Welcome Back!
I haven't posted on this blog in 2 years, but on the eve of ESPN's college basketball kick off, I decided it just wasn't as much fun without a forum for truth in basketball world. Ready for me to lay down the knowledge?
Presenting the Bigger, Faster, Stronger, (with Limited Commercial Interruption) College Basketball Etc.
What better way to start then by introducing the sheep in wolves' clothing?
The Top 5 OVERrated teams of the 2008-2009 season (In no order):
#21 Davidson: It may not be trendy to take on the media darling and the new (baby)face of college basketball, Stephen Curry, but I will try to explain this mid major mirage. First, here is the name you should hear more this season than Curry, Jason Richards. Davidson's cagy veteran point guard who graduated last year was the catalyst for all things Curry. He had a nearly 3 to 1 turnover ratio and averaged 12.7 points for the Wildcats last year. This year Davidson moves Curry to point guard, we will see how much easier it is to contain Curry when the reliable Richards isn't running next to him.
#5 Duke: The Blue Devils have been singing the blues early in March the past two seasons, will that trend continue? I expect to see the Devils bounced again on the first weekend. Coach K brings in more man power to the post, which has been devoid of a real presence since Sheldon Williams graduated. This new Post by committee is intriguing, but at the most it will give them 20 fouls to throw at ACC bigs. Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek have proven they can't handle major minutes and adding freshman Olek Czyz and Miles Plumlee does little to improve my confidence in them. Both freshman may be key contributors in years to come, but not this year. The positives at Duke? Gerald Henderson looks poised for a All American campaign, and Nolan Smith gives a new athleticism handling the ball. This should remind you of the Duke basketball of recent memory, a good outside shooting team without a consistent force in the lane.
#4 UCLA: I hate betting against this team. Ben Howland is a fantastic coach. His teams are always smart and tenacious on defense. They return the Darren Collison and have a monster freshman class, but I can't see them past the sweet 16 this year.
The problem is the youth. Howland has a knack for turning his teams into disciplined machines, but it must take time. The bruins lost Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to the NBA. It takes time replace 3 first round picks. I love Jrue Holiday and Malcolm Lee but great freshman have proven to not preform in March, think Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo...
Thats it, I'm excited to be back.
Presenting the Bigger, Faster, Stronger, (with Limited Commercial Interruption) College Basketball Etc.
What better way to start then by introducing the sheep in wolves' clothing?
The Top 5 OVERrated teams of the 2008-2009 season (In no order):
#21 Davidson: It may not be trendy to take on the media darling and the new (baby)face of college basketball, Stephen Curry, but I will try to explain this mid major mirage. First, here is the name you should hear more this season than Curry, Jason Richards. Davidson's cagy veteran point guard who graduated last year was the catalyst for all things Curry. He had a nearly 3 to 1 turnover ratio and averaged 12.7 points for the Wildcats last year. This year Davidson moves Curry to point guard, we will see how much easier it is to contain Curry when the reliable Richards isn't running next to him.
#5 Duke: The Blue Devils have been singing the blues early in March the past two seasons, will that trend continue? I expect to see the Devils bounced again on the first weekend. Coach K brings in more man power to the post, which has been devoid of a real presence since Sheldon Williams graduated. This new Post by committee is intriguing, but at the most it will give them 20 fouls to throw at ACC bigs. Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek have proven they can't handle major minutes and adding freshman Olek Czyz and Miles Plumlee does little to improve my confidence in them. Both freshman may be key contributors in years to come, but not this year. The positives at Duke? Gerald Henderson looks poised for a All American campaign, and Nolan Smith gives a new athleticism handling the ball. This should remind you of the Duke basketball of recent memory, a good outside shooting team without a consistent force in the lane.
#4 UCLA: I hate betting against this team. Ben Howland is a fantastic coach. His teams are always smart and tenacious on defense. They return the Darren Collison and have a monster freshman class, but I can't see them past the sweet 16 this year.
The problem is the youth. Howland has a knack for turning his teams into disciplined machines, but it must take time. The bruins lost Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to the NBA. It takes time replace 3 first round picks. I love Jrue Holiday and Malcolm Lee but great freshman have proven to not preform in March, think Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo...
Thats it, I'm excited to be back.
posted by Sean Umstead at 8:27 PM
2 comments
