College Basketball Early Season Thoughts

Only two weeks into the college basketball season and we have already seen several large upsets and thrilling finishes. We have seen a Syracuse team lose to Le Moyne in an exhibition game and then turnaround and upset #12 Cal and #4 UNC, a #17 Oklahoma team lose by double-digits to VCU, a #1 Kansas team almost lose to a rebuilding Memphis squad, and a #11 Tennessee team score 83, 124, and 105 in their first three games and then struggle to score 57 points against a below average DePaul team just to name a few. It is still an extremely young season, but here is a small taste of some early pretenders and contenders to keep an eye out for when watching games these next few weeks.

Pretenders:

#12 California Golden Bears

Pre-season the #12 Cal Bears appeared to be on their way to a solid season. They have an experienced group of players including 2 solid senior guards, Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher. So far this season, however, they have struggled to score over 70 points. Along with Randle and Christopher, Theo Robertson a junior forward are the only 3 players averaging in double-figures this season, with the #12 Cal bench scoring being sub-par. The only way to be successful at the highest level in college basketball is to have a deep bench that can give your starters a rest without letting the game slip away. It appears at this point that Cal does not have the pieces to be able to put together a serious tourney run in March.

#13 UConn Huskies

After graduating their #1 PG and #1 PF and losing their 7-ft monster center, Hashim Thabeet, to the NBA draft, there were and still are some obvious questions. They recruited well and brought in a few big men to replace their front court (Alex Oriakhi and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel), but thus far, they have been thoroughly disappointing. In the Big East, the key to victory each night is to be able to grind out the battles inside and wear out your opponent. This season so far has proven UConn does not have the ability to grind out games inside, creating a difficult challenge come January. Unless the big men inside can improve drastically, this will be a near impossible road for the huskies to return to the final four for the second consecutive year.

Contenders:

#2 Michigan State Spartans

After making a strong run in the tournament last year, only losing to UNC in the championship game, the MSU Spartans returned most of their players for, what appears to be, an encore performance in ‘09-’10. With the upperclassman leadership of G Kalin Lucas and F Raymar Morgan, this team has strong front court and back court play and poses a tough task for any opponent, regardless of size or speed. It won’t be an easy road for MSU over the next few months, because they have 2 difficult road match-ups in November and December, #4 UNC and #3 Texas. After those games, everyone will have a better idea of MSU’s actual strength, but until then, they are certainly a favorite to have a strong year and still be playing in Indianapolis in March.

#5 Kentucky Wildcats

Despite a few close games against poor opponents early this season, the Kentucky Wildcats are for real. They have balanced scoring with 5 players averaging in double-figures and decent 6th and 7th men off the bench. With their freshman sensation John Wall, they have young team, which could pose a problem come Feb. and Mar., but if Wall’s last second shot against Miami of Ohio is any indication (see below), he is playing with the composure of an upperclassman. Thus far #5 UK’s defense has been a bit spotty, which could spell trouble, but their offense is so strong, they will be able to out-score most any other team. The true test will be the first week of December when #4 UNC rolls into Lexington and then 4 days later when #5 UK takes a road trip to MSG in NY to face #13 UConn.

That’s all for now. We will see how these and many other teams improve over the next several months and re-evaluate their status as needed.

If you would like to read more from B-Dogg, visit his blog at www.sportsaholicbrian.blogspot.com.

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