About Kansas: Padgett is probably going to leave, that drops them. Wisonsin: Before I wouldn't have said that they aren't the number one team, but with Padgett leaving Kansas most likely the number one spot is a toss up. I'm a Tucker fan, though, that's for sure. UNC: Going to be the same team they have been the past couple years, except they will have one years worth of experience with Roy Williams. None of their best players are going to change their style of play to include defense anytime soon, but I do think they will be a top five team. Duke: No guarantee that Deng stays, Livingston is likely to make the jump to the pros, Duhon (though overrated) is gone. However, Sheldon Williams, Ewing, Redick, and Randolph is not a bad nucleus of players to have. Illinois: I see them being better than UNC as well. They literally return everyone that had some sort of importance to contributing to the team. They have a top two backcourt, nice athleticism, Augustine keeps on improving, and I'm hearing nothing but good things about their top recruit (ok maybe not NOTHING but good things). I think that the main players for Illinois are more reliable on both ends of the floor than UNC which is what makes them better.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">UNC: Going to be the same team they have been the past couple years, except they will have one years worth of experience with Roy Williams. None of their best players are going to change their style of play to include defense anytime soon, but I do think they will be a top five team.</div> Yeah, the same team, plus two future NBA lottery picks.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Every two days huh... Come on man, I'm anxious to see the rest of your list</div> Sorry, two factors. 1 - The part (video card) I was waiting for on my personal computer with the documents on them hasn't come in yet. It was supposed to be here like a week ago. 2 - If the card doesn't come by the end of the playoffs, I'll redo them... but the playoffs are very time consuming for a jbb mod.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shunt:</div><div class="quote_post">Oklahoma State is guranteed to sweep Kansas man....</div> Why do you feel that way? I've reviewed the incoming Kansas team and talked about why I think they will be one of the three best in the nation. So why don't you share your thoughts about why Oklahoma State will be better, even without Allen?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Oklahoma State is guranteed to sweep Kansas man....</div> How can you say that? Oklahoma State loses Tony Allen. Wave, where is UNC going to be ranked? Devin Harris is a lock to go to the NBA, sorry. No player, that is a lock to be a lottery pick, top 10 pick, will go back to college. I don't care what you say about UNCs past and them not achieving greatness, but you cannot deny the fact that this team is talented, and pretty damn deep. They have 5 future NBA players on there team. McCants, Felton, May, Williams and Marvin. Last season was there first season playing under Roy Williams. We had some horrible losses, and some great wins. Beating Illinios, but then losing to Wake Forest in triple overtime. Losing to Kentucky by 5, and then beating Georgia Tech by 15. Losing to Maryland, but then beating UConn. Losing to Florida State, and then beating NC State. With Wisconsin losing Devin Harris. With Kansas losing David Padgett. With Duke losing Deng, Livingston and Duhon. I think UNC will be a better team than Georgia Tech also. Last season, we beat them in the first game, but then lost to them in the 2nd game. They lose one of there starting players, Marvin Lewis. We lose no one, and bring in a better class. Most of there recruits won't have a big impact on this season, but Marvin Williams will step in and be huge for this team. Plus, we didn't even have David Noel for the whole season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting STCBBall3:</div><div class="quote_post">Wave, where is UNC going to be ranked?</div> Don't think I forgot about them. They'll be coming up shortly. I'll be posting the #4 team one Thursday and the #5 team on Monday. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Devin Harris is a lock to go to the NBA, sorry. No player, that is a lock to be a lottery pick, top 10 pick, will go back to college.</div> The fact remains that he has yet to hire an agent and could possibly improve his stock by going back to school. It could mean the difference between the #8 pick and the #2 pick. Players like him go back to school all the time; remember Jason Gardener and Rickey Paulding flirting with coming out? They were pretty much guaranteed high picks, but they went back to college. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't care what you say about UNCs past and them not achieving greatness, but you cannot deny the fact that this team is talented, and pretty damn deep. They have 5 future NBA players on there team. McCants, Felton, May, Williams and Marvin.</div> Last year Missouri and Michigan State had five future NBA players on their teams, and look how they turned out. The teams that look good on paper are not always the teams that perform the best. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">With Wisconsin losing Devin Harris. With Kansas losing David Padgett. With Duke losing Deng, Livingston and Duhon.</div> Keep in mind that the early entrees in the NBA Draft did not effect my rankings unless they hired agents. Surely I wouldn't have Wisconsin over North Carolina if Harris had hired an agent already. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I think UNC will be a better team than Georgia Tech also. Last season, we beat them in the first game, but then lost to them in the 2nd game. They lose one of there starting players, Marvin Lewis. We lose no one, and bring in a better class. Most of there recruits won't have a big impact on this season, but Marvin Williams will step in and be huge for this team. Plus, we didn't even have David Noel for the whole season.</div> Again, you're looking at a very strong team on paper. It takes chemistry to win, and Georgia Tech has that chemistry. They didn't fluke their way into the championship game last year. Last year Kentucky had what I'd consider a more successful year than North Carolina, yet they had far less talent. The reason for that was great coaching, great team play, and getting the best out of every one of their players. North Carolina's chemistry will always be in question, North Carolina will always have players that will have unfufilled potential, and let's face it... Roy Williams = 0 national championships. North Carolina has an All-NBA roster. There's no denying that. However, Georgia Tech's roster is just as good. Elder, Muhammad, Jack, Schenscher, and Bynum are all likely to make NBA rosters in the next few years. Remember, just because North Carolina isn't in my top 3 (which is subject to change as soon as Harris makes his final decision), it doesn't mean I don't think highly of the team that they are bringing in this year. There is very little difference between #1 and #5. It can go any which way.
osu JamesOn Curry steps right in and helps out with the loss of Allen quite well...incoming Jr. Powerhouse Forward Aaron Pettway already has NBA scouts looking at him, and Sutton says he should more than likely start. If Julius Lamptey qualifies, he will be behind Pettway and that says a lot...'cuz if he does not qualify, he is off to make BIG money overseas the second he finds out he didnt pass his test on his last try. John Lucas III is back, and can provide lots of offense, as is Daniel Bobik who will share time with Curry...Joey Graham was dominant in the tourney and will be back and strong as ever, and his twin brother Stevie will get some goot PT this year w/ Allen gone, remember they had very similar #'s at Central Florida....Terrance Crawford will be strong of the bench for his Sr year... Ivan McFarlin will be back for his Sr year...he's a legit double double guy every time he is on the floor, an increadible Defensive player that sometimes goes maddd on offense as well. David Monds is an almost identical player who will come off the bench and provide quality minutes... Marcus Dove will be good for a few min. a game at the 2 and 3, and the 7'2 pretorian sprinter Frans Steyn could come around and do something, but I highly doubt it. Ive talked w/ a lot of insiders about this team, and they are all very hyped about this team and say that Eddie can barely contain himself....he feels very very good... trust me, nobody is going to miss Tony, aside from the fact that he was a real fun guy.
Ok, so Oklahoma State will be good. I acknowledge that and have them coming up soon. However, look at the competition. Theres no way the talent that Oklahoma State has compares to that of Wisconsin, Kansas, North Carolina, or arguably even Georgia Tech. You can go down the board and compare player to player, and you'll find out just how deep and talented those four teams will be. Also, teams that look the best on paper are not always the best. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting shunt:</div><div class="quote_post">JamesOn Curry steps right in and helps out with the loss of Allen quite well...</div> Face the reality of things. Curry was all set to go to North Carolina, but they didn't even want the kid and his baggage. He just wasn't worth it. There's no way he would have gotten any significant playing time anyway. It's good that Oklahoma State found someone to replace Allen with, but I don't think he'll come in and do anything spectacular. Maybe a few years down the road he'll be an impact player, but he's only a 2nd class Freshman. And if you do think he will be an impact player, then what does that say about the talent level of North Carolina compared to Oklahoma State? Curry would only be an impact player on North Carolina during his Junior and Senior seasons. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">incoming Jr. Powerhouse Forward Aaron Pettway already has NBA scouts looking at him, and Sutton says he should more than likely start.</div> I actually have some relatives that went to Pettway's High School (Shaw). They say not only is the kid dumb as bricks but he didn't even make the basketball team. He is just some kid who developed nicely at community college but isn't expected to be more than a mediocre role player. What does it mean that NBA scouts are already looking at him? Just about every Junior in the NCAA is being looked at by NBA scouts. Compare this kid to North Carolina's forward, Rashad McCants. There is a severe difference in talent level. Pettway is a kid with the potential to be a solid starter in the NBDL while McCants is a kid with the potential to be the next Kobe Bryant. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If Julius Lamptey qualifies, he will be behind Pettway and that says a lot...'cuz if he does not qualify, he is off to make BIG money overseas the second he finds out he didnt pass his test on his last try.</div> How dumb can this kid be? He couldn't get into Arkansas after he was offered a full basketball scholarship. Getting into Alabama after you've been offered a full scholarship is about as easy as watching Eddie Sutton never win a national championship. Can the kid even spell his name? Anyway, I realize that it's about basketball talent and not intelligence - I just though I'd get that out there. Again, Lamptey is a great player. However, he has not big time college experience. He's essentially a Freshman. Do you honestly expect him to have the same impact as Sean May? Face it, for everyone on Oklahoma who you think is good, teams like Kansas and North Carolina have a future first rounder to counter with.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shunt:</div><div class="quote_post">Oklahoma State is guranteed to sweep Kansas man....</div> Oh COME ON! Tony Allen is gone, no way in hell will they sweep Kansas. If it happens it wont be easy.
How will Kentucky fair? They lose Fitch and other, but they bring in some great recruits...Randolph Morris, Joe Crawford, and Rajon Rondo. All 3 are ranked in the top 3 for their positions. I know they can't make up for everything they lose, but they could really help out. Also, how about Memphis? Could we see a big year from them? We lose Antonio Burks, C-USA player of the year. But we do return maybe best Freshman last year behind Paul, Sean Banks. Banks will have a huge year as he did his freshman year and Memphis is also expecting a big year from Rodney Carney. We bring in a couple recruits, first Darius Washington, a good PG. SLAM magazine has Darius on their Third Team All-American team. Also, we bring in a JuCo, 6'9" SF/PF from Mount San Jacinto College in Cali, Waki Williams. He averaged 17.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG, and 1.1 BPG as a frosh and 19.4PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 1.4 BPG as a soph. His coach said that he's only blooming and getting better. I don't expect a great year from Louisville. We went from having argueably the best recruiting class in the nation, to one not so good. We were bringing in JuCo, 6'7" SG, Donta Smith who made a wrong deciion delcaring for the draft, and we were brignging in Telfair who could have learned a lot from Pitino, but he too delcared for the draft. Of course, we do return Garcia who could have a huge year. We also bring in a good SF Tello Polacios.
yah, Lamptey is a dumb ol' fube... but as far as Pettway, cmon...he grew 7 or 8 inches after High school so the people that knew him back then probably dont have much of an accurate view of what he is now....
