<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">1. Leon Powe, California: It's a leap of faith, ranking Powe this high considering he red-shirted last season with a knee injury. But we're making it. Powe was good for 15.9 points and 9.5 rebounds as a freshman, and with 18 months to work on his upper body, we're thinking 20-and-10 will be a good starting point this season. If the knee's OK. 2. Taj Gray, Oklahoma: The best junior-college transfer last season, Gray will work on becoming the best player in America this season. If you saw him destroy UConn's bigger front line, you know it's possible. Overall, he averaged 14.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 1.8 blocks despite having typical juco-transfer inconsistency. 3. Nick Fazekas, Nevada: Returning for his junior season was a brilliant move for Fazekas, whose 6-foot-11, 230-pound frame needed work. So did his 3-point shooting (32.7 percent). Otherwise, he's awesome. He was good for 20.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg and 1.6 blocks last season, though it'll be interesting to see how he handles the loss of teammate Kevinn Pinkney in the post. 4. Steven Smith, La Salle: He was the best player at the NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago, but by returning for his senior season, Smith is in position to finish his career with more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. And he won't even need to match his averages from last season (20.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg) to get there. Then it'll be on to the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft. 5. Paul Millsap, Louisiana Tech: Can we get this guy on television, please? He's bidding to become the first player in NCAA history to lead the country in rebounding three times. And this is only his junior season. Odds are Millsap will turn pro after this spring, especially if he tops his sophomore production (20.4 ppg, 12.4 rpg). 6. Jeff Green, Georgetown: Quite possibly the most versatile power forward in the country, Green filled every line in the stat box: 13.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.9 assists, 1.6 blocks and one steal per game. He shot 50.2 percent from the floor. And 40 percent from 3-point range. And 70 percent from the line. And did all that as a freshman. 7. Craig Smith, Boston College: One upon a time he was under-recruited because of his roly-poly frame. Now he's chiseled at 6-7 and 250, and on the verge of joining the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound club. Smith will sail by those plateaus if he approaches his junior production (18 ppg and 8.5 rpg). 8. Carl Landry, Purdue: Purdue had just one player opponents had to take seriously last season, and Landry was it. And still he averaged 18.2 ppg and 7.1 rpg. Who knows what he could if he had the supporting cast of half the guys on this list? 9. Curtis Withers, Charlotte: Withers' biggest problem is his skill level -- coach Bobby Lutz gets tempted to let Withers run the offense rather than planting this 6-8, 240-pound monster in the post and pounding the ball into him. Withers averaged 18 ppg and 8.1 rpg last season, his rebounds down from 9.5 as a sophomore. 10. Greg Brunner, Iowa: Brunner plays bigger than his listed size (6-7, 245 pounds). A lot bigger. Last season he averaged 14.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg, and his scoring would skyrocket with help from two areas: teammates and free throws. Considering Brunner is a career 54-percent shooter from the floor, he needs more shots. He'd probably get them if he'd make one more sizable jump from the line. He went from 55.7 percent as a sophomore to 69 percent as a junior. Get that figure to 80 percent, Greg, and the NBA will have a place for you. </div> Read More I don't even know where to start with this one
Wow is all I can say OU isn't that good man. I bet Bookout is #1 tommorrow in Centers He has Haryasz over Radenovic, who is a Serbian Bomber!
Believe me, I think Powe is one heck of a player, but he is not the best PF in the nation. Personally, I think Craig Smith is the best PF in the nation with Nick Fazekas close behind. Juan Palacios should be a little higher and the same could be said about Matt Haryasz. But I honestly think he has a solid list going(can't believe I just said that); he just needs to switch a few players around.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow is all I can say OU isn't that good man. I bet Bookout is #1 tommorrow in Centers He has Haryasz over Radenovic, who is a Serbian Bomber!</div> Dude, Haryasz >>> Radenovic. They're similar players, but Haryasz has already proven himself to be a go-to option, whereas Radenovic is a very good complementary player. Haryasz should be higher, Craig Smith should be WAY higher, Palacios should be higher, Greg Brunner should be higher...ugh. I love Jeff Green's game, but he is ridiculously high.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Schaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">Read More I don't even know where to start with this one </div> I know how to start on this one, how about by taking Steven Smith and putting him under the small forwards? The man can hit the boards but he is no way a power forward with his lack of height. Withers should definitely be a bit higher after he shown what he can do at the USA games. I don't know how Craig Smith isn't the number one power forward in the nation being that Powe is coming off a severe injury. Again I said this in another thread but honestly these rankings put out by CBS look like NBA Pre-draft rankings rather than NCAA player rankings.
Craig Smith should have been ranked higher. He is a top 3 power forward. If he dominates the ACC in anyway this year he could possibly move into the lower 1st round in the NBA draft. powe is coming off of knee surgery so automatically they should not have ranked him that high. Steve Smith is a small foward not a power forward like CK said. Ive seen him play in person several times and his damage is done from the perimeter going towards the basket. Gray is a good player. He may slo be a little overrated. Milsap is a rebounding fiend but just ok offensively. I think Green is going to come on the national scene strong this year. Green will be one of those guys in the NBA who can do everything because he is so versatile. He may play the 3 in the league.
Yea Craig Smith is the best,and Juan Palacios is so good and is jus getting better and better,and jeff Green will play pretty good as well.Green and Palacios are great Sophs
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Schaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">Dude, Haryasz >>> Radenovic. They're similar players, but Haryasz has already proven himself to be a go-to option, whereas Radenovic is a very good complementary player. Haryasz should be higher, Craig Smith should be WAY higher, Palacios should be higher, Greg Brunner should be higher...ugh. I love Jeff Green's game, but he is ridiculously high.</div> Wanna go at it Schaddy J/P, You don't even know what your talking about. Radenovic was the one that carried them in the 1st half of most of their games this year!
Haryasz has really impressed me when I've seen him play. I mean c'mon, he came a rebound away from averaging a double-double last season. He was one of the most improved players in the nation, IMO, and I believe he is definitely a better play than Ivan Radenovic RIGHT NOW...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKOwnstheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">Haryasz has really impressed me when I've seen him play. I mean c'mon, he came a rebound away from averaging a double-double last season. He was one of the most improved players in the nation, IMO, and I believe he is definitely a better play than Ivan Radenovic RIGHT NOW...</div> Haryasz was inconsistent if you asked me, one game he'd have 20 points 15 rebounds next he'd have 8 points 3 rebounds, cmon, who knows the Pac-10 better, me or you all the way cross the US
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Haryasz was inconsistent if you asked me, one game he'd have 20 points 15 rebounds next he'd have 8 points 3 rebounds, cmon, who knows the Pac-10 better, me or you all the way cross the US </div> Ummm...you do realize that there are some players in the nation that are better than Arizona's. And I believe Haryasz is better than Radenovic from what I've seen of both. Believe me, I watch college basketball every chance I can. And yes, I do watch a lot of Pac-10 ball on Fox Sports Net, so don't even give me that BS.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Wanna go at it Schaddy J/P, You don't even know what your talking about. Radenovic was the one that carried them in the 1st half of most of their games this year! </div> J_Ray, you know we're cool, but don't talk like that. Just because you are in the Pac-10 area doesn't mean that you're the only one who can give a legit prognostication of west coast hoops. I wouldn't tell you that you don't know what you're talking about, so don't say it to me.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Schaddy:</div><div class="quote_post">J_Ray, you know we're cool, but don't talk like that. Just because you are in the Pac-10 area doesn't mean that you're the only one who can give a legit prognostication of west coast hoops. I wouldn't tell you that you don't know what you're talking about, so don't say it to me.</div> LOL, well if you said I didn't know what I was talking about with Wisconsin, I would agree I was only joking around man, ppl taking everything serious ow days
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKOwnstheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">Ummm...you do realize that there are some players in the nation that are better than Arizona's. And I believe Haryasz is better than Radenovic from what I've seen of both. Believe me, I watch college basketball every chance I can. And yes, I do watch a lot of Pac-10 ball on Fox Sports Net, so don't even give me that BS.</div> LOL, god everyone trying to pick a fight I guess I'll give up on this argument, even I would win when the season is all said and done!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">LOL, god everyone trying to pick a fight I guess I'll give up on this argument, even I would win when the season is all said and done!</div> I know your not trying to pick a fight, but I don't like someone saying that I don't know what I'm talking about. No, you don't have to give up, just give us some valid points why you think Radenovic is better than Haryasz. That's all I'm asking from ya.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKOwnstheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">I know your not trying to pick a fight, but I don't like someone saying that I don't know what I'm talking about. No, you don't have to give up, just give us some valid points why you think Radenovic is better than Haryasz. That's all I'm asking from ya. </div> First off, Arizona is a better team 2nd, Radenovic has something Haryasz doesn't, a mid-range game! 3rd, Radenovic was the 3rd option on a stacked Arizona team. Hassan might have gotten more points, but most were from the break and put backs. If I remember right, he was the one torching Illinois. He also had 5 rebounds per game. This was his first whole season with the team. He didn't barely play till half way through the season in his freshman year. This, IMO, was his freshman season, so he did very good on a stacked team. Haryasz was the 2nd option on his team, and he averaged 12.5 ppg while Radeovic has 8.6. He had 9.1 rebounds, but he is better than Radenovic in this area. Considering he's the 2nd option after Grunfeld got hurt, he should of been more consistent. Already in his Senior season, we'll see if Haryasz is any good compared to Radenovic in his junior season We'll see
Once Haryasz became the #2 offensive option in Palo Alto (following Grunfeld's injury), he averaged 17.3 ppg, up 5 per game from his season average of 12.5 ppg. That tells me that when his role expanded, he stepped up big time, and that's the stamp of a very good player. Haryasz averaged 31.5 minutes/game for the season, and 37.5 per game after Grunfeld went down. So that means he averaged .4 points per minute played for the season, and .45 points/minute after the Grunfeld injury (he also averaged 9.1 rebounds per game, and 0.29 reb/minute). Now we'll take a look at how Radenovic's numbers break down. In 25.5 minutes/game, he averaged 8.6 ppg (0.34 points/minute) and 5.5 rpg (0.22 per minute). If you project that over 31.5 min/game, (Haryasz's average), you end up with averages of 10.7 ppg and 6.9 rpg. Those are good, solid numbers. So what can we conclude? Per minute, Haryasz averaged more points and rebounds than Radenovic. Radenovic averaged more assists and shot a better % from the floor, while Haryasz had more blocks per game (they both averaged 1.0 steal per game). Haryasz was clearly more of an offensive focal point for his team; he was the 2nd or 3rd option all year whereas Radenovic was usually #4. They are similar players, as we see here. Haryasz is the better scorer, rebounder and shot blocker, while Radenovic is a superior playmaker and slightly better in terms of shooting percentage. The numbers tell us that these two players are pretty much alike. I believe that due to Haryasz's better numbers in the scoring, rebounding and shot blocking departments, he's more valuable. I also believe he's proven to be a better player because he stepped up big when his team lost a key player. Radenovic may well have a breakout year in 05-06, but I believe that right now, and also into the future, Haryasz is the better player. I'm not trying to rub your face in this, J_Ray, by doing this whole big breakdown; I did it as much for myself as anything But I think that the numbers support that Haryasz is the superior player. At least Zona looks like it has the better team heading into the season, though, right?
When the season starts, you'll see, this guy is awesome. I bet he'll average about 15 points this year with 5-7 rebounds! Then I'll smother that in your face!
I think its actually a pretty good list. Much better than the SG list. I like the risky pick with Powe. People just dont realize how dominate he was as a freshman and that he was only about 60% his entire freshman season. He played on basically one healthy knee the whole year. He hasnt been fully healthy since his junior year in high school. IF and I mean IF he stays healthy, I like the pick. However, for me personally, the most complete PF in the country is not Powe or Smith, its Withers. He's the most talented and most skilled player at that position. Its just a matter of whether or not he comes to play every single game because he tends to take nights off. Potentially, if I could take any college basketball forward for next year it would be either Withers or Powe. If I didnt consider Fazekas and Gray to be centers more so than PF's, I would include both of them in there as well. A couple players they left out that I would consider to be top 10 PF's are Marco Killingsworth, Eric Hicks and Caleb Green. As for Rad vs. Haryasz debate. Ray, how's the ownage feel? C'mon, I can't believe you actually trying to debate that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Hater:</div><div class="quote_post">As for Rad vs. Haryasz debate. Ray, how's the ownage feel? C'mon, I can't believe you actually trying to debate that.</div> Well I like to take big risks and debate things! I've was debating UCLA football was for reals before the season started, and look at them now You guys will just be shocked when he does do good this year!
