Schools to watch in 2007

For hoops fanatics who like to look ahead, teams that should be special in 2006-07 (subject to change as we wait to find out who leaves for the NBA):

1 North Carolina: Roy Williams was magical this year, my choice for coach of the year. Just watch him next season.

 

2 Kansas: Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush and Julian Wright were diaper dandies this year, but they'll be scintillating sophomores next season.

 

3 Ohio State: Thad Matta's recruiting class of 7-1 Greg Oden and point guard Mike Conley will help make the Buckeyes a title contender.

 

4 LSU: Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Tyrus Thomas are a special tandem.

 

5 Florida: Joakim Noah and Taurean Green will keep Billy Donovan smiling.

 

6 UCLA: Defense and the ultra-talented backcourt of Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo enough for me.

 

7 Memphis: Shawne Williams and Darius Washington get better and better under the motivational skills of John Calipari.

 

8 Texas: Rick Barnes is on cloud nine with a recruiting class that includes Kevin Durant of Montrose Christian.

 

9 Connecticut: Jim Calhoun will find a way to keep the Huskies in the hunt.

 

10 Duke: Josh McRoberts and Greg Paulus got a wealth of experience and will get help from a recruiting class that includes Gerald Henderson and Jon Scheyer.

Duke? LOL

Duke basically ended the season as only a top 15 team. How will they be in the top ten without Reddick and Williams? Vitale again drinking the Duke Kool-Aid. UNC number 1, NO WAY. UCONN in the top 10 even if Boone comes back--I don't believe it. He is that smart when it comes to B-ball. A drunk monkey could put out a better top 10 list.

A drunk monkey could put out a better top 10 list.

I think there's a few of those who post here.

Duke basically ended the season as only a top 15 team.  How will they be in the top ten without Reddick and Williams?  Vitale again drinking the Duke Kool-Aid.  UNC number 1, NO WAY.  UCONN in the top 10 even if Boone comes back--I don't believe it.  He is that smart when it comes to B-ball.  A drunk monkey could put out a better top 10 list.

When was the last time Duke didn't finish in the top 10-15? They're losing a lot but you guys are kidding yourselves if you don't think they're going to be a top 15 team this year. Top 10? Maybe not, but I certainly wouldn't dismiss it.

I thought McRoberts was entering the draft?

I kind of disregard everything Vitale says.... he is the one complaint I have against college basketball.... the guy is annoying as hell and id wish he would go away.

I kind of disregard everything Vitale says.... he is the one complaint I have against college basketball.... the guy is annoying as hell and id wish he would go away.

 

Really? I love Vitale. I think he's good for the game. I don't find him annoying at all.

When was the last time Duke didn't finish in the top 10-15?  They're losing a lot but you guys are kidding yourselves if you don't think they're going to be a top 15 team this year.  Top 10?  Maybe not, but I certainly wouldn't dismiss it.

Yeah, pretty much. It's impossible to doubt Duke. This will basically be a repeat of a few years ago when they were a young team that a lot of people doubted and had a great year.

Can't raeally disagree with much of that, altough I would rank Memphis higher (I'm assuming Washington will return) and LSU lower. I highly doubt both Davis and Thomas return.

Can't raeally disagree with much of that, altough I would rank Memphis higher (I'm assuming Washington will return) and LSU lower. I highly doubt both Davis and Thomas return.

Yeah, that's the thing with this list. It's stupid to rank the teams with no idea who is going pro.

I thought McRoberts was entering the draft?

Rumors are that he might but it's not confirmed either way yet. He'd be very stupid to go imo.

Edited March 31, 200620 yr by Rowand44

I bet he had tears in his eyes putting Duke so low.

Rumors are that he might but it's not confirmed either way yet.  He'd be very stupid to go imo.

 

Well, most draft boards have him going in the top 5 or 6. This is a very weak draft. I think he would be smart to leave now (even though he's not ready).

Rumors are that he might but it's not confirmed either way yet.  He'd be very stupid to go imo.

 

In terms of his game, I agree with you. However he's a top 10 and lottery lock if he goes, and that's tough to turn down.

In terms of his game, I agree with you.  However he's a top 10 and lottery lock if he goes, and that's tough to turn down.

Ya, I meant in terms of his game.

UConn and Duke are probably a stretch in the last two spots.

 

Gay is almost certainly gone, and Williams could be too. If they lose both of those guys, they'll really struggle. They'll still be good if somehow Gay, Williams, and Boone are all back, but not only is that unlikely, I still think some of the teams on that list will be better.

 

Duke needs some guys to step up big time to avoid a drop into the teens. Even if McRoberts stays, either Nelson or Henderson is going to have to turn in a big time performance, and that's already assuming that Paulus and McRoberts play pretty well. They don't have as much talent on the roster as they have in the past.

 

I already posted my list in the recruiting thread. Personally, I think OSU and UNC have to prove themselves a bit before anyone puts them 1 or 2 in the pre-season polls, since so many of their key players are going to be freshmen and sophmores. Either that or many of the other teams on that list have to lose some talent.

Edited March 31, 200620 yr by ZoomSlowik

Where's Georgetown? Only starter leaving is Bowman, and Center Hibbert will be a Junior and much better. GTown also has 2 of the 10 top recruits supposely. Not to mention Ewing Jr. being able to play after his year of inelgibilty, honestly I have no idea if he has talent.

Really?  I love Vitale.  I think he's good for the game.  I don't find him annoying at all.

 

He's enthusiastic with some catchy phrases, but no real concept of evaluating talent.

 

And the annoying part is the duke-slobbering. Off the top of my head...calling jay williams and duhon possibly the greatest backcourt of all time prior to that particular season starting? Begging for battier to be the 1st pick of his draft class?

Where's Georgetown? Only starter leaving is Bowman, and Center Hibbert will be a Junior and much better. GTown also has 2 of the 10 top recruits supposely. Not to mention Ewing Jr. being able to play after his year of inelgibilty, honestly I have no idea if he has talent.

 

First of all, Ewing's kid really isn't very good, I'd be shocked if he plays all that much.

 

As for your point in general....Georgetown actually only played a 6 man "rotation" this year, and 3 of them graduate (Brandon Bowman, Ashanti Cook, Darrel Owens who were 3, 4, 5 in scoring, 2 in double figures). In other words, Georgetown has 3 guys with experience coming back in guard Jonathan Wallace and stars Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green, all will be juniors. G-Town has 2 stars in a nice role player in those 3, but after that they have a lot of question. Returning sophomore Jessie Sapp will probably compete for minutes at guard with incoming fresman Jeremiah Rivers, and incoming 5 star studs DaJuan Summers and Vernon Macklin will also get a chance to shine.

 

Georgetown will be solid and have 2 STARS in Green and Hibbert, but after that they will be reliant on very young guys who haven't played much (if at all) at a high level in college. And also, Georgetown will also likely have depth issues yet again. In short, the 2 stars will be stars, and Georgetown's 3 incoming freshman (who can all play, 2 of whom are STUDS) have to be good right away.

Dick Vitale USED to be the main authority on giving recruiting news to the public. But these days when everyone has access to the information, he's usually left in the dust, and is left to his old cliches used over and over again. He actually used to be a very solid basketball analyst, but as the years wear on, he analyzes less and less and just goes to his cliches. He's a very good man, but he's rolling down the backside of his announcing career. Still, he can evaluate teams very well. He's picked the last 3 or 4 national champions before the year started, but he will miss out this year as he picked UConn.

LSU won't even be top 25 after Thomas and Davis declare for the draft.

LSU won't even be top 25 after Thomas and Davis declare for the draft.

 

I wouldn't bet one Davis staying in the draft. Even if he does declare, he has virtually no draft buzz, so he's probably a second round pick, meaning he'd pull out.

 

Even if they did both go, Tasmin Mitchell is solid, Minor and Mason are decent starters, Rolle is about as athletic as Thomas, and Lazare and Temple are pretty good role players.

I wouldn't bet one Davis staying in the draft. Even if he does declare, he has virtually no draft buzz, so he's probably a second round pick, meaning he'd pull out.

 

Even if they did both go, Tasmin Mitchell is solid, Minor and Mason are decent starters, Rolle is about as athletic as Thomas, and Lazare and Temple are pretty good role players.

NBAdraft.net, which is usually pretty reliable, has him as the 19th pick.

 

With a good final four, he moves into the top 15.

 

Thomas is slated as the No. 1 pick there so there's no chance he stays.

I wouldn't bet one Davis staying in the draft. Even if he does declare, he has virtually no draft buzz, so he's probably a second round pick, meaning he'd pull out.

 

Even if they did both go, Tasmin Mitchell is solid, Minor and Mason are decent starters, Rolle is about as athletic as Thomas, and Lazare and Temple are pretty good role players.

 

Big Baby wanted to go pro all season....and then he became one of the most prominent faces of this tournament. Him and Thomas are locks to go pro. If they lose those two guys, they're back to being about a .500 SEC team.