My College Rankings For 2003-2004

This is the top five I made RIGHT after the Final Four...I posted it at insidehoops.com:

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Who do you guys think should be the top 5 teams next year? My Picks:

5. Kansas
4. Arizona
3. Duke
2. UConn
1. Texas

I put Kansas number five because although they are losing Collison and Hinrich they are gaining a McDonald's All-American player and Aaron Miles should really have a break out season. The other guys that are staying also showed the types of things they are capable of doing in the game against Syracuse.

I put 'Zona at four because Frye and Stoudamire are going to be back. Frye, I think, is really going to be a force to be reckoned with next year. The are getting Ndudi Ebi (one of the top forwards in the country, he has a recent article about him in the new SLAM) and Mustafa Shakur (number one rated point guard in high school right now). Hasaan Adams and Andre Igoudala should make even bigger contributions next year.

Duke is three because they were able to perform so well this year with such a young team. Add Loul Deng (if he doesn't go pro, I'm not sure about his situation) to the mix and this team can be really dangerous.

I'm assuming that Okafor is staying so I have them at number three. Gordon should be staying and Taliek Brown should really up his production. They aren't losing anyone that is really important, if Okafor stays. So they still have their main core of the team together which can mean trouble for other teams.

Texas is losing no one basically. So it's the same team trying to get one step further than last year.

Close calls

Illinois- Replace Brian Cook with Charlie Villanueva and you have the same team as last year, more dangerous probably.

Michigan State- Their tourny run showed what this young team can do. They are also getting Shannon Brown and Paul Davis should have a real big year.

UNC- The big four return (Williams, Felton, McCants, May) and with the right coach this team can go far.

Wisconsin- Everone but Penny is returning, but they are getting Brian Butch. </div>

Well obviously a lot has happened so changes I would have to make is to take Texas out since Ford is leaving and put in Mich State at four and move Arizona, Duke, and UConn up one. However, everything is still up in the air with Loul Deng, Ndudi Ebi, and Charlie Villanueva (Illinois was a close call) opting for the draft. They may return (in Charlie's case probably to Kansas or UConn from SchoolSports.com is saying) since none have hired an agent, but right now rankings are tough to make until June. I'm feeling worse and worse about having Wisconsin as a close call so I'd probably take them off. I'm really thinking of putting UNC ahead of Kansas, but I'm comfortable enough with Kansas to keep them at five.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "sunsfan1357":</div><div class="quote_post">This is the top five I made RIGHT after the Final Four...I posted it at insidehoops.com:

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Who do you guys think should be the top 5 teams next year? My Picks:

5. Kansas
4. Arizona
3. Duke
2. UConn
1. Texas

I put Kansas number five because although they are losing Collison and Hinrich they are gaining a McDonald's All-American player and Aaron Miles should really have a break out season. The other guys that are staying also showed the types of things they are capable of doing in the game against Syracuse.

I put 'Zona at four because Frye and Stoudamire are going to be back. Frye, I think, is really going to be a force to be reckoned with next year. The are getting Ndudi Ebi (one of the top forwards in the country, he has a recent article about him in the new SLAM) and Mustafa Shakur (number one rated point guard in high school right now). Hasaan Adams and Andre Igoudala should make even bigger contributions next year.

Duke is three because they were able to perform so well this year with such a young team. Add Loul Deng (if he doesn't go pro, I'm not sure about his situation) to the mix and this team can be really dangerous.

I'm assuming that Okafor is staying so I have them at number three. Gordon should be staying and Taliek Brown should really up his production. They aren't losing anyone that is really important, if Okafor stays. So they still have their main core of the team together which can mean trouble for other teams.

Texas is losing no one basically. So it's the same team trying to get one step further than last year.

Close calls

Illinois- Replace Brian Cook with Charlie Villanueva and you have the same team as last year, more dangerous probably.

Michigan State- Their tourny run showed what this young team can do. They are also getting Shannon Brown and Paul Davis should have a real big year.

UNC- The big four return (Williams, Felton, McCants, May) and with the right coach this team can go far.

Wisconsin- Everone but Penny is returning, but they are getting Brian Butch. </div>

Well obviously a lot has happened so changes I would have to make is to take Texas out since Ford is leaving and put in Mich State at four and move Arizona, Duke, and UConn up one. However, everything is still up in the air with Loul Deng, Ndudi Ebi, and Charlie Villanueva (Illinois was a close call) opting for the draft. They may return (in Charlie's case probably to Kansas or UConn from SchoolSports.com is saying) since none have hired an agent, but right now rankings are tough to make until June. I'm feeling worse and worse about having Wisconsin as a close call so I'd probably take them off. I'm really thinking of putting UNC ahead of Kansas, but I'm comfortable enough with Kansas to keep them at five.</div>That is a very nice top five in my opinion considering Ford was thought to be coming back. The only thing that I have to say is that Villanueva isn't going to Connecticut. The last player that they just signed gave them the max number of players possible. He might go to Kansas though. If Villanueva goes to Kansas and Padgett alects to stay, then KU should be looking like the number one or two team in the nation in my opinion.

 

New Developements with Duke!

Kris Humphries transfered out of Duke to go to Minnesota yesterday. Scout/Operator of Nbadraft.net, Justin Young, said on a similar message board that he will be talking with Duke assistants about it this weekend and trying to figure out the exact reason why he transferred.

 

thats not good to hear, they will still have four good big guys to work with though and Coach K will make up with a stellar recruiting class next year

 

Well Duke just lost Shan Battier #2.

 

Too tell you the truth, Kris Humphries doesn't really remind me of Shane Battier. I have seen him play, and he is more of an inside player, but a hardworker.

 

Spartan, this message board must be different in some way from BBB.net because I absolutely love your top 10 list. It's great and I agree with it in every sense, EXCEPT for Duke. I would try moving them out of the top 5 to 6, bumping Kentucky back to 7, or keeping Kentucky at 6 and putting Duke at 7 because MSU should be at least number 1 or 2.

 

Wow, very erie, it is hard not to notice the considerably less amount of arguements we have on here compared to BBB and Smack. So you think it should be like this?

1.Connecticut
2.Michigan State
3.Arizona
4.Missouri
5.Florida
6.Kentucky
7.Duke
8.North Carolina
9.Ohio State
10.Syracuse

 

It's perfect! Except MSU and UConn will be fighting for the number 1 ranking a few times through the season and UK and Duke will probably be alternating between 6 and 7.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "UKfan4Life":</div><div class="quote_post">It's perfect! Except MSU and UConn will be fighting for the number 1 ranking a few times through the season and UK and Duke will probably be alternating between 6 and 7.</div>

with Duke coming out on top at the end of the season

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "go_duke21":</div><div class="quote_post"><div class="quote_poster">Quoting "UKfan4Life":</div><div class="quote_post">It's perfect! Except MSU and UConn will be fighting for the number 1 ranking a few times through the season and UK and Duke will probably be alternating between 6 and 7.</div>

with Duke coming out on top at the end of the season</div>Hey, I might agree with you, but UK always has strong finishes like going undefeated in conference play while Duke has had lousy finishes lately, like Jay Williams missing a game winning freethrow to Virginia and Indiana.

 

I agree with Syracuse being in your top 10. They did lose Melo, and Duany, but they are getting 4 big recruits, all 4 in the top 100. Terrence Roberts (SF/PF) , Louis McCroskey (SG), Demetris Nichols (SG/SF) and Darryl Watkins (PF/C). They still have Warrick (a lotto pick next year), Gerry McNamara, Bill Edelin, Josh Pace, Forth and McNeil.

Also, UNC is going to be so good (Sorry Duke)

McCants, Felton and May will be (and is now) one of the best trio's in all of college bball. They have show what they can do already.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "STCBBall3":</div><div class="quote_post">
Also, UNC is going to be so good (Sorry Duke)

McCants, Felton and May will be (and is now) one of the best trio's in all of college bball. They have show what they can do already.</div>

I realize that they are gonna be good but Dukes sophs next year will be just as good and they have more of them...Duke will also have more senior leadership than UNC and Duke has more tourney experience, all this adds up to Duke UNC

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "go_duke21":</div><div class="quote_post">[quote name='"STCBBall3"']
Duke UNC</div>That looks like the word UNC is whipping the word Duke, lol.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "go_duke21":</div><div class="quote_post"><div class="quote_poster">Quoting "STCBBall3":</div><div class="quote_post">
Also, UNC is going to be so good (Sorry Duke)

McCants, Felton and May will be (and is now) one of the best trio's in all of college bball. They have show what they can do already.</div>

I realize that they are gonna be good but Dukes sophs next year will be just as good and they have more of them...Duke will also have more senior leadership than UNC and Duke has more tourney experience, all this adds up to Duke UNC</div>

lol i thaught you liked duke?

ne ways i have duke(my team) going 2nd and Ucon at 1

 

why does everyone think so highly of Duke? yeah they're good but you guys barely give any other team a chance....you forget Syracuse....'Zona...Michigan State....but hell it's Duke rules...Duke rules....they don't....you guys treat them like they're the Lakers and that every championship is theres..that's how the Lakers felt this past season and they took a quick trip home....

 

Well when a team loses three starters to the NBA and still gets to the final stages of the tournament with a whole bunch of freshman and sophomores they deserve some praise. They have proven with their recruiting skills that regardless of what happens they will compete and be a top team in the country. I think top 7 is a fair ranking of them, however; with the Duke system they can easily slip into the top 3 slots.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "pchotsauce":</div><div class="quote_post">why does everyone think so highly of Duke? yeah they're good but you guys barely give any other team a chance....you forget Syracuse....'Zona...Michigan State....but hell it's Duke rules...Duke rules....they don't....you guys treat them like they're the Lakers and that every championship is theres..that's how the Lakers felt this past season and they took a quick trip home....</div>


Duke is always in the mix whether you like it or not... I dont like it

 

Yeah, Duke loses 3 All Americans, they are still a great team. I am not saying that UNC will be better than Duke, but they will challenge for the ACC title. Felton, May and McCants will be fantastic.

 

Duke is a big name college..always will be..they will always get good young players.....they will always be a top team with a chance at the title..every year

This year they will be getting the 2nd best rated high schooler in the country...so they will always have great players.