Wednesday Preview

Prediction Record: 53-24

Duke at Indiana- Prediction: Duke by 5

North Carolina State at Iowa- Prediction: Iowa by 3

Minnesota at Maryland- Prediction: Maryland by 11

Oregon at Vanderbilt- Prediction: Vanderbilt by 6

Manhattan at Syracuse- Prediction: Syracuse by 13

UNLV at Oklahoma State- Prediction: Oklahoma State by 4

Marquette at Nebraska- Prediction: Marquette by 2

Davidson at Charlotte- Prediction: Charlotte by 5

Utah State at Utah- Prediction: Utah State by 3

Creighton at DePaul- Prediction: Creighton by 7

Cal-State Fullerton at Kansas State- Prediction: Cal State Fullerton by 6

Georgia Tech at Michigan State- Prediction: Michigan State by 16

Murray State at Tennessee- Prediction: Tennessee by 2

Tuesday Predictions

Prediction Record: 48-19

Drexel at St. Joseph's- Prediction: St. Joseph's by 5

Wisconsin at Wake Forest- Prediction: Wisconsin by 3

Houston at LSU- Prediction: LSU by 12

Northern Iowa at Iowa State- Prediction: Northern Iowa by 6

Colorado at Pennsylvania- Prediction: Colorado by 3

Illinois at North Carolina- Prediction: Illinois by 4

Miami (Fl.) at Michigan- Prediction: Michigan by 9

Western Kentucky at UAB- Prediction: UAB by 9

Louisiana Tech at Alabama- Prediction: Alabama by 13

Dayton at Cincinnati- Prediction: Cincinnati by 7

Week in Review

At The Top:
Duke struggled in both of their games in the Preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden. However, they won both, beating Drexel by 10, and defeating Memphis by 3 in a great game. They were not overly impressive, however. Connecticut looks like the best team in the country after winning the stacked Maui Invitational. They defeated Arkansas, Arizona, and Gonzaga en route to a title. The Huskies don't look like they are as good as they can be, though. That's scary. Texas escaped against West Virginia, and then came back against Iowa to win the Guardians Classic. They did not look like one of the top 3 teams in the country most of the time. Daniel Gibson turned it over too much, and the frontcourt players were somewhat inconsistent.

Rest of the Best:
Gonzaga looks like the best outside of the Big Three, and possibly even better than Texas. Adam Morrison could be the best offensive player in the country, while JP Batista and Derek Raivio are impressive. They beat Maryland and Michigan State in a game for the ages before falling to UConn in the Maui final. Boston College escaped against Drake and Oklahoma State, and Craig Smith is not playing like the dominant player he can be. Tyrese Rice is providing scoring punch from the perimeter. Michigan State showed they are a top team, after nearly beating Gonzaga and defeating Arizona. There is something that seems to be missing, though. Memphis has been extremely impressive in the Preseason NIT. They dominated every team they played, up until falling to Duke in a great game. The Tigers are athletic and can take most teams in a one-on-one type game. Shawne Williams and Rodney Carney are possibly the best forward combo in the nation. Iowa looked good against Kentucky, and nearly knocked off Texas. Adam Haluska and Greg Brunner are a good inside-outside duo. Villanova and Oklahoma have not really played anyone yet, but are looking solid. They play each other Saturday in what should be a classic game. Kentucky has not had consistent play from their wing players. Rajon Rondo is showing that he is one of the best players in the country, while Rekalin Sims is solid down low. They lost a tight game to Iowa, but won handily over West Virginia. West Virginia had a very tough week, going 0-3 against quality opponents. They fell to Texas by one, then got beaten by Kentucky in the Guardians Classic. On Saturday, the Mountaineers lost to LSU by 3 in overtime. Arizona showed that they were not ready for their lofty preseason expectations, after struggling with Kansas, and then losing to UConn and Michigan State. They are, however, going to be a very good team by the end of the season.

Teams on the Rise:
Washington might be the best team in the Pac-10. Jon Brockman, Bobby Jones, and Jamaal Williams are developing into the best frontcourt in the conference, while Brandon Roy is one of the best all-around guards in the country. Nevada and George Washington are quietly winning games against lower-tier teams, and are padding their records. LSU got a huge win on the road against West Virginia Saturday night. Darrell Mitchell and Glen Davis are one of the best inside-outside combos in the country, while the slew of freshmen frontcourt players are producing very well. Tasmin Mitchell and Tyrus Thomas are impressive. Wisconsin is quietly making moves in the Big Ten. Alando Tucker is one of the best players in the country, while Kammron Taylor has demonstrated his ability to be a scoring point guard. Indiana is averaging over 100 points per game, and are looking to pull off the upset over Duke this upcoming week.

Not-So-Impressive Teams:
UCLA looked vulnerable in games against Delaware State and Drexel, and nearly lost to the Dragons. They also nearly got blown out of the gym by Memphis in the Preseason NIT. Wake Forest still really has not figured out their point guard situation. Justin Gray moved to the two-guard this week, leaving freshman Harvey Hale at the point. That won't work in the ACC. Syracuse got upset by Bucknell, and has not looked consistent this season. Bucknell, on the other hand, will make some serious noise this season. Iowa State got blown out by Iona in the Cyclone Challenge. Curtis Stinson and Will Blalock are doing all they can, but the Cyclones are getting absolutely no inside production. Illinois needed a last second shot from Warren Carter, as well as a called-off half-court shot from Wichita State, to beat the Shockers. Miami needs point guard Anthony Harris back. They got destroyed by Temple without him. Charlotte is still on the decline. They got blown out by Mississippi State on their homecourt, and only scored NINE points in the first half.

Others:
Marquette won the Great Alaska Shootout, with a win over South Carolina. The Golden Eagles had excellent games from Steve Novak, who hit six threes, and Ryan Amaroso, who dominated the interior. Dominic James has been one of the best freshman in the country at the point. On the other hand, the Gamecocks showed their athleticism and their ability to get second-chance points. Temple had a big win over Miami on Sunday. Mardy Collins and co. could be a sleeper NCAA team later in the season. Northwestern State had a big win at Mississippi State on Saturday. They could be a sleeper Cinderella squad. Old Dominion is one of the best candidates to make a run in the NCAA Tournament from a mid-major conference. They are quietly beating good teams, and nearly pulled off the upset at Wisconsin.

Monday Preview

Prediction Record: 45-19

Virginia Tech at Ohio State- Prediction: Ohio State by 5

Gardner-Webb at Minnesota- Prediction: Minnesota by 9

Auburn at Colorado State- Prediction: Colorado State by 6

Sunday Preview

Prediction Record: 42-19

Miami (Fl.) at Temple- Prediction: Temple by 2

Virginia at Arizona- Prediction: Arizona by 14

South Carolina State at UAB- Prediction: UAB by 12

Saturday Preview

Prediction Record: 37-13

LSU at West Virginia- This should be a decent barometer for both teams, although more so for LSU. It will be their first test of the season, and it is going to be interesting to see how the freshmen respond. West Virginia is experienced and their almost Princeton-like offense gives defenses fits. In addition, their perimeter shooting mixed with the lack of experience of the LSU team gives the Mountaineers an advantage. LSU has a huge size edge in the frontcourt with Glen Davis and Tasmin Mitchell, but Texas had one too and nearly lost. The Mountaineers will run their offense to perfection, leading to open three-pointers the entire game. Mike Gansey will have another big night in a WVU win. Prediction: West Virginia by 6

Vanderbilt at Georgetown- Prediction: Georgetown by 5

North Carolina State at Notre Dame- Prediction: North Carolina State by 2

St. Joseph's at Davidson- Prediction: Davidson by 3

UT-Chattanooga at Minnesota- Prediction: Minnesota by 7

Xavier at Purdue- Prediction: Xavier by 4

George Mason at Manhattan- Prediction: Manhattan by 2

Georgia at Western Kentucky- Prediction: Western Kentucky by 5

Iona at Iowa State- Prediction: Iowa State by 9

Boston College at Oklahoma State- Prediction: Boston College by 8

South Carolina at Marquette- Prediction: South Carolina by 4

Friday Preview

Prediction Record (so far this season): 34-9

Duke vs. Memphis- Final of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Memphis has demonstrated that they are one of the more talented and athletic teams in the country. However, one team that can match the talent level of Memphis is Duke. And they will demonstrate that in the Championship. JJ Redick is going to have a huge advantage over whoever Memphis decides to put at the two-guard across from him. However, If Rodney Carney defends Redick, he could have a tough time. I don't think that Carney will want to chase JJ around all game, though. Darius Washington may have an advantage at the point over Sean Dockery and Greg Paulus, but an even bigger edge will go to Duke in the low post. Shelden Williams should absolutely dominate the interior for the Blue Devils. Joey Dorsey and Kareem Cooper will try their best, but they just can't defend him. Shawne Williams against Josh McRoberts will be a very good freshman forward match-up. Duke is going to have a load of trouble defending the Tiger's forward combo of Carney and Williams, especially if DeMarcus Nelson sits out. They are just too quick and athletic for McRoberts and Melchionni. It should be a dandy of a game, with Memphis starting out the season with an NIT Championship. Prediction: Memphis by 2

UCLA vs. Drexel- Prediction: UCLA by 8

Florida State at Florida- Prediction: Florida by 12

Eastern Kentucky at Tennessee- Prediction: Eastern Kentucky by 6

Holy Cross at Cincinnati- Prediction: Cincinnati by 9

Gardner-Webb at Auburn- Prediction: Gardner-Webb by 4

Marquette at Oral Roberts- Prediction: Oral Roberts by 10

Wednesday Preview

Maryland vs. Arkansas- Prediction: Maryland by 6

Michigan State vs. Arizona- Prediction: Michigan State by 3

Connecticut vs. Gonzaga- Prediction: Connecticut by 3

Duke vs. Drexel- Prediction: Duke by 18

Memphis vs. UCLA- Prediction: Memphis by 8

South Carolina State at Clemson- Prediction: Clemson by 11

Mississippi State at Charlotte- Prediction: Charlotte by 9

USC at Oral Roberts- Prediction: Oral Roberts by 7

Tuesday Preview

Michigan State vs. Gonzaga- Prediction: Gonzaga by 3

Connecticut vs. Arizona- Prediction: Connecticut by 6

Kansas vs. Arkansas- Prediction: Arkansas by 3

Kentucky vs. West Virginia- Prediction: West Virginia by 2

Texas vs. Iowa- Prediction: Texas by 3

Creighton at George Mason- Prediction: George Mason by 2

Michigan at Boston University- Prediction: Michigan by 5

Bucknell at Syracuse- Prediction: Syracuse by 7

Hofstra at Notre Dame- Prediction: Notre Dame by 4

Monday Preview

Gonzaga vs. Maryland- Best first-round game of the Maui Invitational. Gonzaga did not look impressive in their win over Idaho, but are still one of the best teams in the country. Adam Morrison is a super scorer, while JP Batista is a tough player to stop inside. Derek Raivio is an excellent point guard who does not get nearly enough credit nationally. Maryland is deep and talented. Nik Caner-Medley is an inside-outside threat, while Chris McCray is a good shooter and defender. James Gist and Mike Jones are athletic scorers that could be difference-makers. DJ Strawberry is not a true point guard, but he is playing there for the Terps. Morrison against Caner-Medley is going to be an excellent match-up, both big-time scorers. It's going to be a very high-scoring game, and the Zags have more options up and down the roster than do the Terps. Prediction: Gonzaga by 2

Arizona vs. Kansas- Two annual powers face off in a good Maui Invitational game. Arizona has a slew of perimeter players that can play many positions. Hassan Adams can be one of the best players in the country by the end of the season if he takes over leadership of the team. Chris Rodgers is a good all-around guard, while JP Prince is a big point guard. Ivan Radenovic is an underrated forward. Kansas is starting over, although they have a lot of talent that could be tough to deal with come February. Mario Chalmers is a good point guard, while Julian Wright and Brandon Rush are excellent freshman on the wings. CJ Giles and Sasha Kaun are solid down low. Arizona has more experience, and a better team as of now. Kansas does not have an answer for Adams, and Radenovic is going to be a match-up problem. Prediction: Arizona by 5

Connecticut vs. Arkansas- Another first-round Maui Invitational game. UConn is led by Josh Boone, who looked like one of the best big men in the country against Pepperdine. Rudy Gay looked for his shot more, but was not very efficient. Gay, Boone, and Hilton Armstrong are the best shot-blocking trio in the country. Craig Austrie is serviceable point guard. Arkansas has the best player in the SEC in Ronnie Brewer. He is a versatile athlete. Eric Ferguson is eligible for today's game at the point after serving a one-game suspension. Charles Thomas and Darian Townes are solid frontcourt players. Gay against Brewer might be one of the best match-ups you will see all season. The Razorbacks will keep it close by forcing Austrie into turnovers with pressure. The difference will be the inside game of the Huskies. Prediction: Connecticut by 8

Texas vs. West Virginia- Semi-finals of the Guardians Classic. Texas may be the most talented team in the country. Daniel Gibson is a Top 2 point guard, while PJ Tucker is one of the toughest match-ups at forward in the nation. Brad Buckman is a top-notch power forward, and Lamarcus Aldridge has the potential to be an excellent center. He is averaging a double-double. West Virginia has a gang of shooters, both inside and outside. Kevin Pittsnogle is an inside-outside threat, while Mike Gansey is going to have a breakout season on the perimeter. Patrick Beilein and Joe Herber are two more perimeter-oriented players, while JD Collins is a decent point guard. The size and talent advantage that the Longhorns have over the Moutaineers will be the difference. Pittsnogle is not a good defender, and 6-5 power forward Frank Young is too small for Buckman and Aldridge. In addition, Tucker is much too strong for Herber. This could be a blowout if the Longhorns play to their potential. Prediction: Texas by 9

Kentucky vs. Iowa- The other semi-final game in the Guardians Classic. This should be the better game of the two. Kentucky is a very deep team that has many lineup options, both up front and on the perimeter. Rajon Rondo is developing into one of the best players in the country. He is the best defender in the nation, and is starting to use his athleticism and strength to become a scoring threat. The wing quartet of Ravi Moss, Patrick Sparks, Joe Crawford, and Ramel Bradley all average around 20 minutes per game and can all score. Down low, Rekalin Sims is a decent rebounder and scorer, while Sheray Thomas does a lot of the dirty work. Bobby Perry and Shagari Alleyne provide depth. Iowa has one of the best trios in the country in guards Jeff Horner and Adam Haluska and forward Greg Brunner. Horner is an underrated point guard, Haluska is an excellent scorer, and Brunner is a very good low-post option. Mike Henderson and Erek Hansen are decent players in the starting lineup. Doug Thomas is an outstanding rebounder off the bench. I think Iowa has the advantage in this game. Kentucky plays excellent defense, but their offense is lacking thus far. They do not have a definitive second or third option, which makes them easier to defend. Behind the Big 3, the Hawkeyes will get the win, and let the nation know that the are a team to be reckoned with in the process. Prediction: Iowa by 3

Old Dominion at Wisconsin- Both teams had wins over the weekend that most expected them to win by more. Wisconsin escaped in 2 OTs against Eastern Kentucky, while ODU had a surprisingly tough run with Fordham. Alando Tucker showed he is one of the best players in the country after scoring 38 points and grabbing 10 boards. Brian Butch has shown potential inside, while Marcus Landry is a scorer at forward. Kammron Taylor is a quick point guard that can score. ODU counters with Alex Loughton on the inside, who is averaging a double-double. Drew Williamson and Isaiah Hunter form a good backcourt, while Valdas Vasylius is a good scoring forward. This is my upset pick of the day. If ODU can shut down everyone other than Tucker, like EKU did, they can pull off the win. Loughton is going to have a big game inside. Prediction: Old Dominion by 2

Maui Invitational Predictions

First Round

Michigan State over Chaminade
Gonzaga over Maryland
Arizona over Kansas
Connecticut over Arkansas

Winners Bracket

Gonzaga over Michigan State
Connecticut over Arizona

Connecticut over Gonzaga (Championship)
Michigan State over Arizona (Third Place)

Losers Bracket

Maryland over Chaminade
Arkansas over Kansas

Maryland over Arkansas (Fifth Place)
Kansas over Chaminade (Seventh Place)

Week in Review

The first full week of the season and the short week of games before that brought several surprises, and many observations about a variety of teams. Starting at the top, Duke looked somewhat lackadaisical in their opener against Boston University, but then showed why they were the #1 team in the country in blowout victories over Seton Hall and Davidson. Connecticut had a sloppy performance against Pepperdine, and did not pull away until the very end of the game. Josh Boone showed that he could be one of the best big men in the country, although the Huskies demonstrated that they need Marcus Williams in order to make a run in March. Michigan State got blown out at Hawaii. Nearly every one of their main players were taken out of the game due to cramps, and the Spartans looked awful. Besides Drew Neitzel, Shannon Brown, Maurice Ager, and Paul Davis, the rest of the team had a combined 17 points from 8 players. The supporting cast needs to step up. Hawaii, on the other hand, showed that they will be a tough team to beat in the WAC. Julian Sensley played to his potential, and a trio of perimeter players provided balance. If they can win on the road, look out. Another Top 15 team that was upset by an inferior opponent was Stanford. Although they were playing without star post player Matt Haryasz, the Cardinal allowed UC-Irvine to come into Maples Pavillion and pull off the upset by 16 points. Perimeter stars Chris Hernandez and Dan Grunfeld combined for 42 points, while Fred Washington pitched in 9 points. The rest of the team had 12 points. That won’t get it done. One of the Atlantic-10 favorites, Charlotte, lost two games in the opening week. Northwestern and Wyoming both beat them, and pretty handily in doing so. Other than Curtis Withers and De’Angelo Alexander, no one else was really coming through. In the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Florida surprised many by winning the whole event, beating Wake Forest and Syracuse. Taurean Green looked excellent at the point, and Corey Brewer was developing into a star. Syracuse looked poor in their opening round games, but looked like the old Syracuse at Madison Square Garden. They played excellent defense against Texas Tech. Terrence Roberts was a solid player inside, while the wings provided decent production, in addition to the play of Gerry McNamara. Texas Tech showed that they have one of the best backcourts in the country in Jarrius Jackson and Martin Zeno. However, there was not much balance being provided on the inside, and the lack of a third option was obvious. Wake Forest looked very overrated, even though they beat Texas Tech. Justin Gray did not seem comfortable at the point, and showed he is more of a scorer, which mostly everyone knew. When Florida pressed the Deacons, Gray struggled. Trent Strickland and Kyle Visser both tallied 16 points and 16 rebounds against Tech, and Strickland is averaging a double-double. Eric Williams played well inside. Over in the preseason NIT, Memphis looked extremely impressive. They dismantled UW-Milwaukee, and then defeated ranked Alabama pretty easily. Darius Washington is looked like one of the best point guards in the country, while Shawne Williams and Rodney Carney are going to be a match-up nightmare for opponents at the forward spots due to their athleticism and versatility. Alabama, as expected, got excellent production from their frontcourt in Chuck Davis and Jermareo Davidson, while Richard Hendrix preformed very well. Ronald Steele was somewhat disappointing at the point, and Justin Jonus showed he could be the answer on the wing. UCLA did not look overly impressive in their win over Temple nor their victory later in the week over Delaware State. Jordan Farmar suffered an injury and did not play against Del. St. Aaron Afflalo showed the ability to be a super scorer, while Cedric Bozeman demonstrated his versatility. UNC-Wilmington looked like a candidate to be a season-long Cinderella sleeper, with wins over Butler and Northwestern, although they got beaten badly at Colorado later in the week. All three games were on the road. Two teams expected to make the jump from the NIT to the NCAA in the ACC were also upset. Miami, playing without Anthony Harris, lost to Air Force, while Virginia Tech had one of the worst losses of the weeks, getting beaten by Bowling Green at home. Possibly the worst team to beat a BCS club was Sam Houston State, who beat Missouri in the Preseason NIT. Quin Snyder’s days are numbered. Wisconsin, who lost four starters from a season ago, nearly lost at home to Eastern Kentucky, but prevailed in 2 OTs. Alando Tucker had 38 points, and showed he is going to be one of the best all-around players in the country. Another Ohio Valley favorite that took an NCAA contender to OT was Murray State, who narrowly lost to Cincinnati. Both teams have a chance to be sleepers should they make the NCAA Tournament, while the Badgers and the Bearcats could be slightly overrated. The defending champions, North Carolina, escaped at home by 3 against Gardner-Webb on a last-second trifecta by David Noel. Tyler Hansbrough demonstrated that he is going to be one of the best freshman in the counry, and another freshman, Danny Green, also impressed. Veteran forwards David Noel and Reyshawn Terry produced very well. Point guards Bobby Frasor and Quentin Thomas combined for 2 points, 11 assists, and 8 turnovers. Oregon State, who need to win on the road to make the NIT-to-NCAA jump, lost by 28 at Tennessee Tech, an expected OVC also-ran. Another Pac-10 team expected to push for an NCAA bid, California, lost by two to Eastern Michigan. Yes, it was without Leon Powe, but Eastern Michigan? San Diego State, the favorite for the Mountain West conference, lost to Illinois-Chicago. Finally, two expected mid-major powers, Winthrop and Old Dominion had impressive wins over BCS clubs. Winthrop beat Marquette, while ODU defeated Georgia.

Saturday Preview

Davidson at Duke- Duke looked exceptional in their 53-point win over Seton Hall. They have the goods to be the best team in the country. Greg Paulus and Sean Dockery are playing well at the point; JJ Redick is, well, JJ Redick; DeMarcus Nelson is performing up to par on the wing; and the interior duo of Josh McRoberts and Shelden Williams is dominant. Davidson is led by Brendan Winters, who is one of the best mid-major players in the country. Kenny Grant is a good point guard, while Matt McKillop and Jason Morton are scorers on the wing. Ian Johnson shoulders the load down low. Duke is just too good for Davidson. It will be interesting to see what kind of game Winters has against the Blue Devils. Prediction: Duke by 16

Michigan State at Hawaii- A warmup for the Maui Invitatioal for the Spartans, although a trip to Hawaii is never a warmup. The wing duo of Maurice Ager and Shannon Brown is one of the best in the country, and Paul Davis is an excellent low-post option. Drew Neitzel is a solid point guard. Hawaii has a good inside-outside combo in Matt Gibson and Julian Sensley. Sensley has the potential to be one of the best players in the WAC. Michigan State has too many options for the Hawaii to handle. Prediction: Michigan State by 9

Murray State at Cincinnati- The Bearcats' first game without Bob Huggins, while Murray State is one of the favorites for the Ohio Valley Conference title. Cincy is led by double-double post man Eric Hicks, and the wing duo of James White and Armein Kirkland. The Racers have a very good all-around guard in Trey Pearson as well as Keith Jenifer and Darnell Hopkins in the backcourt. Shawn Witherspoon is solid down low. Hicks might be too much for anyone on Murray State to handle, while White should be able to slow down Pearson somewhat. Prediction: Cincinnati by 7

Gardner-Webb at North Carolina- This could be the upset of the day. Gardner-Webb returns all five starters from a conference title-winning team. Tim Jennings, Simon Conn, and Brian Bender form a very formidable trio. UNC is starting over, essentially. David Noel and Rayshawn Terry will have to lead the way in the first game for most of the Tar Heels. Tyler Hansbrough opens his career. He will need to step up inside. Gardner-Webb will keep it close, but the game is at UNC, and the Tar Heels will pull it out in the end. I just can't see Roy Williams losing to Gardner-Webb at home. Prediction: North Carolina by 5

Utah State at Oral Roberts- Two of the best non-BCS conference teams. Utah State has a very good inside-outside combo in Jaycee Carroll and Nate Harris. David Pak is also a solid point guard. Oral Roberts counters with one of the best perimeter-post duos in the country in Ken Tutt and Caleb Green. Green is one of the best big men in the nation. Jonathan Bluitt is a very good distributor at the point, while Larry Owens is a good forward. Oral Roberts has the better of the two inside-outside duos, and they also have more options than Utah State. Prediction: Oral Roberts by 3

Eastern Kentucky at Wisconsin- First game for the Badgers without the four starters that they lost from a year ago. However, they do return one of the best players in the country in forward Alando Tucker. He could be an All-American this season. Kammron Taylor is a quick point guard, while Brian Butch could be solid down low. Eastern Kentucky is one of the favorites for the Ohio Valley Conference title. Matt Witt is a very good all-around point guard that could end up being one of the best in the mid-major world. Jason McLeish and Zach Ingles are solid wings, while Alonzo Hird is a tough post option. Wisconsin is tough to beat at home, and EKU is not going to do it. However, this game is going to be closer than most think. Witt and Hird are going to give the Badgers problem, but Tucker can't be stopped by EKU. Prediction: Wisconsin by 6

Winthrop at Marquette- The upset pick of the day, if you can even consider it an upset. Winthrop returns nearly their entire team a year ago. Torrell Martin and James Shuler are big guards that are going to cause problems, and Chris Gaynor is a solid point guard. Marquette is led by Steve Novak, an excellent-shooting forward. Steve Chapman and Dan Fitzgerald are two more perimeter options. Dominic James opens his career as Travis Diener's heir apparent at the point. Winthrop is experienced and talented. They also play excellent defense, which could create difficulties for James in his first game. Going on the road, the Eagles get the win. Prediction: Winthrop by 4

Friday Night Preview

Syracuse vs. Florida- The championship of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Both teams looked very impressive in the semi-finals, with Syracuse beating Texas Tech by 35, and Florida defeating Wake Forest in a sloppily played close game. Gerry McNamara broke out of his slump last night, and the Orange looked much more crisp and far better than they had in the two prevous games. Terrence Roberts is playing very well on the inside, averaging nearly a double-double. Demetris Nichols, Louie McCroskey, and Josh Wright are giving solid production on the wings, while freshman Eric Devendorf might be the key to this team. On the other hand, Florida looked very sloppy last night in a win. Corey Brewer is an emerging star, while Taurean Green is going to be a very good point guard. Lee Humphrey is an excellent shooter, while Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Chris Richard are a very productive post trio. If Florida presses McNamara like they did Wake's Justin Gray, and force turnovers, they could keep it close. However, the defense of the Orange will be too much for the young Gators to handle. Prediction: Syracuse by 4

Wake Forest vs. Texas Tech- The consolation game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Both teams looked very unimpressive last night. Texas Tech had a lot of trouble scoring last night against the Syracuse zone, as they lack three-point shooters. Jarrius Jackson and Martin Zeno are an excellent backcourt, with Jackson one of the best guards in the conference, and Zeno an emerging star. Outside of those two, no one is a consistent scorer. Wake Forest turned the ball over way too much against Florida, as a result of scorer Justin Gray not being a natural point guard. However, Gray is a very good scorer, while Eric Williams can be one of the best post players in the country. Wing Trent Strickland is averaging a double-double. Post player Chris Ellis a solid option on offense. No one on Texas Tech can stop Williams on the inside, although Zeno could have a big day for them. The difference will be the interior play of the Demon Deacons. Prediction: Wake Forest by 7

Georgia at Old Dominion- Not as hyped as the aforementioned games, this match-up will pit a high-major team at the bottom of their conference against one of the best mid-major teams in the country. Georgia has an excellent backcourt in Levi Stukes and freshman Mike Mercer, as well as Sundiata Gaines and Channing Toney on the perimeter. Old Dominion counters with Alex Loughton, one of the best low post players in the nation. Isaiah Hunter and Drew Williamson are a solid backcourt, while Arnaud Dahi is a versatile forward. The Bulldogs are loaded on the perimeter, while the Monarchs have the distinct advantage down low. ODU has the better balance, and gets their first of what should be many victories this season. Prediction: Old Dominion by 8

UNC-Wilmington at Colorado- This is a game between two teams that could surprise nationally this season. UNC-Wilmington has already shocked some people, by defeating Wyoming and Northwestern. They are a deep team led by guard John Goldsberry, an excellent all-around point guard that is a very good passer. The forward combo of Todd Hendley and Beckham Wyrick are solid frontcourt contributors. Colorado has one of the best unknown players in the country in Richard Roby. Chris Copeland is solid up front, while Marcus Hall is a productive guard. The Buffaloes are deep and experienced. UNC-Wilmington has looked impressive so far this season, but I see Roby having a big game for Colorado, and leading them to victory. This could definitely be another upset victory for UNC-Wilmington, though. Prediction: Colorado by 3

Thursday Night Preview

Wake Forest vs. Florida- Two teams that are at opposite ends of the spectrum heading into the season. Wake is being talked about as one of the more overrated teams in the country, while Florida is flying under the radar and not being discussed as much of an SEC contender. The Demon Deacons are led by one of the best inside-outside duos in the country in guard Justin Gray and post player Eric Williams. Gray is an excellent scorer but he is playing the point this season and has struggled. He had 10 turnovers in an overtime win over George Mason. Wing Trent Strickland has averaged a double double in his first two games. Florida is a young team. Forward Corey Brewer is looking like a star, while point guard Taurean Green is developing into a very solid player. The Gators inside quartet of Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Chris Richard, and Adrian Moss has been very productive. If Florida pressures Gray into plenty of turnovers and keep Williams in check inside, they can pull off the upset. However, I don't see anyone for Florida being able to get buckets down the stretch against Wake, and I see Gray stepping up in the second half leading the Deacons to victory. Prediction: Wake Forest by 6

Syracuse vs. Texas Tech- Similar to the previous game, Syracuse is being discussed as the most undeserving Top 25 in the nation, and Texas Tech has been mentioned as a Big 12 sleeper. The Orange have a new version of the Gerry McNamara-Hakim Warrick duo from a season ago in McNamara and Terrence Roberts. Roberts is averaging a double-double, while McNamara has struggled mightily with his jump shot without a Josh Pace-type player on the wing. Demetris Nichols and Josh Wright are playing well in the backcourt, but freshman Eric Devendorf may be the key to this team. When he plays well, it makes the Orange much better. Texas Tech is led by one of the best backcourts in the country in Martin Zeno and Jarrius Jackson. Zeno is developing into a star, while Jackson is not disappointing those who chose him as a Wooden Award candidate. Wing Terry Martin is also scoring. Darryl Dora and Jonathan Plefka are solid down low. If McNamara gets his shot back, the Orange should win as Roberts is tough to stop down low and the perimeter gang for Syracuse is deep and versatile. Jackson and Zeno will be a good test for them, though. Prediction: Syracuse by 5

Memphis at Alabama- The best game of the young season, by far. Both teams are somewhat unknown going into the season, as the Tigers were an NIT team last year and are now being picked to go to the Sweet 16, while the Tide are starting essentially four forwards. However, both are definitely Top 15-20 teams. Memphis has an excellent duo in Darius Washington and Rodney Carney, who came off the bench last game and will do this game as well. Freshman forward Shawne Williams has looked like a potential star thus far. Post player Kareem Cooper has played very well inside, and will need to against 'Bama. Ronald Steele is a very good point guard, and Chuck Davis is one of the best post players in the country. He went for 19 and 9 last game. Wings Justin Jonus, Alonzo Gee, and Jean Felix are all playing solid. Washington-Steele will be an outstanding sophomore point guard match-up, while Williams will be forced to show if he is for real against Davis. However, 'Bama has no one to guard Carney, and that will be the difference. Prediction: Memphis by 7

Temple at UCLA- Two potential NCAA teams face off in the quarterfinals of the NIT. UCLA has been led by an extremely potent perimeter trio. Aaron Afflalo has played outstanding, going for 23 points and 6 boards last game. Jordan Farmar is one of the best point guards in the nation, and Cedric Bozeman is a very versatile wing. Michael Fey and Ryan Hollins need to provide more than the 15 and 8 they gave against New Mexico State. Temple is led by one of the best all-around players in the country in Mardy Collins. Dustin Salisbery and Mark Tyndale are good scorers on the wings, while they, like UCLA, are not getting much production from inside. This game will be decided on the perimeter, and Collins-Farmar is going to be an unbelievable point guard match-up. UCLA has the better perimeter, with Afflalo looking excellent and Bozeman looking very solid. If either team gets consistent points and rebounds from the interior, they will likely win the game. Prediction: UCLA by 9

NIT Season Tip-Off Preview

The most well-known preseason tournament, the Preseason NIT will now be known by a different name. As a result of the its acquisition by the NCAA, it is now called the NIT Season Tip-Off. However, as usual, the tournament has some of the top teams in the country and will still have the semi-finals and the championship game in New York City at Madison Square Garden.

This season's bracket is unbalanced. At the top of the bracket, preseason #1 Duke has absolutely no competition to get to the finals, while the bottom half has Top 25 teams Alabama, Memphis, and UCLA, in addition to Temple. The potential second-round game of Missouri vs. Princeton is not very appealing, and I am not sure why the chairperson would have these two teams next to each other in the bracket. However, a game like Memphis-Alabama makes for some very interesting quarterfinal match-ups.

Duke draws Boston University in the first round. BU lost a lot from last season, and Duke is, well, Duke. They will move on to the second round. Manhattan or Seton Hall will get to play the Blue Devils in the second round. C.J. Anderson is one of the most underrated fowards in the country, and the Jaspers have several other options on offense. Seton Hall has Kelly Whitney down low, but no one to match-up with Anderson. Manhattan gets the win. Sam Houston State is led by guard Chris Jordan, but Missouri is in the Big 12 and just has better overall talent. The Tigers will get the victory. Mizzou gets the winner of Drexel-Princeton. Both teams lost a lot from last season. Drexel has a nice inside-outside combo in Bashir Mason and Chaz Crawford, while Princeton counters with Luke Owings and a host of solid role players. Princeton has a few more options and are a better defensive team than the Dragons.

On the lower half of the bracket, SEC contender Alabama faces Miami (Ohio). This is the country's first chance to see how the Tide's four forward lineup works out. They will have plenty of chances to work out the kinks in an easy win. Memphis plays host to last year's Cinderella team, UW-Milwaukee. The Tigers are one of this year's trendy picks to make the jump from NIT to Sweet 16. Darius Washington and Rodney Carney are an excellent duo. The Panthers lose Ed McCants, but have a very tough forward in Joah Tucker. Carney and Shawne Williams will shut down Tucker, and Memphis will get the W. Temple may have the easiest first round game, against Army. Mardy Collins starts his All-American campaign in a blowout victory. UCLA draws New Mexico State at the bottom of the bracket. They have excellent perimeter talent, led by Jordan Farmar. The Bruins won't have much trouble dispatching the transfer-infused Aggies.

The quarterfinals in the upper half of the bracket are going to be an extension of the first round--blowouts for the main teams. Duke will likely get Manhattan, and will have another easy win. DeMarcus Nelson have to slow down CJ Anderson for the Blue Devils. Missouri will face Princeton. The versatility of Missouri and the overall perimeter talent will be too much for Princeton. Down at the bottom, Memphis-Alabama may be the best game of the entire tournament. Ronald Steele will battle Darius Washington in an excellent sophomore point guard match-up. Super freshman Shawne Williams will have to defend Chuck Davis in what should be an advantage for the Tide. Rodney Carney on the wing will be key for Memphis. 'Bama might not have anyone to defend him. He will lead the Tigers to a victory. UCLA will get a tough test from Temple. Mardy Collins against Jordan Farmar will be an unbelievable point guard match-up. The difference will be the supporting cast--UCLA has a much better one.

Once in New York City, Duke will have another easy game against Missouri. I'm guessing the NIT committee wanted the whole mentor vs. protege thing with Mike Krzyzewski and Quin Snyder. They can hype that all they want, but the fact is that the game is going to be a blowout. In the other semi-final game, Memphis takes on UCLA. Darius Washington against Jordan Farmar will be a battle of sophomore point guards. Aaron Afflalo is tough on the wing for the Bruins, and Cedric Bozeman is very versatile. Memphis has Rodney Carney on the wing, with Shawne Williams at the other forward. Bozeman will have to lock down Carney, although UCLA has no one that can match-up with Williams. That could be the difference in what is going to be a tight game. Memphis has a lot of talent that few teams can match.

One team that can match the talent level of Memphis is Duke. And they will demonstrate that in the Championship. JJ Redick is going to have a huge advantage over whoever Memphis decides to put at the two-guard across from him. However, If Rodney Carney defends Redick, he could have a tough time. I don't think that Carney will want to chase JJ around all game, though. Darius Washington may have an advantage at the point over Sean Dockery and Greg Paulus, but an even bigger edge will go to Duke in the low post. Shelden Williams should absolutely dominate the interior for the Blue Devils. Joey Dorsey will try his best, but he just can't defend him. Shawne Williams against Josh McRoberts will be a very good freshman forward match-up. Redick on the outside and Williams on the inside will be too much. Duke will start the season with an NIT Championship.

2005-2006 College Basketball Preview

Over the past two months, March Madness All Season has provided everything you need to know for the 2005-2006 college basketball season. Article after article, prediction after prediction, March Madness All Season has given information on every team, player, and conference in the country. If you missed any of the preview, here is the complete index of all 53 articles:

Best Backcourts
Best Frontcourts
Best Players at Each Position: PG SG SF PF C
Impact Freshmen
Impact Transfers
Conference Rankings
Major Conference Sleepers
Mid-Major Top 25
Best Non-Conference Games
Best Inside-Outside Combos
Best Trios
Biggest Shoes to Fill

Conference and Team Previews: Atlantic Sun, Big South, Big Sky, Ivy, MAAC, Mid-Continent, MEAC, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southland, SWAC

Conference and Team Previews: America East, Atlantic-10, Big West, Colonial, Conference USA, Horizon, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, Southern, Sun Belt, West Coast, WAC

Pac-10 Conference and Team Previews
SEC Conference and Team Previews
Big Ten Conference and Team Previews
Big 12 Conference and Team Previews
ACC Conference and Team Previews
Big East Conference and Team Previews

Player of the Year
Freshman of the Year
Field of 65
Top 25
All-Americans
Final Four/National Champion

Final Four/National Champion Predictions

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2005-2006 SEASON, CLICK HERE

National Champion: Connecticut

Final Four: Connecticut, Duke, Texas, Villanova

Bracket Breakdown

No matter how many previews and predictions, everyone's focus is still on two things: March and the NCAA Tournament. With that in mind, March Madness All Season has attempted to project the 65 teams that will make the NCAA Tournament in five months.

1 Duke
16 South Carolina State/Alabama A&M

8 Syracuse
9 California

5 George Washington
12 Michigan

4 Alabama
13 Winthrop

6 Illinois
11 Ohio

3 Stanford
14 Iona

7 Northern Iowa
10 Cincinnati

2 Boston College
15 Eastern Kentucky


1 Connecticut
16 Montana State

8 Texas Tech
9 Arkansas

5 Wake Forest
12 San Diego State

4 Iowa
13 Oral Roberts

6 West Virginia
11 Virginia Tech

3 Arizona
14 Western Kentucky

7 Charlotte
10 Ohio State

2 Oklahoma
15 Penn


1 Texas
16 Northwestern State

8 North Carolina State
9 Wisconsin

5 Washington
12 Old Dominion

4 Kentucky
13 Wisconsin-Milwaukee

6 Indiana
11 Vanderbilt

3 Memphis
14 Cal State-Fullerton

7 Iowa State
10 Creighton

2 Villanova
15 Gardner-Webb


1 Gonzaga
16 Fairleigh Dickinson

8 Georgetown
9 Kansas

5 Maryland
12 Minnesota

4 UCLA
13 Bucknell

6 LSU
11 Xavier

3 Lousville
14 Davidson

7 Nevada
10 Miami (Fl.)

2 Michigan State
15 Albany

Preseason Top 25

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2005-2006 SEASON, CLICK HERE

1. Duke
2. Texas
3. Connecticut
4. Gonzaga
5. Michigan State
6. Villanova
7. Oklahoma
8. Boston College
9. Stanford
10. Memphis
11. Arizona
12. Louisville
13. Iowa
14. Kentucky
15. Alabama
16. George Washington
17. UCLA
18. West Virginia
19. Washington
20. Maryland
21. Illinois
22. Wake Forest
23. Syracuse
24. Charlotte
25. Northern Iowa

All-Americans and Awards

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2005-2006 SEASON, CLICK HERE

Player of the Year: J.J. Redick, Duke

Freshman of the Year: Tasmin Mitchell, LSU

All-American Team:
G- Dee Brown, Illinois
G- JJ Redick, Duke
F- Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
F- Craig Smith, Boston College
C- Shelden Williams, Duke

Second Team:
G- Daniel Gibson, Texas
G- Curtis Stinson, Iowa State
G- Marcus Williams, Connecticut
F- Eric Williams, Wake Forest
F- Taj Gray, Oklahoma

Third Team:
G- Chris Hernandez, Stanford
F- Alando Tucker, Wisconsin
F- Rudy Gay, Connecticut
F- Hassan Adams, Arizona
F- Nick Fazekas, Nevada

Fourth Team:
G- Mardy Collins, Temple
G- Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas
F- Jared Dudley, Boston College
F- Leon Powe, California
C- Josh Boone, Connecticut

Fifth Team:
G- Darius Washington, Memphis
G- Justin Gray, Wake Forest
G- Allan Ray, Villanova
F- Curtis Withers, Charlotte
C- Paul Davis, Michigan State

ACC Preview

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2005-2006 SEASON, CLICK HERE

Player of the Year: J.J. Redick, SG, Duke

Newcomer of the Year: Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina

All-Conference Team:
G- JJ Redick, Duke
G- Justin Gray, Wake Forest
F- Craig Smith, Boston College
F- Eric Williams, Wake Forest
C- Shelden Williams, Duke

Second Team:
G- Zabian Dowdell, Virginia Tech
G- Guillermo Diaz, Miami
G- Chris McCray, Maryland
F- Nick Caner-Medley, Maryland
F- Jared Dudley, Boston College

Third Team:
G- Robert Hite, Miami
G- Jamon Gordon, Virginia Tech
G- Sean Singletary, Virginia
F- Ilian Evtimov, North Carolina State
F- Coleman Collins, Virginia Tech

1. Duke- Duke has to be considered the favorite in the ACC, given that they are the near-consensus preseason #1 in the country. They have depth and skill at each position, and one of the best coaches in the game in Mike Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils have very solid perimeter play. JJ Redick is the premier shooting guard in the country. He can carry the Blue Devils, and is one of the best pure shooters around. Redick is a sure-fire All-American and a candidate for national player of the year. Sean Dockery is a defensive pest, yet might not start at the point. Freshman Greg Paulus was the top point guard recruit in the country, and might be starting by the time conference play starts. Wing DeMarcus Nelson plays bigger than his 6-3 size would indicate, and will have to pick up some of the scoring slack left by the departure of Daniel Ewing. The Dukies are also stacked up front. However, they are going to need excellent production from a frontcourt that includes two freshmen. Shelden Williams is the best post player in the country,offensively and defensively. He gets a double double every time out, and could be the best shot blocker in the nation. Along with Redick, he is the leading candidate for National Player of the Year. Josh McRoberts is a candidate for national freshman of the year. He is an inside-outside threat that could develop into a start by March. Lee Melchionni stepped up in conference play a year ago, giving the Blue Devils a frontcourt player that could hit the three consistently. Freshman Eric Boateng will give Williams a few minutes of rest each game, something he didn't get a year ago. If the freshmen live up to their potential and either Dockery or Paulus step up at the point, Duke could be cutting down the nets in Indianapolis. Prediction: NCAA

2. Boston College- Boston College is the newcomer to the ACC. After sharing the regular season title last year in the Big East, the Eagles were upset in both the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. They are the main contender to Duke's ACC title hopes. BC has the frontcourt to compete for a league championship. Craig Smith is the best power forward in the country. He is extremely strong, and bulls his way to buckets everytime he gets the ball. He is very tough to stop once he gets the ball. Jared Dudley is one of the more underrated players in the nation. He is one of the best forwards in the country, but doesn't get the accolades. Dudley always finds ways to score, and his versatility makes him difficult to defend. Sean Williams is expected to become eligible as early as December, after a suspension for an off-the-court situation. If and when he returns, he gives BC an outstanding shot blocker. Akida McLain and Evan Neisler will provide depth and will have to play more than expected until Williams comes back. The backcourt needs to provide the offense with balance so defenses can't focus all their attention on the frontcourt. Wing Sean Marshall is the best shooter on the team, and is a good scorer. However, he needs to work on his defense. Returning to start at the point is Louis Hinnant. He is a four-year starter that is an excellent distributor but not much of a scorer. Freshman Marquez Haynes has impressed in practice, and will see extensive time on the perimeter. Fellow freshman Tyrese Rice will also get minutes in the backcourt. BC has an excellent frontcourt, and a quality perimeter group. While not yet on Duke's level, BC will compete in the ACC and should make a run in the NCAA Tournament. Prediction: NCAA

3. Maryland- Maryland may have been the biggest underachievers last season, as well as one of the most inconsistent. They beat Duke, but lost to Clemson three times. The Terrapins will need more consistency if they are to contend in the ACC. The loss of go-to-guy John Gilchrist may be a blessing in disguise. He was a chemistry killer and was never the leader that the young Terps needed him to be. The point guard spot will now go to either JC transfer Parrish Brown, Sterling Ledbetter, or D.J. Strawberry. Strawberry missed the latter half of last season due to an ACL injury. He is more of a combo guard, but can play the point if needed. He is very quick and is the best defender on the team. Even if he doesn't start, he will be one of team's leading minute-getters. Brown is a good playmaker and a quick on-the-ball defender. He is also a very good shooter. Ledbetter started during the NIT last season at the point, and wasn't overly impressive. He should see minutes, though. Also starting in the backcourt will be Chris McCray. He is one of the better all-around guards in the ACC, and is an especially good defender. McCray can hit the open three at times, although it would benefit him to become more consistent with his shot. Coming off the bench on the wing is Mike Jones. He makes the most of his minutes on the floor ( 7.2 ppg in 13.7 mpg), and is a streaky shooter. The frontcourt could be one of the best in the country if several key guys play to their potential. Nik Caner-Medley is an excellent scorer that can shoot the jumper and post up smaller forwards. He is one of the best forwards in the conference. Travis Garrison stepped his game up in the NIT, and needs to continue that this season. Ekene Ibekwe is extremely athletic but needs to improve his consistency in order to utilize his full potential. James Gist is an extraordinary athlete that makes the most of his minutes off the bench, and could be a breakout player this season. Will Bowers was a part-time starter that provided solid defense and rebounding. If Maryland plays like some of their performances last season would suggest, they can erase memories of last year's NIT bunch, and make a run in this season's NCAA Tournament. Prediction: NCAA

4. Wake Forest- Wake Forest, after being the Preseason #1 a year ago, now is in somewhat of a reloading season after losing lottery pick Chris Paul, as well as seniors Taron Downey, Vytas Danelius, and Jamaal Levy. However, two All-American candidates return in guard Justin Gray and post player Eric Williams. Gray has been on the wing the past couple of seasons with Paul at the point, but he is going to have to move to the lead guard role this year. He is an excellent three-point shooter and scorer that will have to become more of a distributor. In addition, Gray will need to keep his turnovers down. Williams is the main man down low. He is very efficient once he gets the ball on the low block, and is a good shot blocker and rebounder. He is overshadowed within the league by Duke's Shelden Williams, but he is every bit as good as him. They should have some good match-ups this season. The Demon Deacons are going to have break in a trio of new starters, but they have several players ready to take on bigger roles this year. Trent Strickland has started in the past, and will have to become a dependable scorer on the wing. He is very athletic but will have to become more of an all-around threat this season. Chris Ellis is a decent inside scorer that shot an unbelievable 61 percent from beyond the arc, albeit with only 18 attempts. Kyle Visser is another solid player in the paint that is expected to have improved numbers in the paint this season for the Demon Deacons. Forward Cameron Stanley is expected to provide depth in the frontcourt. Two freshman are going to see plenty of time and may even start. Guard Harvey Hale is an excellent defender who can also score on the perimeter, while forward Kevin Swinton is a good all-around player who is an excellent scorer. If Gray makes a seamless transition to the point guard position, and the role players step up to handle heavy minutes, the Demon Deacons will go as far as last year's team did. Prediction: NCAA

5. North Carolina State- North Carolina State looked like it was going to become one of the bigger disappointments of last season until they got hot down the stretch and made a run to the Sweet 16 after upsetting Connecticut in the second round. However, they lost All-ACC, do-everything wing Julius Hodge. He had been the face of Wolfpack basketball for four years, and now needs to be replaced. NC State has a bevy of talented players that all could challenge for starting jobs. The perimeter group is deep with several options. Guard Engin Atsur is an underrated player. He can do nearly everything on the floor--score, shoot the three, play defense, distribute, even play the point if needed. He is returning for his third year as a starter. Cameron Bennerman really came on during the postseason a year ago, and should have a big year on the wing. He is extremely athletic and is one of the best defenders in the country. Point guard Tony Bethel had an injury-plagued first season at NC State after transferring from Georgetown. He is a very good defender and a good leader for the Wolfpack. Also on the perimeter is wing Gavin Grant, who could have a huge season. He is 6-7 and a very versatile, talented performer. Grant can do a little bit of everything, although his long-range shooting is a little lackluster. Freshman Courtney Fells is expected to come in and make an immediate impact. He is an excellent shooter that was a highly-touted recruit. The frontcourt is equally as deep and versatile. Ilian Evtimov leads the way. He can play any of the frontcourt spots, and is a good scorer, both inside and out. He is a 43 percent three-point shooter and is a very good passer. Andrew Brackman could have a big season up front. The future MLB pitcher is an outstanding shot blocker and a good rebounder who can also hit the outside shot. Cedric Simmons will be the main man off the bench. He is a potentially dominant player on the inside that can block shots, rebound, and score in the paint. Freshmen Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley will also see time off the bench. Costner was a McDonald's All-American that can do a variety of things on the floor, while McCauley is a solid inside-outside scorer. If NC State can successfully replace Hodge, the Wolfpack will be a tough team to beat in the postseason. Prediction: NCAA

6. Miami- Miami (Fl.) was right in the mix for an NCAA Tournament bid, until they lost a few key games down the stretch to put them on the wrong side off the bubble. They shouldn't have to sweat on Selection Sunday this season. One of the top backcourts in the country returns for the Hurricanes. Guillermo Diaz is a high-flying scorer that can do it all on the offensive end. He is one of the best guards in the conference. He can play solid defense and looks like he can carry Miami. Robert Hite gets somewhat overshadowed by Diaz, but was still fourth in the ACC in scoring. He is not much of a passer, but is a good point producer that takes some of the pressure off of Diaz. Anthony Harris starts at the point and is solid all-around. He is one of the most underrated players in the conference, and is also a very good distributor. Denis Clemente was a highly-touted point guard recruit who is extremely quick. The frontcourt needs to do their part in order for Miami to make the Tournament. Anthony King is an excellent rebounder and one of the best shot blockers in the country. Seeing minutes beside him will be Gary Hamilton. Coming off the bench last season, Hamilton was a very good rebounder who makes the most of his minutes. He should see more this year. Freshmen Adrian Thomas and Brian Asbury will also see extensive minutes for Miami. Asbury is more of a wing, while Thomas can play both forward spots. If the frontcourt can provide consistent production and the perimeter can still carry most of the load, the Hurricanes will be in the field. Prediction: NCAA

7. Virginia Tech- Virginia Tech should be the last ACC team into the NCAA Tournament. Last year's surprise ACC team should again surprise some people with another good season. The Hokies came out of nowhere to post a very good season and nearly make the NCAA Tournament. Zabian Dowdell and Jamon Gordon form an excellent backcourt, with both being able to play the point and the wing. Dowdell is one of the top guards in the conference, and is very clutch on the offensive end late in games. Gordon is one of the best defenders in the ACC that is also an excellent passer, as well as a good rebounder for his size. Coleman Collins is one of the more underrated players in the conference, but can hold his own down low with the best of them. He should be an all-conference performer this season. Collins just finds ways to make plays. Deron Washington and Wynton Witherspoon are very slender for the power forward position, but they handle it well. Washington is an outstanding athlete, while Witherspoon could also fight for a starting spot opposite Washington. The return of Markus Sailes from injury should provide a boost to the backcourt. J.D. Vassallo will also see time on the perimeter. If the Hokies can become more efficient on offense, and win some games on the road, they will be on the right side of the bubble this season. Prediction: NCAA

8. North Carolina- North Carolina loses their top seven scorers from last season, including all five starters and four lottery picks in the past NBA Draft. The defending national champions bring in one of the best recruiting classes in the country, but need them to mesh quickly with the returnees in order to make a run in the ACC. The leader of the newcomer pack is Tyler Hansbrough, the favorite for the ACC Freshman of the Year. He is an excellent low-post scorer, and at 6-9, is the tallest player on the team. He is going to have to be the go-to-guy immediately for the Tar Heels. The other freshman expected to play are perimeter players Bobby Frasor, Marcus Ginyard, and Danny Green. Frasor, a McDonald's All-American from Chicago, could start right away in the backcourt, and might even see time at the point. He is a solid all-around player. Ginyard is an excellent defender who will also see immediate playing time. A third McDonald's All-American, Green, will also get extensive playing time early. He is a very good scorer from Long Island that can do a variety of things on the floor. The returnees will have to step up and take on major roles this season. David Noel is the leading scorer at 3.9 ppg, but isn't much of a go-to-scorer. He is a very good defender that is excellent in transition. Point guard Quentin Thomas saw time backing up Raymond Felton last season, but wasn't overly impressive. He turned the ball over too much and played out of control. If he could run the Tar Heels with efficiency, that would be ideal. Reyshawn Terry has the potential to be a big-time scorer. In his very limited time last season, he demonstrated the ability to get to the basket and also shoot the ball from the field. If he can give UNC consistent scoring up front, they would be that much better. A lot of pieces have to come together for North Carolina if they are to repeat even an NCAA Tournament bid. If Hansbrough comes in and dominates and the rest of the freshmen provide consistent production, the Tar Heels will be on the bubble come March. Prediction: NIT

9. Georgia Tech- Georgia Tech is in the same boat as North Carolina. They lose all five starters and their top bench player. However, unlike the Tar Heels, the Yellow Jackets have a group of returnees that saw quality minutes last season and could fill the starting roles. The low post should be in good hands with sophomores Jeremis Smith and Ra'Sean Dickey. Dickey has the potential to be a go-to-guy down low and showed flashes of that ceiling last season. He is also a very good rebounder. Smith is a very physical forward that could be one of the better rebounders in the conference. The lone senior on the team, Theodis Tarver, is a good defender who will play major minutes down low. The perimeter has the potential to be very good. Sophomore Anthony Morrow will start on one wing. He is an excellent long-range shooter and could be the main man for the Yellow Jackets on the outside. Lewis Clinch could start on the other wing. He is a super scorer that will make an immediate impact in the backcourt for Tech. Another wing, Mario West, is the best defender on the team and can lock-up the opposition's top scorer. At the point, Zam Frederick II will likely start. He is a very good scorer who is not a natural point guard. He wanted to transfer after the season, but that didn't work out so he returned to the Yellow Jackets to run the team. If the role players from a season ago develop into go-to-players and consistent producers, Georgia Tech will reach the postseason, likely the NIT. Prediction: NIT

10. Florida State- Florida State didn't live up to expectations a year ago, and limped to a 12-19 record. They lose second-round pick Von Wafer, who was extremely inconsistent and disappeared way too often. If you look at the Seminoles' roster, there is a lot of talent that just needs to be mixed right to improve their record. In the backcourt, returning starter Todd Galloway will run the point. Galloway is a decent lead guard who does not really stand out. He will be joined by a slew of talented wings. JC transfer Jerel Allen is expected to be a big-time scorer, while Andrew Wilson and Jason Rich are the projected starters. Wilson was hindered by an injury the entire season, but can be an athletic player this season. Rich was turnover-prone a season ago, and could lose his starting job this year. Isaiah Swann and Jason Mims are combo guards that are also fighting for time. Swann is a good scorer that also needs to cut down on his turnovers, while Mims will compete with Galloway for the starting PG spot. That perimeter sextet is going to create problems for many teams in the ACC. Inside, Al Thornton could develop into an all-conference type of player. He is ready for a big season. Alexander Johnson, who has yet to live up to his potential, will start next to him. He is a decent scorer and rebounder, that can become a solid 10-6 guy. Diego Romero and freshman Uche Echefu will provide depth. Echefu is expected to have an immediate impact in the low post, while Romero is a nice option off the bench. If the Seminoles can mesh all the talent and depth that they have, they can win some games they shouldn't in the ACC, and contend for an NIT berth. Prediction: NIT

11. Clemson- Clemson was a competitive team at teams last season, defeating Maryland three times and making it to the NIT. They return three starters and several key players from that team. The perimeter is where it starts for the Tigers. Wings Cliff Hammonds and Shawan Robinson are both double-figure scorers who will start. Hammonds has the potential to become a breakout player in the ACC, while Robinson is a very good shooter, hitting threes at a near 40-percent clip. At the point is Vernon Hamilton. He is quick and a good defender, but turns the ball over too often. Off the bench will be wing Sam Perry. He is the best defender on the team and should improve his scoring and rebounding numbers this season. Troy Mathis, a newcomer, will compete with Hamilton for the point guard spot. Up front, senior Akin Akingbala and sophomore James Mays will see the most minutes. Akingbala is an inconsistent post player that needs to step up and become a dependable option down low. Mays played well last season in minutes off the bench and is a solid inside-outside scorer. Returnee Steve Allen and freshmen Raymond Sykes and Julius Powell will also see minutes in the frontcourt. A lot of talent returns for Clemson, especially on the perimeter. If they can get some production from the interior players, the Tigers may make a return appearance in the NIT. Prediction: NIT

12. Virginia- Virginia started out with a very good non-conference record and looked as if they could have been a contender in the ACC. They then went 4-12 in the ACC and finished in last place. The Cavaliers are going to be breaking in a new coach, former DePaul lead man Dave Leitao. His rebuilding job will start with a solid perimeter trio. Sean Singletary is one of the lesser known ACC point guards, but he is also one of the best. He is a very good distributor and defender. He is also a decent rebounder for a point guard. T.J. Bannister is a 5-10 guard that is a quick player that can score and pass well. Wing J.R. Reynolds is an excellent scorer who came off the bench last season but should start this year for the Cavaliers. Up front, the main returnees are Jason Cain and Adrian Joseph. Cain is a tough player and a hard-worker who will bang bodies with the best in the ACC down low. Joseph is a versatile forward that can score and rebound well. Several newcomers are going to have to step up in both the frontcourt and the backcourt in order for Virginia to get out of the cellar. Virginia is far and away the worst team in the ACC. Other than a few perimeter players, the Cavaliers are severely lacking in ACC-caliber performers. They finished last in the ACC a season ago, and the same should be expected this year. Prediction: No postseason