College Basketball Megathread

[-HSKR-]

So who does everyone think will make it to the final four and win the championship? What players are going to stand out? Who will be the biggest impact freshman? What do you think about the preseason polls? What conference has the best teams and competition this year? Naismith winner? Let the discussion begin.

[navylax161]

ucla wins it all. hansborough wins naismith.

[lax21goalie2008]

OJ Mayo will probably make the biggest impact as a freshman. Obviously Hansborough will win the Naismith, but I think that UCLA and UNC will face off in the National Championship, but I can't decide who would win.

I want to see how Maryland fares.

[cjm3113]

Biggest Impact by a freshman will be Derrick Rose.

[egrlax10]

michigan state has a very good chance. we didnt lose anyone from a team that went to the second round of the tournament last year, and we landed one of the top recruiting classes in the country.

[gclark94]

Michigan State? They might be OK but they just lost to grand Valley State in exibision game. I know that it wasn't a real game but MSU was still trying to win that game.

Anyway go Georgia Tech(enen though they wont be very good)
I still cant believe that Thadeus Young and Javaris Crieghtenton went to the NBA after just their fresmen year. If they stayed, GT would be amazing

[egrlax10]

Michigan State? They might be OK but they just lost to grand Valley State in exibision game. I know that it wasn't a real game but MSU was still trying to win that game.



that game meant nothing. they played walk ons for half the game, and they definitely werent trying. theyve played grand valley the past few years, and they only won by a few points every time, including last year, and the year before when they went to the final four. so yeah, it meant nothing.

[-HSKR-]

Division II Findlay beat Ohio State in an exhibition game. Two big ten losses to Div. II teams. Ouch. (I know that they are just exhibition games, but it's still demoralizing to any team.)

[cjm3113]

Division II Findlay beat Ohio State in an exhibition game. Two big ten losses to Div. II teams. Ouch. (I know that they are just exhibition games, but it's still demoralizing to any team.)

Are you guys joking? Those losses aren't demoralizing at all. We (the Badgers) just played one and our leading scorer was a true freshmen who might not see any time this year.

[-HSKR-]

Please, just tell me what team ever enjoys losing, especially their first game, exhibition or otherwise?

[egrlax10]

hskr, you obviously have no idea what youre talking about. its not like they try to lose on purpose. coaches play walk ons, freshmen, and guys that will warm the bench all year the most in exhibition games. this is to give playing time to the walk ons and benchwarmers, seeing as theyll get minimal playing time during the regular season, and to get game experience for the freshmen. because of this, the lower end team (the case in this thread is findlay and gvsu) usually ends up winning or at least coming close. let me compare this to lacrosse if you still dont get it. every year, lemoyne and syracuse scrimmage each other before the regular season starts. almost every year, lemoyne wins. does this mean that lemoyne is better than syracuse? no, syracuse just played their bench warmers for the majority of the game. same goes for basketball exhibition games.

[-HSKR-]

I understood what you said. You didnt understand what I said obviously. What team enjoys losing? Thats what I asked, not whether the bench plays most of the game or not. No team ever wants to lose no matter who plays.

[laxmann1993]

J.J. Hickson is going to be good this year with NC State. They are ranked #21, not even making the NCAA tourney last year.

[kylax09]

cough. the university of tennessee lost 1 player from last years team. we also picked up tyler smith from iowa and freshman cameron tatum. lofton will average 21 points again and win player of the year. tennessee will win the sec and win the championship, we're so deep.

[abomb]

The Pac-10 is the strongest conference.

I can only think of one team that's not that good- Oregon State.

[Prof. Mushroom]

Gardner-Webb beat #22 Kentucky, 84-68 in the 2k Sports College Hoops Classic on Wednesday night. They didn't just barely win, they won by a margin of 16 points. Plus Ohio St. lost to Div. II Findlay even if it was just an exhibition game, and Mich. St. just barely held on to beat Div. II Michigan Tech. This was a week after losing to Div. II Grand Valley State in two overtimes last Friday. It isn't just college football that upsets are happening. Thoughts or comments?

[aisixers376]

ucla will win it all. no question
usc is good this year too so i am happy

[-HSKR-]

Mercer took out USC. Hold the Mayo, I guess. (And Vanderbilt won. GO DORES!)

[iplaylax22]

The Pac-10 is the strongest conference.

I can only think of one team that's not that good- Oregon State.

GO DUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[zach attack 19]

there will never be a conference that will top the ACC. there will be teams like the Pac-10 and the Big Ten that will compete with it, but not op it. Sure UCLA is good most of the time and has its great years, USC is good off and on, Stanford has its moments. Ohio St is a good team, and Wisconsin is good. But the ACC has at least four teams any given year that can beat anyone in the country. UNC is going to be a powerhouse again, and as much as i would love Duke to suck again they will contend again, Mrylend will also be great and BC, Virginia, Wake will do alright, and GA Tech will also be a very good team. i think the ACC always provides 4-6 teams for the big dance every year. Also, im very skeptical of the Pac-10 i think USC might be a dark horse in the dance, but I think UCLA is very hyped and will underperform. i think Kansas will be very good this year maybe even get a number one seed. my final four is UNC, Kansas, UConn, Memphis (even though they always get the easy road to the final four because the play in a crappy conference and play virtually noone until the tourney.) my champ os UNC.

[egrlax10]

4 teams that can beat anyone in the country every year? Didn't Duke lose to VCU in the first round of the tourney? Maryland has had quite a few off years, even last year they weren't great. BC lost their entire team, and won't be very good this year. Virginia will only be good if Singletary performs as well as he did last year. Wake was awful last year, and most likely wont be very good again this year. Georgia Tech could be decent, but still probably not a top 25 team. In the ACC, I'd say that Duke, UNC, Virginia and North Carolina State make the tourney this year. In the Big 10, you've got Indiana, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Illinois that will probably make the tourney. Then in the Pac Ten, UCLA, Washington State, Oregon, Stanford, Arizona and Washington who will most likely make the tournament,and don't forget USC. That's seven potential teams that could go to the big dance. Now I'm not going to say which conference is better based on how many teams it has going to the tourney, but it's foolish to say that the ACC is better than any conference this year, and the ACC definitely does not have 4 teams that can beat any team in the country in any given year. No conference has that.

Let me add on to this by adding the three other big time conferences, the Big 12, SEC and the Big East. From the Big 12, there's Texas, Kansas, Texas A&M, Kansas State and Missouri that will contend. From the SEC, there's Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida and Alabama. Mississippi State, Arkansas and Vandy could surprise from the SEC as well, so keep an eye out for them. Now to the Big East, an absolutely stacked conference this year. Connecticut, Marquette, Pitt, Louisville, Georgetown, Syracuse, Villanova, Notre Dame and West Virginia will all be potential tourney teams this year. You also can't forget about mid-majors, and I'm sure the Missouri Valley will be wreaking havoc on teams from the 6 major conferences as usual.

[speedygonzalez]

im saying Louisville man #5, #6 (depending which poll) and we only lost one cotributor, T-will is better, Sosa is smarter, caracter lost like 50lbs so now he is even more of a monster, Padgett most efficient player according to ESPN the magazine, and we have Rick Pitino nobody can defeat his $6,000 Armani suits of fury

[-HSKR-]

Kentucky dropped completely out of the top 25 and has only one vote for them in both polls.

[egrlax10]

eh, whatever, it doesnt really matter, early season polls mean nothing. the polls dont really start to mean anything until conference play starts.

[ShockerAutc]

Memphis is a crazy team. Look at that athleticism. They can attack the rim, and shoot jump shots. They have a great offense and play an attacking defense that wears your team down. Crazy. If their FT shooting from last year is improved, as time will tell... they will win the title.

[zach attack 19]

4 teams that can beat anyone in the country every year? Didn't Duke lose to VCU in the first round of the tourney? Maryland has had quite a few off years, even last year they weren't great. BC lost their entire team, and won't be very good this year. Virginia will only be good if Singletary performs as well as he did last year. Wake was awful last year, and most likely wont be very good again this year. Georgia Tech could be decent, but still probably not a top 25 team. In the ACC, I'd say that Duke, UNC, Virginia and North Carolina State make the tourney this year. In the Big 10, you've got Indiana, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Illinois that will probably make the tourney. Then in the Pac Ten, UCLA, Washington State, Oregon, Stanford, Arizona and Washington who will most likely make the tournament,and don't forget USC. That's seven potential teams that could go to the big dance. Now I'm not going to say which conference is better based on how many teams it has going to the tourney, but it's foolish to say that the ACC is better than any conference this year, and the ACC definitely does not have 4 teams that can beat any team in the country in any given year. No conference has that.

Let me add on to this by adding the three other big time conferences, the Big 12, SEC and the Big East. From the Big 12, there's Texas, Kansas, Texas A&M, Kansas State and Missouri that will contend. From the SEC, there's Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida and Alabama. Mississippi State, Arkansas and Vandy could surprise from the SEC as well, so keep an eye out for them. Now to the Big East, an absolutely stacked conference this year. Connecticut, Marquette, Pitt, Louisville, Georgetown, Syracuse, Villanova, Notre Dame and West Virginia will all be potential tourney teams this year. You also can't forget about mid-majors, and I'm sure the Missouri Valley will be wreaking havoc on teams from the 6 major conferences as usual.

ok, now out of the Big Ten schools you mentioned, Ohio St. and Michigan St. both got upset preseason by nobody teams. UCLA will be the only team that goes far this year out of the Pac 10, oh wait...USC....oh no they lost to Mercer, that's right. I will say i forgot about the Big East, but i live in Pittsburgh and Pitt is a disappointment every year. they are horribly overrated it's a crime. but you're right UConn is consistently good, Nova might be good again, G'Towm will be decent, Notre Dame was a surprise lasy year, WVU isnt consistently good. I dont think FLA will repeat, Tenn will be good, Vandy might be a surprise like you said. And Kansas will dominate the Big 12. But think about it, year to year, tournament to tournament, the ACC is the most dominant conference in the land. They always have been and always will be. sure, teams within the conference will have off years (Wake last year and UNC under coach dougherty) but im talking about consistency...no other conference is stacked year to year with the talen the ACC has. Big East is probably next in line, but still no comparison in my opinion.

[egrlax10]

ok, now out of the Big Ten schools you mentioned, Ohio St. and Michigan St. both got upset preseason by nobody teams.

like ive said before, the preseason games mean nothing. look at ohio state. they killed wisconsin green bay last night, and i guarante that wgb is better than findlay. but you do make a good point, the acc usually is the best conference in basketball. this year, it most likely will be the big east though.

after seeing how this football season has gone, it really wouldnt be a surprise if the basketball season went the same way. i expect to see tons of shifts in the polls every week, many upsets, and not knowing exactly who the best teams in the country are until late in the season.

[zach attack 19]

like ive said before, the preseason games mean nothing. look at ohio state. they killed wisconsin green bay last night, and i guarante that wgb is better than findlay. but you do make a good point, the acc usually is the best conference in basketball. this year, it most likely will be the big east though.

after seeing how this football season has gone, it really wouldnt be a surprise if the basketball season went the same way. i expect to see tons of shifts in the polls every week, many upsets, and not knowing exactly who the best teams in the country are until late in the season.

eh, i dont know. they are stacked when you look at them, but the big east usually comes up short. like i said pitt is almost always a disappointment in the tourney, syracuse might be an upset machine during the season, but i dont think theyll go far in the tourney. illinois might make a little run and UConn is one of my picks for the final four. lousiville i dont think will make it past the first round if they even make the big dance. Cincinatti wont make it into the second round and i dont even think WVU will make the NCAA tourney just like they missed it last year. out of the ACC i think UNC, Duke, UVA, NC State, and my surprise is Wake coming up big this year. i think that UNC will make it to the final four and Duke to the elite eight, NC State and UVA i predict both will go to the sweet sixteen. Wake i dont think will make it past the first round, but it will be a huge improvement from last season if they make the tourney.

[WKLAX]

GO Terps with two good sophmore guards, hayes, and vasques, I think we will be pretty strong

[heyitsscott]

GO DENVER!! haha.. to bad we suck

[laxattack09]

us blue devils are alright. were attacking the rim this year and and are playing hard. Kyle Singler is a great player, along with henderson and lance thomas, and not to mention taylor king. The game last night paulus played hard and played good. shire had 22. were pretty deep this year. Of course you cant forget the tarheels. they're stacked. they got everyone but wright back. he was good but they still have hansbrough. Deon Thompson didnt play at all last year, but i believe he is a great player. State has some good players along with virginia. BC will be decent along with wake and maryland. Overall i really think the ACC is the strongest conference. Carolina might take it this year. Memphis also has a very athletic team. lookout for them.

[egrlax10]

shire had 22.

its scheyer.

[Stach]

I think UCLA will win it all. They are so talented and athletic at all positions. The ACC, Big East, and Pac 10 are the best conferences. Impact freshmen is Love from UCLA.

I hope the basketball seasons is a crazy as the football season was!

[Stach]

I understood what you said. You didnt understand what I said obviously. What team enjoys losing? Thats what I asked, not whether the bench plays most of the game or not. No team ever wants to lose no matter who plays.

I agree. What team doesn't try to win? Even if they play walk ons and freshmen they were still upsets. Findlay University is so incredibly small and they took it too Ohio State.

[zach attack 19]

us blue devils are alright. were attacking the rim this year and and are playing hard. Kyle Singler is a great player, along with henderson and lance thomas, and not to mention taylor king. The game last night paulus played hard and played good. shire had 22. were pretty deep this year. Of course you cant forget the tarheels. they're stacked. they got everyone but wright back. he was good but they still have hansbrough. Deon Thompson didnt play at all last year, but i believe he is a great player. State has some good players along with virginia. BC will be decent along with wake and maryland. Overall i really think the ACC is the strongest conference. Carolina might take it this year. Memphis also has a very athletic team. lookout for them.

haha you cant be a true duke fan if you ever predict UNC winning it all...its not natural. Im just messin. but seriously...your my sworn enemy now b/c your a dukie. tar heels tar heels tar heels tar heels tar heels!

[DJ Death]

derrick rose is straight-up disgusting...ly good...

[laxmj1992]

Even though USC lost against Mercer, I think they have a good chance to make it to the final four. They have lost their first game every year for the past 4 years now. I do not think they will win the national championship, but might make the final 4.
For the national championship, I think UNC will win. They have so much depth on their bench.

[cjm3113]

derrick rose is straight-up disgusting...ly good...

Played against him the summer before last in a tournament. He was on a team with Eric Gordon. It was ridiculous.

[atm 1892]

Great game on ESPN right now. Davidson is giving UNC all they could handle. Looks like it will come down to the very end.

[emart]

unc-charlotte, national champs. you heard it here first.

[egrlax10]

too bad, davidson just didnt have enough at the end. good game though.

[zach attack 19]

yea that was a good game for UNC to shake the rust off. davidon;s kind of legit, i mean they consistently make the big dance albeit at a lowly 15 seed. hansborogh had a great game on the boards. im liking the way theyre playing though.

[laxmann1993]

Hickson dropped 31 last night. NC State is sick. So is Syracuse.

[cjm3113]

I wasn't sure what to expect from the Badger this year, but so far so good (of course, two games verse nobodies). Trevon Hughes appears to have ten times the confidence that he had last year.

[:)lax]

Duke is way overrated this year. I bet UNCC does better.

[zach attack 19]

of course Duke is overrated. pretty much because theyre Duke. i meaneveryone that votes on the polls think that Duke is a powerhouse, always has and always will be, whether that is the case or not. i hate the Dukies with a passion and i hope they killed by UNC once at the Dean Dome and once more at their house.

[Florida Gator]

North Carolina will win it all. Chris Douglas-Roberts will win Naismith

[egrlax10]

i think at this point, michigan state has definitely proven itself to be on of the top teams in the country this season. we rocked nc state by 23, then beat a very good bradley team on the road, and beat an even better byu team on the road as well.