NCAA Basketball FanHouse http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com NCAA Basketball FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NCAA Basketball FanHouse http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Recap of the FanHouse 2008 Semi-Preseason BlogPollhttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/21/recap-of-the-fanhouse-2008-semi-preseason-blogpoll/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/21/recap-of-the-fanhouse-2008-semi-preseason-blogpoll/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/21/recap-of-the-fanhouse-2008-semi-preseason-blogpoll/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Well, there you have it. The FanHouse Preseason College Hoops BlogPoll for 2008 is complete.

The voting for No. 1 was not close. North Carolina was atop every single ballot. UCLA, Louisville and UConn usually followed in a variety of orders. From there, it was a typical free-for-all as there is a glut of teams from No. 5 to No. 12 that was very fluid.

The poll also had some newcomers to it. Davidson is now a household name; St. Mary's will soon be; UNLV is back on the map while schools like Arizona State, Miami-FL and Wake Forest are primed to make their move. Defending champion Kansas didn't make the cut.

Still, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The top two ranked teams were in the Final Four last year, UConn takes back its place among the elite and six of last March's Elite Eight are ranked in the top twenty.

Will we be wrong with this poll? Of course! Heck, our No. 2 team has already been beaten. But name me the last time the Associated Press or the coaches got their preseason poll completely right. The key is that these teams will be the ones to know when March Madness rolls around.

Big thanks to all the bloggers across the internets for lending a hand and breaking down these teams.

1 - North Carolina Tar Heels
2 - UCLA Bruins
3 - UConn Huskies
4 - Louisville Cardinals
5 - Michigan State Spartans
6 - Gonzaga Bulldogs
7 - Oklahoma Sooners
8 - Pittsburgh Panthers
9 - Purdue Boilermakers
10 - Memphis Tigers
11 - Texas Longhorns
12 - Duke Blue Devils
13 - Miami-FL Hurricanes
14 - Arizona State Sun Devils
15 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
16 - Wake Forest Demon Deacons
17 - Tennessee Volunteers
18 - UNLV Runnin' Rebels
19 - St. Mary's Gaels
20 - Davidson Wildcats
21 - Florida Gators
22 - Marquette Golden Eagles
23 - LSU Tigers
24 - USC Trojans
25 - Syracuse Orange

Recap of the FanHouse 2008 Semi-Preseason BlogPoll originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Shiloh CarderFri, 21 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 1, North Carolina Tar Heelshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-1-north-carolina-tar-heels/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-1-north-carolina-tar-heels/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-1-north-carolina-tar-heels/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking an early look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Today, we have enlisted, well, me, The Sportz Assassin, of FanHouse and SportzAssassin.com to break down the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Really, what can be said about these Tar Heels that hasn't already been said? They return nearly everyone from a 36-3 team that reached the Final Four this past April. Player Of The Year Tyler Hansbrough heads the list of returnees. Hansbrough is the first player of the year winner to return to school since Shaquille O'Neal in 1991. "Psycho T" will also attempt to become the first player to be an All-American for four seasons.


Also returning are Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green. All three put their names into the NBA Draft, but decided to return to school and make one last run at a title. Ellington was the Heels' second leading scorer and caused fits for teams with his quick shooting and ability to drive to the basket. Green is one of the best sixth men in the country. He is a stat-sheet stuffer who rebounds, defends, blocks shots, scores from anywhere on the court and is a pretty good passer.

The key will be Lawson. Lawson spent a lot of time last year either out with an injury or playing through pain. He is one of the fastest players in the nation and is a matchup nightmare for opponents. Still, Roy Williams struggles to keep Lawson on task and his head into what they are trying to do.

Also returning are: big man Deon Thompson, defensive stopper Marcus Ginyard (who is still a few weeks away from returning from a foot injury), back-up point guard Bobby Frasor, and long-range gunner Will Graves. The Heels also bring in three McDonald's All-Americans in forwards Ed Davis, Tyler Zeller (who is now done for the season with a broken wrist) and point guard Larry Drew.

This team also has a huge chip on its collective shoulder. After promising not to let their meltdown against Georgetown in the 2007 Elite Eight happen again, the Heels were embarrassed in their Final Four loss to Kansas in April. The shock of their 40-12 deficit early in that game still hasn't gone away, as even Williams is struggling to explain what happened.

Why they should be ranked here: This team is filled with talent. They already have one of the best starting lineups in the country, but where they are dominant is when they bring in their sixth-through-10th guys. That stable of talent allows UNC to just run you to death and wears teams down in the second half. Imagine having to deal with fresh bodies rolling into the game and pressuring you all game long. And that doesn't even factor in having to deal with Hansbrough's intensity.

Why they should be ranked higher: Not applicable. There is nothing higher than No. 1. However, there are some people whispering that these Tar Heels could be the first team since 1976 to finish a season undefeated. With Duke, Michigan State and possibly Notre Dame on the schedule, I don't see that happening. But the fact that people are even discussing it shows the kind of talent level on this team.

Why they should be ranked lower: Injuries have already taken a toll. Ginyard will have missed at least two months with a stress fracture in his foot. Hansbrough has some sort of stress reaction in his shin that has caused him to miss the season-opening slate. Zeller is already done for the year. Lawson, as mentioned, has had injury woes over the past two seasons. Frasor missed most of last season when he blew out his knee and has already missed one game this season. Also, this team doesn't always have the intensity on the defensive end it takes to win a championship. Because of this, they have had a history of getting rattled in huge moments.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 1, North Carolina Tar Heels originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08blogpollbobby frasorBobbyFrasordanny greenDannyGreendeon thompsonDeonThompsoned davisEdDavislarry drewLarryDrewmarcus ginyardMarcusGinyardroy williamsRoyWilliamsty lawsonTyLawsontyler hansbroughtyler zellerTylerHansbroughTylerZellerwayne ellingtonWayneEllingtonwill gravesWillGravesShiloh CarderThu, 20 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 2 UCLA Bruinshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-2-ucla-bruins/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-2-ucla-bruins/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-2-ucla-bruins/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

We could have gone for one of the pretentious UCLA blogs out there, but instead we went to a real fan, Insomniac, of the appropriately named Insomniac's Lounge. Hey, anybody who took the time to make this post must be a great fan.

UCLA coach Ben Howland has found the road map to the Final Four, having now guided his Bruins basketball team to play games in football stadiums (RCA Dome, Georgia Dome, Alamodome) in three consecutive years. While this is certainly a remarkable achievement in its own right, at UCLA success is ultimately only measured by national championships, and that is where Howland has been hitting a dead end. With a restocked lineup, Bruins fans have reason to hope that this is the season their team finally breaks through with a title. But this year, the journey will be missing the contributions of three players (Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute) who left early for the NBA.

On the court, this team belongs to senior Darren Collison, who surprised many people by electing to return to school for one final run at a championship. Collison hit over 52 percent of his three-point attempts last season and will be asked to pick up some of the scoring slack this year created by the departures of Love and Westbrook. He'll have plenty of help as he'll be joined by fellow seniors Josh Shipp and Alfred Aboya, as well as the quickly blossoming James Keefe. And there are five highly touted incoming freshmen to form what may well be the deepest team Howland has ever assembled.

Jrue Holliday, J'Mison "Bobo" Morgan, Drew Gordon, Jerime Anderson, and Malcolm Lee form UCLA's version of the Fab Five, and their development will be key in determining how far the Bruins advance this year. PG/SG hybrid Jrue Holliday is a scoring machine and should step right in for Westbrook on the offensive side of the ball. At 6-foot-10, Morgan is a gifted shot blocker, and may very well be pushing Aboya for the starting job by the time conference play begins. Gordon is a tad undersized for the low post at 6-8, but he has a great nose for the ball and finds a way to get the job done. Lee and Anderson will join redshirt junior Michael Roll to provide depth in the backcourt.

Of course for any of these freshmen to get significant playing time, they're going to have to learn to play Howland's style of basketball, which is to say defense, defense, defense. Howland calls for a lot of double teams on the high screen and then again on the low block, and so these young players will need to learn their rotations, be quick to react, and be in great shape. It wasn't until the middle of January until Kevin Love was competent enough in all of those phases to get big minutes. The Bruins are going to need this group to be quick studies.

For the only time in any of these players lives, they'll be looking forward to going to Detroit -- the site of the 2009 Final Four. A Pac-10 title and a No. 1 or No. 2 seed should be theirs for the taking as Stanford has taken a hit in talent and Arizona appears to be in a state of utter chaos. Unlike the previous three years, there will not be any NCAA tournament games in California this year, as Portland and Boise are the western "pods" this time around. However UCLA did play its first two rounds in Boise in 1995, and that turned out OK. Bruins fans can only hope that history will repeat itself.

Why they should be ranked here: Guard play. In this day and age, it's rare for a college team to have an elite senior point guard, but that's exactly what UCLA has going for it with Darren Collison. He and Holliday will provide a dynamic duo that should be able to maintain fresh legs with Lee, Anderson, and Roll all providing quality relief.

Why they should be ranked higher: Because Tyler Hansbrough is hurt, perhaps? On the flipside, Josh Shipp appears to be the healthiest he's been in his entire UCLA career. If Howland allows this team to push the ball up the court, then Shipp could flourish on the wing of countless fast breaks and highlight dunks. Also, unlike last season, the face of this team won't be a freshman just passing through town, and their focus will be on a title, not the NBA.

Why they should be ranked lower: I love the passion and spirit that Alfred Aboya brings each night, but his talents are best used coming off the bench. He is not the caliber of the typical starting center of a championship team. If March rolls around and J'Mison Morgan hasn't taken the starting job away from Aboya, then this team is going to struggle to make it four for four in the Final Four.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 2 UCLA Bruins originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08blogpollAlfred AboyaAlfredAboyaDarren CollisonDarrenCollisonJosh ShippJoshShippAdam PapagiorgioThu, 20 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 3, UConn Huskieshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-3-uconn-huskies/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-3-uconn-huskies/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-3-uconn-huskies/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

For the UConn Huskies, Andrew Porter of TheUConnBlog has provided us with the vital insights into the Huskies. A relatively new blog, TheUConnBlog promises to be one of the best sources of Huskies basketball this year.

No word defines this Husky team better than "if." If the Huskies can get consistent production from their starters, they can beat anyone in the country. If everyone stays healthy and out of trouble, they have a ridiculously deep lineup. And if everything comes together, UConn could win it all this spring. Make no mistake, UConn has the talent to be a Final Four team, but after failing to win a single postseason game in the last two years, Husky fans have learned all the talent in the world won't matter if the team can't put it all together when it counts.
At 7-foot-3, center Hasheem Thabeet can be a dominant, game-changing force simply by stepping on the court. Senior Jeff Adrien is undersized for a power forward, but was the team's leader in scoring and rebounding in 2007-08, on his way to making the All-Big East first team last season. Shooting guard Jerome Dyson has the ability to score in bunches. Last, but not least, point guard A.J. Price became the team's most important player down the stretch last year and started playing like one of the best guards in the country.

However, with the exception of Adrien, each of those players has a big question mark hanging over them.

Thabeet may be a blocking machine, but his offense still has to catch up to his defense. He also has some nagging consistency problems. Case in point: The first time he played Notre Dame's Luke Harangody last season, he had 10 blocks and held the Big East Player of the Year to 5-23 shooting. However, a month later, Harangody torched Thabeet for 32 points. The Tanzanian big man has shown he can be the most dominant player on the floor, now he just has to do it every night.

By the end of last season, Price was clearly the team's leader, averaging 14.5 points per game along with 5.8 assists, but he tore his ACL in UConn's first-round loss to San Diego in the NCAA Tournament. Even though freshman point guard Kemba Walker looks good so far, (this almost certainly is underselling Walker, a highly touted recruit who average 10.5 points and 4.5 assists in two exhibition games.) the Huskies need Price back at full strength if they have any hope of making noise in March.

Dyson can score, and was the team's scoring leader two years ago, he can turns the ball over too much. He was suspended for nine games last year after testing positive for marijuana, but in the 24 games he did play, he averaged almost three turnovers a game. If he can stop his reckless tendencies and just focus on scoring, he can be a key component in the backcourt. If not, expect to see a platoon of Price, Walker and senior guard Craig Austrie taking over.

The final question might be the most important one: Who will actually be on this team? UConn is expecting to add two more players after the first semester, however, even if one assumes they will both arrive, their ability to quickly gel with the team is going to be a huge factor. Junior Stanley Robinson left the team this semester to deal with academic and personal issues and freshman power forward Ater Majok, should add even more depth to a loaded frontcourt. Majok, who is from the Sudan by way of Australia, was held up by some transcript issues.

Freshman Nate Miles was expelled in October, leaving a gap at the small forward position. That spot should be filled after the first semester when the extremely talented and extremely inconsistent Robinson returns. Robinson showed flashes of brilliance last year and UConn was 14-4 when he scored more than 10 points. But there were also 15 games when Robinson didn't score in double digits. Robinson is a freakish athlete with the physical potential to be the team's best player, but during the last two years, he hasn't been able to put it all together. If he comes back as a consistent force, he could push the Huskies over the top.

Why they should be ranked here: If everything comes together - and that is a big if - this team has the talent to reach the Final Four. Last year, Price emerged as a true leader and Thabeet can change a game just by stepping into the paint. When you give a Hall of Fame coach like Calhoun this much to work with, you wind up with one of the best teams in the country.

Why they should be ranked higher: They shouldn't be, at least not yet. However, if Robinson and Majok join the team and play as advertised, watch out. The team is good now, but those two can give the Huskies a chance to beat anyone in the country.

Why they should be ranked lower: There are still too many questions the team needs to answer. How will Price's knee injury affect his game? Will Thabeet continue to develop into a serious offensive threat? Can everyone stay out of trouble? Most importantly, can this group of players put it all together and win important games in March?

Fantastic work Andrew. You can continue to follow Andrew and his cohorts at TheUConnBlog where they document student life in Storrs and Huskies basketball.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 3, UConn Huskies originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08 BlogPoll08BlogpollChas RichThu, 20 Nov 2008 12:06:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 4, Louisville Cardinalshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-4-louisville-cardinals/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-4-louisville-cardinals/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-4-louisville-cardinals/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

For the Louisville Cardinals, Mike of Card Chronicle gives us the details on a Cardinal team with high expectations, but a few glossed over questions.

When forwards Earl Clark and Terrence Williams elected to spurn the NBA in favor of returning to school for another shot at a national championship, the Louisville Cardinals immediately jumped from middle-of-the-pack top 25 squad to one of the five or six teams with a legitimate case to enter the 2008-2009 season ranked No. 2.
The Cardinals, a regional finalist a season ago, begin this season with the highest expectations of any team in the Rick Pitino era. The squad returns four of five starters from a year ago, five of its top seven scorers, and adds a top five recruiting class headlined by 6-8 manchild Samardo Samuels, the most highly touted recruit Pitino has ever lured to the Derby City.

With just three departed seniors and the additions of Samuels, fellow freshmen Terrence Jennings, Jared Swopshire and Kyle Kuric, and Mississippi State transfer Reginald Delk, U of L may be unmatched when it comes to depth, a trait that should benefit the Cards greatly when it comes time to tackle the unfathomably deep Big East.

How well the veterans and newcomers gel is something no one can know until games start being played, but on paper this is a team that possesses everything necessary to finish its season in Detroit.

Why they should be ranked here:

Size, athleticism, depth, outside shooting, experience, coaching; this group has all the qualifications demanded of a top five team. Samuels, Clark and Williams make up perhaps the top frontcourt in the country, and the underrated backcourt duo of Andre McGee and Jerry Smith were the main reasons this was the best defensive squad in the Big East a season ago.

Why they should be ranked higher:

The Cards return four starters from a team that finished last season ranked No. 6 in the country, and the one guy who's gone is being replaced by the USA Today National High School Player of the Year. It's anyone's guess after North Carolina, but there isn't a team vying for that second spot that can match Louisville when it comes to size, depth and athleticism. Rick Pitino has more bodies to throw at opposing teams than he's had in any of his prior seven seasons at U of L, and that alone will be enough to pull out victories on nights when not all cylinders are firing.

Also, don't forget that if David Padgett and Juan Palacios don't get hurt last season then Louisville likely doesn't lose to the likes of Dayton and BYU, likely doesn't get demoted to a three seed and likely doesn't have to play North Carolina in Charlotte. If last year's squad had finished the season as a national semifinalist, then we're likely talking about the undisputed No. 2 team in the land.

Why they should be ranked lower:

There may not have been a more valuable player in all of college basketball last season than Padgett. The captain always knew where everyone on the floor was supposed to be, and was aptly described as the "best offensive facilitator in the country" by Tom Crean. His worth was on full display in Louisville's 59-51 win over Georgetown when the Cards scored 50 points during the 28 minutes he was on the floor, and just nine when he was on the bench. Andre McGee and Terrence Williams are both seniors, but whether either has the maturity or gusto to step into Padgett's shoes is an enormous and presently unanswerable question.
Excellent work as usual, from Mike. If you aren't checking on Card Chronicle on a regular basis, you are missing one of the best writers in the college sports blogosphere.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 4, Louisville Cardinals originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08 blogpoll08BlogpollChas RichThu, 20 Nov 2008 10:08:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 5, Michigan State Spartanshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-5-michigan-state-spartans/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-5-michigan-state-spartans/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/20/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-5-michigan-state-spartans/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a preseason BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

For the Michigan State Spartans, Opie from SpartyMSU provides the details on a Spartan squad that enters the season once more with high expectations and a difficult non-conference schedule to test the squad early.

The Spartans are picked second in the Big Ten and ranked fifth or sixth (AP / Coaches) nationally. They surely will be in the March Madness tourney again, and hope to do better than last year when they made it to the Sweet 16 in NCAA tourney, but were beaten by a very physical Memphis squad.

They did graduate key players last year (Drew Naymick and Drew Neitzel), but they have the pieces to fill in behind them. Tom Izzo returns most of his guys, and is just reloading with talent and more depth. This team will add to Michigan State and Coach Izzo's resume of 11 straight years of NCAA Tourney play, seven years of Sweet 16 or better, and four Final Four appearances.
Why they should be ranked here:

Despite the loss of key players to graduation, the team has plenty of returning talent and leaders. The Spartans bring back Raymar Morgan (F - preseason Wooden candidate), Goran Suton (C), Travis Walton (G), Kalin Lucas (G), Marquise Gray (F), Chris Allen (G), Durrell Summers (G), Korie Lucious (G), Isaiah Dahlman (G), Idong Ibok (C), Tom Herzog (C) and Austin Thornton (F), plus add to the mix a very athletic Delvon Roe (F) and have additional talent in Draymond Green (F). Izzo will rotate eight players, maybe as many as 10. With this mix, the Spartans will run an up-tempo game and can go either big or small. These guys love playing "D", and don't forget about being deadnuts at the stripe. Experience and Depth is how they will Roll in East Lansing again this year.

The Spartan Schedule is a meat grinder. The preseason includes Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, and possibly Gonzaga or Oklahoma State in a tourney. All of this is designed to help the team get ready for a Final Four appearance in Detroit in March.

Why they should be ranked higher:

Depth, Depth, and more Depth. Even with a couple injuries, the Spartan will manage to rotate enough in until we can get guys back. Even going up against heavyweights early on like North Carolina and Texas.

The team is headed by (PG) Kalin Lucas, it's clearly his team, which he inherits from Drew Neitzel. This kid is a leader, and fast to the basket. These guys know each other well. If there's one thing Izzo does, it is recruit for "team fit", along with everything else. They like playing together, and that means a ton. The Spartans will end the year ranked higher then where they started.

Why they should be ranked lower:

Injuries are mounting early, and it's barely a week into the season. Recently even Suton has been limping, and Lucas has a sore ankle. The Spartans are deep enough to survive a few injuries during the season, but if the injuries mount ... well, unless we stay healthy, so that there is enough of a rotation to keep the starters fresh and we maintain the bench support and scoring that has been a cornerstone for years, then it's up in the air at that point.

A fine job by Opie. You can read more of his unbridled optimism on the Spartan season at SpartyMSU.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 5, Michigan State Spartans originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08 blogpoll08BlogpollChas RichThu, 20 Nov 2008 08:01:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 6, Gonzaga Bulldogshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-6-gonzaga-bulldogs/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-6-gonzaga-bulldogs/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-6-gonzaga-bulldogs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking an early look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Today, we have enlisted Zach Bell and Max Mandel of the The Kennel Report to break down the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Gonzaga has become one of the most recognizable college basketball programs in the nation. During his tenure, Mark Few has elevated the small, Jesuit institution to the forefront of college basketball. He's had guys like Adam Morrison, Ronny Turiaf, and Dan Dickau but the talent he has for the 2008 season is the best he has ever had at Gonzaga.


Point guard Jeremy Pargo leads an extremely talented back court for the Bulldogs. The Chicago native pulled his name out of NBA Draft consideration over the summer and will be looking for his second consecutive West Coast Conference player of the year award. Senior center Josh Heytvelt is at 100% for the first time since the start of his sophomore season and looks poised for a huge season. If he performs up to his potential, this could be a very promising season for the Zags."

Why they should be ranked here: Outstanding depth. This is not a Gonzaga team from 5 or 6 years ago. The Cinderella stories are long gone. Mark Few has assembled talent that can rival any other team in the nation. They play a very up tempo style of play which fits this very athletic team. The arrival of Micah Downs has impacted the defensive prowess of the Zags and while they aren't a top defensive squad, the improvement is noticeable.

Why they should be ranked higher: Experience. The 2007 recruiting class was probably the best the staff has ever recruited. As freshmen, Austin Daye, Steven Gray and Robert Sacre showed flashes of brilliance. Now they all have a year under their belt and should be ready to break out. Sacre will start the season on the bench with an injury but Gray and Daye will be stars this season. Combine that with the fact that their are four seniors on this team and you have to like what is happening up in Spokane.

Why they should be ranked lower: Injuries. Sophomore forward Austin Daye gave Gonzaga fans a huge scare of the summer when it was reported that he tore his ACL at the LeBron James Skill Academy. The injury was reduced to some ligament damage and a bone bruise but he has not been practicing for that long since the injury and it remains to be seen if it has any lingering affects. Robert Sacre, who started a number of games last year, suffered a stress fracture earlier in the fall and will be not be ready for at least three weeks to a month.

Thanks to Zach Bell and Max Mandel of the The Kennel Report for coming into the 'House to break down the Zags.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 6, Gonzaga Bulldogs originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08blogpolladam morrisonAdamMorrisonaustin dayeAustinDayedan dickauDanDickaujeremy pargoJeremyPargojosh heytveltJoshHeytveltmark fewMarkFewmicah downsMicahDownsrobert sacreRobertSacreronny turiafRonnyTuriafsteven grayStevenGrayShiloh CarderWed, 19 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 7, Oklahoma Soonershttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-7-oklahoma-sooners/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-7-oklahoma-sooners/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-7-oklahoma-sooners/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Another school that did nothing to remove their reputation as a football school, no Oklahoma blogger contacted, even responded to our inquiries about the 2008-09 Sooner basketball team. So be it, that means the preview will be from a less interested party.

The biggest shock after the 2007-08 season ended was that freshman forward Blake Griffin was not even considering the NBA. This despite, everyone projecting him as a lottery pick. That decision immediately put the Sooners into every preseason top-25.

Oklahoma also pulled in an excellent recruiting class, and Coach Jeff Capel's name started popping up on the wish list for the annual coaching carousel. So, it was no surprise that Oklahoma moved quickly to give Capel another raise and extension after only two seasons in Norman.
The excitement over Oklahoma basketball is as high as it has been since before Kelvin Sampson's phone calls came under scrutiny. This team is expected to challenge Texas for the Big 12 title and have a good run in March.

Why they should be ranked here:
From a team that won 23 games last year, their only significant losses were center Longar Longar and guard David Godbold. The talent taking their place, though, is impressive. Willie Warren was a McDonald All-American and one of the top recruits will be playing point guard. He provides a great outside threat and someone who will be able to get the ball inside to Blake Griffin.

While no one player is taking over for Longar, they have a JUCO transfer in Orlando Allen, and several JUCO forwards to help make up for Longar's minutes and numbers. In addition they have added another forward in UCLA transfer Ryan Wright. Oklahoma may have one of the deepest frontcourts in the country.

Why they should be ranked higher:
It starts again with everyone's 1st team All-American, Blake Griffin. He's had a year to work on improving his defense and just as scary -- get stronger. This year, the Sooners also have depth. Something that was lacking the last couple years as the program was getting past the sanctions of the Kelvin Sampson era.

Even with all the new players, chemistry shouldn't be as much of a problem. Jeff Capel has shown that he can integrate new players quickly. Plus, this team has a strong number of upperclassmen including Taylor Griffin, Blake's older brother.

Why they should be ranked lower:
How are Blake Griffin's knees? They ached a lot last year and he had to miss a few games because of injuries. Despite the improved depth on the squad, the frontcourt still needs one of the many new players to step up to help keep the double teams off of Griffin. Longar provided that threat to keep defenses honest. Will any of the other forwards and centers be able to do the same?

In the backcourt, the depth at guard doesn't seem quite there. After Tony Crocker, Austin Johnson and Willie Warren, there are some real question marks. Either Cade Davis, Omar Leary or freshman Ray Willis will have to show that they can provide some additional threat on the perimeter.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 7, Oklahoma Sooners originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08 blogpoll08BlogpollChas RichWed, 19 Nov 2008 16:05:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 8, Pittsburgh Panthershttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-8-pittsburgh-panthers/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-8-pittsburgh-panthers/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-8-pittsburgh-panthers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

For the Pitt Panthers, Josh Verlin of the Oakland Zoo blog. Not only is this blog about Pitt basketball, it is also the blog of the Pitt student section for which the blog is named -- The Oakland Zoo.

In Coach Jamie Dixon's fifth year as the Pittsburgh Panthers head coach, a team hurt by injuries and inexperience all year broke through when it counted and won the Big East Tournament Championship. They became only the second team in the history of the tournament to win four games in four straight days. They did it by beating ranked teams in Louisville, Marquette, and Georgetown in in the run. Unfortunately, the Panthers season came to an abrupt end in Denver in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Despite the hard end to last season, there is plenty of optimism for 2008. The Panthers are running and gunning like one of the top programs in the country. T is team is positioned for a run into another tournament in March -- the NCAA championships.

After forward Sam Young decided to forgo the NBA draft and return to the Oakland section of Pittsburgh for his senior season, hopes skyrocketed between Forbes and Fifth Avenues. With a rock-steady point guard in Levance Fields, one of the country's top sophs in DeJuan Blair, and the athletic ability of Sam Young, the Panthers boast one of the country's strongest trios. Add in senior forward Tyrell Biggs and a host of young but talented players -- Gilbert Brown, Gary McGhee, Travon Woodall, Ashton Gibbs, and Brad Wanamaker, amongst others -- this is a Pitt squad that could challenge for a Final Four berth, if not Pitt's first national championship since 1930. Not that we are counting.

This is a Panthers team that isn't afraid to run the court, but also displays Jamie Dixon's trademark toughness and defense, shown by every player wearing the blue and gold displayed so prominently in Pittsburgh's Peterson Events Center. With the backing of one of the country's loudest and proudest student sections in the Oakland Zoo, the Panthers want to prove they belong in the upper echelons of programs, not just teams, in this country, joining Kansas, Memphis, Duke, and few others as a program that will be ranked in the top-15 year in and year out. The Big East, they hope, runs through Pittsburgh.

Why They Should Be Ranked Here:
Though losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the Panthers return the core of that Big East Championship team in Fields, Young and Blair. In addition, Gilbert Brown likely steps into the starting line-up this year, and Tyrell Biggs becomes the first man off the bench. Former backcourt starters Ronald Ramon and Keith Benjamin may have graduated, so while the experience has been lost, there is more talent in their place. Newcomers Ashton Gibbs, Travon Woodall and Jermaine Dixon are ready to step in along with sophomore Brad Wanamaker. The new players are likely more talented, but lack the experience

The Panthers are nearly impossible to beat at home (98-10 in the Pete). This year they host Notre Dame and UConn, two of the teams that will challenge the Panthers for the Big East title.

Why They Should Be Ranked Higher:
This is a team that gains some great talent in their freshman class, with the addition of sharpshooters Ashton Gibbs and Travon Woodall to back up Levance at the point and JUCO All-American Jermaine Dixon, younger brother of 2002 Final Four MVP Juan Dixon, who has displayed some great talent in Pitt's two exhibition games. Add in the maturity of sophomores DeJuan Blair and Gary McGhee in the middle, and the Panthers are deep all over the court. Never count out a Jamie Dixon-coached team, and this is certainly a national championship contender, especially with their incredibly strong frontcourt of Young, Biggs, and Blair.

Why They Should Be Ranked Lower:
With only three starters returning from last season, there are concerns about experience and depth. Levance Fields will be starting the season on the bench with a recurring foot injury -- something that just hasn't fully healed. Add in Gilbert Brown being out for the start of the season with his own ankle injury and this team is going to have to juggle the line-up and not ease in the younger players. While the non-con lacks many marquee names, it includes a trip to Florida State and strong mid-majors that made the NCAA Tournament in Siena, Belmont, UMBC, Vermont, and Washington State.

Depth is a problem if any of the starters go down -- it's not certain that the Panthers have a quality scorer like wing Sam Young anywhere on the roster, nor as good a big man as they have down low in DeJuan Blair. If Levance Fields can return early from injury and not be too affected, then that will help this team greatly, but experience is lacking for now and it's not certain how far Fields, Young, and Blair can carry this team.

Some fine work from Josh. Be sure to hit the Oakland Zoo all season long to read Josh and the rest of Zoo's writings on Pitt basketball.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 8, Pittsburgh Panthers originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08 blogpoll08BlogpollChas RichWed, 19 Nov 2008 14:07:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 9, Purdue Boilermakershttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-9-purdue-boilermakers/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-9-purdue-boilermakers/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-9-purdue-boilermakers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

aThis week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

The Boilermakers haven't been hyped this much in basketball since Gene Keady's early-90s teams. The point where it was fun to joke about Keady doubling as the mascot, and not tinged with sadness at the way things were ending. T-Mill of Off the Tracks provides the insight and knowledge on Matt Painter's group.

When I was a senior at Purdue during the 2001-2002 basketball season, my roommate and I had student section tickets three rows from the floor. By the end of the year, we were nearly alone in the Gene Pool as the Boilermakers suffered their first losing season under coach Gene Keady. Little did we know that it was only the beginning of a descent that brought about a poor end to Keady's tenure, and also a rough beginning to current coach Matt Painter's time on the sidelines.

Last season, I watched in envy as the students stormed the floor in a spontaneous celebration rarely seen in Mackey Arena's history, when the "Baby Boilers" upset Wisconsin. After that game, I wrote that we had finally arrived back at the mountain. It wasn't the peak of the program; rather, it was an announcement that we were again finally ready to compete nationally after a long, long slumber.It was time to start climbing that mountain and get back to the Final Four for the first time since 1980. While I think that a true Final Four season is still about a year or two away, the way this team surprised many last year, it would not be a total shock to see them in Detroit in early April.

Why they should be ranked here:
The Big Ten favorites are invariably Top-10 teams, and that's why Purdue and Michigan State are ranked this high. As I wrote in my season preview, the backcourt is absolutely loaded and balanced. Chris Kramer is a defensive stopper. E'Twaun Moore is a player that can score from anywhere, and Keaton Grant is fully healthy after knee surgery. When a player like Grant can get lost in the mix, you know you have a very good team. Last year, he was voted team MVP even though some other names made bigger national headlines.

The front court returns everyone, with JaJuan Johnson expected to show vast improvement after an underrated freshman season. Nemanja Calasan is, as I described, a Bosnian Brian Cardinal. Chris Reid is a big body that should contribute more this year. Marcus Green can do a little bit of everything and will do great things in both the front court and back court.

Why they should be ranked higher:
Only point guard Tarrance Crump graduated. He is replaced by incoming freshman Lewis Jackson. Jackson won't start at first, but he is expected to be the true point guard we need to run the offense, distribute the ball, and create quick points. He is expected to be better than Crump and will be asked to contribute immediately. Scott Martin's transfer to Notre Dame was a loss, but incoming freshman Ryne Smith gives us another shooter off the bench.

Robbie Hummel is also a pretty good player in his own right. Robbie is another "do everything" type of player that plays off of his teammates. He can shoot from outside. He can rebound. He can create his own shot. He also takes defenses away from all our other weapons. Because we have so many weapons, we can play fast or slow, as shown in last year's NCAA tournament win over Baylor. If we play Calasan and Johnson at the same time, that also allows us to go big or go small at different moments. This team is incredibly versatile, and Hummel may be the most flexible of all.

Finally, everyone on this team is totally on board with a "team first" attitude. Otherwise they wouldn't be playing, because that attitude is what Coach Painter demands. In 2006, George Mason made the Final Four with a solid seven man rotation and excellent team chemistry. That allowed them to topple teams that had superior talent but some "me first" attitudes, such as Michigan State, North Carolina, and Connecticut. These Boilers are supremely talented and they play together very well. Everyone compliments everyone else. Any one of about nine guys can give you 10-15 points on any night. There isn't one player on our team that you can point to and say, "If we stop him, we stop Purdue."

The fans have also made Mackey Arena a place that even great teams fear. During the last two seasons, the Boilers have only lost twice on Keady Court. Two years ago, that loss was to Greg Oden's #1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, and last season's only home court stumble was an inexplicable loss to Wofford.

Why they should be ranked lower:
Rebounding was a major issue last season and could be the case again this year. If Johnson develops into the player we expect him to be, it should help, but unless we get something more from Chris Reid there isn't a ton of size. Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Robbie Hummel isn't exactly a banger in the paint, leaving us with just Johnson, Calasan, and Reid as true post players. Xavier's strength in the paint is what eliminated Purdue in last season's NCAA tournament. In nearly every loss last season, rebounding was a glaring weakness.

Second, how will this team handle being the hunted? The non-conference schedule has enough heft to prepare them well for the Big Ten, and the Big Ten itself isn't that strong outside of Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. The December 2nd game vs. Duke in the Big Ten/ACC challenge is being hyped as the biggest game in Mackey Arena since Lew Alcindor's UCLA team opened the building in 1967. I purchased season tickets just to make sure I would be at that game, as it will be an excellent test to see just how far this team can go.

More information and optimism on the Boilermakers than anywhere else. That's some great stuff from T-Mill. For more of that and to follow Purdue all year long, be sure to keep reading over at Off the Tracks.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 9, Purdue Boilermakers originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08 blogpoll08BlogpollChas RichWed, 19 Nov 2008 12:06:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 10, Memphis Tigershttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-10-memphis-tigers/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-10-memphis-tigers/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-10-memphis-tigers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking an early look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Today, we have enlisted Chris Vernon of Fox Sports Radio 730 AM in Memphis and Verno's Blog to break down the Memphis Tigers.

The way the season ended for the Memphis Tigers last year was totally devastating. Memphis ended the season 38-2 and many in Memphis still have a hard time thinking about the 38 wins. Rarely has there been such an amazing season that brought upon such intense disappointment.

Now that Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas Roberts, and Joey Dorsey have NBA contracts and Memphis looks to who will replace much of what made the team such a success in the previous few seasons. While Rose was only in Memphis for one year, CDR and Dorsey were key components of a team that went to the Elite 8 twice, and the Final Four (and championship game) once. With Dorsey in the middle, and Douglas Roberts on the wing, Memphis went 104-10 over the last three seasons.

Two of the players that have been a part of the Tigers tremendous success return to the starting lineup this year, Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier. John Calipari signed Tyreke Evans, who many believe will be a one-year college star and a high draft pick next June. Evans will start and be key to the Tigers success. Returning players Shawn Taggart and Pierre Niles (who lost 70 lbs in the off-season) will log minutes at the post positions. Tiger recruit Wesley Witherspoon will be in the rotation as one the wing players.

Memphis is still awaiting word from the NCAA about Matt Simpkins and Angel Garcia, two players brought in this year. The biggest question heading into the season is who the point guard will be. Willie Kemp has started in the past, including when the team went to the Elite 8, Roburt Sallie is a JUCO transfer that played in prep school with Anderson and Dozier, and point guard minutes could go to Antonio Anderson or Evans.

When a team loses so much of what made them tick to the NBA, very few things are known. Memphis should be back in the tournament with a high seed and a great record, but how far they can advance will be dependent on how good Tyreke Evans is going to be, and how well he blends in with the team. He is the most talented player on the roster by a wide margin, and his ability to assume the role of go-to-guy will be essential to the Tigers success.

Why they should be ranked here: John Calipari has proven that he has built a national program capable of changing players, but still maintaining success. The team has talent, but also a lot questions heading into the season. With that being said, they have enough returning players that are used to the system that will allow for the new contributors to adjust easily. Memphis will dominate their conference again, and will win their share of big non-conference match-ups. John Calipari demands his teams play great defense, and defense will help Memphis blow-out the bad teams, and compete with the best.

Why they should be ranked higher: They have gone 104-10 over the course of the last 3 years. The last time they had to replace guys that went to the NBA was when Rodney Carney and Shawne Williams were drafted, people thought it would be a decent season, and instead they went to the Elite 8. This program has proven that it can maintain a high level of success.

Why they should be ranked lower: Who loses three players to the draft and the next year has a great team? It is insanely rare. There are way to many questions for Memphis to be in the top 10, and they are there only because of reputation. They don't even know who is going to be their point guard. Evans might could fill the role vacated by Douglas-Roberts, but nobody on the roster will be able to come close to duplicating what Rose or Dorsey brought to the table.

Thanks to Chris Vernon of Fox Sports Radio 730 AM in Memphis and Verno's Blog for coming into the 'House to break down the Tigers.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 10, Memphis Tigers originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08blogpollangel garciaAngelGarciaantonio andersonAntonioAndersonchris douglas-robertsChrisDouglas-robertsderrick roseDerrickRosejoey dorseyJoeyDorseyjohn calipariJohnCaliparimatt simpkinsMattSimpkinspierre nilesPierreNilesrobert dozierRobertDozierrodney carneyRodneyCarneyshawn taggartshawne williamsShawneWilliamsShawnTaggarttyreke evansTyrekeEvanswesley witherspoonWesleyWitherspoonwillie kempWillieKempShiloh CarderWed, 19 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 11, Texas Longhornshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-11-texas-longhorns/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-11-texas-longhorns/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-11-texas-longhorns/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a preseason BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

For the Texas Longhorns, Trips Right from Barking Carnival takes a break from football to give a detailed overview of the Longhorn basketball team that has been one of the most successful teams in the last few years.

After a pleasantly surprising 2007 season that ended with an Elite 8 loss to an NBA developmental team, this version of Texas roundball will have to figure out how to answer the bell after losing a superstar to the NBA. While the situation may be similar, the void that Kevin Durant created is entirely different than the void DJ Augustin leaves. I would even argue that DJ Augustin's void will be more difficult to fill, but I'd also say the 2008 Texas team has more material and options to fill it with than last year's group. The problem with the material is that it's raw, inexperienced, and in some instances playing out of position.

Why they should be ranked here:

This will be a fun team to watch as long as Longhorn fans can be patient for the development of the guard situation. But as Denny Green would say they are who we think they are. A talented, deep collection of athletes 2-5, but lacking a play making point guard with any kind of experience.

Much like last year this team can be a flexible one, with disparate lineups based on matchups. We could see athletes galore with a Mason, Ward, James, Johnson, Wangmene/Chapman lineup, that can get out and pressure teams defensively in an effort to outrun zones ala Vegas in the early 90's. Or we might see a methodical half court hammer personnel group of Mason, Abrams, James, Atchley, and Pittman with a 4 out 1 in look, to spread out defenses and pound down low. The key is finding someone, if even a committee, to run the show. Like last year...it'll be fun.

Why Texas should be ranked higher:

* If and when Balbay can become the bonafide point guard he was touted to be. Keeping Mason off the ball where he's able to stuff stat sheets and terrorize defensively is ideal for this team. Dogus taking the reins also means Texas would have another good passer on the floor to exploit mismatches the Horns should enjoy on the low block. It would also help if Ward was a capable backup to spell the Turk.

* If and when Abrams is more of a play making point guard than glorified gunslinger. Just like last year. He'll need to be more dynamic offensively with penetration and passing. Otherwise, give me Mason at the two, and bring in AJ for deep heat off the bench.

* If and when James moves one more rung up the ladder and becomes a super star in the mold of Kevin Durant or DJ Augustin.

* If Connor Atchley continues to be a consistent threat from beyond the arc. If Pittman turns his 2007 flashes of dominance into night in and night out consistency. And if Chapman and Wangmene continue to improve.

* Look for Barnes to mix and match Pittman, Chapman, and Wangmene's 5 to Atchley's and Johnson's 4. Pittman is the hammer. Chapman/Wangmene the quickness mismatches.

Why they should be ranked lower:

* If Barnes can't find a legitimate option to run the show. If it's point guard by committee and Texas has to resort to mixing and matching a point guard by a committee of Mason, Balbay, and Ward, not only will the perimeter game suffer, but the bludgeoning affect that Texas' bigs can have on opposing squads will suffer as well. A lack of reliable point guard play will also undermine Texas' ability on the defensive end by giving up easy baskets off turnovers. Texas should be able to really guard people with this bunch, and unsteady guard play leading to runouts mitigates that advantage.

* An intriguing option Barnes has if he can't find his PG in a timely fashion will be deploying Mason and Abrams in the backcourt and having Damion James be his point forward. It would be a win/win for the program and the player. James should draw weaker perimeter defenders and also showcase his ball handling skills for the League.

* If the two position stays specialized in just shooting the rock. Without a bonafide point guard, the two will have to penetrate, pass, and help out getting the Horns into their stuff offensively.

* If James hasn't found a legit handle and stays a hybrid 3/4. He needs to pick up DJ's slack.

* If Texas' inability to handle pressure causes Barnes to use more 3 guard personnel to compensate, which means sliding James to the 4 and Atchley to the 5. The 3 headed monster of Chapman, Pittman, and Wangmene needs minutes to do what they do in order for this team to be its most effective.

Fine work from the folks at Barking Carnival. Definitely a destination for all things related to the Texas Longhorns.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 11, Texas Longhorns originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08 blogpoll08BlogpollChas RichWed, 19 Nov 2008 08:01:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 12, Duke Blue Devilshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-12-duke-blue-devils/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-12-duke-blue-devils/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-12-duke-blue-devils/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking an early look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Today, we have enlisted JD King of Duke Basketball Report to break down the Duke Blue Devils.

There has been a perception the last couple of years that Duke is off. If so, that's over. This Duke team is going to be very good.

The only player not back on last year's size-challenged team is DeMarcus Nelson. And Duke has added freshmen Miles Plumlee (6'11) and Olek Czyz (6'8) to returnees Brian Zoubek (7'1") and Lance Thomas (6'8") to the inside rotation. Zoubek is healthier than he has been in some time and Taylor is markedly improved and much stronger than he was last year.

Czyz will play less than the other three, but no matter how you cut it, this frees up 6'8" Kyle Singler to play anywhere he's useful on the court.

The perimeter is even deeper. Nolan Smith is starting at point and providing huge ball pressure on defense, and his offense has improved a lot. Jon Scheyer has moved into the starting lineup and brings his savvy game to the off-guard spot. Gerald Henderson is starting at forward, where his quickness and athleticism make up for smallish size (6'4").

Duke also has Greg Paulus, who has been a three-year starter, rookie Elliot Williams, who is extremely quick, and Marty Pocius, who has struggled with injuries in his Duke career, but who has some real talent. Dave McClure is a guy who can come in and do almost anything well, although he's not a big scorer. But like Scheyer, he's extremely smart.

Why they should be ranked here: They have an improved inside game and a solid perimeter with lots of experience. A lot of gifted shooters, and Singler is ready to make a big move, as is Henderson.

Why they should be ranked higher: Be patient. This team's offense is coming along, but the defense has the potential to be devastating. As long as the inside game holds up - and odds are it will - 12 is five or six spots too high.

Why they should be ranked lower: They shouldn't. Time has proved that if you give Mike Krzyzewski a team with a good defensive point guard and lots of versatile athletes and an ability to score inside, that he knows what to do with it. See Beijing for a recent example. Obviously the talent levels are very different, but the template is the same: the
Olympic team played Duke basketball, really. You can expect a loaded Duke team to play it as well.

Thanks to JD King of Duke Basketball Report to for coming into the 'House to break down the Blue Devils.




FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 12, Duke Blue Devils originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08blogpollbrian zoubekBrianZoubekdave mcclureDaveMccluredemarcus nelsonDemarcusNelsonelliot williamsElliotWilliamsgerald hendersonGeraldHendersongreg paulusGregPaulusjon scheyerJonScheyerkyle singlerKyleSinglerlance thomasLanceThomasmartynas pociusMartynasPociusmike krzyzewskiMikeKrzyzewskimiles plumleeMilesPlumleenolan smithNolanSmitholek czyzOlekCzyzShiloh CarderTue, 18 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 14, Arizona State Sun Devilshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-14-arizona-state-sun-devils/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-14-arizona-state-sun-devils/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-14-arizona-state-sun-devils/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

The Arizona State Sun Devils have bitterly disappointed on the football field this season. You would think that would have their fans eagerly ready to change the subject to basketball. Their team is on the rise. Expectations are heightened, and rival Arizona is in utter turmoil. Yet, judging by the lack of response from their blogs, it seems to be more akin to fear of expecting a similar season on the hardcourt. So, we'll offer our view.

In two years, Herb Sendek had the Sun Devils just outside of the NCAA Tournament and has expectations raised significantly in Tempe. ASU hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 2003. They haven't been ranked in the preseason since 1991. They have never won the Pac-10 and the last time they legitimately made a run at the conference title, Byron Scott was playing for them.

So, year three has some expectations and essentially the unknown for Arizona State. This team returns all five starters and the seven top scorers. In other words, they return an experienced team with depth.

Why they should be ranked here:

This is an experienced bunch that has excellent individual talent in sophomore guard James Harden and senior forward James Pendergraph. Coach Herb Sendek, though, has them playing within the team and a base Princeton offense that rewards patience and passing. They also play a strong defense that held teams to just under 62 points per game.

Outside of Pendergraph, there are no seniors on this team. so there is still plenty of room for the other players to make noticeable improvement. Especially sophomores Ty Abbott and Rihards Kuksiks.

Why they should be ranked higher:

If the talent surrounding Harden and Pendergraph comes together this season, especially in the frontcourt, the Sun Devils can battle UCLA for the Pac-10 title. You know that a Sendek coached team will play defense.

They have two intriguing freshmen in guard Johnny Coy and power forward Taylor Rhode. At the very least, they should improve the depth and athleticism of the squad.

Why they should be ranked lower:

Despite the heightened expectations, the only proven commodities are still Harden and Pendergraph. It is assuming a lot with the surrounding cast and how much they will actually improve. This was still a team that was a bubble NCAA Tournament team last year. It is still a significant jump just to be ranked in the teens.

Under Herb Sendek, his teams at NC State were good and consistent, but never great. ASU has been down a long time, so getting to consistent and good would be a welcome place. That said, expecting big things from a Sendek team can be a dubious proposition.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 14, Arizona State Sun Devils originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08 blogpoll08BlogpollChas RichTue, 18 Nov 2008 14:07:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 15, Notre Dame Fighting Irishhttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-15-notre-dame-fighting-irish/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-15-notre-dame-fighting-irish/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-15-notre-dame-fighting-irish/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

For the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, BlackandGreen of Black and Green Irish Basketball Report shows that while Notre Dame may be a football school, it isn't the only sport over which the Irish faithful can obsess. This is the only blog on the web that is exclusive to ND basketball.

The Irish enter the 2008-09 season with their highest expectations since Digger Phelps roamed the Joyce Center sidelines. With an offensive juggernaut led by All-American Luke Harangody and sweet shooting Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame can outscore just about every team in the country. Supremely talented point guard Tory Jackson grows into an upperclassman with the expectation that he will keep the scoring machine running smoothly. Wings Ryan Ayers and Zach Hillesland enter the starting lineup to make up for the loss of last year's lone senior Rob Kurz.

Notre Dame can score from all over the hardwood, with McAlarney and Ayers knocking down threes and Harangody getting 20 points a game in the paint. The big question mark is how the team will defend. Last year ended in disappointment when Washington State was able to limit the amount of possessions in ND's second round tourney defeat. In such a low scoring game, lackluster defense shone through. Coach Mike Brey hopes that defensive stoppers Jackson and Ayers will be able to shut down the opposing team's top scorers and Harangody will develop into a better post defender.

Why they are ranked here:

Returning Big East Player of the Year Harangody can carry the team in spurts. The Irish have some young athletic players in Carleton Scott and Ty Nash enter the lineup to give some more spunk to an overall very talented team. They have gone unbeaten at home the last two years. They have finished in the top 4 two years in a row in a scary-good Big East. Yes, they will get beaten up a few times with a strong non-conference schedule and lots of competition within the league, but the team should be battle hardened once May comes along.

Why they should be ranked higher:

On a good night, this team can beat any team in the country. Both Harangody and McAlarney can drop 20 a night, with as many as five or six others contributing double digits from time to time. The balance on offense, with Harangody on the inside and Mac on the wing, is very difficult to stop. Often teams have to focus on one and pray that the other just has a cold night. Jackson's ability to break down a defense adds another dimension to the Irish attack. With everything running well, Notre Dame is an 80 point team even against good opponents.

Why they should be ranked lower:

Harangody can be stopped with double and triple teams. This places an emphasis on shooters like McAlarney and Ayers who will be given open looks. Kyle has a streaky history and can go 1-9 if he does not find his stroke early. Ayers has a similar problem if he does not get enough looks to find his rhythm. Defensive problems in last year's NCAA Tournament are a worry if Irish shooters cannot get going early. They will need to prove an added emphasis on D in the Maui Invitational to relieve those fears.

Great job BlackandGreen. Be sure to check with Black and Green Irish Basketball Report all season for all your Irish basketball information.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 15, Notre Dame Fighting Irish originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08 blogpoll08BlogpollChas RichTue, 18 Nov 2008 11:15:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 16, Wake Forest Demon Deaconshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-16-wake-forest-demon-deacons/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-16-wake-forest-demon-deacons/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-16-wake-forest-demon-deacons/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking an early look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Today, we have enlisted Zach Smith of the Old Gold & Blog to break down the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

The 2008-2009 Wake Forest Demon Deacons are poised for an exciting season in Winston-Salem. Dino Gaudio is back for his second season as head coach, and he returns all but one of his scholarship players from the 2007-2008 squad. Not only do the Deacs return every single significant contributor, but one of the nation's top recruiting classes will add even more depth to an already-talented team.

Last season Wake Forest showed flashes of brilliance, most notably in an impressive upset of the Duke Blue Devils, but were ultimately done in by several ugly losses, including an ugly first round exit from the ACC tournament at the hands of Florida State.

With All-ACC freshmen James Johnson and Jeff Teague returning for their sophomore seasons, and the junior leadership of Ishmael Smith, L.D. Williams, and Chas McFarland, the Demon Deacons have some talented experience to lead the way. Freshman forward Al-Farouq Aminu is an early favorite for ACC rookie of the year, and freshmen centers Tony Woods and Ty Walker also hope to contribute. If they can put all the pieces together and find ways to win the big games in the ACC, it could be a special season for Wake Forest.

Why they should be ranked here: There doesn't seem to be much doubt that Wake is one of the better teams in the ACC this season, while not quite being the best. They have enough depth at every position to hang with the best in the conference and the nation, but probably aren't quite talented enough to beat the elite teams. Those things considered 16 sounds about right.

Why they should be ranked higher: If Wake Forest's talented young freshmen prove themselves to be ready to compete at this level right away, then Wake may very well be better than the 16th team in the nation. Nonetheless, until they prove themselves it would be difficult to rank them much higher.

Why they should be ranked lower: If you don't put a lot of stock in unproven potential, you'd be likely to rank this Wake Forest this high. This team finished in the middle of the pack in last year's ACC and wasn't anywhere close to being ranked in the top 25. They added three very talented freshmen, but they have yet to prove they add enough to the team to deserve this high of a ranking. If they don't live up to the hype, Wake won't stay ranked for long.

Thanks to Zach Smith of Old Gold & Blog for coming into the 'House to break down the Deacs.


FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 16, Wake Forest Demon Deacons originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08blogpollal farouq aminuAlFarouqAminuchas mcfarlandChasMcfarlanddino gaudioDinoGaudioishmael smithIshmaelSmithjames johnsonJamesJohnsonjeff teagueJeffTeagueld williamsLdWilliamstony woodsTonyWoodsty walkerTyWalkerShiloh CarderTue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops Blog Poll: No. 18, UNLV Runnin' Rebelshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blog-poll-no-18-unlv-runnin-rebels/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blog-poll-no-18-unlv-runnin-rebels/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/18/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blog-poll-no-18-unlv-runnin-rebels/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

A side note, I grew up in Southern California, but followed UNLV anyway. So I was very careful in picking the right blogger for this preview, and we got a good one. Jordan Bunker is a fun read over at the Rebel Blog, and you should check him out after you read FanHouse, of course. Jordan is here to break down your UNLV Runnin' Rebels.

The hum of the neon lights on the Strip is no longer the only thing buzzing in Las Vegas. After back-to-back Mountain West Conference Championships and subsequent runs to the Sweet 16 and second round of the NCAA tournament, a contagious strain of Runnin' Rebel Fever has resurfaced and is running rampant throughout the city. Indeed, fifth-year head coach Lon Kruger has redefined the term "rebuilding".

Recent success and Kruger's pristine style of coaching not only basketball, but off-court life, has put UNLV back on the map as a hot-spot destination for transfers and freshmen, hence the number of new faces on this year's team. Count on Tre'von Willis, a sophomore transfer from Memphis, and freshman Oscar Bellfield to compete all season for the position of starting point guard. In the frontcourt, 6'8" junior college transfer Darris Santee quietly, yet more than adequately, handles the responsibilities of a big man. Backing him up in the paint is the combination of freshmen Brice Massamba and Beas Hamga, 6-foot-10 and 7-feet respectively.

This year's UNLV squad welcomes back four seniors in standout guard Wink Adams, sharp-shooting forward Joe Darger, blue collar hustler René Rougeau and much improved forward Mareceo Rutledge. Adams, Darger and Rougeau have been part of Kruger's system since they were freshmen, and their examples and leadership are trickling down and inspiring the entire roster.

Adams is the best overall player on the Rebels' roster. After averaging 16.9 points per game last year, scoring an average of 17 this season would make Adams the fifth member of UNLV's 2,000 point club. That would put him in the company of Rebel greats such as Stacey Augmon and Freddie Banks. Adams' uncanny ability to sense urgency in a game and make clutch shots will prove to be invaluable as the Rebels look to conquer the Mountain West Conference and advance further into the NCAA tournament than any UNLV team has gone in the past 15 years.

Why they should be ranked here: UNLV's current mix of depth and talent is unlike any UNLV squad in over a decade. If the Rebels live up to their potential, they are going to be extremely tough to beat. Also, the Thomas and Mack Center has returned as one of the greatest home court advantages in NCAA hoops. The Rebels have won 16 consecutive games at home, generating a momentum that, if sustained, will help them get past tough visiting opponents such as San Diego, Arizona and BYU.

Why they should be ranked higher: Two words: Lon Kruger. Possibly the most underrated coach in the entire NCAA, Kruger teaches his teams how to win and advance, all the while instilling an underdog mentality within each of his players. If the new guys are able to set their individual pride aside and put their faith in Kruger's defense-creates-offense psyche, these Rebels will be playing well into March.

Why they should be ranked lower: Again, depth. With so much individual talent on one team, there is always the possibility of each player thinking that his way is the best. Should this happen, it would be difficult to get the entire team united under one style of play.

Thanks to Jordan Bunker of the Rebel Blog for coming into the 'House to break down the Runnin' Rebels.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops Blog Poll: No. 18, UNLV Runnin' Rebels originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08blogpollJoe DargerJoeDargerLon KrugerLonKrugerMareceo RutledgeMareceoRutledgeRene RougeauReneRougeauWink AdamsWinkAdamsAdam PapagiorgioTue, 18 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 19, St. Mary's Gaelshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/17/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blog-poll-no-19-st-marys/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/17/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blog-poll-no-19-st-marys/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/17/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blog-poll-no-19-st-marys/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Today, we have enlisted me, Adam in the O.C., of NCAA Basketball FanHouse, to break down the St. Mary's Gaels. Mainly because we can't find a St. Mary's blog. If there is one out there, drop us a line in the comments section. But don't worry, I have enough of a West-Coast bias to make up for it.

Contrary to popular belief, St. Mary's didn't just emerge out of the ether last season. Some astute observers knew of their potential. (More on that in a second.) The Gaels had been successful in the past under coach Randy Bennett, but last year was a huge breakout season for the school.

Yet, somehow, the season still managed to be somewhat of a disappointment. If that's even possible with an NCAA tournament berth.

True, St. Mary's did have a break out year as it finished 25-7 and climbed as high as 20 in the polls. But somehow, the season still managed to be a bit of a disappointment. There were high points like beating Oregon, as predicted here. They also had big-time wins over Gonzaga (in overtime), San Diego State in the Wooden Classic and Cal State. (Hey, the Titans made the tournament, just roll with it.)

The team, however, wimpered out in the West Coast Conference tournament, losing to eventual champion, San Diego in their first game. And the NCAA tournament was disappointing, too. For a year that started out so well, the Gaels couldn't even get a postseason victory.

But let's look at the big picture, this was a good season for St. Mary's in a great year for the WCC. When you think of St. Mary's being disappointed with just going to the tournament, you are looking at rising expectations.

The expectations should be high for this team, too. A lot of St. Mary's problems last year could be attributed to them being a touch green. Now that they have a full year under their belts look for them to be stronger in those big games.

Why they should be ranked here: You can't blame some people for not totally buying into St. Mary's after its postseason woes. Although, if that's the case, why is Duke even in the Top 25? Still, you can't expect experts to give them the benefit of the doubt here. That needs to be earned.

Why they should be ranked higher: You watched the Olympics, right? Sophomore point guard Patrick Mills was tearing up the competition as a member of the Australian national team and drew rave reviews from some of the NBA players on the United States basketball team. Some even said that he was the best Aussie import since Colin Hay.

Mills will become more a leader and should be able to win games on his own down the stretch. But, he won't have to do it on his own. Diamon Simpson returns for his senior season and was the league's reigning defensive player of the year. That's right, his parents might have forgotten the 'd,' but he didn't. Simpson was like In-n-Out, because he cranked out the double-doubles and averaged 13.4 ppg and 9.6 rpg for the year. Big man Omar Samhan and Ian O'Leary also return, so this team is loaded with a lot of returning talent. This team is going to be pretty good, but they have to wait their turn in line because all of the overrated teams from the BCS conferences have to go out and lose before St. Mary's gets its credit.

Why they should be ranked lower: I'll pretend that you didn't ask that. Don't overlook this team again.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 19, St. Mary's Gaels originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08blogpollAdam PapagiorgioMon, 17 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 20, Davidson Wildcatshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/17/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-20-davidson-wildcats/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/17/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-20-davidson-wildcats/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/17/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-20-davidson-wildcats/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Today, we have enlisted me, The Sportz Assassin, of FanHouse and SportzAssassin.com, to break down the Davidson Wildcats.

We all remember last season. Davidson began the season taking on top programs like North Carolina, UCLA and Duke, rolling through the Southern Conference schedule and then getting to the Elite Eight. Along the way, the Wildcats popped Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin and nearly beat eventual champion Kansas.

Stephen Curry became a superstar. Head coach Bob McKillop was finally getting his national recognition. The little school just outside of Charlotte is now big time.Everything begins and ends with Curry. What was most impressive about Curry is the fact that he was able to find his shots (and hit them) despite the opponent focusing on shutting him down. The coaches he faced in the NCAA Tournament were only Mark Few, John Thompson III, Bo Ryan and Bill Self. His quick, sweet shot is one of the most beautiful things in sports.

However, Curry will be asked to do more this season. Point guard Jason Richards led the nation in assists last year and now he's gone. Curry is attempting to move over into more of a lead guard role and what this will entail is still up in the air. The thinking is that Curry will just set up the offense and then go back to what he normally does. Still, there are certain responsibilities that point guards have defensively that could affect Curry's offense.

Coming back to Davidson are long-range marksmen Bryant Barr and William Archambault; one of which will enter the starting lineup and extending defenses even more. Down low are Thomas Sander and Andrew Lovedale who are workhorses around the basket and setting screens for Curry.

Davidson is approaching the 2008-09 season in the same manner as last season. The Wildcats will take trips to Duke, Purdue, West Virginia and host NC State.

Why they should be ranked here: Davidson nearly did what no one else could: beat Kansas in the Tournament. Yeah Curry did his thing but don't sleep on how well they defend. The Wildcats are one of the better defensive teams in the country and are able to keep the "better" teams from getting too far away from them.

Why they should be ranked higher: Davidson's postseason run last year was not a fluke. This is a very well-coached team who has a nearly unguardable star who can cover up most of their deficiencies. If Curry takes to his expanded role fairly well, the Wildcats could have another long stay in the NCAA Tournament.

Why they should be ranked lower: Losing Richards hurts and the strain on Curry as a point guard could hurt the team's offensive production and wear him out late in games. Curry dabbled at point guard in high-school and was a turnover factory. This is a SoCon team and if they somehow get upset in the conference tournament, it would be tough to give them an at-large bid. That is, unless, they can pull out a few big wins against those big names they will play in the non-conference schedule.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 20, Davidson Wildcats originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08blogpollandrew lovedaleAndrewLovedalebill selfBillSelfbo ryanbob mckillopBobMckillopBoRyanbryant barrBryantBarrjason richardsJasonRichardsjohn thompson iiiJohnThompsonIiimark fewMarkFewstephen curryStephenCurrythomas sanderThomasSanderwilliam archambaultWilliamArchambaultShiloh CarderMon, 17 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 21, Florida Gatorshttp://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/17/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-21-florida-gators/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/17/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-21-florida-gators/http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2008/11/17/fanhouse-ncaa-hoops-blogpoll-no-21-florida-gators/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This week, FanHouse is taking a look at the top teams heading into 2008 with a BlogPoll decided on by our college hoops bloggers. To help with the team capsules, we've brought in some of the top fan bloggers around the internets to give us insights on their teams.

Today, we have enlisted MLMinTampa of the Alligator Army to break down the Florida Gators.

The Florida Gators return the core of a team that finished in the final four. Of the NIT.

Last season was a disappointment for the Gators not just for the fact that they did not make the NCAA Tournament, breaking a streak of nine consecutive appearances. But the reaction of head coach Billy Donovan after the Gators bowed out of the SEC Tournament first round ("They're not committed to it," in speaking of his team) led fans and outsiders to believe that this group of players was beyond saving. After rallying in the NIT, there is some optimism for this year's edition despite subtractions. The Gators' only front line presence, Marreese Speights, is in the NBA. Sophomore guard Jai Lucas, after playing the first preseason game, will transfer. UF hopes they can overcome both losses.

Point guard Nick Calathes will have to lead the way with fellow sophomores Chandler Parsons and Alex Tyus seeing time up front. The Gators have two freshmen who can contribute at the five, Kenny Kadji and Eloy Vargas (both 6-10). If Florida wants to be successful they have to not only play better but play with a passion that was missing for much of last season.

Why they should be ranked here: Florida will finish in the top half of the SEC, even if they struggle against an out-of-conference schedule that includes decent mid-majors like Bradley and Winthrop as well as NC State and Syracuse. They were not tested at the start of last season, which led to the delusions of grandeur that followed in SEC play. The Gators should make the NCAAs and the Sweet 16 is a real possibility in 2009.

Why they should be ranked higher: Talent. The Gators have plenty of it. Followers of the team see it up close and Donovan has always been a great recruiter. The challenge is been applying the talent.

Why they should be ranked lower: It is entirely possible UF is still a year away from being a great team when their young bigs have a year under their belt and Calathes becomes a true point guard. Donovan's patience finally expired at the end of last season when he made his team practice in an intramural gym instead of their $12 million practice facility. If Donovan makes them practice outside, you know this team is going nowhere.

Thanks to MLMinTampa of the Alligator Army for coming into the 'House to break down the Gators.

FanHouse NCAA Hoops BlogPoll: No. 21, Florida Gators originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>08blogpollalex tyusAlexTyusbilly donovanBillyDonovanchandler parsonsChandlerParsonseloy vargasEloyVargasjai lucasJaiLucaskenny kadjiKennyKadjimarreese speightsMarreeseSpeightsnick calathesNickCalathesShiloh CarderMon, 17 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST