Connecticut, North Carolina, Michigan State, and then a bevy of teams. MSU has not been talked about but I believe they will make the Final Four. When healthy, they are an elite team. Bracket willing, in a one game showdown, they could beat a team like Pittsburgh or a team like Oklahoma.
Interesting stat: No team since 2000 has lost more than two home games that season.
2000 Michigan State 14-0
2001 Duke 13-2
2002 Maryland 15-0
2003 Syracuse 17-0
2004 Connecticut 17-1
2005 North Carolina 15-0
2006 Florida 16-2
2007 Florida 16-0
2008 Kansas 19-0
That's an astonishing 142-5.
UConn lost their second home game tonight against Pitt. If they drop one more (Notre Dame may give them a game) then I won't pick them to win the national title. However if they beat ND, we can still call them a favorite.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Big East Tournament
Just for fun, if the season ended today, to see how it could play out. I'm using the chalk to predict the winner.
Tuesday March 10:
9. West Virginia vs 16 DePaul (Winner plays Cincinnati)
12. Georgetown vs 13 USF (Winner plays Villanova)
10. Notre Dame vs 15. Rutgers (Winner plays Syracuse)
11. Seton Hall vs 14. St. John's (Winner plays Providence)
Wednesday March 11
9. West Virginia vs 8. Cincinnati (Winner plays Connecticut)
12. Georgetown vs 5. Villanova (Winner plays Louisville)
10. Notre Dame vs 7. Syracuse (Winner plays Pittsburgh)
11. Seton Hall vs 6. Providence (Winner plays Marquette)
Thursday March 12
8. Cincinnati vs 1. Connecticut
5. Villanova vs 4. Louisville
7. Syracuse vs 2. Pittsburgh
6. Providence vs 3. Marquette
Friday March 13
1. Connecticut vs 4. Louisville
2. Pittsburgh vs 3. Marquette
Saturday March 14
1. Connecticut vs 2. Pittsburgh
WINNER: We'll get a peak on Monday when Pitt and UConn face off.
Tuesday March 10:
9. West Virginia vs 16 DePaul (Winner plays Cincinnati)
12. Georgetown vs 13 USF (Winner plays Villanova)
10. Notre Dame vs 15. Rutgers (Winner plays Syracuse)
11. Seton Hall vs 14. St. John's (Winner plays Providence)
Wednesday March 11
9. West Virginia vs 8. Cincinnati (Winner plays Connecticut)
12. Georgetown vs 5. Villanova (Winner plays Louisville)
10. Notre Dame vs 7. Syracuse (Winner plays Pittsburgh)
11. Seton Hall vs 6. Providence (Winner plays Marquette)
Thursday March 12
8. Cincinnati vs 1. Connecticut
5. Villanova vs 4. Louisville
7. Syracuse vs 2. Pittsburgh
6. Providence vs 3. Marquette
Friday March 13
1. Connecticut vs 4. Louisville
2. Pittsburgh vs 3. Marquette
Saturday March 14
1. Connecticut vs 2. Pittsburgh
WINNER: We'll get a peak on Monday when Pitt and UConn face off.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Conference Player and Rookie of the Year Races
ACC POY:
Jeff Teague and Tyler Hansbrough. Both guys have the stats but as of right now, Teague has more signature games plus the head to head W. Teague, for now.
ACC ROY:
Al-Farouq Aminu. There are some other guys that maybe could challenge. Well, actually the ACC freshman class is weak and Aminu is just about a lock to win. Aminu
Big East POY:
Jerel McNeal, Luke Harangody, DeJuan Blair, and Hasheem Thabeet. McNeal and Thabeet are the two best defenders in the conference, Harangody has the best stats and Blair has arguably the best overall game. Notre Dame is down so 'Gody is out. Thabeet is known more for his D so he is out. Blair does most of his work on the glass and defers to Sam Young in the clutch. McNeal is the leader of the number one team in the conference and wants the ball when the game is on the line. McNeal, for now.
Big East ROY:
Greg Monroe, Samardo Samuels, Mike Rosario, and Devin Ebanks. Samuels has the most hype but has been somewhat disappointing. Rosario has the best numbers but plays on a team that needs him to shoot early and often. Ebanks has had his flashes but is too inconsistent. Monroe owned Thabeet in Big East game one and has been more important to his team than any other guy on this list. Monroe
Big Ten POY:
Taylor Battle, Kalin Lucas and Evan Turner. The conference is in the midst of a down year and most surprising has been the success of Penn State. Battle is the best unknown player in the country. He leads the conference in points and assists. Turner possesses the best overall game in the conference because he scores, rebounds, passes, and defends. Lucas has numbers but he also has the best talent around him. As weird as it is to say the best player in the conference is from Penn State, it's hard to argue. Battle
Big Ten ROY:
William Buford. Much like the ACC, the Big Ten is having a down year for freshman talent. Ohio State's BJ Mullens was touted as the top talent but his learning curve has been steeper than most expected. Mullens' teammate, William Buford, stepped in for injured guard Dave Lighty and has filled in amicably. Buford
Big 12 POY:
Blake Griffin. Not even close. Griffin
Big 12 ROY:
Willie Warren. Again, not much of a competition. One of the best guards in the conference and gets to play with a dominant big like Griffin every night. If it was chosen by name, I would pick Texas' Dogus Balbay. Too bad. Warren
Pac-10 POY:
James Harden, Jon Brockman, and Jerome Randle. Although Randle has numbers, his contributions are not as important to his team as they are for Brockman and Harden. These two guys make their teams go and are the primary reasons they both have a chance to win the conference. Brockman is a double double machine while Harden is so good, he has no right hand, teams know that and yet, he goes left whenever he wants and scores. Without Harden, Arizona State is not sniffing March. Harden
Pac-10 ROY:
Isaiah Thomas, DeMar DeRozan, and Jrue Holiday. Holiday and DeRozan both were top ten recruits and both are top ten in terms of disappointment. Both are just average conference starters and look nothing like the lottery picks many thought they were. Thomas has wallowed in obscurity but the man with the big name is no slouch. He runs up and down the floor and is arguably the heart of the Huskies team. Not as much of a slam dunk as Warren in the Big 12 but pretty close. Thomas
SEC POY:
Jodie Meeks, Nick Calathes, and Tyler Smith. Smith is probably the first one out because of the talent around him and also because of the lack of success Tennessee has had. They are a good team just not the top ten team they proclaimed to be when the season started. Most would consider Meeks the favorite because of his scoring but Calathes deserves serious consideration because of his overall game and team's success. Calathes but it could be a split decision with Meeks.
SEC ROY:
Courtney Fortson. Much like Willie Warren and William Buford, Fortson has the best stats and the least competition. Fortson
Jeff Teague and Tyler Hansbrough. Both guys have the stats but as of right now, Teague has more signature games plus the head to head W. Teague, for now.
ACC ROY:
Al-Farouq Aminu. There are some other guys that maybe could challenge. Well, actually the ACC freshman class is weak and Aminu is just about a lock to win. Aminu
Big East POY:
Jerel McNeal, Luke Harangody, DeJuan Blair, and Hasheem Thabeet. McNeal and Thabeet are the two best defenders in the conference, Harangody has the best stats and Blair has arguably the best overall game. Notre Dame is down so 'Gody is out. Thabeet is known more for his D so he is out. Blair does most of his work on the glass and defers to Sam Young in the clutch. McNeal is the leader of the number one team in the conference and wants the ball when the game is on the line. McNeal, for now.
Big East ROY:
Greg Monroe, Samardo Samuels, Mike Rosario, and Devin Ebanks. Samuels has the most hype but has been somewhat disappointing. Rosario has the best numbers but plays on a team that needs him to shoot early and often. Ebanks has had his flashes but is too inconsistent. Monroe owned Thabeet in Big East game one and has been more important to his team than any other guy on this list. Monroe
Big Ten POY:
Taylor Battle, Kalin Lucas and Evan Turner. The conference is in the midst of a down year and most surprising has been the success of Penn State. Battle is the best unknown player in the country. He leads the conference in points and assists. Turner possesses the best overall game in the conference because he scores, rebounds, passes, and defends. Lucas has numbers but he also has the best talent around him. As weird as it is to say the best player in the conference is from Penn State, it's hard to argue. Battle
Big Ten ROY:
William Buford. Much like the ACC, the Big Ten is having a down year for freshman talent. Ohio State's BJ Mullens was touted as the top talent but his learning curve has been steeper than most expected. Mullens' teammate, William Buford, stepped in for injured guard Dave Lighty and has filled in amicably. Buford
Big 12 POY:
Blake Griffin. Not even close. Griffin
Big 12 ROY:
Willie Warren. Again, not much of a competition. One of the best guards in the conference and gets to play with a dominant big like Griffin every night. If it was chosen by name, I would pick Texas' Dogus Balbay. Too bad. Warren
Pac-10 POY:
James Harden, Jon Brockman, and Jerome Randle. Although Randle has numbers, his contributions are not as important to his team as they are for Brockman and Harden. These two guys make their teams go and are the primary reasons they both have a chance to win the conference. Brockman is a double double machine while Harden is so good, he has no right hand, teams know that and yet, he goes left whenever he wants and scores. Without Harden, Arizona State is not sniffing March. Harden
Pac-10 ROY:
Isaiah Thomas, DeMar DeRozan, and Jrue Holiday. Holiday and DeRozan both were top ten recruits and both are top ten in terms of disappointment. Both are just average conference starters and look nothing like the lottery picks many thought they were. Thomas has wallowed in obscurity but the man with the big name is no slouch. He runs up and down the floor and is arguably the heart of the Huskies team. Not as much of a slam dunk as Warren in the Big 12 but pretty close. Thomas
SEC POY:
Jodie Meeks, Nick Calathes, and Tyler Smith. Smith is probably the first one out because of the talent around him and also because of the lack of success Tennessee has had. They are a good team just not the top ten team they proclaimed to be when the season started. Most would consider Meeks the favorite because of his scoring but Calathes deserves serious consideration because of his overall game and team's success. Calathes but it could be a split decision with Meeks.
SEC ROY:
Courtney Fortson. Much like Willie Warren and William Buford, Fortson has the best stats and the least competition. Fortson
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Players You Should Watch
Durrell Summers, G/F, Michigan State (Most consistent scorer for Spartans)
Taylor Battle, PG, Penn State (A great leader and competitor for surprising PSU)
Dexter Pittman, C, Texas (Once conditioning is good, this guy will blossom into a franchise player)
Dante Cunningham, PF, Villanova (Best mid-range J of any big man in college)
Gerald Henderson, G/F, Duke (Pure scorer with ability to take and hit late game shots)
Nikola Dragovic, F, UCLA (His emergence correlates with UCLA's potent offense of late)
Taylor Battle, PG, Penn State (A great leader and competitor for surprising PSU)
Dexter Pittman, C, Texas (Once conditioning is good, this guy will blossom into a franchise player)
Dante Cunningham, PF, Villanova (Best mid-range J of any big man in college)
Gerald Henderson, G/F, Duke (Pure scorer with ability to take and hit late game shots)
Nikola Dragovic, F, UCLA (His emergence correlates with UCLA's potent offense of late)
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