Early Final Four Contenders
1. Texas
Texas brings a standout guard (Daniel Gibson), forward (P.J Tucker) and center (LaMarcus Aldridge) to Big 12 play. Toss in another solid post player in Brad Buckman and the 270-pound Mike Williams, and the Longhorns appear to be among the nation’s best. Come March, look for Texas to be the nation’s top dog.
2. Duke
The best guard and the best big man in the country. The best freshman class in the country. The best coach in the country. Their toughest challenge would be a scrimmage with the Charlotte Bobcats. At the very least, Duke will win the ACC handily, but they don’t have the go-to guy to deliver a national championship.
3. Michigan State
Combine a team that is returning a core of players that went to the Final Four last year with one of the nation’s top coaches and a tough schedule that will get the Spartans used to close games, and you get an MSU team that is poised to make another run at a title.
4. Connecticut
Who put the “con” in UConn? Marcus Williams and A.J. Price, apparently, as the two Connecticut guards were arrested for stealing laptops in the offseason. Nevertheless, Rudy Gay, Rashad Anderson and the combination of Josh Boone and Hilton Armstrong down low will make the Huskies a high-flying bunch.
5. Louisville
Taquan Dean is one of the best players in the nation. Be thankful that the Hoyas get to wait a year to play this Big East newcomer.
6. Villanova
If it weren’t for the zebras, ‘Nova could very well be the defending champions. Six months after nearly knocking off the Heels, the Wildcats have at least six above-average players. If, however, senior forward Curtis Sumpter can’t play – and indications are that he can’t – Villanova’s chances are limited.
Best of the Rest
7. Arizona
Typical ‘Zona team. A bunch of B+ players make for a grade “A” team.
8. Oklahoma
The usual Oklahoma role players, plus some underrated youngsters, make them a tough team. They’d be higher on this list if their March failures hadn’t lightened my wallet so much in recent years.
9. Gonzaga
Adam Morrison, still just a junior, would be the go-to guy for any team in America. If guard Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes can make shots half as long as his name, the ‘Zags will be in business.
10. Kentucky
Look for guards Rajon Rondo and Patrick Sparks to run the floor and ignite the offense.
11. Memphis
Darius Washington, after blowing it a year ago, will have some extra motivation. This team is John Calipari’s best collection of talent since the Marcus Camby days at UMass.
12. Boston College
Craig Smith and Jared Dudley are back and ready to make a serious run. Well-regarded for their defense and rebounding, the Eagles will be tough, even against their new ACC rivals.
13. Stanford
Dan Grunfeld, son of Wizards GM Ernie, is an up-and-coming star. Chris Hernandez is one of America’s top guards.
14. West Virginia
West Virginia is led by forward Kevin Pittsnogle, who is a threat both in the paint and beyond the arc. He comes to D.C. in February, and he has ugly tattoos.
15. Alabama
Point guard Ronald Steele is, ironically, always a threat to steal the ball, and Alabama’s frontcourt is considerably better than my jokes.
16. Maryland
A deep team, Nik Caner-Medley’s Terrapins should be a much more consistent bunch than last year’s squad.
17. Syracuse
Gerry McNamara could hit a three in the Carrier Dome from anhattan. For those of you who haven’t studied geography in a while, that’s a long way.
18. Iowa
Kind of a white bread team that probably won’t ever lead SportsCenter, but the Hawkeyes could win quite a few games.
Huge Question Marks With Potential
19. Wake Forest
Even without Chris Paul, the Demon Deacons are a force. On the bright side, their mascot is a devilish church official, so we have God on our side.
20. Indiana
Though they don’t know it yet, the loss of Patrick Ewing Jr. will come back to haunt them – at least when it comes to intra-squad bowling.
21. UCLA
One of the most unproven teams in the country, the Bruins have an undeniably explosive backcourt.
22. Illinois
Last year’s runners-up, the Illini will threaten despite the loss of two of their best players, Deron Williams and Luther Head.
23. Iowa State
Bronx product Curtis Stinson should tackle the difficult task of making the state of Iowa State more exciting in 2005-06.
24. Kansas
Think North Carolina, circa 2002. A brilliant group of freshman should make the Jayhawks a competitive flock.
25. Georgetown
Brandon Bowman decided to come back, Jeff Green has a year of experience under his belt and Roy Hibbert is still really tall. Look for the fear to return to the Hilltop in 2005-06.
