|  Who is your favorite college basketball team?
Which team do you expect to cut down the nets in Indianapolis in April 2010?
Which team do you think might be a darkhorse to cut down the nets?
My favorite team is Illinois Fighting Illini. I am extremely pumped about the upcoming season. We have our top three scorers from last year returning, and a very talented group of Freshmen coming in.
Demetri McCamey was our leading scorer last year, and now in his Junior it appears as though he is ready to make the step to being a true leader. His problem his first to years were consistency, quickness, and dedication. During the offseason he lost fifteen pounds, which will make him much quicker and able to play harder late into the game.
Mike Davis averaged double figures last year and was our leading rebounder. He is a 6'9" slender forward in his Jr season who added some weight in the offseason. He has a really nice midrange game and superior athletic ability. He has the ability to take over any game at any time, and has set goal of averaging 18pts and 10 rebounds per game this year. When he is on he is so much fun to watch.
Mike Tisdale, also a Junior was the third leading scorer from last years team also averaging double digits. He is a 7'1" Center who is extremely thin. That is his biggest detriment because he has trouble guarding big guys who are strong. Like Davis he has a very nice touch and will occasionally step out beyond the three point line and knock down the three.
We brought in four extremely talented freshmen. Joseph Bertrand, a 6'6" PG will not play much this year if at all do to a knee injury, he may actually redshirt. Tyler Griffey, a 6'9" European style forward will provide quality minutes as a back-up, but those minutes will be limited because of the veteran depth at the forward position. However, DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul, both 6'3" Guards, and both top 50 recruits, have already made an impact. They both started the first game of the season, and put up good numbers. Richardson scored 14pts, 4 boards and 4 assists. Paul set the Illinois record for a Freshman debut by scoring 22pts. He also added 4 boards and 4 assists.
Richardson is a rare talent. He is athletic, but his strongest asset is his maturity. After his first game the opposing coach said he plays more like a Senior than a Freshman.
Paul is extremely athletic, and many people have compared him to a young Dwayne Wade. These are not just fans saying this, but NBA players and college coaches saying that.
Veteran subs include Jr Alex Legion a 6'5" Guard who can get hot and put up 15 pts in a matter of minutes. Senior Dominique Keller a 6'7" Forward who brings an unortodox style to the offensive end. Junior Bill Cole is a 6'9" Forward that is a very good three point shooter but somewhat of a defensive liability. Junior Center Richard Semrau 6'10" will come in to provide rebounding and a defensive presence. Most of his offense will come off of offensive rebounds and when the guards penetrate and his man leaves him to stop the drive. Junior PG Jeff Jordan will be a defensive specialist and ball handler. He will probably get about 8 minutes a game to give McCamey a breather. He can knock down the open jumper, but will not be in the game to score.
The talent level in Champaign is greatly improved from last year, and with one of the best coaches in the Nation, Bruce Weber, Illinois is my dark horse to cut down the nets in Indianapolis. It is a bit of an emotional pick, but if the team improves throughout the season, and with a few lucky bounces Illinois might just sneak up on the big guys this year. Next year they should be one of the big guys.
My favorite to cut down the nets is Michigan State. They have who I think is the best coach in the nation, Tom Izzo. They have a deep experienced and talented team, and as is the norm with Izzone teams, should be one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. It is their experience and coaching that I think will separate them from the rest of the favorites this year.
The other favorites are Kansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Kansas and Kentucky should be the most talented teams in the nation, but it is young and unproven. Although Bill Self and John Calipari are good coaches, I don't think they are on the same level with Tom Izzo and Roy Williams, the North Carolina coach.
Roy Williams' team will be very good again. I just do not see them winning it all because they had to replace too much from last year. The talent is there, although maybe not at the same level as Kansas and Kentucky but maybe more than Michigan State, but just like Kansas and Kentucky alot of the talent is young.
Those are my thoughts, I am sure noone agrees with me, but that is ok, it is what I believe.
What do you think?
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