College Basketball Thread 2007-2008

[$teauA]

Talk here about college basketball... so..
It's hard to believe Florida will have any real shot this season, so who will be top dog in college basketball come March?
Will the ACC once again destroy the Big Ten in the challenge (yes)?

All questions that the great basketball gurus of SG will answer and discuss intently in the following year.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

First of all, Wisconsin visits Cameron this year in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Finally. Of course I just found out that Michael Flowers (our defensive specialist and someone we really need this year because we are thin in the back court) is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence. Awesome!

Florida will suck, in fact I do not think they will make the Tournament. I think Tennessee, Kentucky, and MISSISSIPPI STATE will battle it out for the SEC Title. Memphis is the best team in the nation in my opinion, but North Carolina is awfully close. In fact, I might just be sticking with Memphis right now because that's what I determined as my top dog a month ago.

The Big Ten is going to be down quite a bit this year, and I think there's a major opportunity for Indiana freshman Eric Gordon to be the Big Ten Player of the Year, but he's really going to have to earn it. The media's wet dream is Drew Neitzel.

Pac 10 should be awesome with USC going against UCLA. Imagine if Nick Young stayed with the Trojans! Shouldn't matter though, they have a ton of talent and OJ Mayo. UCLA returns basically everybody significant (although no Afflalo) from last year plus Kevin Love.

ACC will be a pretty boring one sided affair for the Heels. Let's see how far Singletary will lead the Cavs.

Big East should be pretty awesome. I'm interested to see how UConn plays this year after a terrible season last year when they did not have a single upperclassman on the roster, but there's a lot of talent and Jim Calhoun is a great coach. Should be awesome to see Georgetown in action, but man that offense is boring. Marquette is going to live and die with the three. Pitt is going to be really down this year.

Big 12 won't be very good this year, but Kansas State should be really really fun to watch. Michael Beasley can't shoot like Kevin Durant, but he's probably going to be the most dominant freshman in the past 15 years not named Durant. If Bill Walker shows up in shape, K-State will be a force. Kansas, of course will be the top dog again. They return Collins, Robinson, Chalmers, Rush, Arthur, and Kaun, plus they get big man recruit Cole Aldridge.

As far as mid-majors go, there's obviously Memphis and Gonzaga who should be great this year. Zags didn't lose anyone (maybe Raivio, but he doesn't count), and I don't think Memphis did either (maybe Dozier, but he wasn't very good). Zags get Micah Downs in his first full season and Josh Heytvelt is back after getting suspended for possession of shrooms last year.

VCU should have a good season, but they won't rip through a very good Colonial Athletic. Unfortunately I think Winthrop lost just about everybody. I think Butler returns almost their entire core from their big year last season, so they should tear through the Horizon. Southern Illinois are always phenomenal, but don't pencil them in for 15/18 wins in the MVC, that's always a good conference. No team could really dominate it last year (except Salukis of course), despite a lot of huge wins at the beginning of the season.

Finally, of course is our favorite team here at SG, Davidson. They went 17-1 last year in Conference and 29-5 overall and honestly they'll be better. They didn't lose anyone, Curry is a year older, the SOCON is always awful, and they have only 4 games on the schedule that could pose a problem and the rest is cake. Check this out: Nov. 14 they open @ UNC, Dec. 1 @ Duke, and Dec. 8 @ UCLA. They also go play Alex's homies at Charlotte midweek between the Duke and UCLA games. If they can win one of those games (Charlotte not included here), they won't slip out of the top 25 all year, and frankly they could enter the Tournament as a Top 10.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Florida will lose to North Dakota State on November 9th.

 

[$teauA]

First of all, Wisconsin visits Cameron this year in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Finally. Of course I just found out that Michael Flowers (our defensive specialist and someone we really need this year because we are thin in the back court) is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence. Awesome!

Florida will suck, in fact I do not think they will make the Tournament. I think Tennessee, Kentucky, and MISSISSIPPI STATE will battle it out for the SEC Title. Memphis is the best team in the nation in my opinion, but North Carolina is awfully close. In fact, I might just be sticking with Memphis right now because that's what I determined as my top dog a month ago.

The Big Ten is going to be down quite a bit this year, and I think there's a major opportunity for Indiana freshman Eric Gordon to be the Big Ten Player of the Year, but he's really going to have to earn it. The media's wet dream is Drew Neitzel.

Pac 10 should be awesome with USC going against UCLA. Imagine if Nick Young stayed with the Trojans! Shouldn't matter though, they have a ton of talent and OJ Mayo. UCLA returns basically everybody significant (although no Afflalo) from last year plus Kevin Love.

ACC will be a pretty boring one sided affair for the Heels. Let's see how far Singletary will lead the Cavs.

Big East should be pretty awesome. I'm interested to see how UConn plays this year after a terrible season last year when they did not have a single upperclassman on the roster, but there's a lot of talent and Jim Calhoun is a great coach. Should be awesome to see Georgetown in action, but man that offense is boring. Marquette is going to live and die with the three. Pitt is going to be really down this year.

Big 12 won't be very good this year, but Kansas State should be really really fun to watch. Michael Beasley can't shoot like Kevin Durant, but he's probably going to be the most dominant freshman in the past 15 years not named Durant. If Bill Walker shows up in shape, K-State will be a force. Kansas, of course will be the top dog again. They return Collins, Robinson, Chalmers, Rush, Arthur, and Kaun, plus they get big man recruit Cole Aldridge.

As far as mid-majors go, there's obviously Memphis and Gonzaga who should be great this year. Zags didn't lose anyone (maybe Raivio, but he doesn't count), and I don't think Memphis did either (maybe Dozier, but he wasn't very good). Zags get Micah Downs in his first full season and Josh Heytvelt is back after getting suspended for possession of shrooms last year.

VCU should have a good season, but they won't rip through a very good Colonial Athletic. Unfortunately I think Winthrop lost just about everybody. I think Butler returns almost their entire core from their big year last season, so they should tear through the Horizon. Southern Illinois are always phenomenal, but don't pencil them in for 15/18 wins in the MVC, that's always a good conference. No team could really dominate it last year (except Salukis of course), despite a lot of huge wins at the beginning of the season.

Finally, of course is our favorite team here at SG, Davidson. They went 17-1 last year in Conference and 29-5 overall and honestly they'll be better. They didn't lose anyone, Curry is a year older, the SOCON is always awful, and they have only 4 games on the schedule that could pose a problem and the rest is cake. Check this out: Nov. 14 they open @ UNC, Dec. 1 @ Duke, and Dec. 8 @ UCLA. They also go play Alex's homies at Charlotte midweek between the Duke and UCLA games. If they can win one of those games (Charlotte not included here), they won't slip out of the top 25 all year, and frankly they could enter the Tournament as a Top 10.

That was beautiful, tear. Davidson f*cking sucks by the way, SGs favorite team beside me. They killed us at their highschool arena last season and we usually beat them but they have some amazing shooters. I don't know how much of a chance we'll have this year at Halton but I'm not expecting another 30 point blow out.

Florida will lose to North Dakota State on November 9th.

Lol

 

[Avalanche]

I'm still somewhat of a college basketball polygamist, since I'm a fan of two programs. However, in all likelihood, I'm probably going back to school either next spring or next fall. I know I have to pick one or the other, but I don't know who to select. Guys, I know the end result is going to be pretty f*cking obvious after I state the case for each school, but all I'm asking for is an educated opinion.

The case for: Boston College

-As many of you know, I already am a fan of their football program.
-My family is pretty close to a couple of graduates from the institution.
-While growing up, I followed the fortunes of the Eagles, and until my grades went in the tank early in high school, I harbored somewhat unrealistic dreams of one day attending the school.

The case for: Rhode Island

-After I obtain my associate's degree from the local community college (which shouldn't be that hard--I'm only one credit away), it is my intention to transfer to this school so I can obtain my ultimate goal--a bachelor's degree.
-Their mascot is, as far as I know, the only thing that has ever prevented the Saint Joseph's hawk from flapping its wings for the duration of the game.
-In a way, I would be joining an exclusive club. URI isn't even the most popular college basketball program in this state. In fact, it wouldn't shock me if the Rams weren't even in the top three of a hypothetical poll of college basketball fans in this state.

 

[Bobby]

Davidson is the 2nd best team in North Carolina, fact.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Lol

That's not a joke, the past two years NDSU has beat both Wisconsin and Marquette on our home courts. They have some great players including Wisconsin's 2004 Mr. Basketball ahead of Michael Flowers, Greg Steimsma, and criminal (but High School Legend) Dupree Fletcher, Mike Nelson, and also a great kid out of Minnesota Ben Woodside. They have some serious experience and can upset a team like Florida who is very young and inexperienced early in the season.

You left out one thing about Rhode Island, Avalanche...... Lamar Odom!!

 

[$teauA]

That's not a joke, the past two years NDSU has beat both Wisconsin and Marquette on our home courts. They have some great players including Wisconsin's 2004 Mr. Basketball ahead of Michael Flowers, Greg Steimsma, and criminal (but High School Legend) Dupree Fletcher, Mike Nelson, and also a great kid out of Minnesota Ben Woodside. They have some serious experience and can upset a team like Florida who is very young and inexperienced early in the season.

You left out one thing about Rhode Island, Avalanche...... Lamar Odom!!

Oh I didn't take it as a joke I just laughed at how you threw that right in the face of callum after his positive post. Good stuff, good stuff.

 

[Callum]

Florida will lose to North Dakota State on November 9th.

Yeah, right.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Ok, I can't deal with this. I don't really care about the NBA until April, I don't want to have to come in this thread expecting college basketball news every time someone talks about the NBA. Let's split them up.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Come on man, split up the threads.

 

[$teauA]

Come on man, split up the threads.

Um, I can't do it, I'm not a mod.

 

[Jacky]

can u change the title of this thread to either "nba" or "college"
and then make a new one for the other?

actually the young blazers didn't look that bad today...

 

[$teauA]

Nope, a mod will have to do that.

 

[Vagegast]

Uconn all the way. Scottie Reynolds was Big East Rookie of the Year last year... should be even more awesome this year.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Memphis kicks off the College Basketball Season tonight in the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament..... and it's on ESPNU. Fantastic, thanks ESPN! I haven't been waiting to watch college basketball for 7 months or anything, and it's not like the projected #1 pick in next year's NBA Draft (Derrick Rose) makes his college debut for Memphis tonight, or anything.

They are showing World Series of Poker reruns on ESPN2. **** YOU!!!!!

 

[$teauA]

Memphis kicks off the College Basketball Season tonight in the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament..... and it's on ESPNU. Fantastic, thanks ESPN! I haven't been waiting to watch college basketball for 7 months or anything, and it's not like the projected #1 pick in next year's NBA Draft (Derrick Rose) makes his college debut for Memphis tonight, or anything.

They are showing World Series of Poker reruns on ESPN2. **** YOU!!!!!

ill record it 4 u and mail it....or not

i have espnu though

 

[SlayerDeuS]

yeh they do that bull**** because they know which markets don't get it. in the end it is all a business. i ******* hate espn...even tho i too get espnu, i know your suffereing.

 

[Yossarian]

So, is the BIG EAST the best conference again this year just by it's sheer size? The PAC is making a strong case for having 5-7 legit bids for the tourney this year, but the Big East is stacked one through fourteen (USF, Rugrats...they should be the doormats), man.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

So, is the BIG EAST the best conference again this year just by it's sheer size? The PAC is making a strong case for having 5-7 legit bids for the tourney this year, but the Big East is stacked one through fourteen (USF, Rugrats...they should be the doormats), man.

Yeah, I assumed it was the Pac 10 just because I've been asked if it's better than the ACC this year and I thought it was. However I didn't even consider the Big East. Okay, let's compare...

Pac 10: UCLA, USC, Wazzou, Arizona, Oregon, Stanford, Washington, and Cal have a shot at bids.

UCLA and USC are elite. Wazzou, and probably Arizona and Oregon are in the next group (like 8-18ish), and Stanford, Washington, and Cal all have shots at bids. I'd take Washington over the others just because of coach Romar, and Stanford is going to lose some easier non-conference games because I think they're missing a Lopez brother until the second semester.

Big East: Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Syracuse, UConn, Villanova, West Virginia, Pitt, and Notre Dame are all potential NCAA teams, and I would be shocked to see any of them miss out (well, I don't like Nova, but a lot of people seem to). Georgetown is the only elite team in my opinion. Louisville, Marquette, and Syracuse are in that 8-18 range for me. Cuse is unranked in the preseason, and that's a total crime, they return a great team and add Donte Green. Let's just say a backcourt of Devendorf, Harris, and Green should be pretty unstoppable and I can't see how their front court would be much worse than Marquette's. UConn is coming off a terrible year, but they were all sophomores and freshman last season and they'll have a year of experience, plus Jim Calhoun is one of the best coaches out there. There's no way they miss the Tournament, and they should probably be ranked somewhere in the top 25. West Virginia won 25 games last year, returned just about everybody, and they arguably got a coaching upgrade in Bob Huggins over Jim Beilein. Not ranked. I don't like Pitt, don't like Nova, but ND is probably underrated.

So I think they're probably just about even, but the Pac 10 will play more exciting basketball. The Big East also has more bad teams, so the 9 teams above can pad their conference records to get into the Tournament.

EDIT: Here's how I see it right now (yes, this does take into account MSU and OSU's preseason losses, and Kentucky's loss to Garner-Webb last night)

1.Memphis
2.North Carolina
3.Kansas
4.UCLA
5.Georgetown
6.USC
7.Indiana
8.Tennessee
9.Washington State
10.Kansas State
11.Louisville
12.Marquette
13.Arizona
14.Gonzaga
15.Duke
16.Syracuse
17.Oregon
18.Michigan State
19.Ohio State
20.Texas A&M
21.Texas
22.Mississippi State
23.Virginia
24.UConn
25.Southern Illinois

Hey Alex, I had forgotten that Michael Beasley initially committed to Charlotte. Thoughts?