AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > April > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US15 to watch in 2008
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Any ranking of next season’s best teams is based on assumptions, only some of which will be borne out.
Example: If Florida’s frontcourt of Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer returns to school yet again, the Gators would be No. 1 yet again. But the guess is that all three will leave, which is why Florida doesn’t appear on this list.
1. Kansas
Assumption: That Brandon Rush and Julian Wright will return.
Prognosis: The Jayhawks were the nation’s most talented team this season and will be again.
2. North Carolina
Assumption: That only Brandan Wright will leave early.
Prognosis: The Heels were the nation’s second-most talented team this season and will be again.
3. Ohio State
Assumption: That only Greg Oden will leave early.
Prognosis: Mike Conley Jr. will vie with North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough for player of the year.
4. Memphis
Assumption: That no one will leave early.
Prognosis: The hugely gifted Tigers will get a major boost from incoming point guard Derrick Rose.
5. UCLA
Assumption: That Arron Afflalo will again return.
Prognosis: The offensively-challenged Bruins should find a scoring option in 6-foot-9 signee Kevin Love.
6. Southern Cal
Assumption: That Nick Young will return.
Prognosis: Even if Young leaves, the Trojans’ ascent will continue with the arrival of O.J. Mayo.
7. Louisville
Assumption: That Rick Pitino won’t take the Kentucky job.
Prognosis: Whoever coaches Kentucky will have the second-best team in the Commonwealth.
8. Georgia Tech
Assumption: That Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton will stay.
Prognosis: If the Yellow Jackets lose 12 games next season, someone will have gone wrong.
9. Tennessee
Prognosis: That Bruce Pearl won’t take the Kentucky job.
Assumption: The young and swift and dauntless Vols are growing up around Chris Lofton.
10. Kansas State
Assumption: That Bob Huggins won’t scare anybody off.
Prognosis: Rising program gets a double boost from arrival of Michael Beasley and return of Bill Walker.
11. Georgetown
Assumption: That Roy Hibbert will leave but Jeff Green will return.
Prognosis: The huge Hibbert would be missed, but Green started as a low-post player and could return.
12. Villanova
Assumption: That Jay Wright won’t take the Kentucky job.
Prognosis: Smallish Scottie Reynolds could be the Big East’s leading scorer next season.
13. Texas
Assumption: That Kevin Durant will leave early.
Prognosis: D.J. Augustin figures to be Mike Conley Jr.’s only rival as the nation’s leading point guard.
14. Duke
Assumption: That Josh McRoberts is gone.
Prognosis: Kyle Singler, another blue-chip Duke recruit, actually might not be overrated.
15. Arkansas
Assumption: That Frank Broyles won’t coach the team.
Prognosis: Dana Altman, named Monday as Stan Heath’s successor, will inherit a roster laden with size and seasoning.
The next wave 16. Indiana, 17. Maryland, 18. Michigan State, 19. Washington State, 20. Alabama 21. Marquette, 22. Oklahoma State, 23. Stanford, 24. Nevada, 25. Georgia.
Next year’s George Mason (Even though there really wasn’t one this year): Davidson. Sophomore-to-be Stephen Curry stands to lead the nation in scoring before he’s through.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley, Quick Hit
Comments
By Billy
April 3, 2007 1:42 AM | Link to this
Believe it or not, Mark (and you won’t…), Texas A&M will be every bit as good as Texas, if not Kansas. Acie Law was a great player, but Billy Gillespie has a great nucleus to combine with some pretty impressive freshmen coming in.
Of course, your list is filled with East Coast teams along with USC (we can’t forget OJ Mayo!), Kansas State (Bob Huggins will sign enough thugs to win), and Texas (with Durant gone, they won’t sniff the Sweet 16).
That being said, I love the articles.
By David Duncan
April 3, 2007 2:22 AM | Link to this
Ga Tech should not have made the list. Even though Ga Tech will have top ten talent, Paul Hewitt will coach them to 14 losses in 2007-2008.
By Chico4KSU
April 3, 2007 2:51 AM | Link to this
You have no idea how happy this article made me!
By Mike K.
April 3, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
UGA over Syracuse? Football yes, but not in basketball, even with the cupcake schedule the ‘Cuse has out-of-conference.
By MJ
April 3, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
Georgia Tech (horrible coaching), Duke (not enougth talent), Arkansas (not enough talent) and Texas (no Kevin Durant) should not have been on this list.
By Steve Conway
April 3, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
I just have a comment in regards to the Memphis Tigers. While I agree they will be top 5 next season, I think you have them underrated at #4.
The Tigers have gone to back-to-back Elite 8’s and return ALL 5 starters for 06-07 as well as the #1 point guard in the nation, Derrick Rose.
Anyways, just wanted to throw out my opinion on the matter.
By GC
April 3, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this
Heh. Oregon completely destroys USC in the PAC-10 Tourney, advances to the round of eight, is only losing one starter to graduation and you don’t even see them as one of the top four PAC 10 teams next year. PST games must be past your bedtime, huh?
By GT80
April 3, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this
I love how people are trashing Paul Hewitt. I guess Coach K and Lute Olsen are also horrible coaches since their teams that were supposed to be good and were ranked higher than Tech all year finished worse then Tech did. I will be happy next year when Bradley’s prediction is true and the critics of Hewitt can eat their words.
By Jayhawker Dawn
April 3, 2007 11:04 PM | Link to this
Sweet!!
By Jayhawk Dawn
April 3, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this
Sweet!!