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Friday, October 13, 2006
Gators start out where they left off: No. 1
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
On this weekend of Midnight Madness, we look forward to April 2, 2007, the night this college basketball season will end in our fair city. But nothing about the trek to the Georgia Dome can be viewed without recalling the odyssey of George Mason, the little team that reconfigured all existing notions of March Madness.
We know now that a mid-major can stand in with the big boys for longer than a day or a weekend, GMU having felled Michigan State (holder of two NCAA titles), North Carolina (four) and Connecticut (two) en route to the 2006 Final Four. We know that talent — UConn had it in abundance — ensures nothing. We know what we suspected all along, namely: When the Big Dance commences, nobody really knows anything.
Still, we try. Herewith is the latest attempt to know the unknowable. Herewith, the Top 25 for 2006-07:
1. Florida
• Good news: The reigning champ returns all five starters, at least four of whom have the potential to get even better.
• Bad news: The last champ to return five starters (Arizona 1998-99) didn’t reach the Final Four.
2. North Carolina
• Good news: Tywon Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Brandan Wright arrive to augment Tyler Hansbrough.
• Bad news: The Heels’ history of fitting newcomers into an existing matrix isn’t the best.
3. Arizona
• Good news: Point guard Mustafa Shakur, wing Marcus Williams and freshman Chase Budinger are big-time talents.
• Bad news: It’s been nearly a decade since this program got the most from its talent.
4. Kansas
• Good news: The starting five that fueled an improbable run to the Big 12 tournament title returns.
• Bad news: That same starting five added to the Jayhawks’ history of NCAA whiffs by losing to Bradley in Round 1.
5. Georgetown
• Good news: Roy Hibbert is one of the nation’s best centers but isn’t the best player on his team. (Forward Jeff Green is.)
• Bad news: Green led the Hoyas in assists, suggesting a lack of guards.
6. LSU
• Good news: Point guard Tack Minor returns from injury to take over for Darrel Mitchell. And the irrepressible Glen Davis has lost 40 or so pounds.
• Bad news: A not-so-Big Baby might mean less fun for all.
7. UCLA
• Good news: The ascendant Luc Richard Mbah a Moute should become one of the best players in the land.
• Bad news: Without Jordan Farmar, who left early for the NBA, there’s no true point guard.
8. Boston College
• Good news: The strong and fierce Eagles will make do without Craig Smith.
• Bad news: The strong and fierce Eagles could use a bit more quickness, as they showed in their narrow NCAA loss to Villanova.
9. Ohio State
• Good news: Not since Patrick Ewing has a big man arrived on any campus as ballyhooed as Greg Oden.
• Bad news: Oden underwent wrist surgery and probably won’t play until after New Year’s.
10. Alabama
• Good news: With Ronald Steele, Jermareo Davidson and Richard Hendix, this is the most talented SEC team after Florida.
• Bad news: Mark Gottfried has yet to do his best coaching with the most talent.
11. Georgia Tech
• Good news: Freshmen Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton are the best players on this roster.
• Bad news: The holdover Jackets, some of whom consider themselves near-stars, have to accept lesser roles.
12. Wisconsin
• Good news: Alando Tucker heads a typically rugged band of Badgers.
• Bad news: Ruggedness alone only gets you so far, and Wisconsin was outclassed in its NCAA first-round loss to sleeker Arizona.
13. Pittsburgh
• Good news: Ronald Ramon has served his apprenticeship and is ready to replace Carl Krauser at point guard.
• Bad news: Center Aaron Gray might not be ready to turn potential into production.
14. Duke
• Good news: Josh McRoberts, thought to be NBA-bound after his freshman season, is now a sophomore.
• Bad news: Point guard Greg Paulus looked overmatched in a lot of games last season.
15. Connecticut
• Good news: A.J. Price, who missed the past two seasons due to illness and suspension, is finally set to play point guard.
• Bad news: The still-gifted Huskies have to develop a nucleus after last season’s exodus.
16. Xavier
• Good news: The top seven Musketeers are back after winning the Atlantic 10 tournament title.
• Bad news: Whenever a Xavier coach wins big — Pete Gillen, Skip Prosser, Thad Matta — he leaves.
17. Syracuse
• Good news: Four starters return from the team that made such a stirring run through the Big East tournament.
• Bad news: The exception, Gerry McNamara, stirred the run pretty much by himself.
18. Memphis
• Good news: Somebody has to win the defoliated Conference USA.
• Bad news: Without Darius Washington Jr. and Shawne Williams, both gone to the NBA, the Tigers look pretty defoliated themselves.
19. Texas A&M
• Good news: Acie Law is one of the nation’s best point guards.
• Bad news: The Aggies might be getting a little too much mileage for coming close against LSU in Round 2 of the NCAA tournament.
20. Louisville
• Good news: The deluge of injuries that relegated the Cardinals to the NIT can’t possibly continue.
• Bad news: Rick Pitino’s teams rely on guards, and there’s not a standout on the roster.
21. Texas
• Good news: Forward Kevin Durant heads a recruiting class some prefer to Ohio State’s and North Carolina’s.
• Bad news: Every significant player from last season’s regional finalist is gone.
22. Villanova
• Good news: The innovative Jay Wright is the nation’s next great coach.
• Bad news: Curtis Sumpter returns from injury but might never be the same, and guard Mike Nardi had a terrible postseason.
23. Washington
• Good news: After Ohio State’s Oden, Spencer Hawes is regarded as the second-best freshman center.
• Bad news: Like Oden, Hawes will miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery.
24. Kentucky
• Good news: After last season’s flop, there’s a renewed sense of purpose attached to the Big Blue.
• Bad news: Without Rajon Rondo and Patrick Sparks, who’ll get the ball to Randolph Morris?
25. Hofstra
• Good news: This season’s George Mason beat last season’s George Mason twice and returns nine of its 11 top scorers.
• Bad news: Can anyone presume to spot a George Mason this far out?
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