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2010-11 College Basketball Predictions: Colorado

Former Buffalo head coach Jeff Bzdelik left for Wake Forest this past Spring, but he actually left behind a good team in Boulder. Colorado went 15-16 last year and they have been missing from the NCAA Tournament since 2003. Still, with what new head coach Tad Boyle has to work with gives Colorado hope to stop this streak. Boyle came over from Northern Colorado and managed to keep around the three key players that led Colorado last year. Last year’s Big 12 Freshman of the Year in Alec Burks returns, as do seniors Cory Higgins and Marcus Relphorde. The three combined to average 47.0 points per night last season. This team equals the talent of that 2003 team that made it to the Big Dance, and with a new practice facility and a transfer to the Pac-10, interest surrounding the team is at an all-time high. First and foremost, the Buffaloes need to improve their defense (74.2 PPG) and hitting the glass (-7.5 margin) to reach their ultimate goal this year.

Colorado is +2000 to take home the league this year. That translates to a $100 wager would win you $2,000 if this were to come true. I certainly don’t think it’s likely, but viewing they bring back more scoring than any other school in the league it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Check out these NCAA basketball spreads for futures betting at BetUS. This reliable book will give you up to a $500 bonus on your initial deposit simply by signing up for a new account and depositing $500 or more.

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Frontcourt:

The team had a -7.5 rebounding margin last year, and it was even worse in league action at -11.4. A big reason was the play of first-year center Shane Harris-Tunks, as well as sophomore forward Austin Dufault playing out of position. An extra year for each should mean the teams gets better in this area. Boyle was able to sign 7-foot freshman Ben Mills last May who should see time right away as long as he can hold his own in the paint. Senior Marcus Relphorde put up 11.0 PPG and 4.1 RPG last season, but he is recognized for his slashing offensive skills more than his defense. Junior Trey Eckloff will be one of their reserves after not finding much playing time last season. Burks led the Buffs in rebounding at 5.0 RPG, and when a guard is leading the team in rebounding there’s clearly a problem. The Buffaloes will obviously return to square one as Boyle teaches rebounding and defense a lot more than Bzdelik.

Backcourt:

Burks ended up seventh in the Big 12 in points at 17.1 PPG and was tops in the Big 12 in shooting percentage at 53.8 percent. He could not have had a better freshman season, but for him to reach his full ability he needs to get stronger. Boyle was lucky when he convinced Burks to remain at Colorado instead of entering the NBA Draft, telling him how his passing offense would help Burks in the future. Higgins was fourth in the Big 12 in scoring at 18.9 PPG and ended up second behind Burks in field goal percentage at 50.5 percent. It’s hard to conceive how Colorado could have a losing year with two remarkable players like Burks and Higgins on the outside who were able to make more than 50% of their shots even though opposing teams game-planned around stopping them. The wild card is freshman point guard Shannon Sharpe, who was forced to redshirt last year after hurting his knee in the preseason and undergoing microfracture surgery. He’ll fight it out with junior Nate Tomlinson, who made 21 starts last season at point guard despite being inconsistent.

Jack’s Pick: 6th Place in the Big 12 – There hasn’t been much excitement around Colorado basketball in recent seasons, but there is promise of a breakout in 2010-11. Boyle was able to get Higgins, Burks and Relphorde and their huge offensive contributions to come back, and that’s a win within itself. He has plenty of talent to seriously make a run at a conference championship, but must get this squad to rebound and defend. The Buffaloes averaged 74.6 PPG last season and can score with any team, but a lack of depth and a question about how seriously these returning players want to buy in on the defensive end makes it hard for me to pick Colorado to end up any higher than 6th in the standings. I do see the Buffaloes sneaking into the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid, reaching the Big Dance for the first time since 2003.

2010-11 College Basketball Predictions: Oklahoma State

Head coach Travis Ford vowed to run an up-tempo style here at Stillwater, and he should now have the parts in place to execute it. The Cowboys were taken almost single-handedly to the NCAA Tournament last season by James Anderson, who Ford had to build the team around. The Cowboys went 22-11 and earned an at-large bid last year before losing in the opening round. Anderson averaged 22.3 PPG to top the Big 12 and 5.8 RPG. Obi Muonelo is the other big departure for Oky State. Still, the team returns several key players and signed five potential impact recruits that are better-suited to run the up-tempo style Ford believes in.

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Jack Jones is here to help you cash this year with his college basketball picks. Jack is among nearly 80 handicappers who specialize in beating the odds each day, and he is on a 37-23 (62%) CBB run as of this article.

Frontcourt:

Matt Pilgrim eventually came on at the end of last year after transferring from Kentucky, averaging 10.9 PPG and 8.0 RPG over his last 12 games. He is a outstanding athlete who can get up and down the floor and is the perfect forward in Ford’s system. Senior Marshall Moses must be much better on and off the floor after a frustrating junior season. Junior college transfer Darrell Williams is a 6’8” 250-pounder who gives them some size in the middle. J.P. Olukemi joined the school in the spring semester and competed against James Anderson every day while redshirting. He is more of a slashing forward who impressed while learning from one of the tops in the country. Forward Roger Franklin and center Jarred Shaw drew valuable experience while earning time as true freshman last season. 6’8” freshman Michael Cobbins has the worth ethic and skills to be potentially great for the Cowboys, but must bulk up if he’s going to be able to handle the grind of a brutal Big 12 schedule.

Backcourt:

Point guard Ray Penn got injured last February with a knee injury, but should be at 100% this year. Ford believes he will be the catalyst of this offense, running the fast-break. Freshman Markel Brown led Peabody Magnet High to the Louisiana Class-4A Championship by scoring 32 points en route to leading his school to an unbeaten 41-0 record. He is versatile and can fill in either the 2 or the 3, and should be the ideal player to help fill the holes left by Anderson and Muonelo. Keiton Page was forced to play the one when Penn went down to injury, but should be able to get back to his more comfortable role of knocking down the 3-pointer. Senior Nick Didorakis has been named a captain due to his gritty play on both sides of the floor, and his smarts. Fred Gulley, Reger Dowell and freshman Brian Williams will probably be role players.

Jack’s Prediction: 7th Place in the Big 12 – Just like most coaches in their third season on a new team, Ford has his recruits in place. He has a more athletic and versatile roster to run the up-tempo game he desires. The Big 12 is certainly up for grabs this year, and even with the departures of Anderson and Muonelo Oky State has enough talent to make some noise. A third straight NCAA Tournament berth is likely, especially if Penn can stay healthy and Brown can live up to the hype.

2010-11 Basketball Predictions: Texas

The Texas Longhorns began last season 17-0 and made it up to the top rating for the first time in school history. Many anticipated them to make a NCAA Championship run, particularly with future NBA candidates in Avery Bradley, Damion James and Dexter Pittman. But over the next couple months, the Longhorns would end the year with a 7-10 record the rest of the way while getting bounced in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament to Wake Forest. Head coach Rick Barnes believes the way they ended last season was due to missing team chemistry. Barnes found that there were too many egos on last season’s team, and not enough leadership. Texas will be looking for quite a few players to improve this season to offer that leadership. It would be guards Varez Ward or Dogus Balbay. Senior forward Gary Johnson could be ready to breakout, and even possibly freshman five-star recruit Cory Joseph may be the solution. Either way, Texas needs to return to playing team basketball after a unacceptable year to say the least.

You will see Texas at +300 to win the league this year. In my eyes, there isn’t much value in them winning the conference title. This has the appearances of a reloading season for Texas. BetUS has these college basketball spreads posted, so if you want to bet on which team will win the conference then sign up for a new account with them. Deposit $500 or more and they’ll reward you with $500 free money to get you started.

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Frontcourt:

The Longhorns may not be big this year, with two forwards and three guards on the court most of the time. Gary Johnson figures to be their top player inside after putting up 9.4 PPG and 5.6 RPG last season. He’ll be accompanied by five-star recruit Tristan Thompson, who was Cory Joseph’s teammate at Findlay Prep in Nevada. But Texas will have make up the points lost from leading scorer in Damion James, who also finished as the Big 12’s all-time leading rebounder. Dexter Pittman will also be missed after being taken No. 32 overall by the Miami Heat. The Longhorns do have some experience that will provide depth in the frontcourt. It will come from seniors Matt Hill and Clint Chapman along with junior Alexis Wangmene.

Backcourt:

Guard play will likely determine how the Longhorns fare this season. Cory Joseph must work with offensive-minded shooting guards in J’Covan Brown and Jordan Hamilton. Brown posted 9.6 PPG last season but made just 35.4 percent from the floor, while Hamilton is the team’s leading returning scorer at 10.0 PPG. Barnes is very big on both players with what they’ve done in the offseason to get better entering their sophomore seasons. Ward and Balbay are both coming off injuries that required surgery, and each is able to provide leadership and defensive toughness, two qualities that are really important to Texas’ success this year. Hamilton, Brown and Joseph figure to be the team’s top point producers, and Texas could get some offense from Shawn Williams as well. He is returning from an ankle injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the year just seven games into their 2010-11 season. At 6’6”, he can get a shot whenever he wants and is a potentially deadly 3-point shooter.

Jack’s Prediction: 5th Place in the Big 12 – Barnes said last season was the worst coaching job of his life. He had a team loaded with offensive talent, but advocated defense and rebounding so much down the wire that his team could lost their rhythm offensively. He will always teach defense and rebounding first, but this year he must find a way to replace three of their top four scorers from last season. If Joseph can master the ball screen offense that Barnes likes to run, then it could be a great season in Texas after back-to-back middle-of-the-pack finishes in the Big 12.

2010-11 College Basketball Predictions: Missouri

Missouri head coach Mike Anderson supposedly rejected a contract that would have given him close to $2 million per season to coach at Oregon. Missouri would have been in no shape to equal that offer, a season after they gave Anderson a new seven-year contract valued $1.55 million per year. The decision by Anderson to stay points quite a bit about his character. This will be his fifth season in Columbia, and he wants to complete what he started. A veteran roster along with a Top 10 recruiting class gives Missouri an opportunity to do some serious damage not only in the conference, but in the NCAA Tournament. After reaching the Elite Eight in 2009, Missouri went 23-11 overall and 10-6 in conference play last season while making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

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Frontcourt:

Justin Safford returns from a torn ACL for his senior season, making him the lone senior on Missouri’s roster. Junior Laurence Bowers has recovered from offseason wrist surgery, and promises to continue his stellar play within the Big 12 where he led the Tigers in rebounds and blocked shots last season. Bringing in both Ricardo Ratliffe and Tony Mitchell has Columbia humming. Ratliffe was the nation’s best junior college players last year, averaging 27.4 points and 11.3 rebounds for Central Florida Community College. As good as Ratliffe will likely perform, Mitchell has the upside to be even better. He was a top-15 recruit with NBA talent who, if he can keep his grades up, will probably be a big addition for Missouri. Providing depth in the paint is junior Steve Moore along with sophomore John Underwood.

Backcourt:

No doubt the Tigers will miss the skills of J.T. Tilller and Zaire Taylor, two team leaders who were able to lock down opponents on the defensive end. But there are still a lot of talented guys on the roster, as junior Kim English is the school’s top returning point producer at 14.0 PPG. Junior Marcus Denmon scored 10.4 PPG and hit 40.7% from behind the line last season. English must make more of his shots after hitting just 34.6 percent of his attempts, and he also needs to protect the basketball after turning the ball over a team high 71 times. Sophomore Michael Dixon will probably get the first opportunity to run the point, especially with his speed and ball-handling skills. If he can make more of his jump shots, the sky is the limit for Dixon. Phil and Matt Pressey are two brothers and two new faces Missouri is counting on immediately. Both are sons of former NBA player Paul Pressley, who was Anderson’s college roommate. Phil is a freshman who is one of the top recruits at point guard, while Matt is a junior college All-American. Look for freshman Ricky Kreklow to work his way into some playing time as well due to his smooth shooting stroke.

Jack’s Prediction: 4th Place in the conference – Anderson coaches a fast paced style of basketball, and he has the depth this year to run his scheme to perfection. Kansas, Kansas State and Baylor are the preseason favorites to compete for the league championship, but if Anderson can get his new players to buy into his defensive philosophy, then the Tigers will be competing for that championship as well. The Tigers have never reached the Final Four, and they don’t just want to make it to the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive year. Anderson stuck around because he knows the talent this team has and their potential, which makes Missouri a clear sleeper in both the Big 12 and on a national level.

2010-11 College Basketball Predictions: Texas A&M

The Texas A&M Aggies has done a great job of exceeding expectations under head coach Mark Turgeon. After getting picked to finish in the bottom half of the Big 12 last season, Texas A&M went on to go 24-10 overall and 11-5 in the league, ending up in a tie for second place overall. Texas A&M did lose a tough one to Purdue 63-61 in overtime in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a loss that surely leaves a bad taste in Turgeon’s mouth. Something you probably do not know, but A&M is one of only two squads to win at least one game in the NCAA Tournament for five straight years. The other is the Pittsburgh Panthers, so that’s an accomplishment in itself. This team has proven they can overcome hardship, and they had a lot more of it this offseason. In May, top recruit Tobi Oyedeji died in an automobile accident. Then in July, the NCAA denied Derrick Roland an extra year of eligibility after getting hurt last December.

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Frontcourt:

Junior forward David Loubeau has made big jumps in his first two years on campus. He displayed potential as a freshman, and genuinely learned a nice back-to-the-basket game as a sophomore. If the Aggies can earn a sixth straight showing in the NCAA Tournament, Loubeau will be one of the biggest reasons as he’s depended upon to do most of the scoring. Sophomore Ray Turner needs to get better, and with his athleticism it’s a likely possibility. Turner’s ability to play above the rim gives him the potential to be one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers in the conference. If the Aggies are to be so strong in the paint again this year, they’ll need to get a lot from three true freshman in Kourtney Roberson, Keith Davis and Daniel Alexander.

Backcourt:

Because Texas A&M is lacking depth in the frontcourt, they’ll likely go to small ball lineups lineups while playing a faster tempo. The Aggies have the tools to run this type of style, especially with point guard Dash Harris running the show. He dished out a team-best 109 dimes last season, and if he can shoot better than his 37.4 mark from a year ago, he’ll keep opposing defenders honest. B.J. Holmes is the team’s leading scorer back at 9.3 PPG, and he’s a sharp shooter who shot 36.6 percent from 3-point range last year. Developing senior Nathan Walkup along with sophomores Khris Middleton and Naji Hibbert will be important pieces to Texas A&M’s season as well. Middleton has the athletic ability and length that has many comparing him to former Aggie great Josh Carter. Walkup has made big perimeter shots in the past, but he struggled last season hitting just 26.5 percent from 3-point range.

Jack’s Pick: 8th Place in the Big 12 – If the sophomores on this roster can develop, Texas A&M will shock some people again in 2010-11. But I believe there are too many holes to fill, and too many questions surrounding the players coming back for Texas A&M to make a sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. An NIT appearance is most likely, but as Turgeon has shown in year’s past you can never count his teams out.

Baylor 2010-11 College Basketball Picks

Excitement for Baylor basketball is extremely high. That’s because the Bears played in the Elite Eight last year in front of 47,492 fans at Houston’s Reliant Stadium. After going 28-8 last year and ending up 11-5 in the conference, Baylor enters their 2010-11 campaign ranked in the Top 20. Baylor will have to replace three starters, but leading scorer LadeDarius Dunn returns and incoming freshman Perry Jones is one of the best recruits in the nation. Head coach Scott Drew knows this team is gifted, but it will be difficult to replace the leadership they had last year from Ekpe Udoh, Tweety Carter and Josh Lomers.

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Frontcourt:

Udoh set a Big 12 single-season record for blocked shots last season, so clearly that’s not going to be something the Bears can look to replace. The 6’10” Perry Jones will not be the same defensive presence that Udoh was, but he can make up for it with his ability to score around the basket. Many believe he will even be the Bears’ top scoring choice this season. Almost every recruiting service had Jones listed inside the Top 10 on their lists, and he is anticipated to be a 2011 NBA lottery pick. Baylor has never had player leave for the pros after a single season, but Jones is probably going to be the first. The loss of 7-footer Josh Lomers could be getting overlooked here. He stepped his game up at the end of last season. Still, there is some size here with the 6’10″ Anthony Jones coming back at three. Jones put up 6.2 PPG and 4.8 RPG as a solid contributor last year, while junior Quincy Acy put up 9.3 PPG as a sophomore last year. Acy was the team’s sixth man and clearly their most athletic player, dunking 10 times on Texas last year.

Backcourt:

Drew thinks that LaceDarius Dunn is one of the most underrated players in the nation after posting 19.6 points and 4.8 rebounds a year ago. He feels that Dunn will be able to score at will, but hopes he can improve on his ball-handling and distributing skills this year. Though Udoh will be missed on defense, no player will be tougher to replace than Tweety Carter. The senior point guard was the heart and soul of this team, and his vocal leadership will be sorely missed. Taking over for Carter will either be sophomore A.J. Walton or freshman Stargell Love. Walton put up 3.8 points in 17.6 minutes per game last year, while Love is a nice young talent.

Jack’s Pick: 3rd Place in the Big 12 – Baylor tied for second in the Big 12 last season and gave Duke all they could want in the Elite Eight. It’s tough for me to see them having that same kind of season with the players they lose, especially Carter and Udoh. Still, the Bears can compete with anyone in the nation with a frontcourt of Acy, Anthony Jones and Perry Jones along with Dunn at shooting guard. I question this team’s depth and their ability to find a floor leader who can handle the ball, and that’s why I have them third in the Big 12.

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2010-11 College Basketball Predictions: Kansas Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhawks are anxious to make their attempt at a conference championship this season. They ended up 33-3 overall last year, including 15-1 in conference games. It will be difficult to replace 49 percent of their scoring, two lottery picks and the player with the most wins in school history. Head coach Bill Self is one of the top recruiters in the country, and he’ll have no problem continuing the winning custom here in Lawrence with what he has coming back and the new guys coming in. Marcus Morris, Josh Selby and Tyshawn Taylor will be three guys that Self relies on to get the job done this season. Morris and Taylor are juniors who united for 20 points per night last year, and Selby is a freshman point guard who is almost a shoe-in for a Top-10 selection in the 2011 NBA Draft. A deep bench will have the Jayhawks competing for another Big 12 championship.

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Frontcourt:

Twins Marcus and Markieff Morris are back for their junior years, and though it will be tough to replace Cole Aldrich, that pair gives Kansas a strong foundation down low. Aldrich was selected 11th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft, and his rim protection will be missed. But Marcus put up 12.8 PPG and 6.1 RPG last year while Markieff put up 6.8 PPG and 5.3 RPG and each will likely take on even bigger roles this season. Marcus really upped his play within the conference, averaging 14.2 PPG and 7.3 RPG in league play. Sophomore Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey provide sound depth off the bench. Although Withey is no Aldrich, he’s a 7-foot presence inside and could be one of the league’s top shot-blockers if he can earn the minutes.

Backcourt:

Sherron Collins’ leadership will be tough to replace after being a part of a school-record 130 victories in his four seasons at Kansas. There’s no question that leadership along with his toughness in crucial-game situations cannot be replaced. Selby is in reality an upgrade over Collins when it comes to athleticism and overall talent. He is Self’s top-rated recruit ever, and was listed among the Top-5 prospects for this freshman class by nearly every service. Taylor will give Selby some help in the backcourt, offering the experience. But Taylor must overcome some of the troubles he had on and off the court last year. Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed give the Jayhawks some senior leadership off the bench it desperately desires. After redshirting last season, senior Mario Little will replace Xavier Henry as the starting small forward. Little was the 2008 Junior College Player of the Year, so he has shown he can get it done. Self thinks this team will be much more athletic than last year’s team, but it will need to find that leadership that cannot be learned if they are going to get as far as they possibly can.

Jack’s Pick: 1st Place in the Big 12 – Though Aldrich, Collins and Henry are gone, there is still enough leadership and depth on the Jayhawks to win the league once more. The Morris Twins along with Morningstar and Reed provide the experience, while getting Selby and Little offer the athleticism and talent to replace what has departed. Few schools in the country have a better home-court advantage than the one Kansas enjoys, and no team in the conference can equal the talent level of the Jayhawks. I trust in Self to put it all together as he’s shown he can do, and if Selby can live up to the hype this team will vie for a national championship.

Wisconsin 2010-11 Basketball Predicitons

The Wisconsin Badgers exceeded expectations last season, going 24-9 overall and ending up just a single game behind a share for the Big Ten regular-season title at 13-5. Wisconsin however sputtered to perform in postseason play. After being beat in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, the fourth-seeded Badgers were bounced from the postseason in the second round by Cornell. It was the third time in the last four seasons that Wisconsin was defeated by a lower-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament.

The Badgers lost senior guards Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes from last season, but once again believe they have a real good chance to win the Big Ten title this season. Head coach Bo Ryan hasn’t allowed Wisconsin to finish worse than fourth in the Big Ten in nine seasons, but with the Big Ten full with talent this season, whether or not Wisconsin makes a run will depend on the development of some of its young players.

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Frontcourt: Wisconsin returns seven players who have played on the interior, and the most talented of the group is senior Jon Leuer, who posted nearly 16 points and six boards a night last season. Leuer most likely would have received first-team All-Big Ten honors last year if he hadn’t missed seven games with a wrist injury. Leuer is a tough matchup with his ability to score in the paint and nail the outside jumper, and could be ready for a breakout season in 2010.

Seniors Keaton Nankivil and Tim Jarmusz also return to the starting lineup, but the pair needs to improve from last year. Jarmusz went from making 42% from 3-point range to just under 30% last year, and will need to discover his hot hand if he wants to stay in the starting lineup. Junior Rob Wilson and sophomores Jared Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz, and Ryan Evans give the Badgers great depth down low.

Backcourt: How well this team replaces Bonannon and Hughes will determine how good this roster is this year. Junior Jordan Taylor is the most experienced guard on the roster, and will be relied upon to have a huge season this year. Taylor put up 10 points with just over three boards and assists a night, but will probably be needed to score closer to 16 a night this season.

Senior walk-on Wquinton Smith started at the other guard spot in the Badgers first win over Prairie View A&M, but freshman Josh Gasser scored 21 points in 26 minutes, and could end up being the starter by the end of the year. Adding depth is freshman Ben Brust, who like Gasser, can play either guard spot.

Prediction – 5th Big Ten: While it’s difficult to ever go against Wisconsin, I just believe the Big Ten is too loaded with talent for the Badgers to win a conference title. The Badgers will still be making the NCAA Tournament, but I have a difficult time seeing this team stringing some wins together while there unless they get a lot of improvement from their returning players.

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Michigan State 2010-11 College Basketball Predictions

Last year the Michigan State Spartans were just one victory away from playing in their second consecutive NCAA Title game, but fell 52-50 to Butler in the Final Four. The Spartans finished with a 28-9 record and were 14-4 in Big Ten action, giving them at least a share of the Big Ten Title in two straight seasons. Head coach Tom Izzo not only wishes to win the Big Ten regular-season title, he wants to win the Big Ten Tournament for the first time in a decade, but with a squad as gifted as the one he figures to have this year, winning the National Title is essentially the main goal after the achievements this program has had the past two years.

The Spartans lost guard Chris Allen and forward Raymar Morgan from last season’s squad, but with a gifted core coming back, featuring seniors Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers, and a good freshmen class, Michigan State figures to be even more improved than they were last season. Michigan State opens the 2010 college basketball campaign rated No. 2 in the nation, and unless they fall victim to injuries, they should be gunning for a top seed and another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

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Frontcourt: Junior Draymond Green started just three games for the Spartans last season, but after losing 15 pounds this last summer, Michigan State is expecting big things as Green becomes a starter this season. Green contributed nearly 10 points, eight boards, and three dimes a game last year. Fellow junior Delvon Roe returns to the starting lineup after posting six points and five boards a game last year. Roe has battled knee problems the last two seasons, and if he is able to get healthy, he could be one of the more improved players on this team. Sophomore Derrick Nix has also trimmed down from last season, and should be able to make more of an impact after averaging just below eight minutes a game as a freshman. Nix figures to split time at the five with sophomore Garrick Sherman, who received the starting nod in the Spartans season opening win over Eastern Michigan. Also added to the mix is freshman Adreian Payne, who is a real threat on the offensive end, and will get plenty of playing time whether he ends up starting or coming off the bench.

Backcourt: Lucas and Summers are what genuinely give this team a chance to go all the way. Lucas was the best player in the conference as a sophomore, but suffered an ankle injury that really slowed him down last year. When healthy Lucas is considered to be one of the top point guards in the nation, with his power to do so much on offense. Summers is very athletic and can really finish inside, but struggled from outside most of last season, before heating up in the NCAA Tournament, and being named the Midwest Region Most Outstanding Player.

Junior Korie Lucious could start on most teams, but figures to be the Spartans sixth man off the bench this season. Giving the team even more depth are junior Austin Thorton and freshman Keith Appling, and while they won’t log a ton of time with Lucas and Summers on the court, they have to be ready to step in and play well when needed.

Prediction – 1st Big Ten: As good as Michigan State is this year, the Big Ten is packed with top notch teams, and winning the Big Ten will be a challenge. Still I believe with the talent this team has and one of the best coaches in the game, they are the team to beat this year. This is the best team Izzo has had at Michigan State since he bought home the championship back in 2000.

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Ohio State 2010-11 College Basketball Predictions

The Ohio State Buckeyes completed the 2009-10 season 29-8, wining both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships, and made it to the Sweet 16 before losing to Tennessee 76-73. Ohio State was led by the consensus player of the year Evan Turner, who posted 20 points, nine boards, and six assists a contest, but Turner was draft over the summer and Ohio State enters the 2010-11 year depending on what many consider to be the country’s best recruiting class to help them return to the NCAA Tournament.

Even with the departure of Turner, Ohio State still has four starters returning from last season, giving Ohio State plenty of experience to go along with a very exciting freshmen class. Ohio State already has one game down, beating North Carolina AT&T 102-61 and it was freshmen Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas who made the news. Here is a more in-depth look at what the Buckeyes will send to court this year, plus my pick on where they finish the year in the Big Ten.

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Frontcourt: Seniors David Lighty and Dallas Lauderdale return in the frontcourt, while freshman Jared Sullinger is added to the mix. Sullinger’s career got off to a nice start with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Lauderdale chipped in 12 points and 13 boards. These two should form quite the pair down low, and Ohio State should have one of its best rebounding teams in school. Lighty will spend most of the time playing the small forward, but has the versatility to move down and man the 4-spot and can also handle the ball and play the point. Thomas came off the bench for Ohio State in the opener and scored a team-high 24 points and grabbed eight boards in just 20 minutes. If Thomas continues to play like this, head coach Thad Matta will be forced to find more minutes for him. Freshman J.D. Weatherspoon adds depth, but might not see a lot of time on the floor.

Backcourt: Junior William Buford and senior Jon Diebler both return to the starting lineup. Buford posted 14 points and about 6 boards a contest as a sophomore, and while he was the fifth leading scorer in the opener, this guy is a pure scorer and will be relied on to a great extent with the loss of Turner. Diebler is a three-point specialist, and one of the tops in the country from the perimeter, and when he is heating up, Ohio State is very tough to beat. Freshman Aaron Craft came off the bench to score eight point with nine assists, and should be one of the top choices off the bench this year. Also seeing some playing time will be freshmen Jordan Sibert and Lenzelle Smith.

Pick – Second in the Big Ten: I think Michigan State is the only team better than the Buckeyes in the Big Ten, but if the freshmen keep playing like they did in the first game, Ohio State could once again be the class of this conference. I look for the Buckeyes to only get better as the year goes along, and I wouldn’t be shocked in the least to see Ohio State make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament, regardless if they win the Big Ten or not.

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2010-11 College Basketball Predictions: Purdue

The Purdue Boilermakers 2009-10 year finished with a loss to Duke in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, but with three highly gifted seniors returning and a nice nucleus of young talent, Purdue was thinking National Title this year. Those prospects took a stunning turn for the worse, as senior forward Robbie Hummel re-injured his knee and is lost for the season. There is no doubt that Purdue is a better team with Hummel on the court, but they managed to play out the end of last season without him.

There are still talented players left on the team, and you can anticipate head coach Matt Painter to have this team focused and ready to go this year. With Hummel out of the lineup look for fellow seniors E’Twun Moore and JaJuan Johnson to really step their game up and lead this team. Experts still have the Boilermakers rated No.8 in the nation, and Purdue is coming off its first win of the season, beating Howard 76-40.

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Frontcourt: Johnson is a really tough matchup for opposing teams. Not only does he have a number of moves down low, but he can also step out and hit the perimeter jump shot as well. Johnson put up 15.5 points, seven rebounds a contest last year, but is also very solid on the defensive side of the ball with his ability to block and alter shots. In Purdue’s first contest, sophomore Patrick Bade started at power forward in place of Hummel, but freshmen Travis Carroll and Sandi Marcius also got plenty of playing time as well.

Backcourt: The Boilermakers started three guards against Howard, and with little depth down low, it wouldn’t shock me to see Purdue go with a small lineup the rest of the way. Moore led all players with 16 points, and that is about what he scored per game a year ago. Moore’s shooting percentage really dropped last season when Hummel went down, but it didn’t seem to effect him in his first contest. Junior point guard Lewis Jackson does a solid job of passing the ball and can drive to the rim in a hurry, but can’t shoot well enough to be a legit scoring threat.

Junior Ryne Smith started at the other guard spot, but it’s only a matter of time before freshman Terone Johnson takes that role over. Johnson scored 9 points in just 20 minutes against Howard, and to start the season figures to really give Purdue a spark off the bench. Sophomores Kelsey Barlow, D.J. Byrd, and John Hart will battle for playing time off the bench this year. Byrd and Hart each knocked down four of five three point attempts against Howard and ended up with 12 points each.

Pick – 3rd Big Ten: At first I had the Boilermakers slotted to win the Big Ten this year, but with the injury to Hummel, I jumped both Michigan State and Ohio State ahead of Purdue in the Big Ten projections. A lot of the year will depend on the play of their three freshmen, Carrol, Johnson, and Marcius. If these three can come in and contribute right away, with the way this team gets stops on defense, they could still win the conference and make an impact in the NCAA Tournament.

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Tennessee Vols 2010-11 College Basketball Predicitons

The Vols are heading into this season facing quite a bit of uncertainty as they look to replace a few key parts from last year’s squad. Nevertheless, the team has high hopes for themselves heading into the season after they made it to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history last year.

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Bruce Pearl has taken Tennessee to the Big Dance each of the past five seasons, including three appearances in the Sweet 16, and will look to take his team at least that far again this year. It won’t be an easy task getting there this year, however, as the Vols will have to replace three of their best players from last year’s team that were seniors. If the young guys can step up and match the lost production, then Tennessee will be one of the top teams in the SEC this year.

Frontcourt: The Vols biggest adjustment this season will be trying to fill the void left by Wayne Chism, who put up a team best 12.6 points per contest last season and was one of their top defensive stoppers. Tobias Harris, a 6’8? freshman who plays the four, will probably be relied upon to play a lot of minutes, and will be expected to now and again step out and spread the floor with his jumper. Kenny Hall should contend for a decent amount minutes at the four this year, and could also see some time at center seeing he is one of only three players on the Vols roster that is 6’9? or taller.

Brain Williams played well in the postseason last season, where he averaged 7.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Viewing he is the only true center Tennessee has on their roster, Williams will need to have a good year if the Vols want to try to make it back to the Elite Eight or further this year.

Steven Pearl, Renaldo Woolridge, John Fields, and Jeronne Maymon will come off the bench this season, giving Tennessee plenty of depth in their front court.

Backcourt: Melvin Goins will be responsible for running the squad at the one this season. He will need to improve his game if wants to replace the production of Bobby Maze from last season, who averaged 9.4 points per game and had one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the SEC last year. Goins averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 dimes per game last season, and I would expect both of those numbers to go up this year.

Cameron Tatum and Scotty Hopson will be two of the most relied upon guys on the Tennessee squad this year. Tatum averaged only 7.4 points and 1.1 dimes per contest last year, but he is a somewhat efficient shooter and doesn’t ruin a lot of possessions trying to force shots. He made nearly 39% from 3-point range and 48% overall from the field.

Hopson was the second best scorer from the Tennessee team last season, when he posted 12.2 points per contest. He is extremely explosive on the wing and has the skills to take over the game on the offensive side of the ball. He will need to stop turning the ball over so much, however, as he had 78 turnovers last season.

Predictions: The Vols lost more players from last season than any other conference team outside of Kentucky. Regrettably for Tennessee, their incoming freshmen aren’t quite as good as the ones Kentucky was able to land.

Nevertheless, if Tennessee’s young players can come forward into bigger roles this season and play solid defense, there aren’t many other teams in the conference that are as talented as the Vols. I would anticipate Bruce Pearl to get enough out of this team to earn a quality seed in the NCAA Tournament, but I’m not sure they have enough skill to reach the same heights they did last season when they advanced all the way to the Elite Eight.

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2010-11 College Basketball Predictions: Virginia

The Virginia Cavaliers started off hot last year, sitting atop the ACC standings with the Blue Devils in the middle of last season. Head coach Tony Bennett was well on his way to earning ACC Coach of the Year honors, but then they collapsed. Virginia lost nine consecutive ACC games to finish out the year, and also lost their top scorer in Sylvester Landesberg and guard Calvin Baker for off-court issues. Virginia finished 15-16 last season and 5-11 in conference action, their third straight year with five or fewer wins in league play. The Cavaliers are once again in rebuilding mode this season and will have to rely on a lot of incoming freshman that have a lot of talent. These new recruits will be thrust into action immediately, and it’s almost certain that the Cavaliers have no chance of repeating what they did to begin last year. The Cavs have only five scholarship players back, and they lost Landesberg who decided to move on to the NBA.

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Frontcourt:

Mike Scott has been waiting for his chance for three seasons, and he’ll finally get his opportunity to show his stuff this year. The 6’8” senior looks to be the Cav’s top scoring option this season. He averaged 12.0 PPG and 7.2 RPG last year and is a great at hitting the offensive glass. It is murky outside of Scott, where walk-on Will Sherrill started seven time as a junior last year, is the only other player coming back with experience. Freshman James Johnson is probably the surest thing to start immediately as his athletic ability cannot be overlooked. Will Regan is a hard-nosed freshman, and 7-foot junior center Assane Sene is basically just a shot blocker.

Backcourt:

Bennett played in the NBA as a guard, and he treasures versatility at the position. He should have a few more options in the backcourt this year since that is where he has the most depth. Junior Sammy Zeglinski should be back to full strength after hip surgery in the offseason. He averaged 8.9 points per night and shot 37.7% from behind the 3-point line a year ago. He has improved every year with the program and is the team’s best outside threat. Freshman K.T. Harrell will vie with senior Mustapha Farrakhan for the starting spot at the two. Harrell was Alabama’s class 4A Player of the Year as a senior. Sophomore point guard Jontel Evans gained valuable experience last year, and Bennett loves his defensive toughness. Freshman Billy Baron has the pedigree as he is the son of Rhode Island coach Jim Baron and will be counted on to play immediately.

Jack’s Prediction: 12th Place in the conference – Bennett finally has his recruits in place, and this is a team that matches up well with what his system. There are still six players around that aren’t typical for his system, but the six incoming freshmen definitely should have a bright future with the school. The problem is that the success isn’t likely to be seen this season as this is clearly a rebuilding year at Virginia. Bennett said it best, “They’ll have to form a bond quickly, and if they do I think we could be enjoyable to watch, and fans will see some hope for the future.” Even Bennett doesn’t expect a whole lot out of this year, and neither do I.

Iowa Basketball 2010-11 Predictions

The Iowa Hawkeyes are hoping a new head coach can help rebuild a program that has gone in the wrong direction the last few years. Iowa went through their third straight losing season last year, the first time that has happened since the 1930?s. With that came the firing of head coach Todd Lickliter, who went just 38-58 in three years at Iowa. In comes Fran McCaffrey, who will get rid of Lickliter’s slow tempo offense and go to a much more up-tempo style of play. McCaffrey has had a lot of success turning programs around, and has spent the past five years at Siena, where he went 112-51. Wins could still be tough to come by in the first year for McCaffrey, who actually didn’t get enough time to land any big time recruits and a number of players from last season decided not to return. To get a general idea of what the Hawkeyes will look like this year, here is short preview of their current roster, plus my pick on where they will end up this season in the Big Ten.

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Checking out the current college basketball spreads for next season, the sportsbooks currently have the Hawkeyes offered with the worst odds to win the Big Ten at +2500, so anything outside of last place in conference play figures to be a move in the right direction for the Hawkeyes.

Backcourt: Iowa returns both starting guards, which is a big plus for a team looking to get back on the right track. Junior Matt Gatens is the best player the Hawkeyes have and has started every contest since his freshman season, and could be ready for a breakout season with the new offense. Gatens tore a tendon in his left wrist, but should return right around the beginning of the season. Also back is sophomore point guard Cully Payne, who put up 8 points and almost 4 assists per contest as a freshman, and he too thinks his game will only get better with a faster paced offense. Added to the mix is junior college transfer Bryce Cartwright, who should be a key contributor right away.

Frontcourt: Two more starters are back in senior Jarryd Cole and sophomore Eric May, but both are undersized, something Iowa is going to have trouble with again this season. Junior to be Aaron Fuller had some high hopes this season, but decided USC was a better fit for him than Iowa. Cole is just 6’7 but played the five for Iowa most of last year, but wasn’t much of a factor in the offense, putting up just eight points a night. May is extremely athletic and will have to use that to his strength this year. Freshman Melsahn Basabe committed to McCaffery at Siena, and decided to go with the coach in his move to Iowa, and could find his way into the starting lineup right away. Fellow freshmen Zach McCabe and junior college transfer Devon Archie also figures to get a long look early. Iowa also returns junior Andrew Brummer, but he has only played sparingly in his first two years, and anything he adds will be a plus.

Pick: 11th in the Big Ten: While the Hawkeyes should be better than they were a season ago, this is a team in transition and just simply doesn’t have the talent needed to compete in the Big Ten. If the team responds well to McCaffery’s new system and the freshmen produce early, Iowa may be able to not finish last, but this team is probably a few years from being a winning team again.

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2010-11 College Basketball Predictions: Wake Forest

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons went 20-11 overall and 9-7 in the conference last year, earning a trip to the Big Dance where they took home a close 81-80 victory over Texas in the opening round, before being routed by Kentucky in the next round. The Demon Deacons however struggled down the stretch and after just one postseason win in the past three seasons, Wake Forest decided it was time let go of head coach Dino Gaudio, regardless of his 61-31 record. In comes former Colorado head coach Jeff Bzdelik, who will have the tall order in leading a Wake Forest squad that returns just one starter and need a lot out of their incoming freshman class. To get an idea of what the Demon Deacons will look like this year, here is a quick preview of what they will have on the floor, plus my prediction on where they end up this season in the conference.

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Taking a look at the college basketball lines for the upcoming season, the linesmakers currently have the Demon Deacons offered at +5000 to win the ACC, and are very heavy underdogs to win the National Championship at +12500

Backcourt: The only returning starter for Wake Forest this year is sophomore guard C.J. Harris, who averaged 10 ppg last year. Where exactly Harris will fit in this year, will depend on the play of freshmen J.T. Terrell and Tony Chennault. Terrell has the potential to be a big time scorer in the ACC, and could immediately become the team’s top scoring option. Chennault doesn’t look to have the make of a pure point guard, but can handle the ball and play solid defense. The likely scenario will be Harris at the point, while Terrell steps in at shooting guard, leaving Chennault to come in and give the team a spark off the bench.

Frontcourt: The Demon Deacons will have to find a way to replace last year’s best player in Al-Farouq Aminu, who averaged nearly 16 points and 11 boards per night. Also gone is center Chas McFarland, who added seven points and seven boards a game, and junior Tony Woods, who departed the team after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assaulting a female. That leaves Sophomore Ari Stewart as the only returning player in the frontcourt. Stewart put up just over seven points in 17 minutes a night last season, but has an issue with getting the rest of the team involved and only looking for his shot. That means a couple of freshmen are likely going to have to step in from the start.  The three highly touted freshmen are Travis McKie, Melvin Tabb, and Carson Desrosiers. Tabb and Desrosiers should get first shot at starting inside, as McKie is more of a spot up outside shooter. Wake Forest also brought in Gerogetown transfer Nikita Meshcharakou, but I’m not sure what he will be able to bring to the table.

Prediction -11th in the ACC: The freshmen class is extremely gifted, but with a new head coach and little experience, it is hard to imagine Wake Forest putting together a strong season this year. The Deacons may actually be a better shooting team than it was last season, but whether or not they can play together offensively is unclear. Defense and rebounding is also a concern for this squad, and while they might be able to surprise, Wake Forest is likely to struggle more than succeed this season.

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2010-11 College Basketball Predictions: Villanova Wildcats

This Wildcats team starts 2010 without Scottie Reynolds. As a four-year starter, Reynolds has graduated, but Jay Wright is not concerned with how his Wildcats will make-up for the lost production of his All-American guard. Villanova is deep and returns experience that should help them contend at the top of the conference this season.

Coach Jay Wright is most famously known for his fashionable attire, but he has some strong recruits this season. Last season’s squad went 24-7 and 13-5 in conference play. Fans have high hopes for this team, and Nova doesn’t want to disappoint.
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Frontcourt: Former Duke transfer Taylor King is gone from the program, but Villanova does bring back big man Antonio Pena. Pena was solid down low last season putting up 10.5 ppg and 7.0 reb a game. Pena was at prep school for two years and then red-shirted. Believe it or not he is 24 years old and brings the term leadership to another level. He will play with a trio of young players who the Wildcats will look to improve on as the season progresses.

Isaiah Armwood, Dominic Cheek, and Maurice Sutton all displayed flashes of production last year, but it was too inconsistent. I think Sutton has the most upside as a shot-blocker and player who can help control the lane. Cheek is a former All-American who Jay Wright has been coaching constantly to try and get him ready to crack the rotation.

The player everybody needs to be aware of is Mouphtaou Yarou. Yarou had a breakout game against Robert Morris when the Cats were almost knocked off. He has had health issues in the past, but his performance this season will go a long way in determining where Villanova stands heading into March.

A freshman who should play immediately is JayVaughn Pinkston a 6’7 forward out of New York. He is a hard worker who loves to rebound and work both inside and out.

This could be a deep frontcourt which is a switch to Coach Wright who has almost had three quality guards to rely on over the past five years.

Backcourt: As you can see, Villanova has a lot of unknowns in the frontcourt. The backcourt is arguably one of the best in the country. They return Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes from last season’s team.

It appears as if Fisher will be the one to operate the point, replacing Reynolds, but Stokes is definitely capable of running the offense. Last year Fisher posted just over 13.0 ppg and just fewer than 4 ast. Stokes averaged 9.5 pts and 4.0 reb and it is this Corey is recognized for knocking down the perimeter shots.

This Villanova team is going to be very fast in transition. Maalik Wayns is another Philly point-guard who is back for his sophomore season and is looking like he could have  a breakout year. He was a sparkplug off the bench and was a lockdown defender for Jay Wright. He made the Big East rookie team last season, but his year included games where he was either on or off. There were no really in-betweens for him. If Wayns can play every game this team is going to be one tough out against any team.

Prediction: Jay Wright has done a great job at Villanova. He continues to attract different players of all types of skill sets. That’s precisely why Villanova is perpetually in the top tier of Big East teams. This team is going to be just as good as last year’s team if not better. Winning 24 games is never easy, but this is a dynamic Villanova squad, unlike some of the others from year’s past.

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2010-2011 College Basketball Predictions: Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Panthers, led by head coach Jamie Dixon, bring back one of the deepest and most experienced team in the country this season. Dixon is the only coach in the Big East to pick up 20 wins and 10 Big East wins over the last seven years. Pitt has struggled though in the NCAA tournament. The farthest they have made it was an Elite Eight run in 2009.

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Many analysts are forecasting that Pitt is the team to beat in the Big East this year. They are the highest rated team in the preseason poll ranked 5th in the country. This could finally be the season that Pittsburgh contends for a national title. It is a long way away, but the Oakland Zoo is sure to be excited about their team to start the year.

Backcourt: Junior point guard Ashton Gibbs comes back as one of the top players in the Big East. He possesses the ability to score when his team needs it, but he also makes his teammates better. He averaged 15.7 ppg last year and he isn’t scared to take over a game.

Travon Woodall will join him in the backcourt creating a combo that can do pretty much everything. As a sophomore Woodall is going to log a lot of time and be asked to contribute as a nice complementary card to Gibbs. He has a lot of opportunity to help this team reach the next level this year.

Frontcourt: My favorite player on Pitt is Brad Wanamaker. At 6’4 210 lbs he is a great player on the wing. Wanamaker is tough to defend because he has both the quickness and athleticism to score from the outside or in the paint. After Gibbs, Wanamaker has the experience and talent to carry the team.

The wide-open Big East has Pittsburgh leading the way for now, but every team is going to target them on the schedule. Dante Taylor and Gary McGee are two additional serviceable players that will look to contribute in the post. McGee is a big center who should play an important role in stopping teams from getting to the hoop.

Pick: The Pittsburgh Panthers have consistently been one of the top teams in the Big East. I don’t think Jamie Dixon has received enough credit since he took over. Year after year he recruits players who have toughness, strength, and the ability to play at a high level.

This team is no different and this year’s success should approach that of the 2008-2009 teams. There is a lot of people who like Pitt to win the conference and I can see why. This team is the total package and will win at least 25 games. There is a strong chance this team is a top 3 seed in some region when the field of 68 is announced in March.

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2010-11 Syracuse College Basketball Predictions

The Syracuse Orange are set to regain form after last season ended in the Sweet Sixteen to eventual runner-up Butler. This Syracuse team has a blend of experience and youth, but they are full of talent up and down the roster. If you are ready to bet on college basketball this year, you should check out BetUS. With a new account and deposit of $500 or more they are going to give you a $500 match bonus!

Key Losses: First things first, it’s going to be tough to replace the three players that this Syracuse team has had to say good-bye to. Arinze Onuaku was arguably the most dominant big man in the Big East last season and his injury in the first round of the Big East Tournament cost the Orange dearly in the NCAA Tournament.

Andy Rautins is a fan favorite. His three point shot and all-out hustle was what he brought to the court every night. Syracuse also lost leading scorer and playmaker Wes Johnson. The Iowa State-transfer was high choice in the NBA draft and had a remarkable season with the Orange.

Frontcourt: Looking forward to this year the one player that has to play above his potential is Kris Joseph. Last season, Joseph averaged 10.8 ppg and grabbed 5.5 reb. The 6’7 210lbs junior from Canada is now a leader of this team. He is going to be on the floor for a lot of minutes and be counted on by the Orange to contribute.

Also down low is senior Rich Jackson. Jackson developed a lot last season and really gained his form over the last part of the season. He posted 9.7 ppg and 7.0 reb, which were big improvements from his freshmen and sophomore seasons. He is the heart of the vaunted 2-3 zone. Standing at 6’9 240lbs his wingspan is a major problem when players try to drive the lanes.

Syracuse has had a lot of talent in the past, but the Big East preseason Rookie of the Year, Fab Melo a 7’0 260lbs center has the most potential for the Orange since Carmelo Anthony. He is a five-star recruit and rated as the second best center in last year’s class. NBA scouts think there is a good chance he goes pro after just one season, but let’s see how he transitions to the college level before that decision is made. If the hype on him is deserved, Big East schools better take note and look out for the big man from Brazil.

Backcourt: Syracuse has a quality set of guards that is veteran. Junior Scoop Jardine was the floor general last season putting 9.1 ppg and 4.3 ast. Jardine isn’t afraid to shoot the ball and he is going to be an instrumental part of the Orange success this year.

Back and next to Jardine is sophomore Brand Triche. As a freshman the Syracuse native scored 8.1 ppg. He saw a lot of playing time which will help him as he sees a more expanded role this season.

Two guys that were hurt last year and saw limited action were James Southerland and Mookie Jones. They both face an uphill battle, but should be competing for minutes off the bench.

The other big recruit that Boeheim is receiving praise for getting is Dion Waiters a shooting guard who can light it up from behind the arc. Besides being able to shoot it at 6’3 210lbs he is fearless and loves to take it to the hoop. If he is a real offensive threat now watch out, because that’s another option for this talented squad.

Pick: This team is good. They bring back players who protectd the ball and didn’t turn it over. Syracuse is going to have to find a way to make some shots from the perimeter and have a more efficient field goal percentage. This team has plenty of choices to make up for what they lost in Rautins and Johnson.

Syracuse is going to compete for the Big East Championship this year, and should win 26 or 27 games. They are very similar to the team that won the National Title a few years ago.

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2010-11 NCAA Basketball Predictions: Miami

The Miami Hurricanes displayed a lot of potential and hope during the ACC tournament last year, winning their first two games and getting out to an impressive first half start against Duke before eventually going down to the Blue Devils. Miami only lost two starters from last year, and have quite a few new players that look to be sound contributors for the Hurricanes this season.

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The key for Miami this season is to win more contests against conference opponents, as they finished with an ACC-worst 4-12 record in conference play last season. While the ACC is one of the toughest conferences in college basketball, Miami has the ability to finish high enough in the league to make an appearance in the NCAA tournament this season.

Miami only plays one non-ACC game versus an opponent that is ranked in the preseason, and that game comes early on Nov. 16 at 19th-ranked Memphis. The Hurricanes could definitely use a win in this contest, but the most important thing for them is to not lose focus against their other non-conference opponents. The ‘Canes finished last season with a 16-1 record outside the ACC, but most of those victories came against weak teams and led to them getting demolished in ACC play.

Coach Frank Haith will look to Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant to help lead his young team in an effort to improve upon last season. While they may not be competing to win the ACC this year, they should play some fairly exciting basketball, as they have some of the most atheletic players in the ACC.

Front Court: Julian Gamble and Reggie Johnson will be relied upon pretty heavily this season when it comes to defense and rebounding, as they look to fill the void that was left with the departure of Dewayne Collins when he left for the NBA after last year. At 6’9? and 6’10?, respectively, the duo is tall enough to match-up well enough against most of their opponents at the five. Both players need to improve their shooting this year, however, as Johnson shot 52% from the field last year, while Gamble only made 48% on his attempts.

DeQuan Jones is an exceedingly explosive forward with good speed and athletic ability. He is best known for his electrifying play around the rim and his dunking skills, but he will need to hit a higher rate from outside this season. He shot a horrid 23% from beyond the arc last season, hitting only 6 of his 26 attempts from long range.

The ‘Canes have Eric Swoope and Raphael Akpejiori joining their team this season. Swoope is another extremely athletic small forward that will be pushing Jones for minutes all year at the position. Akpejiori, at 6’9?, should be a solid contributor when it comes to hitting the glass, and at 230 lbs, should be a fairly good force down low against smaller post players.

Donnovan Kirk will also be coming back to the ‘Canes after being getting a medical red-shirt last season when he only played in four contests. He will need to help pick up some of the slack on the boards on both sides of the floor this year.

Back Court: The Hurricanes’ success this year largely depends on their guard play, which is headlined by Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant. Both players are coming off brilliant performances in the conference tournament, and the expectations are fairly high for them this year as they will be looked upon as leaders on the floor.

Scott, a very impressive guard who is extremely athletic and a very good passer, will be leading the way on the court for Miami. Averaging 10.3 points per night last year, and scoring doube digits in eight of their final nine contests, Scott should improve his scoring average this season. Their success will not only depend on his ability to score, but also on how well he dishes the rock and his effectiveness at getting his team involved.

While Grant is smaller and shorter than Scott, he sees most of his time on the floor at shooting guard. Although he was tops on the team with 3.5 assists per contest last season, he will need to concentrate more on scoring this year after putting up just under 10 points per contest last season. If he can be a consistent scorer this year, the ‘Canes definitely could be one of the surprise teams to exceed their expectations.

Rion Brown will also play an important part in the Hurricanes back court. The freshman shooting guard from Georgia is a Top 100 prospect and should be highly productive for the Canes if he sees enough floor time this season.

Stephen’s Pick-7th place in the ACC: Miami has some extremely talented players on their roster, but unfortunately for them they play in a very deep ACC that has last year’s national champions, the Duke Blue Devils, who they face twice this season.

If they can get solid contributions from all of their players, they could move up the standings a position or two. However, I can’t picture Miami being able to make a jump into the top level of the conference and finishing ahead of any of the four teams currently ranked in the Top 25 . While the Hurricanes could possibly be a bubble team late in the year if they have an impressive run during conference action, it is unlikely they will actually land a spot in the tournament when all of the smoke clears.

For your chance to beat the NCAA basketball lines this year be sure to visit our site often for the top college basketball picks from our expert handicappers.

2010-11 Basketball Predictions: NC State

Head coach Sidney Lowe owns just a 20-44 record in conference play in his four seasons with the NC State Wolfpack. This is a very critical fifth season for Lowe, who is firmly on the hot seat. But hopes are very high this season, something that hasn’t been the case in his first four years. That’s because Lowe brought in three five-star freshmen recruits to go along with three returning starters who managed to win six of their last nine contests. Forward C.J. Leslie is a McDonald’s All-American, and two highly recruited guards in Ryan Harrow and Lorenzo Wright will be the new faces you will see leading the program. Plus, senior forward Tracy Smith is back after leading the teams in points (16.5) and rebounds (7.3) a year ago. Also back are guards Javier Gonzalez (9.5 PPG) and Scott Wood (7.8 PPG).

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Frontcourt:

At First, Tracy Smith entered his name in the NBA draft after a superb junior season. But he didn’t even try out for an NBA squad, and withdrew his name almost immediately to come back for his senior season. Even with several big name recruits coming in, Smith will be the go-to-guy on offense. Lowe loves working from the inside-out, and though Smith isn’t very big, he is outstanding at getting to the rim and drawing fouls. C.J. Leslie opted against going to Kentucky to stay with his hometown team. His versatility allows him to run up and down the court and play the 3, but his length at 6’8” allows him to defend against bigger players. Smith and Leslie will be their best scoring options inside, while sophomores DeShawn Painter and Jordan Vandenberg are solid defenders after playing here and there as freshmen.

Backcourt:

What the Wolfpack needed most was playmakers in the backcourt, and they now have that with Brown and Harrow. NC State went through many periods last season where they couldn’t hit an outside shot. Brown is 6’4” and brings with him a high basketball IQ. Harrow, though small at 5’11” and 155 pounds, makes up for it with toughness and leadership. Now it’s just a matter of whether or not Javier Gonzalez can improve his game and see substantial time, as he’s been a starter for a lot of the last three seasons. He did lead the team in assists (3.7) and chipped in 9.5 PPG, but he was prone to turnovers at times and very inconsistent overall. Wood is one of the best shooters in the nation, hitting 37.3% of his three-point shots last year. The issue is that he cannot create his own shot, which makes him a one-dimensional player. Lowe will have some tough choices to make with his guard play, but at least now he has plenty of options.

Jack’s Pick: 5th Place in the conference – I love the new players coming in with three five-star freshmen, but I have a difficult time believing that they will make a big difference in their first year at NC State. The Wolfpack will be as sound as almost anyone in the conference inside with Smith and Leslie, but there are still many doubts with their guards. Lowe has not won more than 6 conference games in any of his first four seasons, and though I do think they will surpass that number this year, I feel they are still on a different level than Duke and North Carolina. This team has the potential to sneak into the NCAA Tournament, but they will not compete for an ACC title. With such a strong recruiting class, the future is bright for Lowe and NC State.

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