The Five Most Interesting Players in Basketball Right Now

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook
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Is there anyone more fascinating in sports right now than Russell Westbrook? With Kevin Durant missing extended time this season, Westbrook has stepped up this year, especially recently. The 2015 All-Star Game MVP has average a triple-double over the last five games with 30.6 points per game, 11.8 assists per game, and 10.6 rebounds per game. In the last two games alone, he has taken 70 shots and 30 free throws. He has not been a one-man wrecking crew (Serge Ibaka has averaged 17.2 points and 9.0 boards and Enes Kanter has averaged 15.8 points and 9.0 rebounds over the last five games), but he has been playing on a whole another level. While that has not translated to wins, OKC lost the last two games where Westbrook had over 30 shots, it has made Westbrook mesmerizing to watch.

Any of the Top Players on Kentucky

Devin Booker. Willie Cauley-Stein. Aaron Harrison. Andrew Harrison. Dakari Johnson. Marcus Lee. Trey Lyles. Karl-Anthony Towns. Tyler Ulis. Take your pick of any of these nine players as the most interesting on the team and, therefore, one of the most interesting in all of men's college basketball. If I were to pick one, I may pick Trey Lyles because he was the number two power forward in the Class of 2014 recruiting class, yet he is the starting small forward on the Wildcats and is playing the position at an exceptionally high level. Or Willie Cauley-Stein, the junior, who has come into his own on the offensive end of the court. Or Karl-Anthony Towns, the elite freshman who is dominant when he plays, evident by his per 40 minutes and per 100 possession stats. Or Devin Booker, who is a really good player who can score the basketball. Even players who are not currently on Kentucky but were previouslyare some of the most fascinating (a.k.a. Kyle Wiltjer of Gonzaga, the former Kentucky player and National Champion, who transferred after winning the 2012-13 SEC Sixth Man of the Year and is now one of the best players in the country).

Nina Davis

Nina Davis
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The best player on the one of the best teams in women's college basketball, Nina Davis is an intimidating threat in the post. The Baylor sophomore is averaging 20.6 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game. Baylor was 26-1 heading into this week. However, they lost to Oklahoma 68-64 on Wednesday and to Iowa State 76-71 today. Both are good teams, but they are not on Baylor's level. Davis had 20 points and 11 rebounds against the Sooners and  16 and 5 against the Cyclones. While she played well in these games, she needs to keep up the good work. The Bears have one more game against Texas Tech before the conference tournament. They are going to need big games out of Davis to be successful in the conference tournament before going to the NCAA Tournament. If they lose against Texas Tech and/or in the conference tournament, the Bears may be in for an upset early in the NCAA Tournament.

Reggie Jackson

Jackson, the former disgruntled Thunder backup, is now running point in Detroit. Even with a 23-36 record, the Pistons are only one game out of the eighth seed in the east and have the talent with big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, and Jackson to be a tough eight seed. For them to reach the playoffs, Jackson has to play like the player he believes he is. In his four games for Detroit, he has 16.0 points per game, 6.5 assists per game, and 5.3 rebounds per game in 32.3 minutes of action. However, his PER is 12.3, he shot a dismal 5-24 against the Knicks on Friday, and then shot 4-12 on Saturday and played less minutes than backup Spencer Dinwiddie. While Jackson wants to be the man, he has to take a backseat to Drummond and Monroe and work with them. He can be main guard, but he has to allow Drummond and Monroe to be "the guys" on the team. If he can do this, the Pistons should be the eight seed. But it is easier said than done with Jackson, making this a fascinating storyline for the rest of year.

Jahlil Okafor

Jahlil Okafor
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Okafor is one of the two best players in college basketball with Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky. What makes Okafor a more interesting player is that he is a freshman, the projected number one pick in the NBA Draft, and his amazing skill set. If you watched Duke's game vs. Virginia on Wednesday, you saw the greatness of Okafor. He scored 30 points on 13-18 shooting (albeit 4-9 from the charity stripe) and nine rebounds. He dominated and manhandled the Hokies in the post. Okafor was absolutely unstoppable. While he was not as great against Syracuse today, he still managed to score 14 points and grab 13 boards. Okafor did shoot only 1-7 from the free throw line, which seems to be his only liability. Okafor is going to make a name for himself as the calendar turns to March

Five Thoughts On College Basketball Heading Into Conference Play

Wisconsin's Other Star

Nigel Hayes
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Heading into the season, Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky was the big name in college basketball and a Wooden Award favorite. While Kaminsky has been great, his teammate Nigel Hayes has also been fantastic. Hayes, a sophomore and 2013-14 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, has taken advantage of his inclusion into the starting lineup to become a double-double threat along with Kaminsky. Hayes averages 12.2 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game. Hayes is the key to the team's success. In the Badgers' one loss against Duke, Hayes struggled from the field and was in foul trouble. Hayes is a great player who works very well with Kaminsky. The two of them, along with Sam Dekker and Treavon Jackson, will look to bring Wisconsin back to Final Four.

Missouri Valley Conference

The Missouri Valley Conference currently has two team ranked in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll (Wichita State Shockers and Northern Iowa Panthers) along with two other ten win teams (Evansville Purple Aces and Loyola Ramblers). These four teams all have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament, along with a possible dark horse team who may win the conference tournament. While Wichita State is the more well known team, Northern Iowa has been the better team so far. The Panthers only loss was a double overtime loss against VCU. However, they will have a major challenge forthcoming, as the Panthers first two conference games are against Evansville and Loyola.

Syracuse

Jim Boeheim and Rakeem Christmas
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Jim Boeheim's Orange are currently at 8-4 (with one more game before conference play). Those four losses are the most for the Orange to start a season this century. This is the first season in a while in which Syracuse is not a guarantee for the NCAA Tournament. That does not mean that it would be shocking if the Orange missed the Tournament. They have missed the tournament three times this century (2001-02, 2006-07, and 2007-08). This team does have the potential to make it the Tournament. Senior Rakeem Christmas has taken his game to a whole new level this year. Christmas's point average has increased by about 11 points from this year to last (5.8 to 16.5). His major offensive improvement, along with his ability to rebound (8.7 per game) and defensive presence (2.3 blocks per game). Christmas and Chris McCollough (11.5 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game) form a very good big man partnership. The Orange have talent, but they will need to win games to be successful. 

Kentucky 

The hype is real for this year's Kentucky team. They are loaded with talent and have looked unbeatable. Not only have the won all 13 of their games by more than eight points, but they have defeated three teams who were ranked within the Top 6 in the AP Poll at the time they faced them. Even with the loss of junior Alex Poythress, the Wildcats have a great players. They have big men, point guards, and wing players. There is a strong possibility that Kentucky will go undefeated throughout the SEC and possibly the rest of the season. With all of their talent, they can win while three, maybe four or five, of their best players have an off day. If a team defeats the Wildcats, it will be a shocking upset.

Deleware and Central Arkansas 

Kyle Anderson
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The Delaware Blue Hens and Central Arkansas Bears are the only two Division I teams left with losing records. Both programs currently sit at 0-10. Delaware has had more chances to get rid of the zero in the win column. In Delaware's most recent game against Robert Morris, the Blue Hens had a come back at the end, but still lost 84-81. Central Arkansas, on the other hand, has had only one of it's loss margins within ten points (74-68 loss against Southeast Mississippi State). This season has to be a disappointment for Delaware more-so than Central Arkansas. The Bears have never had a winning season since becoming a Division I program. Delaware not only had a winning record last season, they made the NCAA Tournament. With that being said, Delaware did lose it's top four scorers from last year (three graduated, one kicked out of program) and it's fifth leading scorer (and only senior this year) Kyle Anderson was injured for the first seven games of the year. While I do not expect either of these teams to remain winless, I do not expect them to be close to breaking .500 either. 

Rants, Rumblings, Raves, and Such on this year's NCAA Tournament

First Round Games To Watch

• #4 San Diego State vs #13 New Mexico State: New Mexico State has the potential to pull off the upset of the first round.
• #5 Cincinnati vs #12 Harvard: This is Harvard's third consecutive tournament and this may be their best team. Last year, they upset New Mexico, then a three seed. Sean Killpatrick and Cincinnati will have a tough time with the Crimson.
• #5 VCU vs #12 Stephen F. Austin: Stephen F. Austin hasn't lost since late November (Another way to put it: They have not lost in 28 games). This matchup was the toughest for me to make in my bracket.
• #6 Baylor vs #11 Nebraska: I really want to see how well Baylor plays. If they dominate, they will be a team to watch for though out the tourney.
• #6 UNC vs #11 Providence: Providence has the chance to shock a lot of people by upsetting the Tar Heels. This should be a good game.
• #8 Gonzaga vs #9 Oklahoma State: A great matchup that has two teams that have the prestige and talent to make ti deep into the tournament.

Great 1 vs. 8/9 Matchups for Round of 32

Shaq Goodwin
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This year features the strongest eight and nine seeds in a long time. Kentucky, the #8 seed in the Midwest, was the preseason number one. Oklahoma State, the #9 seed in the West, was once ranked in the top six teams in the country. Gonzaga, the #8 seed in the West, won the WCC Regular Season and Tournament and was ranked for more then half of the season. Memphis, the #8 seed in the East, was never fell out of the rankings an beat Louisville twice and Oklahoma State once. Colorado, George Washington, Kansas State, and Pittsburgh are also good teams. Off all these teams, Oklahoma State is being considered the most likely to upset a one seed in the Round of 32. However, I think that Memphis has a great chance of upsetting Virginia in their possible match-up. Memphis is a good team that has a lot of upset potential. If they beat Virginia, Joe Jackson or Shaq Goodwin will have had a fantastic game. Oklahoma State has a chance to beat Arizona, but that chance is not as good as people are making it out to be. 

Sim Bhullar and New Mexico State

Sim Bhullar may be the most intriguing player (and prospect) playing in the NCAA Tournament. Bhullar is a sophomore and is 7'5", 360 pounds. There is no one who can compare to his presence on the court. Bhullar does not put up astronomical numbers (He averages 10.3 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, and 3.4 blocks per game), but when he is given shots, he usually makes them. When Bhullar plays 25+ minutes and gets over eight shot attempts, the Aggies are 5-1. They need Bhullar to play well to win and I think they will pull off the upset.

Why Kansas Won't Win The Tournament

Andrew Wiggins
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Kansas will not cut down the nets in Arlington, Texas on April 7th. They would be lucky to even play in the Final Four. While they have a lot of talent, they are missing a lot of qualities of a champ. First, is their lack of upperclassman that produce. They have only two players who are upperclassman that will play in meaningful minutes during the tournament. The one senior, Tarik Black, doesn't even average 15 minutes a game. Even the Kentucky team with the five fabulous freshman during the 2011-12 season had Darius Miller, a senior, who was arguably their most important player. Not only that, their defense is mediocre, especially without Joel Embiid. Andrew Wiggins cannot cary the Jayhawks to the title, let alone the Final Four.

Ohio State and Aaron Craft

Aaron Craft is a great player. It seems like he has been a Buckeye forever. Sadly, this is going to be his final season in the college ranks. Craft is not a scorer, but there is no point guard who can run the offense and play outstanding defense better than him. If he can get his team to score and play solid defense, Ohio State could make a run.

The Sic 'Em Bears

Cory Jefferson
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The Baylor Bears have a lot of upset potential. Led by Brady Hesslip (11.8 points per game) and Cory Jefferson (13.8 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game), the Bears offense is one of the best in the nation. However, their defense is mediocre. For them to be successful, they need Hesslip, Jefferson, Isaiah Austin, Kenny Chery, Hesslip, and Jefferson all need to play at their best and each need to get close to double-digit points.

The Cyclones

Iowa State may surprise people as a three seed this is their correct placement. The Cyclones have had outstanding year that includes winning the Big 12 Tournament. Even with one of the toughest schedule in the country, Iowa State's averages 82.9 points per game, which is sixth in the country. They have three players that average over 16 points per game. They are Melvin Ejim, DeAndre Kane, and Georges Niang. If they can get at least two of those scorers hot and can play some solid defense, the Cyclones will be hard to stop. 

Predictions

• Florida cuts down the nets inside AT&T Stadium
• Arizona, Michigan State, and Duke make the Final Four
• Oregon beats Wisconsin in the round of 32
• New Mexico State reaches the Sweet 16
• Memphis and New Mexico come close, but both lose in the final minute to Virginia and Kansas respectively
• There will be early round upsets, but the later rounds will have a lot of upper seeds

2013 Champions Classic Preview

Promotion for 2013 Champions Classic
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The State Farm Champions Classic this year is incredible. Four of the top five teams in the nation will be facing off against each other today at the United Center in Chicago. The Kentucky Wildcats (#1 in the AP Poll/#1 in the USA Today Coaches Poll) will face off with the Michigan State Spartans (#2/#2) in the first game. Then, the Duke Blue Devils (#4/#4) go up against the Kansas Jayhawks (#5/#6).

KENTUCKY vs. MICHIGAN STATE

What makes the Kentucky-Michigan State match-up even more exciting is that it is between a team with freshman stars against a team of upperclassmen stars. Kentucky's freshman class this year is outstanding. They have five of the top nine recruits in brothers Aaron and Andrew Harrison, Dakari Johnson, Julius Randle, and James Young. Michigan State is based around their core of upperclassman including Keith Appling, Brandon Dawson, Adreian Payne, and Denzel Valentine. This game is going to be great. 

Julius Randle
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Player to Watch: Wildcats F Julius Randle: Randle has been very impressive through two games. He had a double-double in both games. He had 23 points and 15 rebounds against UNC-Ashville 22 points and 14 rebounds against North Kentucky. While he put up those numbers against teams that are not very good, it does show he has the potential to constantly to put up twenty and ten. The stat that I think is most telling is the amount of times he got to the line. He went to the 27 times and made 21 free throws. For him to keep up the success, he will need to keep getting to the line.

Match-Up to Watch: Spartans C Adreian Payne vs. Wildcats C Willie Cauley-Stein: I think Payne is an excellent player. If the Spartans can work the ball to him in the post and work through him, they will be successful. To stop him, Kentucky will need a good game from Willie Cauley-Stein. If Payne is not stopped, it will be a long day for the Wildcats.

Key to the Game: How will the Freshman of Kentucky play in their First Big Game: The question also surrounding young teams in any sport is how will they handle stressful and high pressure situations. This game will show us how resilient the Wildcats are and how they can handle pressure.

And The Winner Is: Kentucky: This game will be tight and will go down to the final minutes. In the end, Kentucky will make a defensive stop. 

DUKE vs. KANSAS

Again, there is more to this match-up then the fact that it involves top five teams. Kansas had the #1 player in this freshman class, Andrew Wiggins, while Duke has the #2 player in Jabari Parker. Both players are superstars. This game may be a Final Four match-up. 

Roodney Hood
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Player to Watch: Blue Devils F Rodney Hood: Hood sat out last season after transferring from Mississippi State. In his first game since March 13th, 2012, Hood played great in a 111-77 win over Davidson. He had 22 points, nine bounds, and went nine-for-ten from the field. If this is not fluke and Hood can put up numbers like that every game, him and Parker could make up the best frontcourt  in college basketball. 

Match-Up to Watch: Duke Guards vs. Jayhawks G Andrew Wiggins: Wiggins is the biggest scoring threat on this Kansas team. He was the #1 recruit for a reason. The Blue Devils need to  stop him from scoring and that job will most of the time fall to the Duke guards. Jabari Parker may also guard him, but no matter who is on him, they need to shut him down. 

Key to the Game: Duke from Beyond the Arc: Duke's offense depends on high-percentage three point shooters. Last season, the Blue Devils were 6th in the nation in three point percentage at 39.9%. They rely on the three to open up the floor for their post players and slashers. If they take and make the three, they will be in a prime position to win. 

And The Winner Is: Duke: Duke is the better team. Kansas still needs to work out some kinks and get into a rhythm. This game will not be as close as the first game of the night, but it should be competitive heading into the final ten minutes.

NCAA Tournament, NIT, and CBI Teams to Look Out For

NCAA Tournament

New Mexico

Tony Snell and Kendall Williams
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New Mexico was a surprise number three seed to many. However, that doesn't mean anything, they earned and deserve that ranking. I believe the Lobos will make the final four. They are second in the RPI (Ratings Performance Index) and ninth in the BPI (Basketball Power Index). There out of conference schedule was tough, which is always good for preparation of the the tournament. The team is led by C Alex Kirk, G Tony Snell, and G Kendall Williams. The seven-footer Kirk averages 11.9 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game. Snell is averages 12.6 ppg and when he is hot, he is hard to stop. Williams averages 13.5 ppg and 5 assists per game. They have a great team this year and will make a name for themselves in the tournament. 

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State have fallen under the radar, even as a five seed. The team is led by Big 12 Player of the Year, G Marcus Smart. Smart is the team leader in points (15.4 ppg), assists (4.2 apg), and steals (2.3 steals per game). He is also in the top three in rebounds with 5.7 per game. His sidekicks are Markel Brown with 15.3 ppg and 4.5 rpg and Le'Bryan Nash with 14.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg. Oklahoma State will surprise many people. I believe they will upset Louisville and make an appearance in the elite eight.

Bucknell

Mike Muscala
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Bucknell, the regular season and postseason champions of the Patriot League, is a good team. They are tied for the third least amount of losses with five of teams in the tournament. The Bison got an excellent draw for the tournament. They face a very beatable Butler team in the second round. Then, they will face either Marquette or Davidson. Marquette is the worst of the four three seeds. Davidson is a good team but will have a tough time with the Bison. Their team is centered around their big man, 6'11" senior Mike Muscala. He averages a double-double with 19.0 ppg and 11.2 rpg. He definitely is going to a breakout player of the tournament. Every year, there is a lower ranked seed that makes a run during the tournament. Bucknell has the skill and the schedule to be that team this year.


National Invitational Tournament

Baylor

The Bears are a really good team. They underperformed this season, going 9-9 in conference play and 17-14 overall. What really killed them was their record against teams in the top 50 of the RPI, which was 2-11. Given them a few of those wins and they are in the NCAA Tournament. Baylor is led by their three stars, F/C Isaiah Austin, G Pierre Jackson, and F Cory Jefferson. The 7'1" Austin averages 13.2 ppg and 8.6 rpg. Jefferson shoots a very high percentage from the field, .586%, and can rebound (8.3 rpg). Jackson, a senior, is the team leader in points and assists with 19.8 and 6.5 respectively. For the team to go, they need Jackson to play his best. What really gives me even more confidence the I did before is their dominating win over Long Beach State in the first round of the NIT yesterday. They won 112-66 with seven of their players scoring double digits.

College Basketball Invitational 

TaShawn Thomas
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Houston

The Houston Cougars upset the Texas Longhorns yesterday, 73-72. After the win, I have gained a lot of confidence in the team from Conference USA. Even though they are not highly ranked in the RPI or BPI, they have a good chance to make a run in the tournament. The are led by two very good scorers in Joseph Young and TaShawn Thomas. They have 17.9 and 16.7 ppg respectively. Thomas is also a great rebounder, averaging 9.5 rpg. What they will need to improve on is passing the ball. No one has more then 2.9 apt on the team. Houston may not be the best team in the CBI, but I really like the way they are playing now. 

The End of the Big East

The Big East Conference is splitting up
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Today was the last day of the Big East's regular season. This is significant because it was the last time that Big East will have regular season games. For years, the Big East was known as the best basketball conference and the worst football conference. Now, the conference is on it's last ride. After the spring sports season, the conference will be splitting up, with  members going in all different directions. Some will not be leaving for a few years, but by 2014, all but three members of current members will be playing somewhere else (and who knows if those three will stay). They already lost West Virginia before this season. The Big East is going to be missed. Here are some final thoughts on the conference. 

The Big Impact of the Big East

When the Big East began play for the 1979-80 season, there were seven teams (Boston College, UCONN, Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall, St. Johns, and Syracuse), a six-game conference season, and only three teams made the NCAA tournament. Now, there are fifteen teams, with  last season's eighteen-game conference schedule.  In 2012, nine teams made the NCAA tournament. In the 34 year history of the conference, the Big East has become the best basketball conference in the nation.

Since the founding of the Big East, conference members have won six national championships. Members have also had eighteen final four appearances. During the last 34 seasons, the Big East teams have had more then 7750 wins, compared to less then 7200 wins for the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC teams. They have also have 114 teams in the final AP Poll. Their members have always play well in the tournament. Since 1980, UCONN, Syracuse, and Georgetown all have 44+ victories in the tournament. 

What We'll Miss

Scoreboard of the 6 OT Game between 'Cuse and UCONN
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There will be a lot to miss.  Every year, more the half of the teams had a chance to win the conference and/or make a NCAA tournament run. The annual Big East Men's Basketball Tournament will be remembered as one of the better conference tournament/title games in all sports. Since 1983, Madison Square Garden, arguably the most famous arena in the world, hosted the tournament. There was no better setting. Many tournaments held multiple remarkable games that are remembered for years. One of the most memorable of games was the 6 Overtime Game between Syracuse and UCONN in the 2009 tourney. Whenever a college game heads into overtime and especially double overtime, the game will be referenced. This game has become the new "standard" of overtime games. Match ups like this will be missed.

The Big East has had many notable rivalries that have made the conference great. None are bigger then the Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry. These Big East founding members have two of three best winning percentages of teams during their Big East history. When this rivalry is remembered, Syracuse coach Jim Boehiem and Georgetown's former head John Thompson Jr and the current head coach, his son, John Thompson III will always be mentioned. These teams will definitely play again, but it will not be the same.

What will happen to UCONN, Cincinnati, and USF?

UCONN celebrating their 2011 NCAA championship,
possibly the last win by a Big East team
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There are the three teams that are currently staying in the current Big East Conference. If I am UCONN and Cincinnati, I am looking for a way to  quickly get out of the  conference.  The best fit may be leaving with the "Catholic Seven" for the new Big East. Both teams have more National Championships by themselves then any of the "Catholic Seven".  UCONN and Cincy have nine and seven NCAA appearances since 2000-01 respectively. Only three of the other seven teams are in that range of appearances since 2000-01 (Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova). They are all high profile programs that will draw fans and attention to the new conference. The problem with joining the "Big East" is that the new conference will not sponsor a football program. That may be a deal breaker. If they want a place to play where they can do both, the ACC will have an odd amount of teams (fifteen) when Maryland leaves (this includes Notre Dame, who will join the ACC in all sports except football). The conference may want to even out the number of teams to sixteen.

There is never going to be a conference like the Big East again. It changed college basketball multiple times with the performance of the teams, the innovations, the competition and the consistency of high caliber of play. The Big East will be missed by many and remembered forever.

College Basketball's Elite

This year of college basketball has been crazy. Top teams have been dropping games each week. This past week, four of the top five teams in the nation have been upset. All of the these games have been on the road. There is not one top team in the nation or a select group. There is a surplus amount of teams that could say they are the best. I believe there are four teams that can consider themselves the best team in the nation.

Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr
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The best conference in the nation is the Big Ten. They have many good teams. Two of them stand out as the best of the best. They are the Indiana Hoosiers and the Michigan Wolverines. Indiana was ranked number one at the start of the season has stayed in the top ten all year. They have two Wooden Award contenders in C Cody Zeller and G Victor Oladipo. Zeller is the best low-post player in the country. Oladipo is a great all-around player. Michigan is led by two guards, sophomore Trey Burke and junior Tim Hardaway Jr. Burke is also a Wooden Award contender and is arguably the best point guard in the nation. Hardaway Jr is a consistant wing player and always a threat to score 20+ points. The best qualities  these two teams have are that they have good role players and shoot a high percentage. Indiana has Jordan Hulls, Christian Watford, among others. Michigan has Glenn Robinson III and Nik Stauskas. Indiana and Michigan both shoot a very high percentage.

The Duke Blue Devils are a top team in Division I b-ball. As always, Coach Mike  Kryzewski has put a championship contender on the floor. The Blue Devils start with big-man Mason Plumlee. Plumlee averages a double-double per game with about 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. The Backcourt of Quinn Cook and Seth Curry is stout. Cook is a good passer-scorer and Curry is a lights-out shooter. A key piece to the puzzle is Ryan Kelly. The 6'11'' forward can stretch the floor with his outside shooting and can also rebound well. However, he is currently out with a foot injury. The Blue Devils are good without Kelly, but with him, they are a much better team.

Brandon Triche
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The Syracuse Orange are tops in the Big East and one of the top teams in the nation. They have players who are versatile and all have good skills. The team is led by senior guard Brandon Triche. Triche is a player who is just a great scorer and has improved every season at Syracuse. Michael Carter-Williams is an excellent facilitator who knows how to score. Forwards CJ Fair and James Southerland both are experienced, can score, and get boards. The Orange are definitely a team to watch out for. They have been flying under the radar for the last few weeks and will probably for a few more until the Big East tournament. By then, they could be the most productive team in the country.

These four teams may not be the best by the end of the season, but they stand out. Each team has a good nucleus of players who work well with each other. They all have good wins, and at the same time, some tough losses. Teams that are a tad below these four include: Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, and Ohio State. As the last few tournaments have showed us, it doesn't matter if your the best or not. All that matters is how well you are playing.

Top 5 Players In College Basketball So Far

After a great weekend in college basketball, the season looks to be heading into the in conference season. No more one-sided affairs between top teams and the bottom of the pack mid-majors. It is time for even match-ups between rivals with the best teams and players.  I have decided to ranked the top five players in college basketball so far. So, here are my top five players.

Jeff Withey
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Jeff Withey

Kansas' Withey made a name for himself in last year's NCAA Tournament. In last year's Elite Eight game against UNC, he had 15 points and 8 blocks. That was one of his four games in the Tournament with 7+ blocks. This year he is proving his tournament performance was not fluke. This year, he is averaging 14.1 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, and 5 blocks per game (Second in the country). He is team leader in rebounds and blocks and is second in points. He is a block shot machine. In their most recent game against then ranked #7 Ohio State Buckeyes, he led the Jayhawks to a victory with 14 points and 10 boards. Withey is a player I would love to build a college team around. He is a defensive force in the paint who can score and rebound the ball, too.

Michael Carter-Williams

Carter-Williams is the top true point guard in nation. He has had only four game where he has had less then 10 assists. He averages 12.4 points per game and 10.3 assists per game. He is the only player that currently averages 10+ assists. They need him to play well to win, evident by their most recent game, a loss to Temple. He did have 13 points, but was a dreadful 3-17 from the field and 7-15 from the line. He also only had four assists. Carter-Williams is the key to Syracuse's success this season.

Mason Plumlee
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Mason Plumlee

Plumlee is the best player on the nation's #1 ranked team, Duke. Without Plumlee, they would not have started off so well. He is averaging a double-double, with an average of 19.3 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game. He is also shooting an excellent percentage at .641%. Against the #2 ranked  Louisville, he had 17 points and 7 boards and when facing then #4 ranked Ohio State, he had 21 points and 17 rebounds, five of them offensive rebounds. He is a very good player who should be a great leader for the Blue Devils this season.


Doug McDermott

The 2012 First Team All-American returned to Creighton for his junior season and is currently lighting up the court. He is averaging 23.1 points per game (Third in the nation), 6.8 rebounds, and is shooting very efficiently. He is shooting .549 from the field, .509 from behind the arc and .873 from the charity stripe.  Facing Wisconsin, he had 30 points and 8 rebounds and when facing Cal, he had 34 points and 9 rebounds. McDermott should continue to be a top player in the country.

Cody Zeller
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Cody Zeller

Zeller is the best player on the highly ranked Indiana Hoosiers team. He currently averages 16.4 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game. He shooting percentage from the field is .626 and from the free throw line is .708. When Indiana beat Georgetown, the 7'0'' Zeller had 17 points and 8 rebounds and against UNC, he had 20 pints and 8 rebounds in the victory. Unlike the other players in this group, I believe Zeller has underperformed this season. He should have had more performances like he had against Central Connecticut State, when he 19 points and 19 rebounds. Now that he will be facing Big Ten competition game in and game out, he needs to be a real leader. I expect him to become an even better player as the season goes on. He should end the season averaging a double-double.

2012 NBA Draft

The NBA Draft happened last night at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ (Even though New Jersey does not have an NBA team anymore). The 100% sure thing in the 66th NBA Draft was Anthony Davis going #1 to New Orleans. It was a very good draft and there many interesting picks. Here is my opinion on some picks and a trade. Also, a unique fact.

Pick #18: Houston Rockets select Terrence Jones

Jones went back to Kentucky for a sophomore season and ended up winning the National Title. However, he went lower this year then he would have expected to go last year. The Rockets got a player who was forgotten throughout this process. Many of his numbers dropped during his 2nd season, but he wasn't used in the same way last season. He is a good defender and can play inside and out of the post. I believe he can be a solid NBA player. On this Houston Rockets team, he probably won't start, but will be a highly used back-up at both forward positions. 

Perry Jones III
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Pick #28 Oklahoma City Thunder select Perry Jones III 

Perry Jones III, like Terrence Jones and Pick #22 Jarod Sullenger, went back to college for his sophomore season. And, also like Sullenger, his stock and his selection time dropped due to an injury. Many NBA doctors apparently were warning teams about a meniscus problem in his knee. Jones III is a talent that, even with the knee problem, should have been drafted in the 18-24 range. Without the knee issue, he is definitely a lottery selection. He is that good. At the 28th pick, Jones III is at a spot where he might not get the money he would have expected, but he goes to winning team where he is going to get playing time. That is what he needs to grow and mature as a player. 

Pick #35: Golden State Warriors select Draymond Green

Draymond Green was a very successful college player, but his stock in the NBA draft didn't reflect college career.   He was a 1st Team All-American last season, 2011-12 Big Ten Player of the Year, and went to Final Fours 2 years in a row. The problem is that he is undersized for a power forward at 6'7. He will have to become a small forward in the NBA. He can shoot a jumper and dribble the ball well, so that will make for an easier transition. The worry for Green was he will have a trouble guarding the quicker small forwards and the power forwards will over power him in the post. I believe he can make the transition to guard small forwards, but with power forwards he would have a difficulty. Still, he will be a good player in the NBA. 

Will Barton
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Pick #40: Portland Trail Blazers select Will Barton

Will Barton is a player I really like. He is a guy that has talent and would be a bigger name if he went to a higher-profile school then Memphis. He improved in his 2 year at Memphis in almost all categories. He has improved on his shooting from the field and the line. His 3-point percentage went up, but that was because he took less shots from distance. He is a good shooting guard with strong potential. I thought Barton could have went much earlier in the draft, but I think he is in a great situation in Portland. The shooting guards on the Trail Blazers last year include: Jamal Crawford, who is a free agent, Wesley Matthews, who averaged almost 14 points a game,  and Elliot Williams, who didn't play much and also went to Memphis.  Even if Crawford comes back, Barton should get playing time and more importantly, time to develop into a very good scorer.

Pick #48: New York Knicks select Kostas Papanikolaou

The 1st European selected out of the 48-57 area, where 7 out of 9 picks were from Europe. He is one of the players in that area I really like because of his European history. In the Euroleague Finals against CSKA Moscow, he scored 18 points and led Olympiacos to an 19 point comeback to win 62-61. I always like European players that were successful in Europe. To me, it shows that they were successful in a highly-competitive league. If he improves his game in the next few years and then comes over, I would expect him to be a decent player, at least, in the NBA.

Trade: Cleveland gets: #17 Pick Tyler Zeller, Kelenna Azubuike (Not a Rookie)                            
             Dallas gets: Pick #24 Jared Cunningham, Pick #33 Bernard James, Pick #34 Jae Crowder

Tyler Zeller
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This was a trade that I thought was a little questionable from the Cavaliers side. I like Tyler Zeller and I think he can become a really good player in Cleveland. But, I think the Cavs should have given up 3 picks to get him, especially because of the deepness of the Draft. Jared Cunningham who is a good defender and gets to the foul line a lot. Bernard James served in the Air Force from 2002-08 and didn't play basketball in high school. Even though he's 27, he still is fresh and will get better. Jae Crowder is a good all-around player who will be productive in the pros. The more I look at the trade, the more I begin to understand it, but I still think 3 was a little too much. 

Same College, Same NBA Team

It seem like a lot of players who played on the same team in college heading to the same NBA training camp. #1 Pick Anthony Davis's Kentucky teammate Darius Miller was selected by the New Orleans Hornets at Pick #46. Syracuse teammates Fab Melo and Kris Joseph were picked by the Boston Celtics at 22 and 51 respectively.

NCAA Tournament Final Four

The Final Four finished up last night in The Big Easy. Both games were very good games to watch. They were exciting and electrifying. The Superdome had it's green court that was bright to the eyes. Here's a Final Four report. 

LOUISVILLE vs KENTUCKY

Anthony Davis Slams It Home
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The 1st game of the doubleheader was between rivals Louisville and Kentucky. for most of the 1st half, Kentucky held a good lead over Louisville, even though Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out for most of the period in foul trouble. At the start of the 2nd half, Louisville got on a role and tied the game at 49 with 9:31 left on the clock. Kentucky, however, couldn't be stopped as they won 69-61. Player of the Year Anthony Davis led the Wildcats with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. 






OHIO STATE vs KANSAS

Tyshawn Taylor steals the ball in the last minute
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In the 2nd Game, Ohio State started off hot while Kansas couldn't make a shot. For most of the last 8 minutes of the 1st half, Ohio State held a double digit lead over the Jayhawks. At half time, it was 34-25. Kansas came out of half time rolling. The Jayhawks tied the game a few times but they didn't take the lead until about 2 minutes were left. The lead wasn't long but they got it back retook the lead with 1:08 left in the game. With about 8 seconds left and Kansas up by 3, Ohio State passed the ball in and Tyshawn Taylor stole it but threw it away trying to pass the ball to teammate Elijah Johnson who was driving to the basket. Kansas fouled Aaron Craft. He made the 1st shot. He purposely missed the 2nd, got the rebound, and put up a shot. But, the referee called a lane violation. Kansas ran the clock out and won 64-62. Thomas Robinson had 19 points and Jeff Withey had 8 bounds and 7 blocks.


CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEW


This is the 4th time in history that 2 teams with the same 1st letter in the college name are facing off in a NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final. The previous times were between Oregon and Ohio State in the 1st ever tourney in 1939, Wisconsin and Washington State in 1941, and Kentucky and Kansas State in 1951. 


Kentucky is the definite favorite being the number 1 overall seed in the Tournament and having defeated Kansas earlier in the year by 10. They have Davis, who is expected to be the number 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.  Davis averages 14.4 points per game, 10.2 rebounds per game, and 4.6 blocks per game. Kidd-Gilchrist averages 11.9 and 7.5 rebounds per game. Terrence Jones averages 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Those 3 make up a great front court. The backcourt is just as good with Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb, and Darius Miller. This might be the team that gets John Calipari his 1st NCAA Tournament. 


Kansas's last championship game appearance was in 2008, where Bill Self's Kansas team defeated Calipari's Memphis team in OT. This year's Jayhawk team is lead by Thomas Robinson and Taylor. Robinson averages 17.7 points per game and 11.7 bounds per game. Taylor averages 16.8 points per game and 4.8 assists per game. Withey is having a great tournament. He had 10 blocks vs. NC State and 15 points vs UNC. In last night's game, Travis Releford played really well without much notoriety. He played 38 minutes, had 15 points and 6 rebounds. We can't forget Elijah Johnson, who has had 10+ points tin every game in the Tournament, and also had 10 rebounds vs. OSU.


I believe that Kentucky will beat Kansas tomorrow in the Mercedez-Benz Superdome. Kansas has played really bad in the 1st half in the Tournament and then go on to play a great 2nd half. Against Kentucky, you can't do that. That is a recipe for a loss.