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Illinois: Illinois was my number
one team going into the season. They're
still there. The backcourt in Illinois gets
me thinking undefeated regular season. Dee
Brown and Deron Williams... Wow! If I wrote
this article without praising Luther Head,
I'd be just as ridiculous as the other sports
writers who aren't including Luther in their
player of the year articles. A little appreciation
and respect please. I can't predict an upset
of these studs any time soon; their confidence
is sky high, always a good sign. This team
struts 5 guys averaging double digits in
scoring. Carolina is the only other top
squad that boasts the same. Upcoming games
of Iowa, Northwestern, and Purdue will leave
The Fighting IIllini with smiling faces
and a 29-0 record in the beginning of March.
Could these future stars get upset? Sure,
this is college ball. Would I bet on it?
Not likely.
North
Carolina: Fab 5 anyone? There's something
about five guys in double figures that gets
me real excited about this squad of NBAers.
(Each of the 5, scores more than 11 a game)
There are 5 different guys who could be
the best player on this team. There top
6 players are better than any other team's.
If college hoops had the 6th man award,
Marvin Williams would take home the hardware.
Sean May has really impressed me with his
tough play and rebounding prowess, but if
Carolina wants to end the season ranked
ahead of Illinois, May and Felton will have
to cut their turnovers in half. Rashad McCants
has the game breaking ability to carry the
team on his back during any drought, and
Raymond Felton is my top point guard in
college hoops (Much love to Chris Paul though).
When 60 teams have been beaten, upset, clobbered,
heartbroken, and Cinderella'd, North Carolina
will still be playing ball in March.
Wake
Forest: Chris Paul tops Felton in most
point guard top 10 lists, and he deserves
the hype. Paul is a sophomore who's played
like a senior for the greater part of two
years. He runs his team with perfection,
and he' s getting more and more comfortable
every game. Paul disappears from the box
score in some games, but his presence is
always felt, by his team and the opponents.
Justin Gray has been tough since he walked
in the double doors of the gym, and Eric
Williams is a force down low. This Sunday's
game in Cameron Indoor will be as exciting
as it gets. A Wake win could drop the Blue
Devils to 3-5 after their 15-0 opening.
A WF loss could help return Duke's ACC swagger
just before tourney time. If Wake wins at
Duke, they'll see the Yellow Brick Road
leading to the Final Four.
Kansas:
Wayne Simien is sticking around this year,
and it's making Kansas a bunch of happy
hoopers. The double OT loss to Texas Tech
wasn't a sign of things to come. J.R. Giddens
won't go 3-13 to often, and a measly 18
attempts from the free stripe doesn't seem
right either. Simien's 20 points and 13
boards does. Look for Kansas to bounce back
in a big way, ending the regular season
without another loss. Keith Langford, Aaron
Miles, and Giddens give Simien a fearsome
foursome that could pull them through the
Tourney. A North Carolina/ Kansas Final
Four match-up might be in the cards... and
how does former Kansas coach Roy Williams
feel about that? "...that would be
the worst moment of my life." Does
that pave the way or what? Stars align for
stuff like that Roy, what are you thinking
saying that out loud?
Syracuse:
Hakim Warrick doesn't get enough credit,
and he might be the player of the year.
He's really, really good. A one-week stretch
with two losses at home gives me a bit of
a scare, but then again, that's why these
guys are my fifth top team. Warrick and
backcourt gunner Gerry McNamera could beat,
and often will beat any team in the country,
which is why they land here. Even with Boston
College leading the Big East, I'd still
favor Syracuse in the post season. 'Cuse
has been there before, and all though recent
losses to Pittsburgh and UCONN left some
clear holes in the depth of Syracuse, Warrick
and GM will give their Big Dance opponents
all they bargained for. A strong run to
the Tourney could get the Orangemen a 1
or 2 seed.
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