Preseason NCAA Men's Baasketball Top 10

[keysoftheraw]

Men’s NCAA Basketball Preseason Top 10
1.
Kentucky Wildcats
From last year’s final four team, Kentucky returns F Terrence Jones and G Doran Lamb. Jones started off hot last year in the Maui Invitational, but went flat come tourney time. He is a stretch four, who can attack the rim. Lamb is a knock down shooter, probably the best Calipari has ever had. Add on top of that the nation’s best recruiting class featuring C Anthony Davis, F Mike Gilchrist, and G Marquis Teague. Davis was a guard and then shot up to 6’11 at the end of his high school career to be DraftExpress’s projected 2012 #1 overall pick in the draft. Imagine Anthony Randolph, Brandon Wright, and John Henson, but good. Gilchrist is a defensive beast, and has an almost Grant Hill like game. He is the best defender in this year’s freshman class. Teague, the younger brother of Jeff, is an uptempo guard who will work wonders in Coach Cal’s dribble drive system. Lastly, Kyle Wiltjer, a Jason Terry of a sixth man, is a Christian Laettner, but with some swag. This team would wipe the floor with any of Cal’s prior teams; including Camby’s, Rose’s, Tyreke’s, Wall’s, and Knight’s.
2.
North Carolina Tar Heels

They return the best player in the country in F Harrison Barnes. The kid’s game is as polished as there has been at the division one level. He is an explosive athlete, with refined skills. That 40 point, 8 rebound game against Clemson, when he shot 6-8 from three was just the beginning. Also, returning is F John Henson. Henson may be weak, but his 7’4 wingspan is game changing. G Kendall Marshall is a mini Marc Jackson. He will probably be the best floor general in America next year, not playing in the NBA. Newcomer F James McAdoo will fit in nicely as another big body whom can step outside.
3.
Duke Blue Devils
Doc Rivers’s son G Austin Rivers is the cockiest player in a while. And I mean that as a compliment. The kid can snipe from 35 feet, and then dribble in and dunk on you. He is a much better athlete than given credit for. The other NBA son on the team, Seth Curry, makes for a long range shooting back court for the ages. Duke always lives by the three or dies by the three, and this year will be no different. It’ll be like this dream I had where Duke had 2 JJ Redicks at the same time. A third Plumlee, this time named Marshall, gets added this year, and you have three 6’10 bodies to rebound for the gunning guards. Off the bench, Coach K will have skilled DC-Demath-DC Assualt point Quin Cook. He steps right into Nolan Smith’s spot. Then there is the problem known as Andre Dawkins, who is my sleeper pick for break out ACC player this year. Tons of talent, but got buried behind Kyle Singler.
4.
Ohio State
F Jared Sulinger returns to a depleted team, but he is enough of a beast to warrant this ranking. No one in college basketball will be able to guard him 1 on 1 next year. His ability to exploit the double team will determine how far Ohio State goes.
5.
Baylor
F Perry Jones returns as the most dynamic player in the country. At 6’11 he is like Darius Miles, but with his head on straight. No one in college basketball can match-up with him. G Quincy Miller brings new punch to the back court. He has a great outside game, and at 6-9 could remind Big 12 coaches of Kevin Durant when he strokes it from deep. The duo of Jones and Miller will be one of the best inside outside combinations in college basketball.
6.
Syracuse
Freshman F Rakeem Christmas arrives on campus, and immediately becomes the best big man in the Big East. At 6’9 Christmas will combine with 7’0 Sophmore Fab Melo to make an imposing front court. F Kris Joseph will return as a contender for the Big East player of the year award. Joseph is great in transition, and melds perfectly with G Scoop Jardine’s uptempo style. If the ‘Cuse don’t get it on the break this year, they can toss it in to Christmas and slow it down. A big improvement over Rick Jackson last year. A weak conference spells a big year for Jimmy Boeheim’s squad.
7.
Florida

No more F Chandler Parsons. But, you do have G Erving Walker back as one of the best point guards in the country. On both wings, Walker will have prime shooters. Returning G Kenny Boyton will be a year older, and score in a ton of ways. Freshman Bradly Beal is Steve Kerr, but athletic. The back court receives another jolt from Rutger’s transfer Mike Rosario, a former McDonald’s All American. The questions for the Gators are up front. F Patrick Young has the skills, and the strength, but will anyone else steps up?
8.
Memphis Tigers
Sophmore G Joe Jackson is one of the most underrated guards in the country. He leads the squad for great young coach Josh Pastner. His classmate F Will Barton is an extremely athletic wing, and maybe the best player in the conference next year. Reminds me a bit of Corey Brewer. McDonald’s All-American Adonis Thomas will be on the opposite wing, another tweener with bounce. The Tigers will beat up on Conference USA, the test will be whether the young squad melds by tourney time.
9.
Vanderbilt
I’m a big buyer of G Jeff Taylor stock. At 6’6 he can play all over the floor. His jumper goes out to NBA range. Personally, I think he will come back strong from and off year, my early pick for SEC player of the year. In large part because, since he is by himself, he will carry a huge load.
10.
Texas Longhorns
G Myck Kabongo is a top 10 recruit who should help ease the pain of losing Tristian Thompson and Kory Joseph. His distributing skills will balance with returning J’Coven Brown’s scoring skills. Brown is one of the best scorers in the country, and whom could be primed for a break out year. However, I must note that when I was 14, and was playing against Brown. I fouled him, with my team down like 6 with 30 seconds left. Not a ridiculous foul, but we were going to lose most likely. And he freaked out, and acted like he was too nice to get fouled? I don’t know. Just felt I needed to say that. Like, how Financial Reporters disclose their stock holdings. I disclose who I have lost to in sports.

[mid-post]

You're going to have to update your rankings son. Andre Drummond to UConn.

[mrclutch24]

An already star studded college basketball season just got better.

[jman3134]

Nice food for thought. I actually agree on the order of the top 2 teams presented here. After that, it is UConn, Ohio St., and Florida imo. (in no particular order)

[dungan123]

1. Michigan State
2. Kansas
3.Kentucky
4. Texas
5. Villanova
6. Purdue
7. Illinois
8.Duke
9.UCLA
10.Florida

[Jmonty580]

1.UNC
2.Uconn
3.Kentucky
4.Duke
5.Ohio State
6.Syracuse
7.Texas
8.Lousiville
9.Vanderbilt
10.Florida