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Friday, October 22, 2010

Conference Rankings

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2010-2011 SEASON, CLICK HERE

  • 1. Big Ten
  • 2. Big East
  • 3. Big 12
  • 4. ACC
  • 5. SEC
  • 6. Pac-10
  • 7. Mountain West
  • 8. Atlantic-10
  • 9. Conference-USA
  • 10. West Coast Conference
  • 11. WAC
  • 12. Colonial
  • 13. Missouri Valley
  • 14. Horizon
  • 15. MAAC
  • 16. Southern
  • 17. Mid-American
  • 18. Sun Belt
  • 19. Big West
  • 20. Ohio Valley
  • 21. Summit
  • 22. Atlantic Sun
  • 23. Big Sky
  • 24. America East
  • 25. Southland
  • 26. Ivy
  • 27. Northeast
  • 28. Big South
  • 29. Patriot
  • 30. MEAC
  • 31. SWAC
  • 32. Great West
  • 33. Independents

March Madness All Season will publish its conference previews in reverse order. The 33rd-ranked conference, the Independents, will kick things off Monday.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Major Conference Sleepers

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2010-2011 SEASON, CLICK HERE

Everyone thinks of sleepers as the mid-major teams that have great seasons and have huge amounts of hype going into the NCAA Tournament. That may be true, but sleepers come in all shapes and sizes. Another category for sleepers is the major conference sleepers. Going into the season, they are teams that didn't make the Field of 65 the season before or have lowered expectations after losing several key players, and aren't considered locks to make it to the Tournament this season. Furthermore, I didn’t include teams like Seton Hall, St. John’s, California, Oklahoma State, Alabama, etc., who are predicted to be second-division teams in their respective conferences but have enough talent and/or experience to make a run at the Dance. These are true sleepers that no one really expects to make a run towards March Madness.

Miami (Fl.): The Hurricanes had a gaudy 20-win season last year, but they went only 4-12 in the ACC and lose their top two scorers. With that said, they’ll have some decent pieces this year. Durand Scott is developing into one of the better all-around point guards in the country, while Malcolm Grant is a scorer. Adrian Thomas is one of the best three-point shooters in the ACC, and big man Reggie Johnson could have a breakout campaign down low. The Hurricanes need to learn how to win on the road, though.

Boston College: The Eagles have a new coach and don’t even have 10 scholarship players on the roster. With that said, their trio of guard Reggie Jackson, wing Corey Raji and forward Joe Trapani is one of the best in the conference. Jackson is poised to be a very productive scorer and passer; Raji is a lefty finisher; and Trapani can score and rebound effectively. Biko Paris is a solid point guard, and Josh Southern is ready to go this season. Steve Donahue could have this team competitive sooner than most think.

Wake Forest: This is really going out on a limb, as the Demon Deacons lose four starters and center Tony Woods from last season. Moreover, they have a new coach in Jeff Bzdelik. On the bright side, Wake welcomes a dynamite recruiting class that includes versatile big man Carson Desrosiers, scorer Travis McKie, gunner J.T. Terrell and two solid players in Melvin Tabb and Tony Chennault. As for the returnees, Ari Stewart has the potential to fill it up, while C.J. Harris can shoot from the perimeter.

South Florida: The Bulls do lose do-it-all guard Dominique Jones, who carried this team all season last year. However, they have one of the deepest and most talented frontcourts in the Big East. Augustus Gilchrist is healthy and ready to bounce back, while Jarrid Famous can rack up double-doubles. Kansas State transfer Ron Anderson is productive and creates match-up problems. In the backcourt, JC transfers Hugh Robertson and Shedrick Haynes could surprise some people. They will need to.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders struggled en route to a 4-12 Big 12 campaign, but they did reach the quarterfinals of the NIT and return one of the better inside-outside combos in the country in guard John Roberson and forward Mike Singletary. Roberson can score and distribute, while Singletary is a 6-foot-6 match-up nightmare. The key for this team will be freshman Javarez Willis, who might step in immediately to run the point guard position. JC transfer Paul Cooper is another newcomer looking to make an impact.

Colorado: The optimism surrounding the Buffaloes stems from the return of Alec Burks and Cory Higgins, one of the best wing tandems in the country. Burks impressed all summer at camps, and could be poised to become one of the best players in America. Higgins is a big-time scorer who can get hot. Forward Marcus Relphrode is another double-figure scorer, and freshman Shannon Sharpe is strong and athletic at the point guard spot. Former Northern Colorado coach Tad Boyle will take over for Jeff Bzdelik.

Indiana: A 10-21 season isn’t the best way to build for a big jump in the standings, but the Hoosiers are quietly building a decent talent base under Tom Crean. Maurice Creek should be fully recovered from his season-ending injury, and he combines with Verdell Jones III to form a high-scoring perimeter duo. Jordan Hulls and Jeremiah Rivers are two more solid guards. Up front, Christian Watford and sophomore Derek Elston will be the primary options. If this team improves its defense and rebounding, it could surprise.

Stanford: Tying for 8th in the Pac-10 and then losing the league’s leading scorer in Landry Fields might not sound like the perfect recipe for an NCAA Tournament season, but the Cardinal do return four starters and have plenty of fresh faces to make an impact. Jeremy Green is a shooter who can fill it up, while junior Jarrett Mann is versatile. Two freshmen, 6-foot-10 Dwight Powell and 6-foot-7 Anthony Brown, bring a much-needed influx of talent into Palo Alto. Those two need to contribute immediately.

USC: The drama surrounding O.J. Mayo and the NCAA investigation should be behind this team, which could make for a surprising season. Kevin O’Neill did a terrific job keeping this team focused last season, and his defense-first mindset is back again. Up front, Nikola Vucevic and Alex Stephenson are a formidable inside duo, while Fordham transfer Jio Fontan is going to be the go-to-guy on the perimeter when he becomes eligible in December. Freshman Bryce Jones is also expected to score from day one.

Arkansas: it seems like every season I get excited about the sleeper status of the Razorbacks, and then they let me down very quickly. Why stop now? Forward Marshawn Powell is looking to build upon an impressive freshman campaign, but this team’s strength is on the perimeter. Rotnei Clarke is one of the premier three-point shooters in the country, and Iowa transfer Jeff Peterson will come in and provide scoring at the point. Marcus Britt, Julysses Nobles and Jemal Farmer also have starting experience in the backcourt, while freshmen Mardracus Wade and Rickey Scott will see minutes.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Mid-Major Sleepers to Watch

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2010-2011 SEASON, CLICK HERE

In March, the major question everyone wants to know is: "Which small-conference team is going to pull an upset or two and possibly reach the second weekend?" Every NCAA Tournament has at least one; you just have to figure out which one or two it is going to be. Don’t mistake this for a “Who is this year’s Butler?” column, though—that’s simply not going to happen again (or will it?). Maybe it’s more like a “Who is this year’s Northern Iowa/Saint Mary’s/Cornell?” column. There were five non-BCS teams to reach the Sweet Sixteen last season; will we see a repeat?

Note: I'm not including teams from the following non-“Big Six” conferences: Atlantic-10, Conference-USA, Mountain West and WAC. I’m also not including Gonzaga and Butler. Saying Dayton is a sleeper is not the same as saying that UC-Santa Barbara is a sleeper.

For my complete Non-BCS Top 25, click here.

Murray State: The Racers are coming off a victory over Vanderbilt and a narrow loss to Butler in the NCAA Tournament, and they could take the next step this year. They have one of the best backcourt trios around in returning starters Isacc Miles and B.J. Jenkins, and sixth man extraordinaire Isaiah Canaan. Up front, the team’s leading scorer, Ivan Aska, returns to anchor the post. Rebounder Jeffery McClain will move into the lineup. The Racers have tremendous balance and play lockdown defense – look out for them.

Old Dominion: Another team that won a first-round game last season, the Monarchs knocked off Notre Dame but will be hungry for another victory this year. They lose only one key player, but Gerald Lee was the team’s lone double-figure scorer. Versatile sixth man Keyon Carter, who will team with Frank Hassell up front, will replace him. On the perimeter, Kent Bazemore is a match-up nightmare, while Darius James and Ben Finney also return. ODU also defends as well as anyone.

Wichita State: The Missouri Valley consistently places an upset threat into the NCAA Tournament, and this year’s team could be Wichita State, aptly named the Shockers. The inside-outside duo of guard Toure Murry and big man J.T. Durley lead the way. Starters Graham Hatch and 7-footer Graham Stutz also return, with Gabe Blair bringing defense. The key for the Shockers this season will be their ability to win on the road; they were 17-0 at home last year.

Fairfield: I’m higher on the Stags than some others, but I really think they can be this year’s Siena: the MAAC champion who scares the bejeezus out of their first-round opponent. Sophomore point guard Derek Needham is one of the best floor generals in the country, and Yorel Hawkins, Greg Nero and Warren Edney return from injury to anchor the frontcourt. The Stags nearly knocked off Siena in last year’s title game, but they will get over the hump this season.

Loyola Marymount: Gonzaga is still the top dog in the West Coast Conference, but don’t sleep on Loyola Marymount this season. They jumped from three wins to 18 last year, even getting an invite to the CIT. One of the top duos in the mid-major world, guard Vernon Teel and forward Drew Viney, will lead the way for Lions. Forward Ashley Hamilton and double-figure scorer Jarred DuBois also return in the lineup. A loaded frosh class also enters the fold. If everyone stays healthy, this team will threaten the Zags.

Wofford: The Terriers are a veteran team that got some experience in the NCAA Tournament last season, falling to Wisconsin in the first round. This year, four starters return, led by Noah Dahlman, a physical 6-foot-6 forward. Tim Johnson is another very good rebounder up front. On the perimeter, Jamar Diggs, Cameron Rundles and Brad Loesing all come back. Wofford was one of the stingiest defensive teams in the country, allowing just five teams to top 60 points.

Saint Mary’s: Omar Samhan is no longer around to dominate the paint, but don’t forget about the Gaels in the WCC. Mickey McConnell and Matthew Dellavedova form one of the best backcourt duos in the country, bringing tremendous three-point shooting and passing ability. The key this season will be the newcomers, as freshman Stephen Holt is a big-time guard, while transfers Rob Jones (San Diego) and Kenton Walker II (Creighton) will anchor the frontcourt.

UC-Santa Barbara: The Gauchos are a deep and versatile team that will look to build on their NCAA Tournament loss to Ohio State last season. Juniors Orlando Johnson and James Nunnally are match-up problems as they are both capable of doing a little of everything. Johnson led the Big West in scoring, while Nunnally is a deadeye three-point shooter. Jamie Serna and 7-3 Greg Somogyi are factors up front, while Will Brew returns at the point guard spot. When it gets inside production, UCSB is tough.

North Texas: The Mean Green are aiming for their fifth consecutive 20-win season, and they have the weapons to get that done. They return a talented and experienced backcourt duo in Josh White and Tristan Thompson, who both averaged more than 14 points and hit 40 percent from three-point range. Up front, double-double lock George Odufawa is the anchor. Shannon Shorter is a terrific wing defender. This team is bouncy and aggressive, and is constantly on the attack offensively.

Ohio: The Bobcats caught the nation’s attention in last year’s NCAA Tournament, when they upset Georgetown in a first-round blowout. The loss of Armon Bassett will hurt, but D.J. Cooper is up to the task. The sophomore is one of the better mid-major point guards in the country. Tommy Freeman is a tremendous three-point shooter, and Steven Coleman can also fill it up on the wing. Up front, DeVaughn Washington and Reggie Kelly provide a nice balance of physicality and athleticism.

Potential First-round Upset Threats

East Tennessee State: This team has weapons all over the floor, and will welcome back Mike Smith from an injury that kept him out of all but four games last season. Justin Tubbs and Micah Williams are shooters who averaged double-figures, while Tommy Hubbard is a double-double threat every night out. If this team is forcing turnovers, they can hang with anyone.

Quinnipiac: Robert Morris threw a huge scare into Villanova last season, but the team that won the NEC was Quinnipiac. Justin Rutty is one of the most productive forwards in the country, while James Johnson is a double-figure scorer at guard. Another key will be freshman Tevin Baskin, who will become eligible in late December. He will provide an immediate impact on the wing.

Weber State: The Wildcats should have been in the NCAA Tournament last season, but they blew a 20-point halftime lead to Montana in the conference tournament title game. There shouldn’t be any slipups this season. Damian Lillard is one of the best all-around players on the West Coast and a two-time conference player of the year. Kyle Bullinger provides balance in the frontcourt.

Oakland: Any time Keith Benson lines up, the Golden Grizzlies have a chance. He returns for his final go-round, and will look to build on his dominant campaign of a year ago. Larry Wright provides shooting on the perimeter, and UMKC transfer Reggie Hamilton will try to replace passing dynamo Johnathon Jones. This team has the balance to get the job done, while Benson is capable of putting Oakland on his back.

Morgan State: Look for the Bears to reach the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season, despite the loss of Player of the Year Reggie Holmes. Kevin Thompson is a double-double fiend in the frontcourt, while DeWayne Jackson is a match-up nightmare due to his shooting ability. Sean Thomas and Jacksonville transfer Aric Brooks will produce in the backcourt.

Non-BCS Top 25

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2010-2011 SEASON, CLICK HERE

As I’ve mentioned several times before on this site, I don’t like the term “mid-major” at all—there is too much gray area when people want to know which conferences and teams it is referring to. Therefore, when discussing the teams outside of the major conferences, I like to use the term “Non-BCS.” Yes, it’s a football term, but it’s much easier than calling the poll the “Every Conference but the Big Six Top 25.” As a result, this is what I have done. Every team and conference that is not the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC is eligible for this poll. The easy way out? Sure. But there was certainly nothing easy about ranking the Top 25 teams outside the Big Six conferences.

  • 1. Gonzaga
  • 2. Memphis
  • 3. Butler
  • 4. Temple
  • 5. San Diego State
  • 6. BYU
  • 7. Utah State
  • 8. Xavier
  • 9. New Mexico
  • 10. UNLV
  • 11. Murray State
  • 12. Richmond
  • 13. Old Dominion
  • 14. Wichita State
  • 15. Dayton
  • 16. Fairfield
  • 17. Loyola Marymount
  • 18. Wofford
  • 19. Southern Miss
  • 20. Saint Mary’s
  • 21. UC Santa Barbara
  • 22. North Texas
  • 23. New Mexico State
  • 24. Ohio
  • 25. UTEP

Others Considered: Missouri State, Creighton, VCU, George Mason, Cleveland State, East Tennessee State, Siena, Western Kentucky, Oakland

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Reminder: New Name

Just letting everyone know, once again, that the new URL for this website is www.bustingthebracket.com . The old domain names will no longer work after a couple of days, and the only way to get to the website will be to go to www.bustingthebracket.com .

Also, remember to follow me on Twitter at @jeffborzello for more updates on the website as well as news and notes on the world of basketball.

Thanks, and keep coming back to BtB for the latest in college and high school basketball!

Non-Conference Games to Watch

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2010-2011 SEASON, CLICK HERE

This season is full of great non-conference games. Many would be surprised to see so many contests between Top 10-15 teams. However, there is not a fan out there that would complain about the amount of high-quality games on this season's slate. Furthermore, there are also dozens of games between potential NCAA Tournament teams and quality mid-major squads. Nearly every night, you can sit down and watch a game between NCAA-caliber clubs.

Week of November 8-November 14

  • Seton Hall at Temple (Friday)
  • Georgetown at Old Dominion (Friday)

Week of November 15-November 21

  • Miami (Fl.) at Memphis (Monday)
  • St. John’s at Saint Mary’s (Monday)
  • Ohio State at Florida (Tuesday)
  • Virginia Tech at Kansas State (Tuesday)
  • San Diego State at Gonzaga (Tuesday)
  • Arizona State at New Mexico (Tuesday)
  • Butler at Louisville (Tuesday)
  • Colorado at Georgia (Tuesday)
  • Illinois at Texas (Thursday)
  • Maryland at Pittsburgh (Thursday)
  • Wisconsin at UNLV (Saturday)

Week of November 22-November 28

  • Gonzaga at Kansas State (Monday)
  • Marquette at Duke (Monday)
  • Butler at Siena (Tuesday)
  • Georgia at Notre Dame (Thursday)
  • Arizona at Kansas (Saturday)
  • Florida at Florida State (Sunday)

Week of November 29-December 5

  • North Carolina at Illinois (Tuesday)
  • Georgetown at Missouri (Tuesday)
  • Ohio State at Florida State (Tuesday)
  • Michigan State at Duke (Wednesday)
  • Purdue at Virginia Tech (Wednesday)
  • North Carolina State at Wisconsin (Wednesday)
  • Saint Mary’s at San Diego State (Wednesday)
  • UCLA at Kansas (Thursday)
  • Arizona State at Baylor (Thursday)
  • Kansas State at Washington State (Friday)
  • Kentucky at North Carolina (Saturday)
  • Illinois at Gonzaga (Saturday)
  • Butler vs. Duke (Saturday)
  • Utah State at Georgetown (Saturday)
  • North Carolina State at Syracuse (Saturday)
  • Wichita State at San Diego State (Saturday)
  • Temple at Maryland (Sunday)

Week of December 6-December 12

  • Kansas vs. Memphis – in New York City, Jimmy V Classic (Tuesday)
  • Michigan State vs. Syracuse – in New York City, Jimmy V Classic (Tuesday)
  • Kentucky vs. Notre Dame (Wednesday)
  • Vanderbilt at Missouri (Wednesday)
  • Butler at Xavier (Thursday)
  • Georgetown at Temple (Thursday)
  • Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee (Saturday)
  • Wisconsin at Marquette (Saturday)
  • Arizona at BYU (Saturday)
  • Gonzaga at Notre Dame (Saturday)
  • Washington at Texas A&M (Saturday)

Week of December 13-December 19

  • Gonzaga at Baylor (Saturday)
  • Florida vs. Kansas State (Saturday)
  • Texas at North Carolina (Saturday)
  • BYU at UCLA (Saturday)
  • Virginia Tech vs. Mississippi State – in the Bahamas (Saturday)
  • Arizona at North Carolina State (Sunday)

Week of December 20-December 26

  • UNLV at Kansas State (Tuesday)
  • Xavier at Gonzaga (Wednesday)
  • Illinois at Missouri (Wednesday)
  • Georgetown at Memphis (Thursday)
  • Texas at Michigan State (Wednesday)
  • UTEP at BYU (Thursday)

Week of December 27-January 2

  • Fairfield at Florida (Tuesday)
  • Temple at Villanova (Wednesday)
  • Marquette at Vanderbilt (Wednesday)
  • Kentucky at Louisville (Friday)
  • Florida at Xavier (Friday)
  • Oklahoma State at Gonzaga (Friday)
  • New Mexico at Dayton (Saturday)

Week of January 3-January 9

  • Memphis at Tennessee (Wednesday)
  • Connecticut at Texas (Saturday)

Week of January 10-January 16

  • Maryland at Villanova (Saturday)
  • Purdue at West Virginia (Sunday)

Week of January 17-January 23

  • Tennessee at Connecticut (Saturday)
  • Saint Mary’s at Vanderbilt (Saturday)

Week of January 24-January 30

  • Duke at St. John’s (Sunday)

Week of January 31-February 6

  • St. John’s at UCLA (Saturday)

Week of February 7-February 13

  • Memphis at Gonzaga (Monday)
  • Xavier at Georgia (Tuesday)

Week of February 21-February 27

  • Temple at Duke (Wednesday)

TOURNAMENTS

  • Coaches vs. Cancer Classic (Teams of Interest: Texas, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Illinois)
  • CBE Classic (Teams of Interest: Duke, Kansas State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Marquette)
  • NIT Season Tip-Off (Teams of Interest: Villanova, UCLA, Tennessee)
  • Legends Classic (Teams of Interest: Syracuse, UTEP, Georgia Tech)
  • Charleston Classic (Teams of Interest: Georgetown, North Carolina State)
  • Puerto Rico Tip-Off (Teams of Interest: North Carolina, Minnesota, Vanderbilt, West Virginia)
  • Paradise Jam (Teams of Interest: Xavier, Alabama, Seton Hall)
  • Las Vegas Invitational (Teams of Interest: Kansas, Arizona)
  • Maui Invitational (Teams of Interest: Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan State, Washington)
  • Great Alaska Shootout (Teams of Interest: Oklahoma, Washington State)
  • Old Spice Classic (Teams of Interest: Georgia, Notre Dame, Temple, Texas A&M, Wisconsin)
  • 76 Classic (Teams of Interest: UNLV, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State)
  • Chicago Invitational (Teams of Interest: Purdue, Richmond)
  • South Padre Island Invitational (Teams of Interest: BYU, Saint Mary’s, Texas Tech)
  • Diamond Head Classic (Teams of Interest: Washington State, Baylor, Butler, Florida State, Mississippi State)

Monday, October 18, 2010

New Name: Busting the Bracket

Like I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we are undergoing some changes here.

The biggest one should be clear by now: we are changing our name to Busting the Bracket, and the permanent URL for the website will be www.bustingthebracket.com .

Bookmark the new site, and continue to visit for your latest on all the news and information in college and high school basketball!

Biggest Shoes to Fill

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2010-2011 SEASON, CLICK HERE

Players leave their teams after every season, whether it was a matter of eligibility running out or the player taking the early-entry route. It's the way college basketball is. However, the impact of some of the missing players on their old team will vary from player to player. This year, there is an obvious absence of several of the best players from the last few years. Which shoes to fill will have the biggest impact on the upcoming season?

Jon Scheyer, Duke: Sounds strange, but in terms of pure point guard skills, freshman Kyrie Irving might be an upgrade over Scheyer in the starting lineup.

Greivis Vasquez, Maryland: Vasquez was the heart and soul of last year’s team, but Adrian Bowie and Cliff Tucker will need to step up.

Deon Thompson/Ed Davis, North Carolina: Tyler Zeller and John Henson might provide a more talented duo, but they need to produce.

Jordan Crawford, Xavier: Crawford carried the Musketeers at times last season; shooter Brad Redford and athletic Mark Lyons will fill in.

Greg Monroe, Georgetown: This could be the key to the Hoyas’ season, as they are loaded on the perimeter. Nate Lubick and Henry Sims are the best candidates.

Lazar Hayward, Marquette: It’s tough to bet against the Golden Eagles, but they need to replace Hayward. JC transfer Jae Crowder could be the guy.

Wesley Johnson, Syracuse: Sixth man extraordinaire Kris Joseph will move into the starting lineup, and could be one of the best scorers in the league.

Scottie Reynolds, Villanova: Reynolds was so clutch over his career, but sophomores Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek can produce on the perimeter.

Da’Sean Butler/Devin Ebanks, West Virginia: Bob Huggins will find someone to step in for these two; sophs Deniz Kilici and Dalton Pepper will get first shot.

Tweety Carter, Baylor: This is a bigger hole than the one Ekpe Udoh left down low, as Baylor will turn to freshman Stargell Love to take the reins.

Sherron Collins/Cole Aldrich, Kansas: If cleared, Josh Selby provides a big-time scorer at the point, while Markieff Morris will start next to his brother.

Denis Clemente, Kansas State: If KSU replaces Clemente, it can win the title. Jacob Pullen gets first shot; if not him, 6-6 Shane Southwell gets a crack.

Raymar Morgan, Michigan State: The Spartans will need production from its frontcourt outside of Draymond Green. Can Delvon Roe stay healthy?

Robbie Hummel, Purdue: After Hummel tore his ACL again on Saturday, Purdue’s title hopes went up in flames. Patrick Bade and freshmen need to step up.

Evan Turner, Ohio State: Turner was a do-it-all player last season, but the Buckeyes will miss his point guard abilities the most. Frosh Lenzelle Smith and Aaron Craft could see time early, or versatile David Lighty can slide down.

Darington Hobson, New Mexico: If the Lobos are to compete in the Mountain West, transfers Drew Gordon (UCLA) and Emmanuel Negedu (Tennessee) need to provide scoring punch.

Quincy Pondexter, Washington: Pondexter could absolutely fill it up; freshman Terrence Ross can score and Justin Holiday defends extremely well.

Everyone, Kentucky: The lineup will see an overhaul with seven newcomers, led by Brandon Knight and Enes Kanter, moving into Lexington.

Gordon Hayward, Butler: Last season’s NCAA Tournament darlings will go with freshmen Khyle Marshall and Erik Fromm to try to emulate Hayward’s offense.

Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga: Bouldin was one of the best go-to-guys in the country last season; JC transfer Marquise Carter could be the team’s best perimeter scorer.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Player Rankings: Break-out Performers

FOR A COMPLETE PREVIEW OF THE 2010-2011 SEASON, CLICK HERE

Every season, there are players who were role players the year before who improve greatly the next season and end up being a star. Sometimes, it is the work they put in over the summer, and other times, the players just did not get the opportunity the year before. Either way, here are 12 players who could make the jump and have an outstanding season.(Note: The only stipulation is that the player could not have averaged more than 20 minutes per game, or started the majority of his team’s games.)

John Henson/Tyler Zeller, North Carolina: This is just too easy. Both Henson and Zeller will start in the frontcourt from day one, and will get all the opportunities to produce at a high level.

Glen Rice Jr., Georgia Tech: If he wins the starting job on the perimeter next to Shumpert, look for his shooting prowess and defensive ability to get him plenty of minutes and chances to have a big year.

Mason Plumlee, Duke: He's the more talented of the two Plumlee brothers, and he will get a chance to jump right into the starting lineup after making the most of his minutes last season.

Reggie Johnson, Miami (Fl.): Johnson averaged 13.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in the ACC Tournament, and has the potential to be a dominant rebounder. Put up numbers in limited minutes.

Wally Judge, Kansas State: Showed flashes of his potential last season, but will need to show consistency in order to get starter minutes. Averaged 5.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament.

Jordan Hamilton, Texas: This is borderline cheating, as Hamilton averaged 19.9 minutes per game last season. Either way, he is going to be one of the top scorers in the Big 12 due to his versatile offensive ability.

Peyton Siva, Louisville: Siva is going to be handed the keys to the offense and will run it from day one this season. He is a crafty passer and is an unselfish, pass-first point guard. He needs weapons, though.

Dante Taylor, Pittsburgh: Taylor struggled for much of last season after scoring 13 points in the season opener. However, he is the most talented player in the Panthers’ frontcourt and could be poised for big numbers.

Maalik Wayns, Villanova: Either Wayns or fellow sophomore Dominic Cheek will start on the perimeter, and we’re betting on Wayns. He can get to the hole on nearly any defender, but needs to stay under control.

Casey Mitchell, West Virginia: Averaged nearly 14 points in the first three games last season, but struggled mightily the rest of the way. However, word out of West Virginia is that he’s going to put up points.

Angel Garcia, Memphis: Only played 12 games and 112 minutes last season, but still managed to score 6.8 points in those 12 games, including 27 points in only 31 NIT minutes. With more time, his numbers could skyrocket.

Lamont “Momo” Jones, Arizona: The replacement for Nic Wise at “Point Guard U,” Jones is a physical player who has good quickness and shooting ability. He will be a key if Arizona is to return to the NCAA Tournament.

Melvin Goins, Tennessee: Goins scored 15 points in the team’s NCAA Tournament opener against San Diego State, and will be the starter now. He is an aggressive defender and a very quick offensive player.

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