Early Look for 05-06 college season

I know that it's early with the draft not even gone by yet, but who do you think is the top 4 Championship contender going into next year?

My four are going to go like this:
4. Arizona will lose some of the nation's top players in Channing Frye and Salim Stoudamire, but they will just have more players step into place, for example Kirk Walters is the most likely to step in for Frye, and McClellan is the sophomore that was a All-American that came out of Houston, he will replace Salim Stoudamire. So they won?t really lose much fire power. So look for Lute Olson to have another strong team out of the West this year.

3. UConn is having some young talent come back, but they will be my third favorite if they get Bynum. They already have a promising starting line-up in Boone PF, Armstong C,Gay SF, Brown SG, and Williams PG, then maybe even Bynum off the bench. UConn can just live with the Starters they have, plus they got a premier coach in Calhoun.

2. Kentucky is my second favorite because of their depth. They would be my favorite with Morris, but they also lost Kelenna Azuibuike and Hayes, but they still have that deep bench that goes at least 10 deep that Tubby Smith can use brililiantly.

1. Duke is my least favorite team in college , but I got to give them this. They have a genius coach on the sideline, in Coach K, that could almost make it to the Final Four with that little bench he had last year. He now has 3 of the top 25 recruits being led in by McRoberts that will just add to a Duke team that only loss Ewing. They got a mature leader in J.J. Redick that doesn't miss much. They have the "Landlord" (Shelden Williams Future first rounder!!!) down low to go next to McRoberts, so they will dominate once again with UNC losing their whole team.

So that's my favorites going into next year, some others I'm going to watch are Gonzaga, Michigan, Michigan St. (Voodoo gonna be mad they weren't in the top 4 ), Washington, UCLA, Memphis, Oklahoma(only if Lavender didn't tranfer, they could be better) and Texas if they get Aldrige and Gibson back.

So lets hear some feedback!!!

 

I dunno if Arizona can bounce back from losing their two best players, but in college bball who knows. I totally agree with Duke going all the way, they should run away with the ACC this year and their definately my pick to go all the way. UCLA has some great young guys and look for them to finish in the top 25 this year.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker31:</div><div class="quote_post">I dunno if Arizona can bounce back from losing their two best players, but in college bball who knows. I totally agree with Duke going all the way, they should run away with the ACC this year and their definately my pick to go all the way. UCLA has some great young guys and look for them to finish in the top 25 this year.</div>

If you haven't noticed, Arizona's gonna have no problem replacing Salim Stoudamire, but Frye might be hard to replace. They won't have a big time go to man to score in the post(Unless Radenovic becomes KG) they will just replace his rebounds and block shots in the post. They will have the guards score more for them because they like to Push the ball for fastbreak lay-ups and Hassan Adams dunks.

 

Kentucky way, way too high, IMHO. They lost their leading scorer in Azubuike, best rebounder in Hayes, and starting center Morris. Our backcourt is still pretty solid with Rondo, Crawford, and Sparks, but I'm very concerned with our big guys down low. The PF spot is wide open right now with Sheray Thomas, Rakalin Sims, and Bobby Perry all fighting it out for the spot. I feel that Sims will come out on top because of his versatility and ability to play SF and PF. Either one of our 7 footers- Alleyne and Obrzut will be the starting center. The bench will still be loaded with the likes of PG/SG Ramel Bradley, PF/SF Bobby Perry, G Ravi Moss, C Lukasz Obrzut, and PF Sheray Thomas. I say we'll finish about 15th and still win the SEC because the SEC is having another down year once again.

 

Ya, but they got a very good coach that knows what he's doing. They got a very good team for Tubby to coach, why can't they be that high?

The main question though is as I said in the first sentence!!! Who do you think is the top 4 Championship contender going into next year? I haven't got anyone's 4, they're just giving me feedback on mine(must be okay i guess).

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I know that it's early with the draft not even gone by yet, but who do you think is the top 4 Championship contender going into next year? </div>

Exactly, this is pretty pointless to discuss and debate right now. Personally, I like to focus my energy on the draft at this time of the year, which is more or less an extension of NCAA ball, and once that's about a week or so over, then I begin talking about the upcoming year. However, Schaddy and I are working on a little Preseason Top 25 piece for later this year, and I guess I'll leak a little info and say our tentative top four is Duke, Connecticut, Villanova, and Michigan State.

 

LOL, thanks for the insight Voodoo, what bout Zona in that top 25?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">The main question though is as I said in the first sentence!!! Who do you think is the top 4 Championship contender going into next year? I haven't got anyone's 4, they're just giving me feedback on mine(must be okay i guess).</div>
Yes, I forgot to compliment you on your predictions.


Now for mine:
1. Duke: I too cannot stand this team, but dang, they are stacked. They're returning the best shooter in college basketball(with Salim gone, he now is the gest) in JK Redick who averaged 21 point per game last year and shot 40% from beyond the arc. Then you have to consider the recruiting class they brought in- Greg Paulus the #1 rated point guard according to Rivals.com and Josh McRoberts- the best overall high school player, IMHO. You then have to look at what they are bring back- starting center Sheldon Williams who could have went pro and been a top 10 pick, guards Sean Dockery and DeMarcus Nelson, Shavlik Randolph who will most likely come off the bench with the addition of McRoberts, and Lee Melchionni who was clutch when they needed him last year. You also have to consider that UNC lost their whole starting lineup, so Duke should handle the ACC fairly well. Right now, Duke is my favorite to take it all next year as they usually are every year.

2. UConn: One heck of a team; even with the subtraction of Charlie Villanueva. One of UConn's best players Rudy Gay decided to stay in school for another year and is expected to be the #1 pick in the 2006 draft already. He should be one of the best players in the nation for sure next year and they also got Josh Boone returning after a breakout year averaging 12 points and 8 boards a game. Point guard Marcus Williams is already being called one of the best guards in the nation after his huge year last season(8 assists a game). And this team brought in some pretty solid recruits as they do every year. Center Andrew Bynum being the main one, but he entered the draft and may come back if he's not guaranteed a lottery pick. UConn would overcome Duke in my rankings if they can get Andrew Bynum to come to school who would be a major asset to their team.

3. Michigan State- Returning 4 of their 5 starters from last year's final four team. They just lost Alan Anderson but highly touted Marquise Gray who was out last year with an injury or the football player Matt Trannon will give them some help inside as the starter. Shannon Brown is ready to breakout after a very solid tournament and Drew Neitzel looked good in his freshman year as the starting PG. Ager and Davis will give them the veteran presense and both should have big years and be 1st rounders in next year's draft.

That's my top 3 with Texas, Gonzaga, and Villanova on the outside

 

That's a very good top 3, but what bout ur Cats? You always got to go with ur favorite teams because ur going to root for them all year, so gotta get pumped up for them.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">That's a very good top 3, but what bout ur Cats? You always got to go with ur favorite teams because ur going to root for them all year, so gotta get pumped up for them.</div>
Well, I simply don't see them being a top 10 team with the losses of three starters. Of course there's still a possibility that someone steps up and carries the load. That guy could be Joe Crawford. I assume we will have to go with a 3 guard set with Rondo, Sparks, and Crawford- and many people are forgetting all about Crawford due to him sitting the bench because Azubuike was in front of him. But Crawford was a McDonalds all-american in 2004 and was supposed to have actually started last season at the 2 with Sparks running the point, but Rondo emerged and simply tore it up which caused Sparks to move to 2-guard. I'm excited, no matter how good or bad we may be!

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKOwnstheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, I simply don't see them being a top 10 team with the losses of three starters. Of course there's still a possibility that someone steps up and carries the load. That guy could be Joe Crawford. I assume we will have to go with a 3 guard set with Rondo, Sparks, and Crawford- and many people are forgetting all about Crawford due to him sitting the bench because Azubuike was in front of him. But Crawford was a McDonalds all-american in 2004 and was supposed to have actually started last season at the 2 with Sparks running the point, but Rondo emerged and simply tore it up which caused Sparks to move to 2-guard. I'm excited, no matter how good or bad we may be!</div>
Didn't the Cats get any good recruits? They're like a premier program in the SEC and they don't have any good recruits in? No 7'5" giant from africa like ALI. Or a under the radar player like Rondo?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Didn't the Cats get any good recruits? They're like a premier program in the SEC and they don't have any good recruits in? No 7'5" giant from africa like ALI. Or a under the radar player like Rondo?</div>
We only had 3 scholorships to use this season and we used them on JUCO forward Raklin Sims, 7 footer Jared Carter, and guard Adam Williams- All are 3 stars or below. Abd the main reason we didn't get any big names is because we got 3 all americans last year so we really weren't an attractive team that had playin time available. But I'm sure we could've got a big name if the recruits would've known Morris and Azubuike would leave.

 

Is Azuibuike a Junior? If so he probably would come back if he weren't in the first round. Or is this the second time he's enter the draft? Morris is a retard, he should definitly come back, because he got his head up his ***, just looking to get money in the NBA.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Is Azuibuike a Junior? If so he probably would come back if he weren't in the first round. Or is this the second time he's enter the draft? Morris is a retard, he should definitly come back, because he got his head up his ***, just looking to get money in the NBA.</div>

Yes, Kelenna Azubuike was a Junior. However, he signed an agent so he can't return to school. I'm not going to speculate on why he signed an agent, but there have been many rumors that he had certain immediate family problems which he needed the money for. As for Randolph Morris, I'd do the same thing he's doing if I were in his shoes. He had a very unimpressive year at Kentucky yet is somehow always mentioned when it comes to late first round pick talk. The kid is just big and not very talented. He's not going to improve his draft stock if he stays at Kentucky and he knows it. Good move by Randolph to get the 3-4 million dollar paycheck that comes with a late first round pick while he still can. The worst case scenario for him is that he sits on the bench for a few years, doesn't do anything, and retires as a multimillionaire at the age of 22. Yes Randolph, pass all that money up for another year rotting at Kentucky.

 

1 - Uconn

They have potentially two of the best players in college ball in Josh Boone and Rudy Gay. The key word there is potentially, this may be one of those teams that is ranked high in the pre-season polls and after the season your like "What ever happened to Uconn".

2 - Michigan State

Yes the Spartans. Shannon Brown is one hell of a player and he is returning for his junior season which can only make things better for the Spartans. They are going to have a dynamic duo of Brown and Paul Davis this year and they can potentially have it next year. Spartans are a team to look out for this season.

3 - Duke

They are returning one of the best defensive threats in the country and one of the best if not the best shooter in the country. Plus with a great coach and they always seem to find themselves in the mix of things.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes, Kelenna Azubuike was a Junior. However, he signed an agent so he can't return to school. I'm not going to speculate on why he signed an agent, but there have been many rumors that he had certain immediate family problems which he needed the money for. As for Randolph Morris, I'd do the same thing he's doing if I were in his shoes. He had a very unimpressive year at Kentucky yet is somehow always mentioned when it comes to late first round pick talk. The kid is just big and not very talented. He's not going to improve his draft stock if he stays at Kentucky and he knows it. Good move by Randolph to get the 3-4 million dollar paycheck that comes with a late first round pick while he still can. The worst case scenario for him is that he sits on the bench for a few years, doesn't do anything, and retires as a multimillionaire at the age of 22. Yes Randolph, pass all that money up for another year rotting at Kentucky.</div>
Morris was a starter at Kentucky the past season but he struggled majorly. He just didn't play up to all the hype that was put on him, and now he decides to enter the draft. He should've been a man about this and actually spoke tp Tubby about his decision instead of faxing all of his stuff to Tubby. I don't really see what you mean by he's rotting away; I think he could have came back and been a force to be reckon with. I just don't think he was rotting away. But there's still a possibility that he slips to the second round and doesn't get the guaranteed money.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UKOwnstheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">Morris was a starter at Kentucky the past season but he struggled majorly. He just didn't play up to all the hype that was put on him, and now he decides to enter the draft. He should've been a man about this and actually spoke tp Tubby about his decision instead of faxing all of his stuff to Tubby. I don't really see what you mean by he's rotting away; I think he could have came back and been a force to be reckon with. I just don't think he was rotting away. But there's still a possibility that he slips to the second round and doesn't get the guaranteed money.</div>

I said he benched?

He'd be rotting at Kentucky in the sense that this "potential" and "draft stock" he had out of High School would continue to deteriorate. This season was very unimpressive. He padded his numbers against bad teams and was pushed around by the better teams UK played. Even when he played Michigan State, which many said was his best game of the year, he was dominated on the glass. He's just very raw and is only a prospect because of his size. Just imagine if he and Hayes switched bodies. Morris might not even be able to make UK at 6-6, 242 lbs. The point is that the longer he stays at Kentucky, the less "potential" he has in the eyes of NBA scouts.

 

Out of all the teams people have said, I think Arizona is the most underrated team in the NCAA because everyone says they lost Frye and Stoudamire, but they will be replaced by Kirk Walter, and Juwann McClellan. Two very solid players that contributed a lot last year. They also have this 7'2" giant coming in, but I really don't know much bout this guy so he'll be a big mystery to most. They also have 3 very solid freshman coming in at PG in J.P. Prince who is 6'5", very big for a point guard, then a streaky shooter in Williams out of the very dominant Washington class, and then another Houston product that should help Hassan Adams. So don't be suprised if they come on towards the end of the year when they get some experience from playing together all year. They may struggle in the beginning of the year, but they will get it going as they enter the tourney, they may be the next Mich St from this year.

 

Hate em' or Love em' you better watch out for Duke they are going to make a strong run at it this year again. With the freshmen and the returning players.