a national championship trophy in March.
Roy Hibbert - Georgetown - Senior
Teams will be hard pressed this season to physically match up with the massive Hibbert who measures out at 7'2" 278 pounds. The senior showed a lot of improvement over the course of last season, and now that teammate Jeff Green has moved on to the NBA, the Hoyas will look to Hibber to lead the way. In order to do that he will have to improve his numbers of 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds last season, but he certainly has the ability to do so. A strong season could land Hibbert in the lottery come draft day in June.
Darren Collison - UCLA - Junior
There may not be a faster player in the entire country than Collison. The Bruin point guard brings so much to the table on both sides of the ball. He has proven to be an effective scorer, able to penetrate the lane and light it up from beyond the arc (44.7% shooting last year). More than simply a scorer though, Collison has tremendous court vision and with his stellar first step is able to draw and kick to open teammates, to the tune of nearly 6 assists per game last season.
Defense is where Collison steps up a level though from good player to All-American. He may be the best perimeter defender in the country. He led the Pac-10 last year with 2.2 steals per game thanks to his quickness and phenominal anticipation. With Collison at the helm this season, UCLA is primed for another Final Four run.
Chris Lofton - Tennessee - Senior
How happy were Vol fans when Lofton decided to put the NBA on hold for one more year? They were thrilled. One of the best pure shooters at the college level, the reigning SEC player of the year will bring his 20.8 points of scoring back to Tennessee this season, along with his veteran leadership.
Behind Lofton and a roster filled with talent, Tennessee is the early favorite in the SEC this season, and should be near the top of the polls for most of the year.
Chase Budinger - Arizona - Sophomore
The youngest player on my list, Budinger is a physically gifted player with plenty of talent. The first thing that jumps out about the sophomore's game is his tremendous athleticism. Budinger has great leaping ability and is very quick with the basketball. Those abilities translated into nearly 16 points and 6 rebounds as a freshman. With the departure of Ivan Radenovich and Marcus Williams, Budinger will likely be the focal point of the Wildcat offense along with highly touted freshman guard Jerryd Bayless.
Tyler Hansbrough - North Carolina - Junior
In Hansbrough you are looking at the clear preseason favorite for national player of the year. There is no player that works harder throughout the course of a game, and there may be no post player more polished than him. Despite not being an off the chart athlete, Hansbrough still posted averages of 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds in leading the Tar Heels to the elite eight. With plenty of talent back, and another year of experience under his belt, Hansbrough could be hoisting a national championship trophy in March.
Roy Hibbert - Georgetown - Senior
Teams will be hard pressed this season to physically match up with the massive Hibbert who measures out at 7'2" 278 pounds. The senior showed a lot of improvement over the course of last season, and now that teammate Jeff Green has moved on to the NBA, the Hoyas will look to Hibber to lead the way. In order to do that he will have to improve his numbers of 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds last season, but he certainly has the ability to do so. A strong season could land Hibbert in the lottery come draft day in June.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Let the Madness Begin: Part 2
Hey everyone. So we're one week closer to tip-off time which means it's time to pick up where I left off last week and finish the ABC's of college basketball this season. So without further delay....
N is for...New Mexico State. The team with the best chance of knocking Nevada off from their pedestal at the top of the WAC. Last season's conference tournament MVP Justin Hawkins (15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds) will lead a hungry Aggies team that will continue to make some noise this year.
O is for...O.J. Mayo. After all the years of hype he has finally reached college. Mayo will make an immediate impact at USC and could already be the team's best player. It will certainly be exciting to see him in action and see what he can do against college players. Don't be shocked if and when he bolts after his freshman season though.
P is for...Parity. That's the direction the college game is continuing to move towards. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in the recruiting game where big time schools like Duke, who used to be guarenteed a fresh batch of McDonald's All-Americans every season, are now losing players to schools not as traditionally rich in basketball history.
Q is for...Quaintance. As in Haminn and Rob Quaintance. Not related, actually from opposite sides of the country (Florida and Arizona), but what are the odds that two players would share a same last name as obscure as that?
R is for...Rhode Island. The Rams surprised a lot of people by challenging in the Atlantic 10 last year, this year though URI wont be able to sneak up on anyone in conference play. Rhode Island returns ten players from last year's squad, including senior forward Will Daniels (17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds) who will challenge for conference player of the year honors.
S is for...Saint Louis. Why you ask? Because Rick Majerus is back where he should be, on the bench coaching. It will be a lot of fun to see what the former Utah coach can do in his first season with the Bilikens.
T is for...Trouble. If Louisville's Derrick Character can stay out of any off the court issues this year, he has the chance to emerge as one of the brightest starts in the Big East this season.
U is for...University policy. This is something that Pepperdine's Kingsley Costain apparently wasn't aware of when he broke the policy and was kicked off the team. Pepperdine will be hurting as Costain was the team's top returning scorer from last season.
V is for...Victory. As in a national championship victory. Something that fans in North Carolina are dying for and wont accept anything less.
W is for...Washington State. The Cougars aren't a secret any longer. After being picked for dead last in the Pac-10, Washington State shocked the nation by posting a 26-8 record and earning a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With most of last year's team back, expect another big year out west.
X is for...Jeff Xavier. The junior guard from Providence is the only player in D-1 basketball with a last name starting with X.
Y is for...Young talent. In the second year of the NBA's policy that players must play one year of college basketball before declaring for the draft, it will be another season of underclassmen having a major impact on the game, and in many cases dominating them.
Z is for...Brian Zoubek. With Josh McRoberts a Trailblazer now, the 7'1" prospect out of New Jersey will get a chance to show his stuff for Duke, who will need him to be an impact player in the tough ACC this season.
N is for...New Mexico State. The team with the best chance of knocking Nevada off from their pedestal at the top of the WAC. Last season's conference tournament MVP Justin Hawkins (15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds) will lead a hungry Aggies team that will continue to make some noise this year.
O is for...O.J. Mayo. After all the years of hype he has finally reached college. Mayo will make an immediate impact at USC and could already be the team's best player. It will certainly be exciting to see him in action and see what he can do against college players. Don't be shocked if and when he bolts after his freshman season though.
P is for...Parity. That's the direction the college game is continuing to move towards. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in the recruiting game where big time schools like Duke, who used to be guarenteed a fresh batch of McDonald's All-Americans every season, are now losing players to schools not as traditionally rich in basketball history.
Q is for...Quaintance. As in Haminn and Rob Quaintance. Not related, actually from opposite sides of the country (Florida and Arizona), but what are the odds that two players would share a same last name as obscure as that?
R is for...Rhode Island. The Rams surprised a lot of people by challenging in the Atlantic 10 last year, this year though URI wont be able to sneak up on anyone in conference play. Rhode Island returns ten players from last year's squad, including senior forward Will Daniels (17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds) who will challenge for conference player of the year honors.
S is for...Saint Louis. Why you ask? Because Rick Majerus is back where he should be, on the bench coaching. It will be a lot of fun to see what the former Utah coach can do in his first season with the Bilikens.
T is for...Trouble. If Louisville's Derrick Character can stay out of any off the court issues this year, he has the chance to emerge as one of the brightest starts in the Big East this season.
U is for...University policy. This is something that Pepperdine's Kingsley Costain apparently wasn't aware of when he broke the policy and was kicked off the team. Pepperdine will be hurting as Costain was the team's top returning scorer from last season.
V is for...Victory. As in a national championship victory. Something that fans in North Carolina are dying for and wont accept anything less.
W is for...Washington State. The Cougars aren't a secret any longer. After being picked for dead last in the Pac-10, Washington State shocked the nation by posting a 26-8 record and earning a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With most of last year's team back, expect another big year out west.
X is for...Jeff Xavier. The junior guard from Providence is the only player in D-1 basketball with a last name starting with X.
Y is for...Young talent. In the second year of the NBA's policy that players must play one year of college basketball before declaring for the draft, it will be another season of underclassmen having a major impact on the game, and in many cases dominating them.
Z is for...Brian Zoubek. With Josh McRoberts a Trailblazer now, the 7'1" prospect out of New Jersey will get a chance to show his stuff for Duke, who will need him to be an impact player in the tough ACC this season.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Let the Madness Begin: Part 1
All across the country tonight basketball teams will partaking in their first official practices of the season. What used to be known as Midnight Madness has changed in recent years in order to have college students in bed earlier so they can do homework (please), but the tradition and excitement of the event is still the same for hoops fanatics everywhere. In honor of the official start of the season, I have compiled an ABC's of college basketball. Here's to the new season!
A is for...ACC. Many are questioning the depth of the conference this season, with North Carolina likely as the only sure thing. This is still going to be a dangerous conference with teams like NC State, Duke, and a slew of other talented programs that could make some noise on the national scene this year.
B is for...Billy Gillispie. Kentucky is absolutely in love with their new head coach, and when practice kicks off tonight at 7 in Wildcat country, the Gillispie era will begin with plenty of anticipation.
C is for...California hoops. UCLA and USC will clearly be making plenty of noise this season. With the addition of Kevin Love at center, the Bruins could very well be primed to make a third straight Final Four appearence and contend for a national title. The Trojans will have a slew of young talent as well, lead by heralded freshman O.J. Mayo.
D is for...DeAndre Jordan. The 7-footer will make an immediate impact at Texas A&M. Rated as the second best center in his class by Rivals, Jordan is a physical talent that gave the Aggies a real scare when he thought about withdrawing his commitment after coach Billy Gillispie left to take the Kentucky job.
E is for...Early season matchups. Here's a list of some of the top games before New Years: Georgetown vs. Memphis (Dec 22), Texas vs. Michigan St (Dec 22), Marquette vs. Wisconsin (Dec 8), North Carolina vs Ohio State (Nov 29), Arizona vs. Kansas (Nov 25), North Carolina St vs. Michigan St (Nov 28), Indiana vs. Southern Illinois (Dec 1)
F is for...Foul language. The NCAA has stated it will crack down on coaches swearing during games this season. Four letter words or stepping out onto the court during a game could earn coaches a quick technical foul.
G is for...George Mason. Only two years removed from their magical final four run, everyone is still asking, who will be the next Mason?
H is for...Harris, Eugene. The former Florida State player and long time assistant coach for various schools got his first head coaching job just a couple of weeks ago when he was selected for the recently opened Florida A&M job.
I is for...Iona. After a miserable 2-28 season last year, the Gaels will return a more experienced roster and healthy roster, one that hopes to improve upon one win in the MAAC from last season.
J is for...Jump for joy! College basketball is back!
K is for...Kosta Koufos. How will Greg Oden's heir apparent fair? The NBA's #1 draft pick has said that he is impressed by the freshman's game.
L is for...Ashton Lawrence. Who is this you might ask? A reserve junior forward for Coastal Carolina, and this is probably the only time you will ever hear his name.
M is for...Maryland. How will Gary Williams and the Terps do with a roster that has just three seniors and seven freshman? The youngsters will have to grow up real quick in a tough ACC.
Stay tuned for part two next week!
A is for...ACC. Many are questioning the depth of the conference this season, with North Carolina likely as the only sure thing. This is still going to be a dangerous conference with teams like NC State, Duke, and a slew of other talented programs that could make some noise on the national scene this year.
B is for...Billy Gillispie. Kentucky is absolutely in love with their new head coach, and when practice kicks off tonight at 7 in Wildcat country, the Gillispie era will begin with plenty of anticipation.
C is for...California hoops. UCLA and USC will clearly be making plenty of noise this season. With the addition of Kevin Love at center, the Bruins could very well be primed to make a third straight Final Four appearence and contend for a national title. The Trojans will have a slew of young talent as well, lead by heralded freshman O.J. Mayo.
D is for...DeAndre Jordan. The 7-footer will make an immediate impact at Texas A&M. Rated as the second best center in his class by Rivals, Jordan is a physical talent that gave the Aggies a real scare when he thought about withdrawing his commitment after coach Billy Gillispie left to take the Kentucky job.
E is for...Early season matchups. Here's a list of some of the top games before New Years: Georgetown vs. Memphis (Dec 22), Texas vs. Michigan St (Dec 22), Marquette vs. Wisconsin (Dec 8), North Carolina vs Ohio State (Nov 29), Arizona vs. Kansas (Nov 25), North Carolina St vs. Michigan St (Nov 28), Indiana vs. Southern Illinois (Dec 1)
F is for...Foul language. The NCAA has stated it will crack down on coaches swearing during games this season. Four letter words or stepping out onto the court during a game could earn coaches a quick technical foul.
G is for...George Mason. Only two years removed from their magical final four run, everyone is still asking, who will be the next Mason?
H is for...Harris, Eugene. The former Florida State player and long time assistant coach for various schools got his first head coaching job just a couple of weeks ago when he was selected for the recently opened Florida A&M job.
I is for...Iona. After a miserable 2-28 season last year, the Gaels will return a more experienced roster and healthy roster, one that hopes to improve upon one win in the MAAC from last season.
J is for...Jump for joy! College basketball is back!
K is for...Kosta Koufos. How will Greg Oden's heir apparent fair? The NBA's #1 draft pick has said that he is impressed by the freshman's game.
L is for...Ashton Lawrence. Who is this you might ask? A reserve junior forward for Coastal Carolina, and this is probably the only time you will ever hear his name.
M is for...Maryland. How will Gary Williams and the Terps do with a roster that has just three seniors and seven freshman? The youngsters will have to grow up real quick in a tough ACC.
Stay tuned for part two next week!
Friday, October 5, 2007
Freshmen Preview
Year one of the NBA's new age restriction on the draft proved to be a massive success at the college level. A plethora of freshman had tremendous impacts across the country including the likes of Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Brandon Wright and Mike Conley Jr. With year two just a few weeks away, this crop of freshman, though they likely will not produce a player of Durant or Oden's caliber, should prove to have an immediate impact. Several of this year's newcomers have been receiving significant press even before they arrived at their respective campuses. With that said, here is a breakdown of some of this year's top incoming freshman.
Best Player
Michael Beasley - Kansas State
The Wildcats should be fun to watch when Beasley teams up with Bill Walker this season. Beasley brings the total package offensively. At 6'10" with a large frame, Beasley should have no problem asserting himself physically right away; there will be few players in the country that will be able to stop him from what he wants to do. The most intruiging part of his game though is the fact that Beasley is an inside and outside threat. He can post up and handle his own down low, and then step outside and attack from the perimeter. Don't be surprised if Beasley is the focal point of the Kansas State attack from day one.
Biggest Impact
Kevin Love - UCLA
Love was rated as the number one player in his class by several scouting services, but regardless of ranking, he could be the missing piece for UCLA's national title hopes. Love is already a very polished post presence and should fit right into the Bruin offense from day one. UCLA has had solid big men the last few years, but none of them have been of the same pedigree as Love.
Most Anticipated
O.J. Mayo - USC
After what seems like forever, Mayo has finally reached college. We first heard about him several years ago as the heir-apparent to Lebron James as the next high school phenom. Though things may have not completely gone as planned along the way for Mayo, he is still one of, if not potentially the best player in his class. A tremendously gifted player physically, Mayo possesses tremendous explosivness and scoring ability. Don't be surprised if he leads this year's class in scoring. Tim Floyd has gotten himself and the Trojans a player that could really put the program near the top of the AP rankings this year.
Best Playmaker
Derrek Rose - Memphis
What is the only thing scarier than having the top freshman point guard in the country flying down the court at you on a fast break? Surrounding that same point guard with the type of talent that the Tigers sport this season. Memphis pretty much their entire team from last season's 30-win club, and now add Chicago's finest in Rose. The Windy City native is a lightning fast getting up and down the floor, but the most dangerous part of his game is his already highly developed basketball IQ. Rose just has a knack for finding open players in transition, and that will fit in very well with John Calipari's offense.
Best Player
Michael Beasley - Kansas State
The Wildcats should be fun to watch when Beasley teams up with Bill Walker this season. Beasley brings the total package offensively. At 6'10" with a large frame, Beasley should have no problem asserting himself physically right away; there will be few players in the country that will be able to stop him from what he wants to do. The most intruiging part of his game though is the fact that Beasley is an inside and outside threat. He can post up and handle his own down low, and then step outside and attack from the perimeter. Don't be surprised if Beasley is the focal point of the Kansas State attack from day one.
Biggest Impact
Kevin Love - UCLA
Love was rated as the number one player in his class by several scouting services, but regardless of ranking, he could be the missing piece for UCLA's national title hopes. Love is already a very polished post presence and should fit right into the Bruin offense from day one. UCLA has had solid big men the last few years, but none of them have been of the same pedigree as Love.
Most Anticipated
O.J. Mayo - USC
After what seems like forever, Mayo has finally reached college. We first heard about him several years ago as the heir-apparent to Lebron James as the next high school phenom. Though things may have not completely gone as planned along the way for Mayo, he is still one of, if not potentially the best player in his class. A tremendously gifted player physically, Mayo possesses tremendous explosivness and scoring ability. Don't be surprised if he leads this year's class in scoring. Tim Floyd has gotten himself and the Trojans a player that could really put the program near the top of the AP rankings this year.
Best Playmaker
Derrek Rose - Memphis
What is the only thing scarier than having the top freshman point guard in the country flying down the court at you on a fast break? Surrounding that same point guard with the type of talent that the Tigers sport this season. Memphis pretty much their entire team from last season's 30-win club, and now add Chicago's finest in Rose. The Windy City native is a lightning fast getting up and down the floor, but the most dangerous part of his game is his already highly developed basketball IQ. Rose just has a knack for finding open players in transition, and that will fit in very well with John Calipari's offense.
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