Baseball Toaster: The Juice Blog : The Juice's College Hoops Preview Part 4

The Juice's College Hoops Preview Part 4

2005-12-01 23:09

by Scott Long

(DRUM ROLL PLEASE) The final installment of our wildly successful College Basketball Preview. Below is my Top 25. I would be interested on who you, THE JUICE's readers, see as your final 4 team and your sleeper. Please visit the comments section to offer up your predictions.

Final 4

Connecticut
Michigan State
Duke
Stanford

I can't see much difference between the top 3 teams. I'll take the Huskies to cut down the nets in Indy, as they have a better bench and the best point guard, if Marcus Williams comes off his first half suspension the way I suspect.
Izzo is a master at getting his teams to peak at tourney time and with the most athletic pair of wings in college basketball, Agee and Brown, they should be tough to handle.
Most prognosticators have gone the way of Dukey V, giving the Blue Devils the title. Despite having possibly the 2 best players in the country, Redick and Williams, they lack experienced depth, plus I don't believe Dockery is a championship-level point.
Any of the Top 13 could be the other team in the Final 4, but my surprise choice is Stanford. I'm usually a basher of the Pac-10, but this year they have the most quality teams of any conference. I'm going with the Cards, as they have the best point (Hernandez), plus possibly the top scorer (Grunfeld), and big man (Harysaz) in the league.

Elite Eight

Texas
Iowa
West Virginia
Gonzaga

While most have Texas in the Top 4, I think they will fall just short. Gibson might be the most talented point in the country, but he's too good of a scorer to be running the offense.
Sure they're my alma mater, but I've been pretty pessimistic in the past about the Hawks, as Alford's determination to play a man-to-man defense, despite having a team better suited for a zone, has cost them. This year they have better quickness, plus plenty of veteran leadership that will make them a dangerous foe.
My favorite team to watch is the Mountaineers, as their offensive system is Princeton-like, but with a flair. Don't think that last year was a fluke, as their offensive efficiency and unique style make them a match-up nightmare.
In the past, I've always felt the Zags lack of physical defensive players would keep them from making it to Final 4. This year they don't have that problem, but playing in a weaker conference keeps them from going into the tourney battle-tested.

Sweet Sixteen

Villanova
Boston College
Oklahoma
UCLA
Arizona
Wake Forest
Louisville
Kentucky
Alabama

Filling Out the Top 25

Memphis
Indiana
Iowa State
Ohio
Georgetown
Arkansas
Wisconsin
Creighton
Northern Iowa

Yeah, I have some surprises in my team's between 17-25. Ohio is my ultimate sleeper, with Missouri Valley teams Creighton and Northern Iowa all at least winning one tourney game.
Where are Syracuse, Illinois, and Texas Tech? They will make the tourney, but are overrated and will be lucky to win one game during March Madness.

Comments

2005-12-02 00:18:07

1. joejoejoe

On paper this is one of the best UCONN teams ever. They have three good seniors getting major minutes, size, speed, depth, shooting, shot blocking and a great coach. If the PG situation works out (Marcus Williams is suspended first semester for theft, last year he averaged 7.8 assists) then they will be devastating. Six players already have rings from 2004. And they have a lottery pick in Rudy Gay.

They play a strong schedule so they will be tested come March. I think Calhoun is excited by the new Big East (Marquette, Cincinnati, Louisville) and by this team. He also plays at Indiana. This year is a great opportunity to vault Connecticut into the all time great programs and do it on some of the most storied courts in college bball. Lookout for the Huskies.

2005-12-02 07:15:32

2. TFD

Scott: How does that Steve Alford Kool-Aid taste?

In the cadence of Brando's famous Apocalypse Now line, "The Hair...The Hair...The Hair"

Yikes Elite Eight? Don't be surprised if Ohio State goes further in the tourney than your alma mater. I also think you underestimate 'Nova.

2005-12-02 11:00:59

3. misterjohnny

I think you need to swap Stanford and Arizona.

2005-12-02 14:24:05

4. chris in illinois

I'm a bit out of my element here and I don't want to seem like a homer, but Bruce Weber did manage a couple of Sweet 16 appearances with less talent at SIU than he has at Illinois. Add to that Dee Brown who has something to prove to NBA scouts everywhere and I think this year's Illini might surprise a few people...let's see how they handle Mich. St. in the Big 10(11) opener.

2005-12-03 13:10:40

5. Blah Blah Blah

I know you're not from ACC country like I am, but I think you have Wake Forest WAY overrated. They're lucky to be top 30. They still don't play any defense and without Paul the offense is good but not dominant.

I think North Carolina and NC State are better bets to make the sweet 16, State by far (ugly Iowa game aside, their offense rarely gels until February). I do base this UNC comment on the two shockingly good games they played this week against Illinois and Kentucky with no experience and freshmen all over the floor.

2005-12-03 13:14:13

6. tem213

West virginia is way overrated. They got hot at the right time last year and were firing on all cylinders - it happens every year to some team where everyone is hot from beyond the arc.

Boston College is going to be very dangerous when Sean Williams returns, is just a huge defensive presence in the middle. Jared Dudley is one of the best players in the country and Tyrese Rice gives the outside presence that was lacking last year

UConn is incredibly talented but Calhoun is as dirty as they come (see rules changes about scheduling aau games b/c of rudy gay). Very interesting how Williams is allowed back this year but price isn't...dirty dirty dirty program.

Have not been impressed by texas. Gibson is nasty though.

Michigan State does not play defense. Ager and Davis are a nice 1-2 punch and they are very athletic (though I'm sure izzo will have them playing come tourney time) but I think they'll be exposed.

Think you're a year early on the g'town bandwagon.

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