College Basketball Preview Part II

SEC

Winner- Tennessee
Coach Bruce Pearl has brought his fun and gun style from my Alma Mater down to Nashville and this year he has the athletes to compete for a #1 seed in the tournament. With Chris Lofton Pearl has a shooter that can stretch the defense and allow the Vols to get into there pressure defense. Transfer Tyler Smith from Iowa, had an impressive first year with the Hawkeyes, and when he becomes eligible in December this is going to be a very difficult matchup for anyone.

Player of the Year- Chris Lofton (Tennessee)
Arguably the best shooter in college basketball, Lofton decided to return for his senior season. Although scoring is what he does best, he also became more of a complete player last year. With the Smith’s (Tyler, JaJuan, and Ramar) taking some of the scoring burden as well as forcing teams to play Lofton honest, he is primed to be a 1st team All-American.

Freshman of the Year- Alex Legion (Kentucky)
Legion, was once a Michigan recruit, but when Amaker was shown the door he decided he would come south and play for the Billy Gillespie. Legion doenst have to worry about getting his body ready to play at this level he is already built for the NBA. He also has an NBA ready jumpshot. If fellow Freshman Patrick Patterson, can have a presence inside, Legion should could plenty of open looks.

Pac-10

Winner- UCLA
Ben Howland has quietly returned the Bruins to a National title contender every year. This year should be no different and could possible be the most talented team he has ever had. There front court is loaded with Richard Mbah a Moute and Freshman Kevin Love UCLA has one of the best frontlines in the country. Throw in All-Conference point guard Darren Collison and talented wings Josh Ship and Mike Roll and this team has much balance as any team. The key will be staying injury free which has been a problem for this team. If they do stay healthy look for a 3rd straight final four appearance.

Player of the Year- O.J. Mayo (USC)
This was a difficult decision as there are many players talented enough to win this award including Derrick Low, Chase Budinger, Collison, Devon Hardin and fellow Freshman Love. However I see Mayo having a Kevin Durant type impact on this conference keeping USC in the thick of the conference race. Certainly he comes in with more hype than any Freshman possible ever, but he has the complete game to back it up. If USC can finish 1,2,3 in the conference Mayo will be the reason, and he will put up the numbers that will win him this award.

Freshman of the Year- Kevin Love (UCLA)
I could have given Mayo both awards, but I wanted to mention Kevin Love, who is just as talented as his classmate Mayo. Love is being heralded the most skilled big man to come into the college game since Bill Walton, and I cannot wait to get to see him play in some meaningful games. Love has a skillset that would fit well with any team, but surround him with a bunch of quality players like UCLA has and he could very well lead his team to a National Championship as a Freshman.

Conference USA

Winner- Memphis
The Tigers return almost everyone from the regional final team a year ago. The also add possible the top ranked freshman in the country in Derrick Rose. I don’t see them just winning this conference I don’t see them losing in conference. Coach John Calipari, thought he could compete for National Championships in Conference USA and this year he will get his chance to prove that. Rose, Chris Douglass Roberts, Joey Dorsey, and Antonio Anderson, lead this deep, talented roster that will give anyone fits.

Player of the Year- Chris Douglas Roberts
I could pick anyone of the fore mentioned players to be the player of the year in the conference as that is how dominant Memphis will be over the rest of the conference. However I will pick Roberts as he is the elder statesman of that team. Roberts is a silky smooth wing, that can get his shot whenever he wants, and his length leads to a lot of chances in the open floor. With a gifted playmaker like Rose next to him he should only get better.

Freshman of the Year- Derrick Rose
Surprise, surprise, Memphis has swept all the awards. Derrick Rose may be the best Freshman in the country and that is saying something in this loaded class. He reminds many of a young Jason Kidd, but he has a much better scoring prowess than Kidd did at the same age. Rose can do it all and he is a winner, expect when final four trip, and then hearing his name called in the first five picks of the NBA draft.

Final Four Picks
North Carolina
UCLA
Memphis
Tennessee

All American First Team
Tyler Hansborough- F
Chris Douglas Roberts- F
Roy Hibbert- C
Chris Lofton- G
Darren Collison- G

All American Second Team
Micheal Beasley- F
Brandon Rush- F
Devon Hardin- C
O.J. Mayo- G
Drew Neitzel- G

All Freshman Team
Micheal Beasley- F
Kevin Love- F
DeAndre Jordan- C
O.J. Mayo- G
Derrick Rose- G