College Basketball Preview Part I

I will take you around the college basketball landscape giving you a little preview of the conferences along with conference player of the year and freshman of the year predictions. Excuse me if you are not a college basketball fan, but I am a huge fan, and I will be posting a lot about a couple of my favorite teams.

Big Ten

Winner- Michigan State
The Spartans have pretty much everyone returning from a team that surprised many last year. You cannot keep Tom Izzo down for long and with Ohio State reeling a bit from the loss of Oden, Cook, and Conley this will be his year to get back on top of the conference. Led by my Player of the Year Drew Neitzel, who should lead the conference in scoring, as well as solid wing Raymar Morgan, the Spartans should have more depth to push the pace a bit more. Inside depth is still an issue, and Morgan will probably still be used out of place on the interior, however Izzo always seems to have big bodies capable of rebounding and playing physical defense. Throw in two talented Freshman guards Kalin Lucas and Chis Allan and there is no reason they shouldn’t be playing until the second weekend of the tournament.

Player of the Year- Drew Neitzel (MSU)
When looking at Neitzel you would think he was the last picked in most pickup games. He is 6’1” and maybe 160 lbs. What makes him so great is his shooting ability and his ability to get his shot seemingly whenever he wants. He is an underrated passer and setup man, but his unlimited range makes him the player to beat for this award.

Freshman of the Year – Eric Gordon (Indiana)
No incoming Freshman in this conference has nearly the hoopla that Gordon has received. Much of that has been positive, and I have read reports that believe Gordon will lead the hoosiers in scoring as a freshman. The 6’3” combo guard is considered to be the next Allen Iverson, will be counted to live up to the hype if the hoosiers have any shot at winning the conference.

Big East

Winner-Lousville
It seems as if the Cardinals have 2-3 good years followed by one down year and then back to the top. Well I would hardly call last years tournament team a down year, but they were a very green team, and the added experience should bode well for this years team. Pitino needs a lot of athletes to run his system and that is exactly what he has. The Cardinals are loaded up front with Scott (Brian Butch II) Padgett, Milt Palacios, Earl Clark, and the enigma Derrick Character. If Character who was dubbed the next Shaq coming out of high school can keep his weight down, expect a break out year, and if they can get some consistent perimeter shooting from Jerry Smith, Edgar Sosa, and Terrence Williams this team could be my sleeper to cut down the nets in April.

Player of the Year- Roy Hibbert (Georgetown)
I was real close to giving this to Marquette’s Dominick James, but I don’t think he can have the same impact that a Roy Hibbert can have. Take a look at the game against Oden last year when Hibbert more than held his own to the phenom. I was surprised he came back but it can only improve his skills even if it hurts his draft position. Hibbert is a game changing center in an era where they don’t exist. Sign him up as first team All-American right now.

Freshman of the Year- Donte Green (Syracuse)
It will be hard for this phenom not to hear comparisons to Carmelo Anthony, because he is the same size, from the same area (Baltimore), and is now going to the same school. I don’t think he can match the production that Melo had as a Freshman nor the end results, but this kid is for real, and will lead Syracuse back in the dance.

Big 12

Winner- Kansas
I know Bill Self has never appeared in a Final Four, but it isn’t for the lack of putting good teams into the dance. Once again his Jayhawks are loaded and besides the loss Julian Wright, the Jayhawks have everyone back. Look for Darrell Arthur and Sherron Collins to have breakout years in there sophomore seasons. Brandon Rush is coming off what seems to be a long list of injuries, but if he is healthy I see no reason why this cannot be Kansas year to see the final four.

Player of the Year- Brandon Rush (Kansas)
Rush, who once was a sure-fire top ten draft pick, who may no longer be the best talent on his own team is coming off off-season knee surgery. He may no longer be the NBA prospect he once was but he is still a hell of a college player. There is nothing Rush cannot do with the ball in his hands and he forces defense to always account for him. I expect a strong junior season, catapulting him back into the first round.

Freshman of the Year- DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M)
This 7’ Freshman from Houston looks like a one and done type player. He can really get up and down the court for a big man and is a monster on both ends of the court. Paired up with another low post force in Joseph Jones, and Aggies shouldn’t drop off much. Expect a double-double machine from day one from the talented Jordan.

ACC

Winner- North Carolina
When Roy Williams put together back to back classes with Hasborough, Frasor, Ginyard and then Lawson, Ellington, and Brandon Wright I really thought he had put together a core that would win a national championship. Although Wright left after one year for the challenge of the NBA, I still think this is the best core of players in college basketball. Throw in two underrated post players in Deon Thompson and Alex Stephenson and this team seems to be a shoe in for the final four.

Player of the Year- Tyler Hansborough (UNC)
Notice a trend the best teams normally have the best players, and although it pains me to say that Hansborough is the best player in this league, he is probably the best player in all the country. He relentless work ethic is hard not to love even if you hate the Heels like I do. He is almost guranteed to put up 18-10 every night. This guy was a stud from the moment he set foot on Chapel Hill and his next step is leading his team to the Championship.

Freshman of the Year- Kyle Singler (Duke)
You knew I couldn’t go a whole college basketball preview without giving some love to Duke. Singler is capable of being the player that leads Duke back to the final four. He is being compared to Mike Dunleavy but as a Freshman Singler is already a more talented player. What makes him that is his ability to do everything on the court, and the fact that he is a winner. Earned co-player of the year in the state of Oregon, which doesn’t mean much until you know he shared the award with, everyones favorite Freshman, UCLA bound Kevin Love. Singler will be counted on to produce from day one and will be thrust into a leadership role right away.

Part II tommorow