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| Special Thanks to Bradley William Stewart |
Hello, all. The college basketball season has been underway for over a week now, and we have already seen plenty of upsets, including Northern Iowa's shocking 71-67 win over #1 North Carolina. Although we have started the season, I still feel that it is early enough to write a preview article. With the help of my cousins, we have all given our predictions for the winners of some major conferences, as well as our final four predictions.
Joe: Duke
No surprise here. Coach K once again has a strong team, and I don't think that loss to Kentucky will be a sign of things to come. Duke has a lot of talent coming back, including its national title game hero, Greyson Allen, who will be manning the #2 guard position. Marshall Plumlee and Amile Jefferson are also returning, and they will be leading Duke's front court along with freshman Derryck Thorton. Freshman Brandon Ingram could prove to be a force in the backcourt, as he will be filling Tyus Jones's shoes at the point guard position. Duke is loaded once again, and I think they have been the team to beat in the ACC ever since Marcus Paige went down with a fractured hand, which I believe will hinder UNC's chances of a conference championship. The ACC is strong as always, as North Carolina, Virgina, and Notre Dame are in the top 25 in addition to Duke, with Miami not too far away from the rankings. All of those teams are good, but I think that Virgina will miss Justin Anderson just as much as UNC misses Marcus Paige, and the Wahoos are off to a rough start with a surprise loss to Geroge Washington. Notre Dame is a good team with some good players coming back, but they are also losing their leader in Jerian Grant. Much like the other teams in the ACC, the Dukies are losing a lot of talent. However, I think that Coach K is better at recruiting and reloading than the rest of his ACC coaching counterparts, and that is what sets Duke apart from the rest.
Top 4
1. Duke
2. UNC
3. Notre Dame
4. Virgina
Brad: North Carolina
The ACC is the best conference in the land, and it features the most complete team in the country. North Carolina has more talent from top to bottom than any other team in the country when healthy, and injuries are the only thing that can hold the Heals back.
Jeff: Notre Dame
I originally had Duke here, but after watching them play, I don't think they have what it takes to win this conference. Notre Dame is a talented and hungry team, and I have a gut feeling that they will have a big year.
Ryan: Notre Dame
Can the defending champion be a sleeper? Notre Dame plays a different kind of basketball than the rest of the ACC. It may take a few years for the other teams in this conference to figure the Irish out. A consensus is centered around #1 UNC, but the Tar Heels are too dependent on the injury-prone Marcus Page.
Joe: Kentucky
Who else but the Cats? After falling short of an undefeated season and national championship last year, a new batch of Wildcats will be out to finish what the previous group of one-and-done's started. Tyler Ulis is one of the few returning players from last year's Final Four team, and he will lead the offense as arguably the best point guard in the country. Marcus Lee is another returning member of last year's team as a big man. Jamal Murray, Skal Labissiere, and Isaiah Briscoe are three freshmen who can make a big difference for John Calipari this year. Vanderbilt and LSU are the only two other ranked teams in the SEC, and those teams simply are not talented enough to knock the Cats off of their perch.
Brad: Kentucky
Jeff: Vanderbilt
I'm going with my gut here.
Ryan: Kentucky
Until somebody knocks Kentucky off their perch, it's hard to imagine anybody beating them. Of course, there is always a chance that Calipari fails to get his Freshman to compete as a team (see Robert Morris 2013)
Joe: Maryland
This is the year that the rest of the Big 10 will learn to ''Fear the Turtle''. Led by sophomore guard Melo Trimble, the Terps are a talented team that is coming off a hard-luck second-round loss to West Virginia in the second round of the NCAA tournament last season. The Terps are very experienced as well, as Jake Laymen and well as Duke transfer Rasheed Sulaimon, will play huge roles as Senior leaders. The Terps are hungry to be once again a national powerhouse, and I think their combination of talent and experience have them poised to take that next step
1. Maryland
2. Michigan State
3. Purdue
4. Wisconsin
Brad: Michigan State
With one of the greatest coaches in college basketball in Tom Izzo, the Spartans are always a force in the Big 10. This year will be no different.
Jeff: Maryland
Got a good team in an okay conference.
Ryan: Maryland
Maryland has a solid set of players that have bought into Mark Turgeon's system. With the addition of Sulaimon (assuming he stays out of trouble), Maryland will be a force on both ends of the court.
Joe: Kansas
The Jayhawks are the class of the Big 12, as evidenced by their streak of 11 Big 12 titles in a row. I have no reason to think that this streak will end this year.
Brad: Kansas
Jeff: Kansas
Expect the Jayhawks consistent habit of winning to continue in 2015-16.
Ryan: Why would any sane person pick anyone other than Kansas to win the Big 12?
Top 4
1. Kansas
2. Oklahoma
3. Iowa State
4. Baylor
Joe: UcConn
Slam dunk here. UcConn is far, far above the rest in this conference. Led by Senior point guard Sterling Gibbs, Kevin Ollie's troops look poised for a conference title as well as a deep run in the NCAA tournament. I don't see any other team in this conference that can compete with the Huskies.
Top 4
1. UcConn
2. Memphis
3. SMU
4. Temple
Brad: UcConn
Kevin Ollie's team is poised for a big season, and I see them going deep into March to surprise the nation once again.
Jeff: UcConn
The Huskies will rebound from a disappointing season last year.
Ryan: UcConn
This team has the most talent as well as one of the best coaches in the league. Tough to go against them here.
West Coast
Joe: Gonzaga
Who else? Much like Kansas is in the Big 12, Mark Few's Gonzaga Bulldogs are the unquestioned class of the West Coast Conference. Kyle Wiltjer is my pick for conference player of the year, and the Zags will be a force both in the WCC and during March.
Top 4
1. Gonzaga
2. BYU
3. Pepperdine
4. Saint Mary's
Brad: Gonzaga
Jeff: Gonzaga
Wiltjer will be a star this season. Expect big things from the Zags.
Ryan: Gonzaga
Some teams can beat Gonzaga in this league, but it's hard to imagine any team will be as consistent. Kyle Wiltjer will dominate en route to an early exit in the NCAA tournament.
Joe: Arizona
This will be a close race between the Wildcats and the California Golden Bears, but I'm taking Zona because of their consistency under Sean Miller. Miller is one of the best coaches in the country, and he has another talented team. Arizona will be losing their leader and point guard in TJ McConnell, but Gabe York is a worthy replacement and has been playing stellar ball so far this season. Caleb Tarczewski is a defense stalwart in the middle, and he will be helped out in the front court by Ryan Anderson, who is eligible to play after sitting out last season due to transfer rules. Miller has a talented and experienced squad, and I would not bet against them to again conquer the west.
Top 4
1. Arizona
2. Cal
3. Oregon
4. UCLA
Brad: Cal
Jeff: Arizona
Arizona has a good team, with some good transfers and recruits coming in.
Ryan: Cal
Cuonzo Martin is a great coach, and Vols fans everywhere will be crying when Cal takes home the Pac 12 title and a nice NCAA tournament seed. The Bears have great guard play and young developing big men that can push them through a relatively weak Pac-12
Joe: Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, Gonzaga
With the crazy world of college basketball, there is a good chance that our picks will look pretty idiotic within the next four months, but for right now, this is what we believe. Kentucky and Kansas are two teams that are always in contention for a Final Four spot, and I think the Jayhawks are due for another appearance after three-year layoff. Kentucky is, well, Kentucky, and a trip to the Final Four for the 5th time in John Calipari's regime. Arizona and Gonzaga are two teams that I have gut feelings about. Both Sean Miller and Mark Few have come up short several times in their seperate quests for a Final Four bearth, and I think that they are due to finally make it there. What better time for these two schools than 2016?
Brad: Kentucky, UNC, Michigan State, UConn
Kentucky has made four out of the past five Final Fours and was in the Elite in 2010. The Wildcats are, I think, the best team in the country. Like I said above, I think UNC is the most complete team in the country, and when healthy, they can beat anybody. The only things holding them back are Roy Williams and injuries. Michigan State has one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history in Tom Izzo, and Sparty is a threat for the Final Four every year. With a team full of returning starters and some key freshman coming in, the Spartans can win the whole thing if they have their confidence. The revival of UConn basketball will lead to another surprise final four performance from Kevin Ollie and the Huskies.
Jeff: Kentucky, Vandy, Maryland, Gonzaga
Ryan: Cal, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan State
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| The champs are here and looking to repeat |
No surprise here. Coach K once again has a strong team, and I don't think that loss to Kentucky will be a sign of things to come. Duke has a lot of talent coming back, including its national title game hero, Greyson Allen, who will be manning the #2 guard position. Marshall Plumlee and Amile Jefferson are also returning, and they will be leading Duke's front court along with freshman Derryck Thorton. Freshman Brandon Ingram could prove to be a force in the backcourt, as he will be filling Tyus Jones's shoes at the point guard position. Duke is loaded once again, and I think they have been the team to beat in the ACC ever since Marcus Paige went down with a fractured hand, which I believe will hinder UNC's chances of a conference championship. The ACC is strong as always, as North Carolina, Virgina, and Notre Dame are in the top 25 in addition to Duke, with Miami not too far away from the rankings. All of those teams are good, but I think that Virgina will miss Justin Anderson just as much as UNC misses Marcus Paige, and the Wahoos are off to a rough start with a surprise loss to Geroge Washington. Notre Dame is a good team with some good players coming back, but they are also losing their leader in Jerian Grant. Much like the other teams in the ACC, the Dukies are losing a lot of talent. However, I think that Coach K is better at recruiting and reloading than the rest of his ACC coaching counterparts, and that is what sets Duke apart from the rest.
Top 4
1. Duke
2. UNC
3. Notre Dame
4. Virgina
Brad: North Carolina
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| Can the Tarheels rely on Marcus Page to be a factor once he returns? |
The ACC is the best conference in the land, and it features the most complete team in the country. North Carolina has more talent from top to bottom than any other team in the country when healthy, and injuries are the only thing that can hold the Heals back.
Jeff: Notre Dame
I originally had Duke here, but after watching them play, I don't think they have what it takes to win this conference. Notre Dame is a talented and hungry team, and I have a gut feeling that they will have a big year.
Ryan: Notre Dame
Can the defending champion be a sleeper? Notre Dame plays a different kind of basketball than the rest of the ACC. It may take a few years for the other teams in this conference to figure the Irish out. A consensus is centered around #1 UNC, but the Tar Heels are too dependent on the injury-prone Marcus Page.
Joe: Kentucky
Who else but the Cats? After falling short of an undefeated season and national championship last year, a new batch of Wildcats will be out to finish what the previous group of one-and-done's started. Tyler Ulis is one of the few returning players from last year's Final Four team, and he will lead the offense as arguably the best point guard in the country. Marcus Lee is another returning member of last year's team as a big man. Jamal Murray, Skal Labissiere, and Isaiah Briscoe are three freshmen who can make a big difference for John Calipari this year. Vanderbilt and LSU are the only two other ranked teams in the SEC, and those teams simply are not talented enough to knock the Cats off of their perch.
Brad: Kentucky
Jeff: Vanderbilt
I'm going with my gut here.
Ryan: Kentucky
Until somebody knocks Kentucky off their perch, it's hard to imagine anybody beating them. Of course, there is always a chance that Calipari fails to get his Freshman to compete as a team (see Robert Morris 2013)
Joe: Maryland
This is the year that the rest of the Big 10 will learn to ''Fear the Turtle''. Led by sophomore guard Melo Trimble, the Terps are a talented team that is coming off a hard-luck second-round loss to West Virginia in the second round of the NCAA tournament last season. The Terps are very experienced as well, as Jake Laymen and well as Duke transfer Rasheed Sulaimon, will play huge roles as Senior leaders. The Terps are hungry to be once again a national powerhouse, and I think their combination of talent and experience have them poised to take that next step
1. Maryland
2. Michigan State
3. Purdue
4. Wisconsin
Brad: Michigan State
With one of the greatest coaches in college basketball in Tom Izzo, the Spartans are always a force in the Big 10. This year will be no different.
Jeff: Maryland
Got a good team in an okay conference.
Ryan: Maryland
Maryland has a solid set of players that have bought into Mark Turgeon's system. With the addition of Sulaimon (assuming he stays out of trouble), Maryland will be a force on both ends of the court.
Joe: Kansas
The Jayhawks are the class of the Big 12, as evidenced by their streak of 11 Big 12 titles in a row. I have no reason to think that this streak will end this year.
Brad: Kansas
Jeff: Kansas
Expect the Jayhawks consistent habit of winning to continue in 2015-16.
Ryan: Why would any sane person pick anyone other than Kansas to win the Big 12?
Top 4
1. Kansas
2. Oklahoma
3. Iowa State
4. Baylor
Joe: UcConn
Slam dunk here. UcConn is far, far above the rest in this conference. Led by Senior point guard Sterling Gibbs, Kevin Ollie's troops look poised for a conference title as well as a deep run in the NCAA tournament. I don't see any other team in this conference that can compete with the Huskies.
Top 4
1. UcConn
2. Memphis
3. SMU
4. Temple
Kevin Ollie's team is poised for a big season, and I see them going deep into March to surprise the nation once again.
Jeff: UcConn
The Huskies will rebound from a disappointing season last year.
Ryan: UcConn
This team has the most talent as well as one of the best coaches in the league. Tough to go against them here.
West Coast
Who else? Much like Kansas is in the Big 12, Mark Few's Gonzaga Bulldogs are the unquestioned class of the West Coast Conference. Kyle Wiltjer is my pick for conference player of the year, and the Zags will be a force both in the WCC and during March.
Top 4
1. Gonzaga
2. BYU
3. Pepperdine
4. Saint Mary's
Brad: Gonzaga
Jeff: Gonzaga
Wiltjer will be a star this season. Expect big things from the Zags.
Ryan: Gonzaga
Some teams can beat Gonzaga in this league, but it's hard to imagine any team will be as consistent. Kyle Wiltjer will dominate en route to an early exit in the NCAA tournament.
Joe: Arizona
This will be a close race between the Wildcats and the California Golden Bears, but I'm taking Zona because of their consistency under Sean Miller. Miller is one of the best coaches in the country, and he has another talented team. Arizona will be losing their leader and point guard in TJ McConnell, but Gabe York is a worthy replacement and has been playing stellar ball so far this season. Caleb Tarczewski is a defense stalwart in the middle, and he will be helped out in the front court by Ryan Anderson, who is eligible to play after sitting out last season due to transfer rules. Miller has a talented and experienced squad, and I would not bet against them to again conquer the west.
Top 4
1. Arizona
2. Cal
3. Oregon
4. UCLA
Brad: Cal
Jeff: Arizona
Arizona has a good team, with some good transfers and recruits coming in.
Ryan: Cal
Cuonzo Martin is a great coach, and Vols fans everywhere will be crying when Cal takes home the Pac 12 title and a nice NCAA tournament seed. The Bears have great guard play and young developing big men that can push them through a relatively weak Pac-12
Joe: Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, Gonzaga
With the crazy world of college basketball, there is a good chance that our picks will look pretty idiotic within the next four months, but for right now, this is what we believe. Kentucky and Kansas are two teams that are always in contention for a Final Four spot, and I think the Jayhawks are due for another appearance after three-year layoff. Kentucky is, well, Kentucky, and a trip to the Final Four for the 5th time in John Calipari's regime. Arizona and Gonzaga are two teams that I have gut feelings about. Both Sean Miller and Mark Few have come up short several times in their seperate quests for a Final Four bearth, and I think that they are due to finally make it there. What better time for these two schools than 2016?
Brad: Kentucky, UNC, Michigan State, UConn
Kentucky has made four out of the past five Final Fours and was in the Elite in 2010. The Wildcats are, I think, the best team in the country. Like I said above, I think UNC is the most complete team in the country, and when healthy, they can beat anybody. The only things holding them back are Roy Williams and injuries. Michigan State has one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history in Tom Izzo, and Sparty is a threat for the Final Four every year. With a team full of returning starters and some key freshman coming in, the Spartans can win the whole thing if they have their confidence. The revival of UConn basketball will lead to another surprise final four performance from Kevin Ollie and the Huskies.
Jeff: Kentucky, Vandy, Maryland, Gonzaga
Ryan: Cal, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan State
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