By Steve
Apel
Wednesday, December 11th, 2002
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Maryland, Kansas, and Duke. These three teams last year
were all loaded with experience, talent, and great coaching. If any of these
squads were still intact, they would be the unanimous preseason No. 1. This
year, no team comes close to these three, therefore leaving a huge change
in the landscape of college basketball.
Arizona
Everybody's preseason pick to be champs. Didn't lose anybody from a Sweet
16 squad a year ago and returns arguably the best point guard in the nation
in Jason Gardner. Luke Walton gets way too much publicity --
he's a good role player, anything but a star. Need someone other than Gardner
to average 15+ a game (Channing Frye, Rick Anderson?). The
Cats are so loaded it could be hurtful to the team. Hassan Adams has
to be on the court, as does Salim Stoudamire and Will Bynum.
Duke
Another year, another amazing recruiting class for Coach K. Youth
could be their biggest advantage and downfall this season. Chris Duhon
needs to average 15-5-5. Whether or not J.J. Redick is on will impact
the outcome of many games. The consistency of Shavlik Randolph and
Shelden Williams will make or break the Dukies.
Pittsburgh
Brandin Knight gets the most pub, but this a team full of solid players.
Julius Page and Donatas Zavackas are highly underrated. The
Panthers won't surprise anybody this year (No. 4 ranking). They won't find
out if they are for real or not until games versus Georgia and Notre
Dame.
Alabama
This is a big, athletic squad with two All-Americans in Mo Williams
and Erwin Dudley. If you think those two are enough of a problem,
throw in Kenny Walker. When they play to their capabilities, they
are unbeatable (ask the Sooners). Williams is a top-five point guard
in nation, and there is no reason why they shouldn't be in the Final Four.
Oregon
They have the best duo in nation with Luke Ridnour and Luke
Jackson. The Lukes can't have an off-night for the team to have success.
Good role players in James Davis and Andre Joseph. The Ducks'
downfall is their big men -- the trio of Jay Anderson, Robert
Johnson, and Brian Helquist won't cut it. If they play well,
Ernie Kent and the Ducks will battle the 'Zona for the Pac-10 title.
Indiana
Scariest team in the country. No one wants a piece of Tom Coverdale
and the Hoosers. They boast talent at every position with George Leach
and Jeffrey Newton handling the load down low. Bracey Wright
is a great freshman (19 ppg), as well. If Wright doesn't hit the wall, Mike
Davis' team will win the Big 10. Coverdale is proving his hype, and nobody
wants this team in March.
With so many good teams, it is as wide open as ever in college basketball.
You must have great guard play to win a title (sorry, Duke and Pittsburgh).
Therefore, teams like Arizona and Oregon jump to the top. Consistent big
men make or break a team's title chances (great for 'Bama and Indiana).
My Final Four picks: Arizona, Oregon, Indiana, and Alabama.
All four have great point guards, as well as a pretty consistent supporting
cast. Jason Gardner has been waiting four years for a title and Indiana is
still running off of the steam they had from last year's tourney run. Indiana
will come up short because 'Zona has too many talented players. Walton and
Gardner will get redemption and win the title in '03. The road to the finale,
however, will prove to be a long and entertaining one!
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