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Ten things I learned on the road

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Jeff Goodman

Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. Check out his Yardbarker blog. MORE>>
 
Updated Nov 25, 2009 7:34 PM ET
     
 
After spending six days watching 16 teams, I figured it was a chance to collect my thoughts. Here are the 10 things I learned while I was on the road.
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10. Ole Miss will be a factor in the SEC. I was the only one who had the Rebels ranked in the preseason, and they will make their way back in the top 25 at some point soon (maybe as quickly as next week). Andy Kennedy's team played careless against a Villanova team that has already learned how to win close games. 9. Villanova can make back-to-back Final Four appearances. Jay Wright still misses the production and leadership of Dante Cunningham, but once he gets Reggie Redding and Mouphtaou Yarou back, they will be a legitimate 10 deep. Two keys this week in San Juan were the play of big men Antonio Pena and Taylor King — especially on the glass. 8. Dayton's Chris Wright needs to stay another year in college. Wright didn't play well in Puerto Rico, and I just can't imagine an NBA team taking him in the first round this season despite his off-the-charts athleticism. 7. There may be no more intimidating coach on the sidelines than Kansas State's Frank Martin. He's one of the nicest guys in the country off the court, but he's loud and has a scowl that could scare off a bear. In fact, I might take Martin in a fight with a bear. 6. Evan Turner will be up and down this season. The newly converted Ohio State point guard dominated in his first two games — against inferior competition — but was inconsistent in New York City. He's not a natural point guard and the lack of instincts at the position will result in struggles at times. 5. I already had a pretty good idea that Kansas wasn't a dominant No. 1 team in the land, but that fact was driven home with Memphis hanging around and then having a chance to win on the final possession. The Jayhawks are still one of a handful of teams with a good shot to win it all, but Bill Self's team still has a ways to go. 4. Sophomore Iman Shumpert is the key to Georgia Tech's season. He's still learning how to play hard and also how to play the point guard position. For the Yellow Jackets to become a dangerous team in the ACC, Shumpert will need to develop and become consistent. 3. Let's not get all overhyped with Jim Boeheim's Orange just yet. Remember, they beat a young and semi-overrated North Carolina team in their backyard at Madison Square Garden. They are better than I thought, especially with Wesley Johnson living up to the Boeheim hype thus far, but let's not put them in the Final Four just yet. 2. This truly is the second-best time of year behind March and early April. When else can you see 16 teams in a six-day span in three different spots. I saw Memphis nearly knock off Kansas in St. Louis on Tuesday, watched Syracuse blitz North Carolina in the second half Friday at Madison Square Garden and then saw eight teams in San Juan on Sunday. I know I sound like Dick Vitale, but it's true: No better job in America. 1. I really am smarter than you think. Actually, I get plenty wrong, but I was on the money with my assessment of North Carolina — and the Tar Heels showed their weaknesses in the loss to Syracuse. To recap: Point guard play, perimeter shooting and lack of a go-to guy who can create his own shot.
Tagged: Villanova, Kansas, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Memphis, Ohio State, Texas, Kansas State, Syracuse

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