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DEL.ICIO.USBlue Devils have reasons to feel superior
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
It will be another long winter for the growing legion of Duke-haters. The Blue Devils figure to win another NCAA championship and generate another national player of the year — either J.J. Redick or Shelden Williams — and their famous coach will doubtless film another round of American Express commercials, timed for maximum March exposure.
It’s not that Duke keeps getting better. It’s that the Devils simply have weathered the NBA exodus of young players better than any other program. North Carolina, Duke’s hated neighbor, is actually the reigning NCAA titlist, but the Tar Heels lost every player of note from that star-spangled team, four of whom had eligibility remaining.
Beyond Duke, what else is there? Well, Michigan State, which ousted the Devils in the Sweet 16, will be quite good, and Texas and Oklahoma look strong in the Big 12. And Louisville and Kentucky will stage their usual battle for Bluegrass supremacy. But the story of the 2005-06 season figures to be written by the men based in Cameron Indoor Stadium, which should make the rest of college basketball more than a little crazy.
Onto the Top 25 …
1. Duke. At a time when the average fan can’t identify 10 collegiate players, the Devils have two household names — J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams — plus a passel of prized recruits. Plus a coach of some distinction.
2. Michigan State. The Spartans capped an indifferent regular season with a Final Four run. Most of the notables — Paul Davis, Maurice Ager, Shannon Brown — return. At issue is whether these guys are really as good as they looked in March.
3. Texas. Lots of talent here, plus the nation’s best point guard in Daniel Gibson. But the Longhorns have had talent all along — T.J. Ford was the nation’s best point guard in 2003 — and somehow haven’t produced a national championship.
4. Boston College. The Eagles enter the ACC at the right time. With every other major program save Duke in retooling mode, they come in loaded. The players who propelled BC to a 20-0 start last season are back, Craig Smith chief among them.
5. Connecticut. The UConn guards had a wretched summer. Freshman A.J. Price has been suspended for the season, and junior Marvin Williams won’t play until after New Year’s. But Rudy Gay is the nation’s most talented player, and Rashad Anderson is a splendid shooter.
6. Louisville. Rick Pitino has it rolling again, and the Cardinals’ arrival in the Big East should only enhance the man’s massive reputation. Player to watch: David Padgett, who transferred from Kansas and who’s a remarkably skilled big man.
7. Oklahoma. The Sooners figure to give Texas a run in the Big 12. Taj Gray and Kevin Bookout are the nation’s best frontcourt tandem, and Terrell Everett is a gifted guard. But Oklahoma has a way of fizzling in March.
8. Gonzaga. The little school with the funny name has become a basketball staple, and not just in March. Here’s proof you don’t have to play in a power conference to attract attention — or to lure a big-time talent like Adam Morrison.
9. Kentucky. The status of Randolph Morris, who tried to leave for the NBA but went undrafted, remains unresolved. The Wildcats expect him back at some point but aren’t sure when. No matter. They’ll win the SEC with their usual ease.
10. Villanova. The Wildcats would have been five spots higher, but forward Curtis Sumpter has a bad knee and might not play at all. Center Jason Fraser has two bad knees, and nobody’s sure how long he’ll hold up.
11. UCLA. Arizona is the pick to win the Pac-10, as usual, but Ben Howland is about to propel the Bruins upward. Point guard Jordan Farmar could be the league’s player of the year, and Cedric Bozeman returns after a knee injury.
12. Wake Forest. Justin Gray isn’t really a point guard, but he’ll try his hand in the absence of Chris Paul. Eric Williams isn’t really a center, but he plays like one. Still in question is whether Wake will ever make a commitment to defense.
13. George Washington. Pops Mensah-Bonsu pulled out of the NBA draft, and for that we should all be grateful. Mensah-Bonsu is a great leaper who can really run, and his presence should make GW the East Coast version of Gonzaga.
14. Ohio State. Two teams beat Illinois last season — North Carolina in the NCAA title game, and Ohio State, which was ineligible for the Big Dance. The Buckeyes are eligible now, and they’ll be a top-five team when their touted recruits arrive next season.
15. Alabama. Kennedy Winston and Earnest Shelton are gone, but freshman Richard Hendrix figures to be better than either. Chuck Davis blocks shots and Ronald Steele runs the offense. The Tide is the class of a lackluster SEC West.
16. Nevada. The mid-major Wolf Pack is another of those Gonzaga wannabes, and this could be the year Nevada actually outdoes the higher-profile Zags. Nick Fazekas is among the nation’s best centers, and point guard Ramon Sessions can run a team.
17. Arizona. The Wildcats lost Channing Frye and Salim Stoudamire to the NBA, but Hassan Adams and Mustafa Shakur will keep them competitive. But the Pac-10 is rising again, and the guess is that Arizona will be overtaken.
18. Charlotte. Under-the-radar program posts impressive results every season while drawing no attention from the locals. Curtis Withers is the best player you’ve never heard of, and four transfers should keep the 49ers in fighting shape.
19. Memphis. With Louisville, Cincinnati and Marquette gone to the Big East, somebody has to win Conference USA. Memphis is the pick. The Tigers are led by Darius Washington, whose missed free throws kept them out of the NCAA tournament last season.
20. Illinois. Dee Brown and James Augustine are nice building blocks. They were 40 percent of the nation’s best passing team, but this season they’ll need to do much more shooting. They figure to welcome the opportunity.
21. Stanford. The question here regards the health of Dan Grunfeld, son of Ernie, who wrecked his knee and essentially dashed the Cardinal’s chances last season. A fit Grunfeld would mesh nicely with point guard Chris Hernandez.
22. Syracuse. Gerry McNamara is still around, and so is Jim Boeheim. Those are two compelling reasons to like the Orange, which is without the estimable Harrick Warrick. A third reson: freshman shooter Eric Devendorf.
23. Washington. Mini-guard Nate Robinson left for the NBA, but last season’s surprise No. 1 seed isn’t about to fade into the Western woods. Freshman Jon Brockman should be a force underneath, and Brandon Roy is an effective wing.
24. West Virginia. The Mountaineers probably overachieved during their run to the Elite Eight and could be exposed in the beefed-up Big East. But shooting center Kevin Pittsnogle seems reason enough to include WVU in the Top 25.
25. Maryland. The Terps missed the NCAA and were among last season’s most disappointing teams. Gary Williams doesn’t like to be disappointed. Look for the Terps to be re-energized, or for their coach to be even madder than usual.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Tech / ACC, UGA / SEC
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By GERARD SMITH
November 8, 2005 10:28 AM | Link to this
COME ON, NO UNC IN THE TOP 25??????????????
By Norcross/Duke Blue Devils
November 8, 2005 11:13 AM | Link to this
Duke is loaded this year with all the freshman talent and of course Redick and Williams. The scary thing is that they already have 3 bigtime players for next season and Duke will be looking strong for a national title for the next several years to come. McRoberts, Paulus, Boateng, and Boykin are going to be 4 great players. Mix them with the 3 for next season and you have a national title contender. whats also scary is that North Carolina’s class for next season might be on of the best ever. They have fab 5 written all over them.
LETS GO DUKE!
and Norcross
By GDAWG
November 8, 2005 11:37 AM | Link to this
Damn basketball season is starting. Time for the hard questions to be answered. How many halves in a game? How many points do you get for making a three pointer? True or False: If you have more points than the other team with no time on the clock can you count that as a win? Thank you Michael Adams for bringing the Harricks to UGA. We have become a basketball dynasty with your cronies.
By Brendan Clark
November 8, 2005 04:19 PM | Link to this
I think that this years Duke team will be remembered as the best college basketball team ever!!
By The REAL G-DAWG
November 8, 2005 10:47 PM | Link to this
I’m a DAWG alum / SEC fan livin’ on Tobacco Road near Rollywood NC. I’ve adopted NC State as my fave ACC team & can’t believe the Pack ain’t in your top 25. I severely dislike the Crapple Hill types from PSUNC (Peoples’ Socialist University of North Carolina) and the Dookies from UNJD (University of New Jersey-Durham) and still root for the SEC in all head-to-head games with the ACC unless it’s against the Gaytors. I especially love it when UK whips the Tarholes (which will happen AGAIN this year).
By wes
November 9, 2005 07:13 PM | Link to this
I hate duke.
By mtraininjax
November 9, 2005 10:10 PM | Link to this
Mark,
Running from your usual football columns? Think basketball can save you? Never! You better work on getting the tidliwinks coverage, stick to what you are good at!