It's that time of year again, a month or two before the season starts, pre-season college basketball magazines start coming out, and JBB members make their own Final Four predictions I'll start: Villanova Wildcats I believe it takes a good three point shooting team to take it all the way to the final four and with Randy Foye, Allen Ray, Mike Nardi, and Curtis Sumpter, Villanova may have the very best shooting team in college basketball this season. They are lead by a great coach in Jay Wright and if all the players stay injury free I can see them easily making it to the final four. Memphis Tigers John Calipari is dealt possibly the most talented group of players for 2005/06, he just needs to get them to produce on the court. Darius Washington Jr., Rodney Carney, and Shawne Williams are all players you can very well see on a NBA court in the near future. They should also march through the C-USA as well with no real tough team in there. Michigan State Put it this way, everybody that can come back is coming back. The only loss that can really hurt the team this season is Alan Anderson who was a senior this past season. A lot of people are expecting big things out of Maurice Ager and Shannon Brown this season and I don't believe they'll let you down. Kentucky I guess you can consider this as my "surprise" team for the final four. The only players they lost that was going to contribute this season was Kelenna Azubuike and Chuck Hayes. Plus they got Rajon Rondo who in my mind is due for a very nice season this year plus Patrick Sparks as well as Joe Crawford and with that trio, with Tubby coaching I see no reason why they can make it. Now it's your turn!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting C.K.:</div><div class="quote_post"> Memphis Tigers John Calipari is dealt possibly the most talented group of players for 2005/06, he just needs to get them to produce on the court. Darius Washington Jr., Rodney Carney, and Shawne Williams are all players you can very well see on a NBA court in the near future. They should also march through the C-USA as well with no real tough team in there. </div> I have a problem with this pick. Everyone knows the Tigers will be ranked high, but it's just going to be because they're going to pad their schedule in the new Conference USA. What you have to realize that this is basically the same NIT team of last season. They add Shawne Williams, but they lost Sean Banks and Duane Erwin. The Tigers haven't done well in the tournament in decades. Even when they had that great team with Dajuan Wagner, they couldn't make it into the tournament. They'll be the one top seed that I'm going to pick to make an early exit in the tourny. With that said, here are my four teams - Michigan State Spartans - For the first time in a few years, the Spartans actually have a team that I can feel confident in before the season starts. With Shannon Brown and Marquise Gray, I expect another mini-dynasty like the one they had from '99-01. Oh yeah, having Tom Izzo in the tourny doesn't exactly hurt either. Duke Blue Devils - J.J. Redick is the best player in college basketball right now (no Dee Brown arguments please), Josh McRoberts should be the best incoming Freshman, and Shelden Williams should be the best post player in the NCAA. It seems like simple logic to me. Every year I pick against the preseason favorite (Connecticut, North Carolina, etc.), and every year I am proven wrong, so I figured this year I might as well change things up and pick the favorite. Gonzaga Bulldogs - Everyone likes to pick them to be ranked high during the preseason, but not many people go as far as calling them legit title contenders. Turiaf may have been the heart and soul of the team, but they'll get by just fine with Adam Morrison, J.P. Batista, and Derek Raivio running the show. They have five legit pro prospects on this team. Mark Few is also one hell of a coach. Illinois/Indiana - This pick of mine really hinges on who gets the #2 incoming Freshman, Brandon Rush. An Indiana lineup of Stickland, Monroe, Killingsworth, Vaden, and White with Rush off the bench would really bring Indiana back to prominance; if only Wright didn't declare early. If neither of these teams gets Brandon Rush, then my final pick would be Wake Forest. Yes, they lose Paul, but they return a veteran team with a lot of experience, and experience is what matters in the tournament. I also think that most people cut Justin Gray short. He's not that much of a downgrade on Chris Paul.
Duke- JJ Reddick, Sheldon Williams know that this is their last chance to win the big one. Texas- Gibson is the best PG in the nation and he cacn lead them here along with the contribution of the guys around him Kentucky- With Rajon Rondo and Tubby Smith it's hard to bet against them in the SEC I think Rajon is going to lead them to the Final 4 Vilanova- This team is my sleeper, they have excellent shooters in Allen Ray and Randy Foye. I think they can go farther than last year.
<font color="Red">Arizona Wildcats</font> - Who says miracles can't happen, with Mustafa Shakur, Hassan Adams, and Lute Olson anything is possible. I can't wait to hear all the disses on me <font color="Blue">Duke Blue Devils </font> - Duke is just too good to leave out, they'll be the favorite 2 win it all. <font color="DarkOrange">Texas Longhorns</font> - They are gonna be stacked this year even without C.J. Miles, they'll go far this year. <font color="RoyalBlue">UCLA Bruins</font> - Can u say Cinderella, I know I can. Jordan Farmar will only get better making UCLA very good this year. Can't wait till ppl start dissing me now
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Vilanova- This team is my sleeper, they have excellent shooters in Allen Ray and Randy Foye. I think they can go farther than last year.</div> Haha, what are you talking about? To be a sleeper, don't you have to be a lower ranking seed that no one sees coming? I hate to burst your bubble, but Villanova is in everyones preseason top five. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Texas- Gibson is the best PG in the nation and he cacn lead them here along with the contribution of the guys around him</div> Typo, right?
If Kentucky would have had the chance to bring back Kelenna Azubuike, then I think they are a final four team for sure. But Azubuike chose to go NBA and left Kentucky hanging. Kentucky will still be a solid team all because of their depth. The Final Four part will not be happening though.... Duke- They'll be in the mix just like they are every year. Redick, Williams, Dockery, Nelson, and possibly the best incoming freshman in the nation in McRoberts. They also added Greg Paulus and Eric Boateng. Michigan State- Bringing back 4 of their 5 starters and they have Trannon and Gray who are capable of filling in for Anderson just fine. Shannon Brown is emerging into one of the best players in the nation and Paul Davis will be a force in the paint. Coach Izzo will get this team into the final four once again. Oklahoma- Definitely one of the more dangerous teams in the nation. They'll have Bookout and Gray returning in the paint and guard Terrell Everett looked great in his first year with Oklahoma last season. UConn- Gay, Boone, Williams, Brown, Anderson, Price, and Armstrong is a heck of a core of players. This team could very well win the champsionship as well with all the experience they have.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">I have a problem with this pick. Everyone knows the Tigers will be ranked high, but it's just going to be because they're going to pad their schedule in the new Conference USA. What you have to realize that this is basically the same NIT team of last season. They add Shawne Williams, but they lost Sean Banks and Duane Erwin. The Tigers haven't done well in the tournament in decades. Even when they had that great team with Dajuan Wagner, they couldn't make it into the tournament. They'll be the one top seed that I'm going to pick to make an early exit in the tourny. With that said, here are my four teams - </div> Memphis did lose Sean Banks and Duane Erwin but they bring back so much talent that won't be distracted by the Sean Banks fiasco either. You have to know that Darius Washington Jr. is going to improve as well as Rodney Carney, quite frankly that's all they need but they then add Shawne Williams, a freshman who looks to have a big impact in his freshman season. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Texas- Gibson is the best PG in the nation and he cacn lead them here along with the contribution of the guys around him </div> Gibson is a great point guard but I don't think he is the best in the country. As VC said, I am going to take that as a typo as well, because off the top of my head I can name Darius Washington Jr., Rajan Rondo, Shannon Brown, Ronnie Brewer, and Mardy Collins who all I think are better then Gibson. He is a hell of a point guard, and if it were any other class of point guards he probably would be ranked higher but this crop of point guards is just...wow.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Memphis did lose Sean Banks and Duane Erwin but they bring back so much talent that won't be distracted by the Sean Banks fiasco either. You have to know that Darius Washington Jr. is going to improve as well as Rodney Carney, quite frankly that's all they need but they then add Shawne Williams, a freshman who looks to have a big impact in his freshman season. </div> I don't think that Sean Banks was as much of a distraction as the media makes him out to be. Every single player (minus maybe Washington and a few others) on Memphis is a headcase, so you can't just limit their chemistry problems to the problems they had with Sean Banks. The fact of the matter is that he was one of the best players on the team last year, and losing him is a huge loss. Memphis may be returning what most people see as the "big three" (Carney, Washington, and Williams), but they lose all their 'glue guys' in the process. In fact, four of their six leading scorers are all leaving (Banks, Rice, Hunt, and Erwin). They also lost their primary recruit, Ricky Sanchez. What most people are also overlooking is that they're losing size, because Duane Erwin and Arthur Barclay weren't replaced in the recruiting process. The bottom line is that this team is a three player team, one of which being a Freshman and one of which being vastly overrated. They have no postseason experience, but they do have experience with innerconflict and fighting within the team. They also have no post presence. Calipari is a great recruiter, but he's a horrible X's and O's coach. I can see why they're considered a top 15 team, because they're likely playing a very weak schedule. However, I can't see why anyone would even consider them a Sweet 16 team next season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">The bottom line is that this team is a three player team, one of which being a Freshman and one of which being vastly overrated. They have no postseason experience, but they do have experience with innerconflict and fighting within the team. They also have no post presence. Calipari is a great recruiter, but he's a horrible X's and O's coach. I can see why they're considered a top 15 team, because they're likely playing a very weak schedule. However, I can't see why anyone would even consider them a Sweet 16 team next season.</div> Yes I understand that they are only a three player team plus a good coach but one can compare them as a poor man's Syracuse team that went all the way. Shawne Williams being the freshman in Hakim Warrick, Darius Washington Jr. being Gerry McNamara, and Rodney Carney being Carmelo Anthony. I am not trying to compare those three but am simply saying that it can be done with a three player team plus role players stepping it up along the way. If Joey Dorsey can step his game up and average around 8 points a game as a role player, and if Memphis stays healthy, who knows. Anything can happen in March.
Michigan State - Deep, talented, experienced Duke Blue Devils - see above UCLA Bruins - This team has the talent to get to the Final 4 if they put it all together. Mr. Do-It-All Dijon Thompson is gone, but a lot of people felt he held the younger players back. Often times they deferred to him instead of being more aggressive. Boston College - They bring back everyone. I'm curious to see how they perform moving to the ACC. I have them 2nd best only to Duke. A hungry team of seniors is always tough during tournament play.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting C.K.:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes I understand that they are only a three player team plus a good coach but one can compare them as a poor man's Syracuse team that went all the way. Shawne Williams being the freshman in Hakim Warrick, Darius Washington Jr. being Gerry McNamara, and Rodney Carney being Carmelo Anthony. I am not trying to compare those three but am simply saying that it can be done with a three player team plus role players stepping it up along the way. If Joey Dorsey can step his game up and average around 8 points a game as a role player, and if Memphis stays healthy, who knows. Anything can happen in March.</div> I don't even see how you can start comparing that Syracuse team to Memphis. When Memphis switches to a zone, hires a coach who can actually coach, and inks a player as good as Anthony (possibly the greatest Freshman ever), then feel free to compare. Until then, they bare no resemblance.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Boston College - They bring back everyone. I'm curious to see how they perform moving to the ACC. I have them 2nd best only to Duke. A hungry team of seniors is always tough during tournament play.</div> Wow, BC, I think those shots from ur b-day got to ya!!! BC has really no chance against teams like UConn, Memphis, Zona, and Texas. They'll be out in the Elite 8 if they're lucky.
Michigan State, Duke, Villanova and Oklahoma. It's hard to pick these guys and leave off teams like UConn, Louisville, Zaga and Texas, but I think these are all teams with good veteran players, and that can be a big help getting deep in the tourney. I know, I know, 'Melo did it as a frosh, but I think experience helps, and that's why I'm going with those four teams over the other, younger teams like UConn and Texas.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, BC, I think those shots from ur b-day got to ya!!! BC has really no chance against teams like UConn, Memphis, Zona, and Texas. They'll be out in the Elite 8 if they're lucky.</div> I definitely think that BC has a chance at the Final Four. They return everybody plus a great coach, guys such as Craig Smith and Jared Dudley are both possible all-americans with role players such as Sean Marshall I don't see any reason why they can't. Bottom line is that with a great coach, two all-americans and some great role players I can say that BC will be a condender for the national title.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, BC, I think those shots from ur b-day got to ya!!! BC has really no chance against teams like UConn, Memphis, Zona, and Texas. They'll be out in the Elite 8 if they're lucky.</div> Why not BC? The best teams don't always make it to the Final Four, there's always one or two teams who make it further than anyone expects because of experience and desire. Last year Louisville made it to the Final 4 as a four seed, because their three best players were not going to be back, Francisco Garcia, Ellis Myles, and Larry O'Bannon.
