Andy Katz top 50 teams in college basketball.

[qwerty]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/stor...andy&id=1842382

 

1. Wake Forest

2. North Carolina

3. Kansas

4. Georgia Tech

5. Syracuse

6. Oklahoma State

7. Connecticut

8. Arizona

9. Illinois

10. Duke

11. Mississippi State

12. Kentucky

13. Louisville

14. Maryland

15. Michigan State

16. Notre Dame

17. Wisconsin

18. Pittsburgh

19. Memphis

20. Alabama

21. Texas

22. Gonzaga

23. Washington

24. Florida

25. Stanford

26. N.C. State

27. Oklahoma

28. Cincinnati

29. Michigan

30. Villanova

31. LSU

32. Boston College

33. Florida State

34. Vanderbilt

35. Missouri

36. Virginia

37. George Washington

38. Marquette

39. Air Force

40. Tennessee

41. Providence

42. Charlotte

43. Oregon

44. UCLA

45. Texas Tech

46. Arkansas

47. UTEP

48. Xavier

49. UAB

50. Utah

[Heads22]

Xavier ain't gonna be 48 without Sato and Chalmers....

[qwerty]

Brown the key for Illini.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/stor...andy&id=1878678

 

Dee Brown could be facing his most critical month as a basketball player.

 

He's nursing a stress fracture above his ankle that could threaten the start of his junior season, a year that he and the rest of his Illinois teammates believe could end in St. Louis in April as national champs.

 

It's a tall order, especially for a smaller point guard who has always made up for his height, listed at 6 foot, with a reliance on changing speeds and blowing past a defender.

 

But if there is ever time for Brown to diversify his game, it's in the coming weeks when he won't be as nimble.

 

"His whole life, he's totally relied on his speed to beat people down court,'' Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "But guys are starting to catch up with him. We saw it in the Olympics, that the best athletes don't win, the best players on the best teams win. He's got to become more of a speed demon and become a smarter player.''

[knightni]

Thomas, Quinn, Cornette, Francis, Lattimore.

 

 

Yep, I can see 16.

 

 

[MurcieOne]

Thomas, Quinn, Cornette, Francis, Lattimore.

 

 

Yep, I can see 16.

 

 

Falls too.. dont forget Colin Falls!

[qwerty]

From Draft City.

http://www.draftcity.com/lists/ncaafreshman.htm

 

NCAA Freshman

1. Rudy Gay

6-8 205 SF UCONN

2. Marvin Williams

6-9 230 SF UNC

3. LaMarcus Aldridge

6-11 225 PF/C Texas

4. Randolph Morris

6-11 250 C Kentucky

5. Malik Hairston

6-5 190 SG Oregon

6. Churchill Odia

6-6 160 PG Xavier

7. Rajon Rondo

6-2 160 PG Kentucky

8. Juan Palacios

6-8 255 SF/PF Louisville

9. Justin Cerasoli

6-5 170 PG/SG Seton Hall

10. Joe Crawford

6-4 205 SG Kentucky

11. Demarcus Nelson

6-3 195 PG/SG Duke

12. Darius Washington Jr.

6-0 165 PG Memphis

13. Daniel Gibson

6-2 200 PG Texas

14. Jordan Farmar

6-2 170 PG UCLA

15. AJ Price

6-0 175 PG UCONN

16. Jawann Mclellan

6-5 210 SG Arizona

17. Robert Rothbart

7-0 215 PF/C Indiana

18. Roy Bright

6-6 211 SG Cincinnati

19. DJ White

6-8 230 PF Indiana

20. Mike Williams

6-8 250 PF Texas

 

NCAA Sophmore

1. Chris Paul

6-0 168 PG Wake Forest

2. Chris Taft

6-10 230 PF/C Pittsburgh

3. Sean Banks

6-8 206 SF Memphis

4. Charlie Villanueva

6-11 230 PF UCONN

5. Mustafa Shakur

6-3 180 PG Arizona

6. JR Giddens

6-5 185 SG Kansas

7. Ronnie Brewer

6-7 190 PG/SG Arkansas

8. Andrew Bogut

6-10 233 PF

9. Brandon Bass

6-8 250 PF Louisiana State

10. Leon Powe

6-8 245 PF California

11. Josh Boone

6-10 230 PF UCONN

12. Alexander Johnson

6-10 250 C Florida State

13. Ekene Ibekwe

6-9 211 PF Maryland

14. Regis Koundjia

6-9 215 SF/PF Louisiana State

15. Linas Kleiza

6-8 245 SF/PF Missouri

16. Sammy Mejia

6-6 195 PG/SG DePaul

17. Brian Butch

7-0 240 C Wisconsin

18. Jose Juan Barea

6-0 173 PG Northwestern

19. Guillermo Diaz

6-2 178 PG/SG Miami

20. Shannon Brown

6-3 200 PG/SG Michigan State

21. Martin Iti

7-0 240 C Charlotte

22. Adam Morrison

6-8 204 SF Gonzaga

23. Nick Fazekas

6-11 215 PF Nevada

24. Michael Jones

6-5 196 SG Maryland

25. Olu Famutimi

6-5 207 SF Arkansas

26. Pierre Pierce

6-4 195 PG/SG Iowa

27. Vaketon Wafer

6-5 210 SG Florida State

28. Engin Atsur

6-3 185 PG/SG NC State

29. Marcus Williams

6-3 200 PG UCONN

30. Jared Dudley

6-7 210 SF Boston College

31. Darryl Watkins

6-11 238 C Syracuse

32. Cartier Martin

6-8 215 SF Kansas State

33. Courtney Sims

6-11 230 C Michigan

34. Hassan Fofana

6-10 290 PF Maryland

35. Mike Nardi

6-0 175 PG Villanova

 

NCAA Juniors

1. Raymond Felton

6-1 192 PG UNC

2. Deron Williams

6-3 210 PG Illinois

3. Torin Francis

6-11 252 PF Notre Dame

4. John Gilchrist

6-3 200 PG Maryland

5. Jarrett Jack

6-3 198 PG Georgia Tech

6. Rashad McCants

6-4 205 SG UNC

7. Shelden Williams

6-9 245 PF Duke

8. Kennedy Winston

6-6 205 SG Alabama

9. Francisco Garcia

6-8 190 SG Louisville

10. Paul Davis

6-11 250 PF Michigan State

11. Rodney Carney

6-7 205 SG/SF Memphis

12. Hassan Adams

6-4 201 SG Arizona

13. Sean May

6-8 266 PF UNC

14. Shavlik Randolph

6-10 215 PF Duke

15. Kellena Azbuike

6-5 208 SG Kentucky

16. Rashad Anderson

6-5 220 SG UCONN

17. Nate Robinson

5-8 170 PG Washington

18. Antoine Wright

6-7 195 SF Texas A&M

19. Dee Brown

6-0 175 PG Illinois

20. Daniel Horton

6-3 200 PG Michigan

21. Nik Caner-Medley

6-8 233 SF Maryland

22. Steve Novak

6-10 215 SF Marquette

23. Bracey Wright

6-3 200 SG Indiana

24. Anthony Roberson

6-1 180 PG Florida

25. Matt Walsh

6-6 190 SG Florida

26. Eric Williams

6-9 275 PF Wake Forest

27. James White

6-7 190 SF Cincinnati

28. Craig Smith

6-7 265 SF Boston College

29. JJ Redick

6-4 200 SG Duke

30. Jason Fraser

6-9 215 PF Villanova

31. Curtis Sumpter

6-7 220 SF Villanova

32. Denham Brown

6-5 219 SG UCONN

33. Justin Gray

6-2 185 PG Wake Forest

34. Billy Edelin

6-4 204 PG Syracuse

35. Sean Dockery

6-2 175 PG Duke

36. Allan Ray

6-2 205 PG Villanova

37. James Augustine

6-10 225 PF Illinois

38. Brandan Bowman

6-8 213 PF Georgetown

39. Steven Smith

6-8 225 SF LaSalle

40. Rashaun Freeman

6-9 255 PF UMass

 

NCAA Seniors

 

1. Julius Hodge

6-7 205 PG/SG NC State

2. Hakim Warrick

6-8 209 SF/PF Syracuse

3. Wayne Simien

6-9 250 PF Kansas

4. Ronny Turiaf

6-10 243 PF Gonzaga

5. Lawrence Roberts

6-9 233 PF Mississippi State

6. Ryan Gomes

6-8 248 SF Providence

7. Chris Thomas

6-1 185 PG Notre Dame

8. Luke Schenscher

7-1 250 C Georgia Tech

9. Channing Frye

6-11 248 PF/C Arizona

10. Danny Granger

6-8 225 SF New Mexico

11. Jawad Williams

6-9 223 SF UNC

12. David Lee

6-9 250 PF Florida

13. Joey Graham

6-7 217 SF Oklahoma State

14. David Simon

6-9 253 PF IUPUFW

15. Moussa Badiane

7-0 220 C East Carolina

16. Romel Beck

6-7 185 SG UNLV

17. Taylor Coppenrath

6-9 245 SF/PF Vermont

18. Juan Mendez

6-8 240 SF/PF Niagra

19. Jamaal Levy

6-9 180 SF Wake Forest

20. Travis Diener

6-1 165 PG Marquette

21. Matt Nelson

7-0 255 C Colorado State

22. Vytas Danelius

6-9 228 SF/PF Wake Forest

23. Odartey Blankson

6-7 220 SF UNLV

24. Michael Harris

6-6 240 SF Rice

25. Scooter McFadgon

6-5 200 SG Tennessee

26. Rickey Shields

6-4 195 SG Rutgers

27. John Lucas

5-11 152 PG Oklahoma State

28. Carl Krauser

6-2 200 PG Pittsburgh

29. Brandon Crump

6-10 235 PG/SG Tennessee

30. Jan Jagla

7-0 232 PF Penn State

31. Glen McGowan

6-9 240 PF Pepperdine

32. Cedric Bozeman

6-6 197 PG/SG UCLA

33. Salim Stoudamire

6-1 177 PG Arizona

34. Chuck Hayes

6-6 247 PF Kentucky

35. Aaron Miles

6-1 175 PG Kansas

36. Keith Langford

6-4 210 SG Kansas

37. Dijon Thompson

6-7 195 SG/SG UCLA

38. Daniel Ewing

6-3 180 SG Duke

39. Chris Hill

6-3 190 SG Michigan State

40. Elton Brown

6-9 255 PF Virginia

41. Deng Gai

6-9 225 PF Fairfield

42. Isma'il Muhammad

6-6 225 SF Georgia Tech

43. Rory O'Neil

6-11 240 Center USC

44. Sharrod Ford

6-9 223 PF Clemson

45. John Allen

6-5 207 SG Seton Hall

46. BJ Elder

6-3 218 SG Georgia Tech

47. Jeff Graves

6-9 255 PF Kansas

48. Corey Santee

6-2 193 PG TCU

49. Will Bynum

6-0 185 PG Georgia Tech

50. Jason Maxiell

6-7 250 PF Cincinnati

[He_Gawn]

No Indiana. f***ing dick.

[WSoxShuf]

No Indiana. f***ing dick.

Why would he put Indiana???

[southsider2k5]

I really think UNC is going to win it all this year.

[Palehosefan]

Indiana is gonna be a very solid team this year. No reason for them not to be in the top 50. Just having Marshall Strickland as your point, Bracey Wright as your 2, and DJ White as your 4, makes them a tough team to beat. I don't know a ton about IU, but if Vaden or Hardy gets the start at SF and Rothbart gets the nod at center, they will be talented all around. Young, but talented.

 

Katz is a moron that loves any program that will let him have alot of access to it, like Duke, no reason for Xavier to be ranked in the top 50 and IU not.

[Palehosefan]

I really think UNC is going to win it all this year.

 

Oh God I hope so. Our football team has left me depressed, were getting beat 49-10 in the 3rd quarter when I left to go eat. Virginia scored on every single drive and ended up winning 56-24. Now Bunting(UNC's coach) is REALLY on the hotseat, and lots of people are interested in Spurrier, because he showed interest also.

 

UNC will have a chance this year, we have lots of depth and athletes everywhere, just have to find out if Sean May is gonna get the help down low that he needs. The scary part? UNC will lose Jackie Manual, Melvin Scott, Jawad Williams, and could possibly/probably lose Raymond Felton, and Rashad McCants after this year. Thankfully the 5/9 recruiting rule went out the window.

[He_Gawn]

Why would he put Indiana???

Why wouldnt he? Having Strickland, Wright, White, Ewing Jr, Vaden, and Hardy isnt that bad of a team. Hell, I'd put it against your Biased ass Kansas team.

[southsider2k5]

Oh God I hope so. Our football team has left me depressed, were getting beat 49-10 in the 3rd quarter when I left to go eat. Virginia scored on every single drive and ended up winning 56-24. Now Bunting(UNC's coach) is REALLY on the hotseat, and lots of people are interested in Spurrier, because he showed interest also.

 

UNC will have a chance this year, we have lots of depth and athletes everywhere, just have to find out if Sean May is gonna get the help down low that he needs. The scary part? UNC will lose Jackie Manual, Melvin Scott, Jawad Williams, and could possibly/probably lose Raymond Felton, and Rashad McCants after this year. Thankfully the 5/9 recruiting rule went out the window.

If Sean May stays healthy he is going to end up a lottery pick. They guy is talented

[Palehosefan]

Yeah some question his size though. He's listed officially this year at 6'9 266. But alot of people think he's only 6'7, which could hurt him tremendously in the draft. Then again, those same people were saying Okafor was 6'8 tops. We also have a big Jamaican guy named Damian Grant, he's 6'11 270 and has battled knee problems his entire career at UNC. He's a junior this year and his knees are finally better, he should give May some rest, he's amazingly athletic for a big guy and is a shotblocking machine. All they need out of him is 5-6 minutes a game.

[greasywheels121]

Indiana is gonna be a very solid team this year. No reason for them not to be in the top 50. Just having Marshall Strickland as your point, Bracey Wright as  your 2, and DJ White as your 4, makes them a tough team to beat. I don't know a ton about IU, but if Vaden or Hardy gets the start at SF and Rothbart gets the nod at center, they will be talented all around. Young, but talented.

 

Katz is a moron that loves any program that will let him have alot of access to it, like Duke, no reason for Xavier to be ranked in the top 50 and IU not.

We don't deserve to be in the top 50 just yet. We'll get there, and higher. However, after a 14-15 season, it's hard to say you deserve to be in the top 50 in the preseason poll. We'll be there this season. I'm not worried about that.

[IlliniKrush]

Why wouldnt he? Having Strickland, Wright, White, Ewing Jr, Vaden, and Hardy isnt that bad of a team. Hell, I'd put it against your Biased ass Kansas team.

Dumbest post ever

[Heads22]

Curtis Stinson not one of the top 35 Sophomores in the country? Please. Both him and Quincy Douby from Rutgers should have a shot on that list.

[ZoomSlowik]

First off, Rothbert isn't even at Indiana, he's playing in Europe. They just aren't that good. They'll beat some teams and might sneek into the tourney, but I wouldn't count on that. Strickland and Wright have some talent but both are inconsistent and shot a horrendous percentage from the floor last year. They are pretty small(White and Kline are there only real post players) and don't have a lot of players that can come in and give them productive minutes. They need White and either Hardy/Vaden to step up big time for them to do anything of significance. I'd be very surprised if they did any better than 5th in the Big Ten.

 

P.S.- Kansas would destroy them.

[Palehosefan]

What happened to Rothbart? Did the wind blow him overseas? 7'0 210, yikes.

[greasywheels121]

What happened to Rothbart? Did the wind blow him overseas? 7'0 210, yikes.

He opted to play in Europe. From what I've heard, he really wasn't meshing well with the other recruits either. He also never returned any of Indiana's calls after he said he would sign with IU. Good riddance.

 

We picked up a 6'10'' guy from the Netherlands though.

[southsider2k5]

First off, Rothbert isn't even at Indiana, he's playing in Europe. They just aren't that good. They'll beat some teams and might sneek into the tourney, but I wouldn't count on that. Strickland and Wright have some talent but both are inconsistent and shot a horrendous percentage from the floor last year. They are pretty small(White and Kline are there only real post players) and don't have a lot of players that can come in and give them productive minutes. They need White and either Hardy/Vaden to step up big time for them to do anything of significance. I'd be very surprised if they did any better than 5th in the Big Ten.

 

P.S.- Kansas would destroy them.

And 5th in the Big Ten along with a tourney appearence is good enough to be in the Top 50... I think that was the point all along. I don't think anyone thinks IU is final four material, but they are definately Top 50.

[ZoomSlowik]

And 5th in the Big Ten along with a tourney appearence is good enough to be in the Top 50...  I think that was the point all along.  I don't think anyone thinks IU is final four material, but they are definately Top 50.

First off, 5th is the BEST I see them doing, things could go worse. I expect them to fall somewhere between 5 and 9 in the Big Ten. Second, 5th in the Big Ten doesn't mean you are in the top 50. Remember, only 3 Big Ten teams made the tourney last year. It has been a pretty mediocre league in recent years and that shouldn't change much. I have no problem with them not being in the top 50. Usually when you really need two freshmen to step up you have some problems, and even more if you don't have two Mc Donalds All Americans to do it.

[Palehosefan]

Gotta disagree about the freshmen comment. In this day and age of college basketball, almost everyone has to rely on freshmen to contribute a pretty good amount. If you don't have to, then you are likely a very good team, or just didn't recruit worth a crap. Being a top 50 team isn't saying a whole lot, it doesn't even guarantee they will make the tourney.

 

Looking at Indiana's roster and statistics of last year. They will have some problems inside, thats a given. But DJ White will solidify the PF spot, maybe even play some C, and if Sean Kline can step up his game they can atleast get by down low. You know they will be very solid in the backcourt, and Patrick Ewing Jr/Robert Vaden/James Hardy can play the SF spot and the other 2 can come in for instant offense. DJ White might be playing 35-40 minutes a game though :-) out of neccessity.

 

I can see the argument both ways, but I believe they can be a top 50 team just because of Marshall Strickland, Bracey Wright, and DJ White. If the rest of the team can just contribute a little offense and mainly defense.

 

You know Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan State will all be in the tourney. MIchigan will also likely make a strong push for the tournament. Purdue, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Illinois will battle for the 5th spot. I like Indiana's chances to claim the 5th spot and possibly sneak into the tourney, otherwise they would still fall right in the end of the top 50 teams.

[ZoomSlowik]

My point was that most teams that experience any degree of success don't usually have two freshmen starters unless they are ridiculously good recruits(ie Duke starting 3 McDonald's All Americans, Syracuse with Anthony and McNamara). White should be solid, but they really need someone else to develop as a consistent scorer rather quickly, because Strickland and Wright can be downright pathetic some nights(both shot well under 40% on the year, yikes). They might develop into a decent team at some point this season, but they have a way to go before I can confidently say they belong in the top 50 or in the NCAA tourney.

 

As for the Big Ten, I fully expect Illinois, MSU, Wisconsin, and Michigan to do well and make the tourney. I am also very confident that Penn State and Minnesota will be god awful. I see the rest of the teams in a jumbled mess somewhere in the middle, with maybe one of them coming out and making the tourney. Iowa has 3 pretty solid players coming back but really needs to fill some holes, Purdue looks like a bit of a mess(some decent players back but no standouts) but always seem to be at least okay, OSU has some guards but god knows what else, NU has a couple of solid players and pick up two decent transfers(I'm biased but I think they will surprise some people), and I already said my piece about Indiana.

[Rowand44]

Oh God I hope so. Our football team has left me depressed, were getting beat 49-10 in the 3rd quarter when I left to go eat. Virginia scored on every single drive and ended up winning 56-24. Now Bunting(UNC's coach) is REALLY on the hotseat, and lots of people are interested in Spurrier, because he showed interest also.

 

UNC will have a chance this year, we have lots of depth and athletes everywhere, just have to find out if Sean May is gonna get the help down low that he needs. The scary part? UNC will lose Jackie Manual, Melvin Scott, Jawad Williams, and could possibly/probably lose Raymond Felton, and Rashad McCants after this year. Thankfully the 5/9 recruiting rule went out the window.

Remember our bet palhose, unc doesn't get past the sweet 16.