The Only College Basketball Preview of Importance

Here it is as the college basketball season tips off this week, we give you a college basketball preview and we will do the top games of the week on Sunday, and give you my thoughts/analysis as that seems like the only way to do it and maybe a new one for Saturday/Sunday. So this will give you key players, key games, and a breakdown of each team.

1. North Carolina (ACC)- Key Players: Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Tyler Zeller, and Danny Green. Key Games: vs. Kentucky, Maui Invitational, at Michigan State, at Wake Forest, vs/at Miami (1/17, 2/15), at/vs Duke (2/11, 3/8). I think the Tar Heels could very well run the table as they have their best team since 2005 and they might go unbeaten although the ACC always. I think they lose two games at best and are my favorites for NCAA champions.

2 Connecticut (Big East)- Key Players: Jerome Dyson, Hasheem Thabeet, Jeff Adrian, A.J. Price. Key Games: Paradise Jam, at Gonzaga, vs. Georgetown, vs. Villanova, at/vs Notre Dame (1/24, 2/28), at Louisville, vs/at Pittsburgh (2/16, 3/7), at Marquette. Whenever the Huskies have big expectations they usually live up to it the big thing will be if this UConn team will play like they give a shit unlike the team who lost to George Mason who had all the talent in the NCAA.

3 Louisville (Big East)- Key Players: Terrence Williams, Jerry Smith, Edgar Sosa, Earl Clark, and Samardo Samuels. Key Games: at Minnesota, vs. Kentucky, at Villanova, vs/at Notre Dame(1/12, 2/12), vs. Pittsburgh, vs. Connecticut, at Georgetown, vs. Marquette. I would label the Cardinals as the favorite of the Big East with most of their big games at home and I really like the makeup of this team, the second team in my Final Four.

4. UCLA (Pac-10)- Key Players: Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, and Jrue Holiday. Key Games: 2k Sports Classic, at Texas, at/vs USC (1/11, 2/4), vs. /at Arizona State (1/17, 2/12), Notre Dame (2/7). I think the Bruins are bit overrated, granted they play in a rather weak conference but they really dont have much power in the front court.

5. Michigan State (Big 10)- Key Players: Raymar Morgan, Goran Suton, Kalin Lucus, and Chris Allen. Key Games: Old Spice Classic, vs. North Carolina, at Texas, vs. Kansas, at Purdue, vs. Wisconsin. The Spartans have a pretty light schedule in the Big 10 only have to playing the top-tier one time instead of two and I think they could be a Final Four contender as they have a good mix of great guard play and Suton is a beast in the middle.

6. Pittsburgh (Big East)- Key Players: DeJuan Blair, Levance Fields (8th year?!), Sam Young. Key Games: at Georgetown, at Louisville, at Villanova, Notre Dame, at/vs. Connecticut (2/16, 3/7), Marquette. I thought MU's Big East schedule was bad, yikes the Panthers play alot of their big games on the road which might hurt them in the regular season standings but they will be a strong team come the tournament.

7. Texas (Big 12)- Key Players: A.J. Abrams, Connor Atchley, Damion James, Dexter Pittman. Key Games: Maui Invitational, vs. UCLA, vs. Villanova, vs. Michigan State, at Wisconsin, at/vs. Oklahoma (1/12, 2/21) , at Kansas. They will be battling the Sooners for the top spot in the Big 12 but Abrams is a dangerous player for them, a favorite to be in the running for playof the year this year. I expect big things from the Longhorns.

8. Notre Dame (Big East)-Key Players: Luke Harangody, Kyle McAlerney, Ryan Ayers, Tory Jackson. Key Games: Maui Invitational, Georgetown, at/vs Louisville (1/12, 2/12), vs/at Connecticut (1/24, 2/28), vs. Marquette, at Pittsburgh, at UCLA, and vs. Villanova. I think the Irish are too high as I think they will finish middle of the Big East because I believe Harangoody as my pops says, "He's only good when he gets refs that let him get away with things inside." Completely agree.

9. Gonzaga (WCC)- Key Players: Josh Heytvelt, Austin Daye, Matt Bouldin, Jeremy Pargo, and Micah Downs. Key Games: Old Spice Classic, at Arizona, vs. Connecticut, at Tennessee, vs/at St. Mary's (1/29, 2/12). Lots of people think the Zags are the real deal this year and believe this could be their year for the Final Four. I think they have some of the best big men in the nation and that will keep them in the top 10 all year.

10. Duke (ACC)- Key Players: Nolan Smith, Gerlad Henderson, Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, and Greg Paulus. Key Games: 2k Sports Classic, at Purdue, vs. Davidson, at/vs Wake Forest (1/28, 2/22), vs. Miami, vs/at North Carolina (2/11, 3/8). The Dukies were unimpressive against Rhode Island but its still very early in the season. I think Duke will contend for a top 3 spot in the NCAA tourney but they wont smell the ACC Championship from the Tar Heels.

11. Purdue (Big Ten)- Key Players: E'Twaun Moore, Robbie Hummel, Keaton Grant. Key Games: Preseason NIT, vs. Duke, vs. Davidson, vs/at Wisconsin (1/11, 1/27), at Michigan State. As I said before, the Big 10 isnt great this year and there are really only three teams that provide true threats. I think they wont do much in the NCAA tourney.

12. Oklahoma (Big 12)- Key Players: Blake Griffen, Willie Warren, Cade Davis, Tony Crocker. Key Games: Preseason NIT, vs. USC, at/vs Texas (1/12, 2/21), vs. Kansas. I really like the Sooners chances to be dangerous in the Tourney and all year because Blake Griffin is good enough to carry his team on his shoulder plus Warren is a freshman stud. Exciting year in the Big 12.

13. Memphis (C-USA)- Key Players: Tyreke Evans, Shawn Taggart, Doneal Mack, Antonio Anderson, Robert Doizer. Key Games: at Georgetown, vs. Syracuse, at Tennessee. They are the basketball version of BYU, or Utah because they barely play anyone in their conference so if they get it done against their two tough non-conference opponents. Also look for Tyreke Evans, he will have a huge year for the Tigers this year.

14. Tennessee (SEC)- Key Players: Tyler Smith, Scotty Hopson, J.P. Prince, Wayne Chism. Key Games: vs. Marquette, at Kansas, vs. Gonzaga, vs. Memphis, vs/at Florida (1/31, 3/1). The SEC is about as weak as an 80 year old man. The Vols really should roll through the whole season minus the Gators they really have nothing to worry about. When it comes to tourney, they are a sweet 16 team at best.

15. Arizona State (Pac-10)- Key Players: James Harden, Ty Abbott, Jeff Pendergraph. Key Games: at USC (1/15, 2/12) at UCLA (1/17, 2/15). The Sun Devils schedule is very tough in the Pac-10 because both times they play USC, UCLA, and Arizona all in the road on the road then at home in that same fashion. James Harden will be a star this year though.

16. Marquette-SEE ARTICLE

17. Miami (FL) (ACC)- Key Players: Jack McClinton, Dwayne Collins, Eddie Rios, Brian Ashbury. Key Games: at Kentucky, at/vs North Carolina (1/17, 2/15), vs. Wake Forest, at Duke. Their schedule isnt that intimidating for an ACC one and their non-conference is pretty soft. Dont be surprised if the U hangs around the top 10 for most of the year, they remind of the classic "After Duke-UNC" ACC power.

18. Florida (SEC)- Key Players: Nick Calathes, Dan Werner, Walter Hodge. Key Games: CBC Classic, vs. NC State at/vs Tennessee (1/31 3/1). Really nothing too exciting about their schedule, they are still a young team whose maybe a year away from being real good but because of their poor conference, they will be in the top 15 battling it out when Tennessee for the SEC crown.

19. USC (Pac-10)- Key Players: Dwight Lewis, Taj Gibson, DeMar DeRozen, Daniel Hackett. Key games: at Oklahoma, vs./at UCLA (1/11, 2/4) vs./at Arizona State (1/15 2/15). Man to think if OJ Mayo would have stayed another year, no matter what they still have a very good sqaud and I think they will be the second-best Pac-10 maybe push the Bruins for that top spot.

20. Wake Forest (ACC)- Key Players: Al-Faroug Aminu, James Johnson, Jeff Teague, Tony Woods. Key Games: Old Spice Classic, vs. North Carolina, vs./at Duke (1/28 ,2/22), at Miami. The Demon Decons welcome a great freshman class with Aminu and Woods who figure to carry the scoring load but the question is will this young team be able to handle the rigor of an ACC season?

21. Davidson (Big South)- Key Players: Stephan "Badger Killer" Curry, Andrew Lovedale, Brendan McKillop, Bryant Barr: Key Games: Preseason NIT, at Purdue, at Duke, vs West Virigina. Can they repeat the success they had last year? Who knows but what I do know is Stephan Curry will be right up there for Player of the Year and I think he will handle being the point guard just fine.

22. Georgetown (Big East)- Key Players: Jessie Sapp, DaJaun Summers, Greg Monroe, Austin Freeman, Chris Wright. Key Games: vs. Memphis, at Connecticut, vs Pittburgh, at Notre Dame, at Duke, at/vs. Marquette (1/31, 2/21), vs. Louisville, at Villanova. The Hoyas get the luxury of only playing one of the top 25 teams twice but they still face a tough beginning of the year with a young squad. Watch out for Greg Monroe, he will be a stud.

23. Villanova (Big East)- Key Players: Scottie Reynolds, Dante Cunningham, Corey Stokes. Key Games: vs. Texas, at Marquette (1/1, 2/10), vs. Louisville, at Connecticut, vs. Pittsburgh, vs. Georgetown, at Notre Dame. Watch out for the Wildcats, they might not be that much of a factor in the Big East but I think when you get to the tournament, they will be a very strong team and a true sleeper when they are a 6 or 7 seed.

24. Kansas (Big 12)- Key Players: Sheron Collins, Cole Aldrich, Quintrell Thomas. Key Games: CBE Classic, at Arizona, vs. Tennessee, at Michigan State, at Oklahoma, vs. Texas. The defending national champs look like most of the teams recently that win championships as they have little to none coming back. I think the Jayhawks will get the tournament and be alright in the Big 12.

25. Wisconsin (Big Ten) Key Players: Marcus Landry, Jason Bohannon, Trevon Hughes. Key Games: Paradise Jam, at Marquette, vs. Texas, at/vs Purdue (1/11, 1/27), at Michigan State. The Badgers are nowhere near the team they have had the last couple of years but they are still in the top-tier of the Big 10, look for them to make the tourney but no real noise.

Other Teams to Watch
St. Mary (WCC)
Baylor (Big 12)
Xavier (Atlantic 10)
UNLV (MWC)
Syracuse (Big East)

It should be a great year.

-Charlie. *There may be some spelling errors from 20-25, the computer wouldnt let me spell check sorry*