College Ball Preview (Part 1 of 5)

It's awesome bayby!!!!  College basketball is back.  Nothing like it.   So many stars have moved on which only means its time to get acquainted with new faces.  Let's get started right away with the conference that arguably had the most successful year in history... the Big East.

One word to describe the Big East- CHANGE.  

Here is a quick list of the big names that have moved on this year...

DaJuan Summers, Georgetown

Jesse Sapp, Georgetown

Hasheem Thabeet, UConn

AJ Price, UConn

Jeff Adrien, UCoon

Earl Clark, Louisville

Terrrence Williams, Louisville

Wes Matthews, Marquette

Jerrel McNeal, Marquette

Dominic James, Marquette

DeJuan Blair, Pitt

LeVance Fields, Pitt

Sam Fields, Pitt

Datne Cunningham, Villanova

Twelve of these guys are wearing NBA uniforms this year.  That is insane production lost.  Luckily, a few guys decided wisely to stick around so the Big East will still be competitive.  My bold prediction for the Big East: Seven teams in the Big Dance but only two in the top 15.  Here are some quick notes on the teams that matter:

West Virginia- Loaded and mature at all positions.  Expect big things from this squad which has really rounded into form under alum, Bob Huggins.  Devin Ebanks is an all-American canidate

Notre Dame- the program is in peril but the one silver lining is Luke Harangody who has the opportunity to set the Big East and Notre Dame career scoring records this year.  Expectations would be higher if Purdue transfer Scott Mercin didn't tear his ACL.   Great decision to come back to school for Luke.  He needs this extra year to work his outside game and get stronger defensively.

Louisville- Losses of Earl Clark and Terrence Williams will really hurt the team that finished number 1 in the nation after the Big East Tourney.  I am sure Pitino won't let his off-court troubles affect this team but they are young and weak on the perimeter which has always been their bread-and-butter.  They will rely heavily on super Soph. Samardo Samuels(Jersey guy!).  I also have to give a ton of credit to Edgar Sosa who has stuck around in Louisville for his entire career despite losing his starting role his sophomore year and barely playing scrub minutes last year.  Now, as a senior, he has the ball in his hands and I am telling you, this kid can play.  His decision making is a little suspect but I really hope for the best from him and I can assure you, his face will be buried in a tear-soaked jersey at the end of the year, which is why college basketball will always be the superior product.   Everything matters...

Georgetown- Last year, the program was saved by top recruit, Greg Monroe.  He will be plying his trade in the NBA soon enough but let's enjoy him as a Hoya while we have it.  He will team up with Austin Freeman for a fairly formidable one-two punch.

Cincinnati- A solid core featuring Yancy Gates and Deonta Vaughn.  They can move Vaughn off the point where Cashmere Wright will fill in.  He missed all of last year with an injury.  The main question is how will freshman Lance Stephenson fit in?  He is the all time leading scorer in New York state history.  However there are loads of questions around this kid.  Lance really made it on the map when he went head to head with top recruit OJ Mayo as a 15 year old.  He is an 8th grader here, an 8th grader.  This is where hype is born. He has been the subject a documentary, a tv reality series and has graced the covers of many magazines.  He lost his spot on Kansas when Xavier Henry signed after Calipari left Memphis (the ripples of that move were huge!)  so Stephenson was left scrambling and despite the skills, accolades, and exposure, he was the last of the ESPN100 recruits to sign with a school.  A pending sexual assault case, a latching father, and suspect academics all make him a question mark this year.

UConn- looks to be a down year but Walker, Dyson, and Robinson will make a very tough and formidable trio.

Marquette- Wow, talk about hitting the reset button.  90% of the offense is gone... Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, and Jerrel McNeal, arguably three of the best players in Marquette history have moved on.  Buzz will be more than relying on Lazar Haywood who can be thought of as a poor man's Kenyon Martin to carry the load.  What a shame Dominic James had to get injured last year.  That team could have been really, really special.

Buzz Williams was handed a contender last year.  This year will prove if he is for real. 

Syracuse- Andy Rautins is following in his dad's footsteps as a standout Orangman.  They, like so many others, will really miss leadership from top guys but Boeheim hopes his freshman can step up.

Villanova- Floor general Scotty Reynolds teams up with wing men, Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes to run an gun towards a 2nd straight final 4.

Bold Predictions:

West Virginia and Villanova will meet for the Big East title in Madison Square Garden this March.  West Virginia will take the title.

Georgetown will have an up and down season that will end in the sweet 16.

Marquette's Lazar Haywood will shock many by making first team all Big East.

Greg Monroe and Luke Harangody will battle for Player of the Year.  I am going to go really bold and give it to Greg Monroe.

Andy Rautins will have a season to remember.

Dyson will play his way into the NBA Lottery.

NCAA Tourney Teams:

West Virginia, Villanova, Cincinatti, Louisville, Syracuse, UConn, Georgetown

NIT Teams:

Pitt and Notre Dame

Tomorrow:  Part 2 of 5- ACC and SEC Previews.