With the 2010-11 college hoops season winding down and nearing conclusion with a surprising Final Four which only 2 people out of nearly 6 million on ESPN's Tournament Challenge correctly predicted. Many of us said Thanks Butler and VCU.
While many love the underdog stories of these two teams, the sport's largest fanbases, the powerhouse schools, have been suffering due to players being one-and-done and bolting for the NBA early.
While my suggested solution of a 21-year-old age limit to the NBA, much like the rule that the NFL has, hasn't been instituted yet, there is a 2011-12 NBA lockout looming over the head of college hoopsters, which if this happens, all of the early entries will have to return to school if they want to play ball.
With that being said, I have compiled a preview of exactly how competitive, entertaining and exciting the upcoming college basketball season could be, here it is... my 2011-12 NCAA Basketball Preview featuring: Duke, Ohio State, Kansas, UCONN, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina, Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Texas and yes due to extreme interest... Tennessee.
*First, here is the projected and prospective lineup/roster for the 2011-12 Tennessee Vols. Tennessee struggled under now-departed coach Bruce Pearl and played well under their talent level in falling in an embarrassing second round NCAA tourney loss to Michigan, but could face high expectations of talent again in their first year under new head man Cuonzo Martin. First, the STARTERS:
Center- Kenny Hall
Power Forward- *Tobias Harris
Small Forward- *Scotty Hopson
Shooting Guard- Cameron Tatum
Point Guard- Trae Golden
RESERVES: Tyler Summitt
Jeronne Maymon
Renaldo Woolridge
**Chris Jones (freshman)
Josh Richardson (freshman)
Skylar McBee
Wes Waspun (freshman)
*Now, the projected and prospective lineup/roster for the 2011-12 Texas Longhorns. Texas also played under their talent level this season as they fell in the third round of the torunament to Arizona, but Rick Barnes will be laoded yet again in the Big XII. Here, the STARTERS:
Center- Alexis Wangmene
Power Forward- Jordan Hamilton
Small Forward- J'Covan Brown
Shooting Guard- Cory Joseph
Point Guard- ***Myck Kabongo (freshman)
RESERVES: Julien Lewis (fr.)
Sheldon McClellan (fr.)
Jonathan Holmes (fr.)
Dean Melchionni
Trent Morgan
Andrew Dick
*Here is the projected and prospective lineup/roster for the 2011-12 Pittsburgh Panthers. Pitt obviously fell short of the goals and played under their talent level last season as they fell in a controversial and mistake-plagued game against Butler in the third round of the tournament, but will come into next year as defending Big East regular season champs. Here are their STARTERS:
Center- ***Khem Birch (freshman)
Power Forward- Nasir Robinson
Small Forward- Dante Taylor
Shooting Guard- Durand Johnson (fresh.)
Point Guard- Travon Woodall
RESERVES: Talib Zanna
J.J. Richardson
J.J. Moore
Lamar Patterson
Aron Nawanko
*The fourth team preview that I am providing is a look at the projected and prospective lineup/roster for the 2011-12 Arizona Wildcats. The Wildcats made a great run to the Elite Eight this season and were taken out in a 2-point loss to UCONN. 'Zona won the PAC-10 regular season as well and boasted the nation's top interior player in Derrick Williams. Here, the STARTERS:
Center- Angelo Chol (freshman)
Power Forward- Solomon Hill
Small Forward- Jesse Perry
Shooting Guard- Kyle Fogg
Point Guard- Lamont "Momo" Jones
RESERVES: Kevin Parrom
Brandon Lavender
Alex Jacobson
Max Wiepking
Robert Avizu
Josiah Turner (fr.)
Nick Johnson (fr.)
Sidiki Johnson (fr.)
Jordin Mayes
Daniel Bejarano
D'andre Wise
Kyryl Natyazhko
*Now the outlook for the fifth team being previewed and the projected and prospective lineup/roster for the 2011-12 Duke Blue Devils. Duke definitely played beloe expectations of talent this year, much in part due to the injury of freshman phenom Kyrie Irving, but the Devils will be re-loaded for next year, even through losing two of the programs greats in Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. Here is Duke's STARTERS:
Center- Mason Plumlee
Power Forward- Miles Plumlee
Small Forward- Seth Curry
Shooting Guard- Andre Dawkins
Point Guard- ***Austin Rivers (freshman)
RESERVES: Michael Gbinije (freshman)
Josh Hairston
***Quinn Cook (freshman)
Tyler Thornton
***Marshall Plumlee (freshman)
Alex Murphy (freshman)
*The sixth previewed team is Duke's bitter rival, North Carolina. The tarheels over-achieved last season by reaching the Elite Eight before falling to Kentucky and should have more characteristically high expectations as they return all major contributers and bring in some fresh talent as well, here are the STARTERS:
Center- Tyler Zeller
Power Forward- John Henson
Small Forward- Harrison Barnes
Shooting Guard- Dexter Strickland
Point Guard- Kendall Marshall
RESERVES: Justin Watts
David Dupont
Patrick Church
D.J. Johnston
Stewart Cooper
Reggie Bullock
Leslie McDonald
***P.J. Hairston (fr.)
***James McAdoo (fr.)
Desmond Hubert (fr.)
*My 7th preview features the traditional Big East powerhouse Syracuse Orange. Jim Boeheim's squad this year had an up-and-down season, but finished strong except for a third round tourney loss to conference foe Marquette, ending their season on a sour note. Here are the 2011-12 'Cuse STARTERS:
Center- Fab Melo
Power Forward- Kris Joseph
Small Forward- Dion Waiters
Shooting Guard- Brandon Triche
Point Guard- Antonio "Scoop" Jardine
RESERVES: Brandon Reese
Ross DeRomer
C.J. Fair
Matt Tomaszewski
James Southerland
Mookie Jones
***Rakeem Christmas (fr.)
***Michael Carter-Williams
Trevor Cooney
Matt Lyde-Cajuste
Griffin Hoffman
Baye Moussa Kieta
Nick Resavy
*8th on the preview list is another Big East powerhouse, the Louisville Cardinals. Rick Pitino has definitely not gotten where he wants to be yet at Louisville and has had some disappointing seasons, but once again will put a very formidable team on the court in 2011-12. Here are the STARTERS:
Center- Stephon Von Treese
Power Forward- ***Wayne Blackshear (freshman)
Small Forward- Rakeem Buckles
Shooting Guard- Peyton Siva
Point Guard- Kyle Kuric
RESERVES: George Goode
Elisha Justice
Mike Marra
Russ Smith
***Chane Behanan
Jared Swopshire
Zach Price (fr.)
Ryan Taylor (fr.)
Tim Henderson
Mark Jackson
Gorgui Dieng
Chris Smith
*Up next out of the SEC, I'll preview the Gators of Florida. Florida is coming off a regular season championship and Elite Eight performance, where they lost a heartbreaking overtime game to Butler. The Gators will miss the talent and winning mentality of seniors Chandler Parsons, Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin, but have a very nice team returning, now the STARTERS:
Center- Patric Young
Power Forward- Casey Prather
Small Forward- ***Bradley Beal (fr.)
Shooting Guard- Kenny Boynton
Point Guard- Erving Walker
RESERVES: Will Yeguete
Kyle McLanahan
Adam Allen
Scottie Wilbekin
*Once again, for team number 11 on my preview, I'll stay in the SEC. Fresh off a Final Four year, which included an SEC tournament championship, John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcat team will be absolutely loaded and the favorites to win it all as they head into next season. Here are their STARTERS:
Center- ***Anthony Davis (freshman)
Power Forward- Darius Miller
Small Forward- Doron Lamb
Shooting Guard- ***Michael Gilchrist (freshman)
Point Guard- ***Marquis Teague (freshman)
RESERVES:
***Kyle Wiltjer (fr.)
Jon Hood
Eloy Vargas
Jarrod Polson
Stacey Poole Jr.
*With just three teams remaining to preview, I chose another Final Four team from this season, the Big East tournament champion Connecticut Huskies. The best player in college hoops last season, returns for another go, as Kemba Walker will try once again to lead his team to the promised land. UCONN's outlook is very promising, as they return pretty much the same squad. Here are the STARTERS:
Center- Alex Oriakhi
Power Forward- Jamal Coombs-McDaniel
Small Forward- Jeremy Lamb
Shooting Guard- Roscoe Smith
Point Guard- Shabazz Napier
RESERVES: Benjamin Stewart
Ryan Boatright (fr.)
Tyler Olander
Niles Griffey
Michael Bradley
Enosch Wolf
*Another traditional powerhouse and of this year's favorites to win it all, the Kansas Jayhawks, will return many of their key players and should be dominant in the Big XII once again. Here are the STARTERS:
Center- Jeff Withey
Power Forward- Thomas Robinson
Small Forward- Tyshawn Taylor
Shooting Guard- Ben McLemore (freshman)
Point Guard- Travis Releford
RESERVES: Naadir Tharpe (f)
Royce Woolridge
Niko Roberts
Elijah Johnson
*Finally, lets round things up with this season's top overall seed in the NCAA tourney, the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes had the most talent this season on paper, but thats why they play the games and Kentucky beat them in the Sweet Sixteen. Perhaps inspired by the loss, all-american Jared Sullinger immediately said he was coming back and with that, Thad Matta's team will be once again ready and loaded in 2011-12. Here are their STARTERS:
Center- *Jared Sullinger
Power Forward- Deshaun Thomas
Small Forward- William Buford
Shooting Guard- Jordan Sibert
Point Guard- Aaron Craft
RESERVES: LaQuinton Ross (fr)
Sam Thompson (fr)
Nikola Kerman
Lenzelle Smith Jr.
***Amir Williams (f)
***Shannon Scott (f)
KEY: *probable to go pro if there is no lockout
**Tennessee recruits that may not come to school due to Pearl firing
***McDonald's All-Americans
(f), (fr.)- denotes freshmen
So, there you have it sports fans, fear not if there is no NBA in 2011-12 because the college game should be the best it has been in a very long time.
