Okay, now that everyone has decided whether they will stay in the draft or go back to school, it's time to discuss how you think some teams will fare next season. So here's my top 10 for right now: 1. Florida- Defending champs; return all five starters. Pretty easy choice if you ask me. 2. Kansas- The Baby Hawks will be a year older, they have all five starters returning and they also added one of the best point guards in the 2006 class in Sherron Collins. The trio of Chalmers, Wright, and Rush should be amazing this upcoming season! 3. North Carolina- The Heels have arguably the best incoming recruiting class. They have the nation's top-rated point guard (Ty Lawson), shooting guard (Wayne Ellington), and power forward (Brandan Wright). Then you have national freshman of the year Tyler Hansbrough to carry a heavy load inside. This team will definitely compete for the championship, despite being so young. 4. Ohio State- They have one of the best recruiting classes coming in that features guards Mike Conley and Daequan Cook and the big man, Greg Oden, who's considered the best center prospect since Shaquille O'Neal. But don't forget about Ron Lewis and Jamar Butler- these two will provide the team with veteran leadership and should be consistent scorers like they were this past season. 5. Georgetown- May surprise a few, but I am very high on this basketball team. The Hoyas return top scorer Jeff Green and center Roy Hibbert, who is one of the top big men in the country...and the recruiting class is top 10. Watch out for the Hoyas. And here are a few teams that could peak into the top 5 at times next season: 6. Georgia Tech 7. Arizona 8. UCLA 9. LSU 10. Pittsburgh
I don't think anyone can possibly not have the Gators as the #1 preseason team. You can definetely argue about it if it was a postseason thread, but not preseason. We won the championship, we brought our top 7 rotation players back and gained 5 quality recruits. So we will be even deeper than last year. We should be the anonymous #1 for preseason. I wouldn't be disappointed if we weren't #1 though, that would put another chip on the shoulder for the Gators and we all know how they did last year with a chip on their shoulder.
1. Florida 2. North Carolina 3. Kansas 4. LSU 5. Arizona Possible Sleepers: Oregon Nevada Alabama Duke Wisconsin Honorable Mentions: Georgia Tech Pittsburgh Georgetown Overrated!: UCLA Ohio St.
1. Florida Gators-Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer, Lee Humphrey, Taureen Green, nuff said. 2. Kansas Jayhawks-The freshman to sophmore year jump is the biggest and I expect them to yield the dividends. 3. North Carolina Tar Heels-Tyler Hansborough will be an absolute beast, but we will have to wait on how good the freshman class actually will be. 4. Arizona Wildcats-Always ranked high(normally way higher than they should be) because of Lute Olsen, but they return and get healthy a lot of talent. They are experienced(almost beat Nova last year with a depleted roster) and they get 2 great freshman. 5. Georgetown-Roy Hibbert is a beast and they have arguably a top 2 frontcourt(maybe potentially better than the Gators). Now it's just a matter of their guards. 6. Ohio State-Not sold on the freshman yet. 7. LSU-At least they will be the heaviest team with Big Baby. 8. Duke-Josh McRoberts and Greg Paulus are overrated, but they are Duke so they automatically get a top 10 spot. 9. UCLA-They made the championship game and have a great history, so they will be top 10. 10. Kentucky-They lose a couple of cancers and return Randolph Morris. Plus they are Kentucky, they are always ranked in the 10 regardless of talent. Sleeper team-Alabama. They will likely win the SEC regular season title this year and are loaded with talent. They have an incredible frontcourt to go with a great leader at PG in Ronald Steele. You heard that Alabama will make a deep run in the tournament from me 1st.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Overrated!: UCLA </div> UCLA will be just fine, in my opinion. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was the Pac-10 freshman of the year last season and established himself as one of the better post-players in the nation. Darren Collison really impressed me in his freshman season; he did a real nice job as Farmar's backup and I think he's capable of starting at the point next season. Alfred Aboya could possibly start at center with Fey and Hollins graduating, and don't forget about incoming McDonalds All-American James Keefe, who has a chance to come in and start right away. Arron Afflalo returning automatically puts this team back into top 10 consideration. Afflalo is a coaches dream; he's not selfish and works well with his teammates, and did I mention that he is one helluva guard. Oh yeah, don't forget about Josh Shipp; he was a part of the great UCLA recruiting class in 2004 but has had injury problems his first two years. He also averaged 11.3 points a game in limited action last season and should provide this team with some versatility on both offense and defense. I really like this UCLA team as you can see and I think losing Farmar will hurt but not as much as people are making it to be.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKFan33:</div><div class="quote_post">UCLA will be just fine, in my opinion. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was the Pac-10 freshman of the year last season and established himself as one of the better post-players in the nation. Darren Collison really impressed me in his freshman season; he did a real nice job as Farmar's backup and I think he's capable of starting at the point next season. Alfred Aboya could possibly start at center with Fey and Hollins graduating, and don't forget about incoming McDonalds All-American James Keefe, who has a chance to come in and start right away. Arron Afflalo returning automatically puts this team back into top 10 consideration. Afflalo is a coaches dream; he's not selfish and works well with his teammates, and did I mention that he is one helluva guard. Oh yeah, don't forget about Josh Shipp; he was a part of the great UCLA recruiting class in 2004 but has had injury problems his first two years. He also averaged 11.3 points a game in limited action last season and should provide this team with some versatility on both offense and defense. I really like this UCLA team as you can see and I think losing Farmar will hurt but not as much as people are making it to be.</div> They lost all the glue! When they were in a jam and couldn't score, Farmar got them going, missing shots....Hollins puts it back up and in, and Bozeman's leadership was the only leadership they had. I just don't think they'll be the same team, I just don't see it happening. Collinson is fine guard, but he isn't quite the same type Farmar was, Shipp is good replacement for Bozeman but is injury prone, and Aboya is too raw IMO, not going to be the player everyone thinks he will be. Your right about Mbah a Moute, but Marcus Williams should of been Pac-10 Frosh of the year. You guys don't see UCLA the as much as I did last year, they are all injury prone and the tournament was the best they've played all year, most of all though was their inconsistent play. They'd go out and play awesome vs USC then get smoked by Cal @ home. They are the "Fool's Gold" of the NCAA, trust me on that
I saw this thread on my way to bed and thought I should add my two cents before getting some sleep. I'll add explanations tomorrow though. 1. Kansas 2. North Carolina 3. Florida 4. Ohio State 5. Pittsburgh --------------------- Others I'm liking so far...(no order) Alabama <font size="1">(not exactly a 'you heard it here first' type of sleeper when ESPN has you preseason top 15 though)</font> DePaul Duke (yeah... I know) Louisville UCLA Wisconsin <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We should be the anonymous #1 for preseason. </div> I think you mean *unanimous. Either way, last season is really no indication of the upcoming season whatsoever. Call me biased, and yes, I don't like Florida, but it's relatively easy to see them not finishing #1, or even top five, especially with the reports about their strength of schedule this year and with the talent other teams like North Carolina and Kansas bring in. You also have to factor in the SEC's strength. Look at a team like Kansas. Who is their competition in the Big 12? Texas loses pretty much their whole lineup, and as talented as Durant is, he's not a one-man team. Oklahoma loses just about everyone, including their head coach, and they don't really have a great recruiting class to speak of. Blalock and Stinson kept their names in the draft while Taggart transfered from ISU. Sure, Colorado retained Roby, but they lost all their size in the frontcourt, and that was their biggest weakness all year. Compared to the competition Florida will face in the SEC, the Big 12 is shaping up to look pretty laughable. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Plus they are Kentucky, they are always ranked in the 10 regardless of talent. </div> The exception being last season, right? Oh wait, they weren't in '04-05 either...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">I saw this thread on my way to bed and thought I should add my two cents before getting some sleep. I'll add explanations tomorrow though. 1. Kansas 2. North Carolina 3. Florida 4. Ohio State 5. Pittsburgh --------------------- Others I'm liking so far...(no order) Alabama <font size="1">(not exactly a 'you heard it here first' type of sleeper when ESPN has you preseason top 15 though)</font> DePaul Duke (yeah... I know) Louisville UCLA Wisconsin I think you mean *unanimous. Either way, last season is really no indication of the upcoming season whatsoever. Call me biased, and yes, I don't like Florida, but it's relatively easy to see them not finishing #1, or even top five, especially with the reports about their strength of schedule this year and with the talent other teams like North Carolina and Kansas bring in. You also have to factor in the SEC's strength. Look at a team like Kansas. Who is their competition in the Big 12? Texas loses pretty much their whole lineup, and as talented as Durant is, he's not a one-man team. Oklahoma loses just about everyone, including their head coach, and they don't really have a great recruiting class to speak of. Blalock and Stinson kept their names in the draft while Taggart transfered from ISU. Sure, Colorado retained Roby, but they lost all their size in the frontcourt, and that was their biggest weakness all year. Compared to the competition Florida will face in the SEC, the Big 12 is shaping up to look pretty laughable. The exception being last season, right? Oh wait, they weren't in '04-05 either...</div> That's all good when you are predicting Postseason Top 5, but you are predicting preseason here, which takes into consideration what teams gain and what teams keep. The schedule is all fine and dandy, but how tough the ACC was supposed to be last year didn't stop Duke from being #1 in the preseason last year. I believe Kentucky was ranked #9 in preseason AP last year and #10 in ESPN.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheNCAA:</div><div class="quote_post">That's all good when you are predicting Postseason Top 5, but you are predicting preseason here, which takes into consideration what teams gain and what teams keep. The schedule is all fine and dandy, but how tough the ACC was supposed to be last year didn't stop Duke from being #1 in the preseason last year.</div> Don't get me wrong, the schedules aren't the only reasons why I ranked Kansas and North Carolina ahead of Florida. I just think they're better teams. For example, on Kansas, C.J. Giles, Sasha Kaun, Julian Wright, Mario Chalmers, and Brandon Rush all have All-American type potential individually. You won't find that kind of talent on the Gator's roster. The logic that Florida was last year's champion and therefore should be this year's #1 isn't perfect. You have to consider things like recruiting classes, as well as player development, an area in which I expect schools like UNC and KU to make huge strides. They've just both got more growth potential than Florida... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe Kentucky was ranked #9 in preseason AP last year and #10 in ESPN.</div> Figured you meant the final rankings...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't get me wrong, the schedules aren't the only reasons why I ranked Kansas and North Carolina ahead of Florida. I just think they're better teams. For example, on Kansas, C.J. Giles, Sasha Kaun, Julian Wright, Mario Chalmers, and Brandon Rush all have All-American type potential individually. You won't find that kind of talent on the Gator's roster. The logic that Florida was last year's champion and therefore should be this year's #1 isn't perfect. You have to consider things like recruiting classes, as well as player development, an area in which I expect schools like UNC and KU to make huge strides. They've just both got more growth potential than Florida... Figured you meant the final rankings...</div> It's not just about talent level, I figured you would realize that after last year. I know the Gators weren't the most talented last year. Just because our players don't get stats doesn't mean that they aren't among the most talented. We just have players that complement each other extremely good. I would put Corey Brewer extremely high in SF, despite not getting many stats. Same with Horford. I would match him up against anyone and I think that he would beat pretty much anyone other than like 3-4 guys in the PF/C ranks. BIlly Donovan had great game plan last year and the team bought into his system and are playing for their team, rather than themselves. I don't want to talk for any of these recruits, because I don't know much about them but I think a lot of the top ones are just going to make sure that they improve their draft status and bolt after the year. I really like Kansas, I think they are probably the team that I would pick to win it all. The freshman to sophmore jump is the biggest and all their best players will be sophmores now. It's not just about winning the National Championship that I put us preseason #1. If that's what it was, then wouldn't I have UCLA at #2, since they made it? We return our top 7 rotation players, the players are still young so it's not like they won't improve. It's not like we didn't do any recruiting. We have a very solid class as well. 4 4 star players and a 3 star player. We will have a lot more depth on our roster next year. You are acting like we didn't improve at all when in fact we did.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheNCAA:</div><div class="quote_post">It's not just about talent level, I figured you would realize that after last year. I know the Gators weren't the most talented last year. Just because our players don't get stats doesn't mean that they aren't among the most talented. We just have players that complement each other extremely good. I would put Corey Brewer extremely high in SF, despite not getting many stats. Same with Horford. I would match him up against anyone and I think that he would beat pretty much anyone other than like 3-4 guys in the PF/C ranks. BIlly Donovan had great game plan last year and the team bought into his system and are playing for their team, rather than themselves. I don't want to talk for any of these recruits, because I don't know much about them but I think a lot of the top ones are just going to make sure that they improve their draft status and bolt after the year. I really like Kansas, I think they are probably the team that I would pick to win it all. The freshman to sophmore jump is the biggest and all their best players will be sophmores now. It's not just about winning the National Championship that I put us preseason #1. If that's what it was, then wouldn't I have UCLA at #2, since they made it? We return our top 7 rotation players, the players are still young so it's not like they won't improve. It's not like we didn't do any recruiting. We have a very solid class as well. 4 4 star players and a 3 star player. We will have a lot more depth on our roster next year. You are acting like we didn't improve at all when in fact we did.</div> You don't need to sell me on that whole chemistry > talent point; you've been doing that for over a year now. If I was acting like you (Florida) didn't improve at all, then why would I have them #3 in my initial rankings? Will they be good --- hell yes. But are they so good that they're entitled to an unanimous #1 --- not really. It's not so much a knock on Florida then, as it is a statement about Kansas and UNC's potential. Anyway, back to the topic of team chemistry. It's only right to assume that Florida maintains or builds upon their chemistry from last season, but while they show steady improvement, teams like UNC and Kansas could improve by leaps and bounds... if all their players scratch the surface of their potential. Tyler Hansbrough could easily be the best player in the nation this year, and while the backcourt at Kansas gets most of the attention, has anyone stopped to check out their frontcourt? With C.J. Giles and Sasha 'Baby Shaq' Kaun, you've got a potentially dominating frontcourt, one that I'd rate on an even keel with the frontcourt of Noah and Horford. Of course, all of this is under the impression that they reach, or at least begin to reach, their potential, but given how it's just a preseason ranking like you said earlier, I think it's only fair to assume their players show a decent amount of development. To be honest, I didn't think I'd take as much heat on the Florida pick as some of my other picks: DePaul, Duke, Pittsburgh, etc.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">You don't need to sell me on that whole chemistry > talent point; you've been doing that for over a year now. If I was acting like you (Florida) didn't improve at all, then why would I have them #3 in my initial rankings? Will they be good --- hell yes. But are they so good that they're entitled to an unanimous #1 --- not really. It's not so much a knock on Florida then, as it is a statement about Kansas and UNC's potential. Anyway, back to the topic of team chemistry. It's only right to assume that Florida maintains or builds upon their chemistry from last season, but while they show steady improvement, teams like UNC and Kansas could improve by leaps and bounds... if all their players scratch the surface of their potential. Tyler Hansbrough could easily be the best player in the nation this year, and while the backcourt at Kansas gets most of the attention, has anyone stopped to check out their frontcourt? With C.J. Giles and Sasha 'Baby Shaq' Kaun, you've got a potentially dominating frontcourt, one that I'd rate on an even keel with the frontcourt of Noah and Horford. Of course, all of this is under the impression that they reach, or at least begin to reach, their potential, but given how it's just a preseason ranking like you said earlier, I think it's only fair to assume their players show a decent amount of development. To be honest, I didn't think I'd take as much heat on the Florida pick as some of my other picks: DePaul, Duke, Pittsburgh, etc.</div> Sorry for giving you heat for it. I don't mind where you have UF ranked, I just didn't like the explanation. Yeah I guess preseason is based on mainly potential, I just don't like giving potential the advantage over results.
1. Kansas Jayhawks: Florida had a good run last year but guys just look at the 'Hawks roster. Julian Wright and Brandan Rush should make one of the best 1-2 punches in the NCAA. Wright is bound for a breakout year as well. 2. North Carolina Tarheels: You guys know I have to put my Heels up here some where. I've been waiting for this season for a long time now ever since Ty Lawson and Ellington said they'll come along. Hansbrough stayed as well to provide an inside force. 3. Ohio State Buckeyes: One of the best recruiting classes in a while, if not the greatest ever. Oden will come in and make an impact to an already good Ohio State team. 4. Florida Gators: I'm thinking this is a good place for the Gators. Last season they had their run but the competition appears to be so much better next year with UNC, OSU, and Kansas' emerging young players. Sorry Gators, but in my book you're not "still the champ until someone knocks you off". 5. Georgetown Hoyas: I was really big on Jeff Green last season and it looks to me that he's only going to improve with time. Freshmen, Vernon Macklin is one of my favorite players coming in and should make an impact early in the starting lineup. Green-Macklin-Hibbert is one of the best front courts in the nation, as I can see the Hoyas making a run this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">3. Ohio State Buckeyes: One of the best recruiting classes in a while, if not the greatest ever. Oden will come in and make an impact to an already good Ohio State team. </div> You've got some balls with that one. I had them #2 but got scared and edited it right after I posted. I'm expecting Oden to be really dominant from what I've seen so far, but at the same time, Ohio State lost such a huge chunk of their roster that was intrical to their success this past season that they kind of look like a one-man team at this point, meaning that if Oden has an off night, Ohio State is screwed.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">You've got some balls with that one. I had them #2 but got scared and edited it right after I posted. I'm expecting Oden to be really dominant from what I've seen so far, but at the same time, Ohio State lost such a huge chunk of their roster that was intrical to their success this past season that they kind of look like a one-man team at this point, meaning that if Oden has an off night, Ohio State is screwed.</div> I'm never a fan of putting too much stock into young players but over the course of the past two years college ball is changing. We're going to have to realize with the new age rules in the CBA that there will be freshman in the NCAA that we haven't seen in a while. Sure you can say look ten years back when people didn't declare but these days kids are more ready to take their game to the NBA out of high school. It's not only Oden though. I'm slapping some pretty high expectations on Mike Conley. He played with Oden for a while now and should know where he likes the ball in the post and what not, which can only help the development of the two. In my mind, it's not Oden, but as Conley develops and feels more comfortable in Ohio State, then the team will start getting their identity. The way I look at it, they have three guys that could have been playing professional basketball next year as well as some nice role players returning.
