Hotmail
65 things to watch for this college hoops season
Get ready for college hoops
Who'll make the Final Four? Who'll be the big stars of the season? We've got everything you need to get ready for the college hoops season:
|
2. Crossing the line? The jury is still out regarding the impact of moving back the three-point line one foot. Some feel it'll make a significant change to the game and other coaches aren't expecting things to be all that different.
3. The Big Beast: The Big East has no peer this season. Could the 16-team league really get 10 of its members in the NCAA tournament? It's not out of the question, but nine is a more likely number.
4. Achilles' Heel? Tar Heels star Tyler Hansbrough has a stress reaction in his shin. How will it affect the reigning National Player of the Year? Will he fully recover or will this injury linger throughout the year?
5. New sheriff in town: Lute Olson called it a career just prior to the start of the season. Russ Pennell, who was an analyst for Arizona State games and coaching AAU ball a year ago, is now in charge at Arizona. Will he be able to help the Wildcats extend their impressive NCAA-tournament streak to 25 consecutive years?
6. Frosh faces: There's no Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose in this year's freshman class, right? That doesn't appear to be the case, but there are still some talented frosh such as B.J. Mullens (Ohio State), DeMar DeRozan (USC) and Jrue Holiday (UCLA).
7. Going for four: Ben Howland has led UCLA to three consecutive Final Fours. Can the Bruins, despite the loss of Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, make it four in a row?
8. Bloomington blues? Tom Crean has inherited a mammoth rebuilding effort at Indiana. The Hoosiers could realistically finish in the cellar of the Big Ten. It could get ugly this season in Bloomington.
9. Golden ticket: With Crean's departure from Marquette, assistant coach Buzz Williams takes over a Golden Eagles squad that has three senior guards — Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews.
10. Rock, chalk, repeat? Much like Florida was hit after winning two straight national titles, Kansas lost all five starters from the Jayhawks' championship team last season. However, Bill Self still has key reserves Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich and a strong freshman class led by Tyshawn Taylor that could get KU back into the Big Dance this season.
11. Brand new star: Davidson's Stephen Curry blew up in the NCAA tournament last season as the Wildcats nearly knocked Kansas off to get to the Final Four. With the graduation of point guard Jason Richards, Curry will have to run the team in addition to being the Wildcats' primary scorer.
12. Little guys: George Mason went to the Final Four in 2006 and Davidson nearly made it last season. Butler won't be a fixture in the Top 25, so who is the mid-major school that will come out of nowhere?
13. The one Thabeet: UConn's 7-foot-3 Tanzanian Hasheem Thabeet has made major strides since he arrived in Storrs. If he continues to progress, he could be the X-factor that takes the Huskies to the top of the Big East and the Final Four.
14. Demons' design: Wake Forest's highly touted freshman class of Al-Farouq Aminu, Tony Woods and Ty Walker decided to stick with their commitment to the school despite the passing of former coach Skip Prosser more than a year ago. Now the Demon Deacons are a legitimate Top 25 club and have as much talent as just about anyone. However, chemistry will be the key.
15. Feeling the pain: There are plenty of injuries to monitor this season. The foot of Pittsburgh's Levance Fields, the ankle of Wake Forest point guard Ishmael Smith, the knees of Eric Devendorf (Syracuse), Ron Steele (Alabama), Farnold Degand (N.C. State) and, of course, the health of Hansbrough and Marcus Ginyard down in Chapel Hill.
16. Happy returns? Welcome back to Mike Montgomery, Bill Bayno and Mike Jarvis. Montgomery, the long-time former Stanford coach, is back after an ill-fated NBA stint, albeit at rival Cal. Bayno, who had been out of college since he was fired at UNLV, now tries to make Loyola-Marymount a national player, while Jarvis returns as the head coach of Florida Atlantic.
17. Dirty dozen: The Big 12 is wide open this year with Kansas young and in a rebuilding season. Oklahoma is the preseason favorite, but Texas should also be in the mix. Baylor also returns just about everyone from a team that went to the NCAA tournament last season.
 |
| Will Nolan Smith be directing the Duke offense? (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) |
18. Devils' advocate: It'll be interesting to see who is running the Duke team with the game on the line. It appears as though sophomore Nolan Smith has taken the starting point guard job away from three-year starter Greg Paulus.
19. On the hot seat: Will Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez make it through the season? His team is extremely thin and Gonzo is capable of popping off at any time.
20. Gonzaga's goal: Could this finally be the year that Gonzaga makes it to the Final Four? The 'Zags may have as much talent up and down their roster as ever.
21. Hype-worthy? Oklahoma's sophomore big man Blake Griffin enters the season as the projected No. 1 pick in June's NBA Draft. Will he live up to those expectations?
22. Sour taste: Memphis suffered one of the most devastating losses in college basketball history when the Tigers blew a nine-point lead to Kansas with 2:12 left in the national championship game. How will John Calipari's team respond to that loss and also the loss of its top players — Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey?
23. Hoops havens: Two "football" programs could be known for their basketball teams this season. Both Notre Dame and Miami are struggling on the gridiron, but are legitimate top 20 teams this season.
24. Billy's boys: How will Billy Donovan feel about this edition of the Florida Gators? He was frustrated after his team was knocked out of the SEC tournament last season, but the Gators add a strong freshman class that will give Florida depth.
25. NBA exodus: How many of these frosh will be one-and-done regardless of how ready for the league they are, because this NBA Draft appears to be fairly thin?
26. X marks the spot: Xavier is considered the favorite once again in the A-10. However, Sean Miller has just one point guard eligible right now — freshman Terrell Holloway.
27. Loss of power: The Missouri Valley was down last season. Will it return to the form of a couple of years ago, when it was considered the elite mid-major league in America? If that's the case, Southern Illinois and Creighton will need to lead the way.
28. Vegas, baby: UNLV coach Lon Kruger has somehow gotten the Running Rebels to consecutive NCAA tournaments. Now there's an upgrade in talent in Vegas. Can Kruger make some serious noise come tournament-time with the addition of Beas Hamga and Tre'Von Willis?
29. Rick and roll: Rick Majerus' first season behind the bench at Saint Louis was a work in progress. Now he's starting to get some of "his guys" in the program and that should mean that the Billikens could make a move.
30. Kentucky home: It's also Year Two of the Billy Gillispie era in Lexington. Kentucky still has Patrick Patterson, but the key for the Wildcats will be at the point guard spot. Are Michael Porter, DeAndre Liggins and Kevin Galloway enough?
 |
| Frank Martin might have less success without Michael Beasley and Bill Walker. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images) |
31. More hot seat: Three ACC coaches — Maryland's Gary Williams, N.C. State's Sidney Lowe and Florida State's Leonard Hamilton — are feeling a little heat to win. My guess is at least one of them is history after the season. But which one?
32. Down year coming? Kansas State coach Frank Martin went from having two of the biggest names in the country last season — Michael Beasley and Bill Walker — to having a bunch of obscure players. Who are these guys and can they return to the NCAA tournament?
33. Like father, like son? Pat Knight will get a chance to coach the Texas Tech Red Raiders from the start of the season. How much will he alter from his father, legendary coach Bob Knight?
34. What about Bob? Speaking of Knight, will he return to coaching this season?
35. Hoping for help: Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin is hoping for a huge addition at the break — 7-footer John Riek, who can be a force if he's healthy and academically eligible.
36. No guarantees: Can Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse Orange get back into the Big Dance? In any other conference, you could take it to the bank. But in the Big East, it's no guarantee.
37. Huggins all around: West Virginia coach Bob Huggins did the unthinkable in his first season back at his alma mater. He took a John Beilein-recruited group and took them to the Sweet 16. He's lost Joe Alexander, but can he do it again?
38. Basking in the Sun: In just his third season, Arizona State coach Herb Sendek has a legitimate Top 25 club. Can the Sun Devils live up to the expectations? Can James Harden avoid a sophomore slump?
Hoops Hysteria
 |
Championship — Detroit, Ford Field
FOXSports.com analysis
- Rosenberg: Can't doubt Ol' Roy
- Goodman: UNC's cupboard not bare
- Whatifsports.com: Decade's best teams
- Goodman: Hansbrough's finishing touch
- Kriegel: Tar Heels live up to hype
- Goodman: No excuses for Spartans
- Herwitt: Five keys to UNC's title win
- Chat about North Carolina's title win
- Complete college hoops coverage
Video
Photos
39. Political play: How will new Oregon State coach Craig Robinson be able to take advantage of his relationship with his brother-in-law, incoming President Barack Obama? There's a chance the President-Elect will be at Robinson's first game with the Beavers this week at Howard in Washington, D.C.
40. Lost in the Maze: Tennessee's point guard situation was abysmal last season. Can the Vols rely on junior college floor leader Bobby Maze?
41. Those other Bruins: It's long overdue, but people are finally starting to take notice of Belmont and its underrated coach, Rick Byrd. The Bruins nearly knocked off Duke a year ago. They lost their top player, but still return enough to make another trip to the Big Dance.
42. Price is right? A.J. Price returns from yet another setback, this time a torn ACL he suffered in UConn's first-round loss to San Diego.
43. Step right up: The Big East is clearly the cream of the crop. Which other conference — the ACC, Pac-10, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 — will step forward and claim the No. 2 spot?
44. Something to prove: The most disappointing player last season may have been N.C. State forward Brandon Costner. Now that J.J. Hickson is gone to the NBA after one year, it'll be interesting to see if Costner returns to the form that had him among the country's elite players two years ago.
45. Cardinal concern: Long-time Duke assistant Johnny Dawkins took the gig 3,000 or so miles away at Stanford, but it's going to be a rebuilding process. The Lopez twins are gone and the Cardinal could battle for the cellar in the Pac-10.
46. Euro dash: Brandon Jennings is the test case for high school kids going over to Europe. If it works, don't be shocked if someone follows suit — probably either Renardo Sidney or Lance Stephenson.
47. Stock on the rise: A year ago, it was Rider's Jason Thompson who soared up the NBA Draft charts and wound up being taken 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings. There will be a low-profile guy like Thompson this season who comes out of nowhere.
48. Turn the other way: It's going to be another long year in Champaign for Illinois fans. It's just a question of whether Illini coach Bruce Weber can keep the restless fans quiet enough for the young talent to start arriving on campus starting next year.
 |
| Best point guard? Ty Lawson has some competition. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images) |
49. What's the point? Who is the best point guard in the country? Is it Darren Collison, Ty Lawson, Johnny Flynn or maybe even Nick Calathes?
50. Texas-sized question: Does Texas have a point guard in Austin capable of taking the Longhorns to the Final Four? They have all the other pieces, but will the trio of A.J. Abrams, freshman Dogus Balbay and Justin Mason be enough?
51. Mass production: UMass' own Derek Kellogg will quickly allow Minuteman fans to forget about the dearly departed Travis Ford, who bolted for the big bucks at Oklahoma State.
52. Sooner rather than later: Blake Griffin is going to need help at Oklahoma. Will talented, yet enigmatic freshman guard Willie Warren be a dependable wing man?
53. One of the best? Georgetown is somehow being passed over when it comes to talking about the next group of elite teams after North Carolina. Will the Hoyas be improved without Roy Hibbert slowing things down?
54. Settle it on the floor: Hasheem Thabeet vs. Luke Harangody. The 7-foot-3 UConn junior may regret calling Harangody soft.
55. Big Red boom: Cornell will defend its Ivy League dominance despite being without Adam Gore for much of the season.
56. Starting from scratch: Washington State coach Tony Bennett will regret not taking the Indiana job because his job in Pullman may be nearly as difficult to rebuild.
57. Still a force: Pacific lost the Big West's top player, Steffan Johnson, yet Bob Thomason's team may still be able to win the league.
58. On the way out: Arizona assistant coach Mike Dunlap won't make it through the season on the Arizona bench.
59. Razor sharp: Arkansas freshman Rotnei Clarke will become a fan favorite nationally because he can make shots from the moment he steps into the gym.
60. Wolfpack mentality: Nevada coach Mark Fox will continue to show he's one of the most underrated coaches in the country with another WAC crown.
61. Hunter becomes hunted: Purdue's young team accomplished far more than anyone expected last season. The Boilermakers will play this season with a target on their backs — and we'll see how they respond.
62. Tourney-bound? John Beilein is starting to get the pieces together in Ann Arbor. I'm not sure if Michigan is ready to make a legitimate run to the NCAA tournament, but you can't ever count a Beilein-led team out of the equation.
63. High flier: You've got to see the highlight-reel dunks that are coming from USC freshman Demar DeRozan. This kid is fun to watch.
64. Southern comfort: Trent Johnson down in Baton Rouge? Seems like a strange fit, but LSU has enough in the mix with the return of Tasmin Mitchell to surprise a lot of people.
65. Plead your case: When Derrick Caracter shows back up in Louisville begging Rick Pitino for one more chance.
advertisement
