#9. Connecticut- How will UConn respond after losing the best player to ever play at the University of Connecticut? That is the question the whole state of Connecticut is asking. Kemba “EZ Pass” Walker will go down in history as the most celebrated UConn hoopster. UConn not ranked last pre season literally shocked the basketball world with an unprecedented run winning its final 11 games which included the BE Tournament Championship and the National Championship. Kemba has been present on campus and practiced with the team regularly but will not be cooking dinner for the team this year at his apartment in an attempt to air any team grievances.
The transition to life without Kemba initially will be in the hands of tough Sophomore Roxbury, Massachusetts point guard Shabazz Napier. The “Bazz” was a secondary recruit for UConn last year that was the perfect piece to the UConn National Championship puzzle. UConn’s primary targets at the point were Josh Selby/Kansas, Cory Joseph/Texas and Brandon Knight/Kentucky.
In the National semi final against Kentucky Napier turned the ball over at a crucial point in the game. After the turnover the following occurred:
“In the huddle, the UConn coaching staff was worried about how the freshman point guard was going to react. He had been an integral part of UConn’s defense, playing a major role in holding Knight to just 6-23 shooting from the floor, and Kentucky still had one possession left with a chance to tie or win the game.
But during the timeout, Napier looked at UConn head coach Jim Calhoun and said “Coach, I’ll make it up next play”. And while he didn’t exactly make it up the
next play — when DeAndre Liggins missed a 24 foot three that would have won the game — Napier buried two free throws with 1.7 seconds left that
clinched a trip to the national title game for the Huskies, 56-52.” The quote per nbcsports.com
I love Napier but to expect this kid to provide the intangibles Kemba Walker did is unfair. Leadership and trust is earned simply by performing at the highest of standards on the court. Shabazz will be inconsistent to a fault in my opinion. This inevitably could lead to the welcoming of Ryan Boatright as the teams primary playmaker. Boatright AKA “The Boatshow” (former project of Reggie Rose/the brother of Derrick Rose) is being investigated by the NCAA for violating rules relating to improper benefits during his AAU tenure. More specifically the question has become…who paid for a particular plane ticket ect ect ect…? After following Ryan’s high school career and watching him play live at East Aurora High it is my belief Boatright is the key to UConn’s chances at a repeat and trip to New Orleans. As Calhoun has already stated he sees the Kemba in Boatright.
UConn will rely on Napier, Boatright and a walk on Brendan Allen to man the point. Taking Jeremy Lamb out of his natural scoring position will be a liability to the success of the team. UConn throughout the season will be susceptible to any team that has the personnel to apply pressure full court press defense for prolonged periods of time. This especially is true without Boatright cleared (Boatright himself expects to play in the Bahamas).
This brings us to Andre Drummond. Drummond is projected to go #1 in several 2012 NBA mock drafts (the last I checked). This projection has tremendous merit considering Drummond runs the floor like a gazelle, has the handle of a guard, passes with a Magic Johnson twist in the post and by years end will defend as well as any center in the country. For all of Drummond’s upside the downside lingers. Drummond is an abysmal free throw shooter to the point where he will be a liability on the court in end game situations. The “and 1” will not be commonplace in the Big East and Drummond will be at the line. Drummond has a game similar to Shaq in the low post with the power stop/drive and drop step as his signature move. Put backs and dunks will have to be the norm. If I were an NBA GM Drummond would be my #1. Unfortunately that does not necessarily materialize into a first team All American at the college level. Drummond should average a double/double (but at what price?).
Jeremy Lamb will have to average 21+ and become a vocal leader. Lamb is a guaranteed lottery pick in 2012. Everything has already been said about Jeremy Lamb this pre season. All of it is accurate. National Player of the Year is a reasonable goal. Freshman DeAndre Daniels will follow in the foot steps of Jeremy Lamb into All American status.
The rest of the core returning from the National Championship team includes Neils Giffey, Roscoe Smith “Scoe”, Tyler Olander (my dad coached against his father in high school) and co-captain Alex Oriakhi with an MVP caliber performance in the title game (11 rebs, 11 pts, 4 blks) making the team at Mentoring At Risk Athletes proud.
To conclude my selection of UConn into this years Final 4 is heavily reliant on the fact I have been a Connecticut basketball fan my whole life. The enjoyment and pride over the years associated with the program does breed loyalty. My heart says UConn but my instincts and mind are moving in a different direction. The target/bulls eye will be huge this year on the back of Calhoun and the Huskies. Despite the fact this team is made up of some of the greatest kids character wise…other well publicized events will continue to attack the program. It is for this very reason that UConn will become more dangerous as the season progresses and we head toward March.
When Jim Calhoun is backed into a corner….he comes out swinging Ali style.
#8. Xavier- Tu Holloway (Hempstead, NY) is a good kid and tremendous talent. Is there a better point guard in the nation? If so then who? It won’t be enough and Xavier @ #8 will be over hyped going into March Madness after securing a #3 seed (best projected guess). Xavier is the class of the Atlantic 10 and will coast to an A10 title. Out of conference challenges include @ Vanderbilt on 11/28 and @ Memphis on 2/4. Sweet 16 max for Xavier and that will take a couple big shooting nights from Brad Redford one of the nations best three point shooters.
#7. Syracuse- My pick to win the Big East regular season championship. SU loses the talents of Rick Jackson (13.1 pts, 10.3 reb, 2.5 blk). Jackson had a great regular season last year leading to a 2nd round loss in the NCAA tournament to Marquette. Against Marquette he was putrid (7 pts, 4 rebs, 1 blk and 3 to’s). In comes Fab Melo the Freshman bust from last season. Bust in this case also applies off the court as Fab Melo was arrested on a domestic violence charge. The court hearing has been delayed 5 times and is now scheduled for November 30. Despite the baggage Melo is primed for a breakout year. The Brazilian has the potential to be a double/double machine if he keeps his head screwed on right. Melo is the key to SU winning the BE and I will take the risk on him.
Cuse loses Jackson and replaces with Melo then adds Trevor Cooney (USA hoops under 18 team/Gold medal 8.8 ppg) Michael Carter-Williams (McDonald’s All American), Rakeem Christmas (McDonald’s All American).
The returning core from last years team that was 7-4 against AP top 25 is ready to rumble. SU also secured an over all record of 26-7 last year. 12-6 in BE play. Senior Kris Joseph the teams leading scorer and Naismith Finalist will pair with Junior Brandon Triche in the backcourt putting a smile on the face of ole Jimmy Boeheim this year (not looking forward to it). The Carrier Dome will be rocking 12/2 when Florida comes to the Dome. Syracuse and UConn play twice this season. Even though SU has a legit shot this year at a title I expect to see Jimmy Boeheim mouth open and hands spread wide as they get knocked out in the Elite 8 (please let them get knocked out sooner).
#6. Ohio State- Headquarters of this years National Player of the Year Jared Sullinger. OSU rolls to a Big 10 Championship and finishes at #6 in the rankings. Many have OSU as a Final 4 selection and possible National Champion. I like William Buford as a Senior leader and shooter with Sophomore Sullinger but the loss of David Lighty (12.1 ppg) and Jon Diebler (12.6 ppg) will be painful at some point during the season. As a matter of fact Jon Diebler is arguably the best 3 point shooter to ever lace them up in college hoops. Diebler holds the Big 10 career three point shooting records. Lighty it can easily be argued was the best defensive player in the Big 10 and maybe the country. As a collegiate player he was exceptional.
OSU brings in Shannon Scott who averaged 13 pts and 7.2 assists his Senior year in high school while garnering McDonald’s All American honors. He is a team player and a good chemistry guy for OSU (although the thought of Boatright not making McDonald’s All American and this guy getting the honor is a complete mystery and scam job). Freshman Amir Williams combining with Sullinger, DeShaun Thomas and McDonald admittedly will be strong front court. The back court is not strong enough outside of Craft and Buford. Ohio State will be very good but again get their hearts broken.
#5. Duke- Key games out of conference for Duke will be 11/15 @ Madison Square Garden against Michigan State (I’ll be there), Memphis possibly in Maui on 11/22 or 11/23 (mark your calendars for that one), Ohio State 11/29 @ Columbus. Throw in Belmont (home) and Temple on the road and the out conference schedule for Duke is very strong. It has to be since the ACC will be CUPCAKE CITY almost every night.
25% of the Duke roster will be made up of Plumlee’s. There will be Plumlee’s everywhere you look. Marshal. Miles and Mason no less (hahahahahahahaha). Add 2 inexperienced Freshman guards in Rivers and Quinn Cook and you have a recipe for growing pains. Good thing Duke has Dawkins and Curry in the mix to ease the transition. Rivers is a mega talent that can take over games and I expect big things from Austin Rivers this season. One big thing however I am not expecting is a trip to New Orleans. Duke splits their non conference and picks up easy wins in the ACC to end the season ranked high. Dick Vitale cries in his chicken soup bowl and the Cameron crazies pray Rivers comes back for his Sophomore season.
