INDIVIDUAL TEAM SUMMARIES AND SCHEDULES FOR 2006-07 SEASON
(2006-07 SEASON)

For select teams, I have made comments as the season progresses.

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AIR FORCE FALCONS
Colorado Springs, Colorado

[OFFICIAL] Air Force Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
The return of cNick Welch to a roster that already features fJacob Burtschi and fDan Nwaelele makes for a formidable front line; gMatt McCraw's backcourt leadership is a nice complement. The second time around with coach Jeff Bzdelik should only go smoother.

In the thin Mountain West, San Diego State is the favorite, but the Falcons will again be right there, along with BYU and UNLV.

Making it past the regional in the CBE CLASSIC (Stanford, Long Beach State) will be tough; winning the CABLE CAR CLASSIC (George Washington) won't be easy, either; beating Wake Forest might be their best bet for a name win out of conference. In league play, some of the bigger games come at home first -- that helps.

Nov 20: (#23)
The big win wasn't beating host Stanford, it was edging tough Long Beach State in the CBE CLASSIC Palo Alto regional. Getting to play young Duke on neutral ground might be the recipe for an even bigger win.
Nov 27
Rebounding is a big concern for this finesse team. They were dominated by Duke on the boards, 30-10R and were even outrebounded by Texas Tech (which has its own issues in that department). The solid win over TxT is nice, but their resume is no longer good enough for rankablility.
Jan 29
The showdown with BYU highlighted the biggest vulnerability of the Falcons -- rebouding. They lack height and the finesse style of play doesn't make the best platform for banging the boards. The box score makes it look like they're playing with all guards. Not sure there's a quick fix for this problem, either.
AKRON ZIPS
Akron, Ohio

[OFFICIAL] Akron Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
fRomeo Travis is the star; gNick Dials and fJeremiah Wood are solid supporters. This team should be able to make the jump from the NIT to the NCAAs this season.

In the balanced MAC, the Zips have more talent returning than the likes of Miami(Ohio), Ohio University and Buffalo in the East (and overall); Toledo should have its way in the West.

Don't expect them to advance in the CBE CLASSIC (Texas Tech). A win against Nevada won't happen and probably not at Oral Roberts. A BRACKETBUSTERS win would only affect their seeding; it won't earn them an NCAA bid on its own. In league play, the schedule is pretty neutral.

Feb 19
The BRACKETBUSTER win over Austin Peay plus the crushing win over Ohio U should stand the Zips in good stead. They won't get an at-large bid coming out of the MAC, but a higher seed will help loads this year.
Mar 11
What a bitter ending to the season. The Zips lost at the buzzer in the MAC final to Miami(Ohio) on a play where the clock didn't start on time and it's questionable whether the shot would have been good with correct timing. Instead, the refs gave Akron the ball with a second left to try their own miracle finish. Worse than that. The NIT didn't come knocking with a bid, either. Should have been in the NCAAs; instead, they've got nothing.
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

[OFFICIAL] Alabama Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#12)
A great inside-outside duo returns in pRonald Steele and cJamareo Davidson; add fRichard Hendrix and fAlonzo Gee provide a solid frontcourt. JC transfer Mykal Riley should help, but in the wrong area. Coach Mark Gottfried has plenty to work with, but some easy outside scoring might be a problem.

In the strong SEC, Florida is the favorite in the East (and overall); Tennessee will be right behind; in the West, LSU is the favorite with the Crimson Tide right behind; Kentucky will be ready to spoil.

It won't be easy, but expect a win at PARADISE JAM (Villanova, Xavier, Iowa, College of Charleston). Home wins over Oklahoma and Lipscomb are to be expected; road wins at Notre Dame and N.C. State will be tough. In league play, the toughest interdivision games are both on the road.

Nov 27: (#10)
Solid wins over Iowa and Xavier to take the PARADISE JAM title have the Tide on track. Rebounding inside and three-point shooting outside are slight worries. tMykal Riley may well be able to help on both accounts.
Dec 11: (#17)
pRonald Steele's ankle injury in the Notre Dame game didn't hurt the Tide against lowly Alabama State, but here we go again as far as his being less than 100% during the season. Real-world problems for cJamareo Davidson have him unable to completely focus on just hoops for the time being.
Jan 8: (#19)
Playing with only one true guard (and a hobbled one at that) has proven to be quite a liability in the Tide's two losses. There simply wasn't enough speed on the floor to get back defensively against Arkansas. Most of the other league teams won't pose that particular problem, but you can bet that will be the undoing of this team at season's end.
ALBANY GREAT DANES
Albany, New York

[OFFICIAL] Albany Men's Basketball Website

Nov 13
Three returning starters from last year's conference champs are enough to ensure another fine season. gJamar Wilson leads the way again this year. fBrent Wilson is a good second option for coach Will Brown.

In the weak America East [OFFICIAL], the Great Danes should stay ahead of veteran teams from SUNY-B, Vermont and Maine.

The win over Bucknell is a fine start. A win at Connecticut certainly won't happen, and probably not at Utah, either. VCU at home might be the only other big win they can claim. The BRACKETBUSTERS game won't get them a bid, but it will affect their seeding. In league play, the tough games are spread throughout the schedule.

Feb 12: (untracked)
No mistaking anymore that it's Vermont that's the trackable conference champs.
Mar 11
Look who's dancing after all!? Yeah, baby!
APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEERS
Boone, North Carolina

[OFFICIAL] Appalachian State Men's Basketball Website

Feb 19: (#25)
It's not just a squeak win at slumping Wichita State. That SAN JUAN SHOOTOUT victory that includes wins over Vanderbilt and Virginia looks even better now that those two teams have had fine seasons in their own right.

gD.J. Thompson, fJeremy Clayton and fDouglas McLaughlin-Williams were solid returning contributors for coach Houston Fancher. Ex-Virginia transfer Donte Minter, gNathan Cranford and gDemetrius Scott should also have been able to make additional contributions.

In the improved Southern Conference, Davidson were the class of the South Division (and overall) while the Mountaineers were Appalachian State were expected to should rule the North Division. Chattanooga, Georgia Southern and College of Charleston would do well just to spoil.

The loss at Virginia Tech was a disappointment. The win at VCU was fine. Winning SAN JUAN (Vanderbilt, Virginia) was a huge feather in their cap. In league games, tough games come on the road first.

Mar 5
Yikes. Bombing out early in the SOCON tournament could be disastrous for such a fine team. They're squarely on the NCAA bubble for an at-large bid (up against BCS big boys to boot) ... and they didn't even win the regular season title, so there's no guaranteed spot in the NIT, either. Those two big December wins over Virginia and Vanderbilt may have to save the day.
ARIZONA WILDCATS
Tucson, Arizona

[OFFICIAL] Arizona Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#16)
Four returning starters from an elite calibre program sounds like great news. Thing is, this collection of players has managed to be less than the sum of its parts. pMustafa Shakur is still around to run things -- that helps; fMarcus Williams, fIvan Radenovic and gJawann McClellan have enough talent to be first options; freshman fChase Budinger could step in and be a contributor sooner rather than later. Coach Lute Olson should have an easier time with lesser egos.

In the solid Pac-10, UCLA, revamped Washington and the Wildcats should fight for the top spot; Oregon may also be able to spoil.

Except for North Carolina, all of the out-of-conference matchups are quite attainable: Illinois (HALL OF FAME), Louisville (JIMMY V), Memphis (FIESTA BOWL), Samford and Northern Arizona; beating San Diego State (SAN DIEGO SLAM) on the road might be the toughest task. In league play, a veteran team won't have trouble with tough early road games.

Nov 13
Actually, there was more good than bad in the loss at Virginia. This year's squad is clearly a smoother offensive unit than the past few seasons. All "O" and no "D" is the reverse of what has been the problem. fChase Budinger fits right in.
Dec 4: (#14)
The solid win over (albeit depleted) Illinois is enough of a signature for the Wildcats to return to the rankings. fChase Budinger delivers every game. It'd be nice if they were as focused on defending as they are on scoring, but you take what you can get.
Dec 11: (#7)
Waiting for this team to become lockdown defenders is fruitless. They can get plenty far on their offensive talent alone. Two solid wins in the JIMMY V CLASSIC (wandering Louisville) and the SAN DIEGO SLAM (middling San Diego State) are enough to erase the moral victory loss at Virginia. They don't really have a win that warrants a Top-10 placement, but the other squads with Top-10 talent have wavered more than this bunch.
Jan 22: (#12)
The Wildcats haveing done anything two terribly wrong in losing three straight games (and four out of five) -- it's mostly that the Pac-10 is mighty tough every time out -- but they find themselves in seventh place all of a sudden. Yikes!
Jan 29: (#14)
The humiliating loss to North Carolina -- the worst ever at home for Lute Olson at UofA -- was more than just a mismatch of talent/depth. It showed that the Wildcats have no heart underneath the free-wheeling fair-weather facade. They were whipped, and they quit, and had no answers. This is why you just can't outscore people all the time.
Feb 12: (#11)
Never forget how tough a league they're in. There are big wins and big losses lurking every week. Last week's comeback win at Oregon was a big one. (But there's plenty more tough games up this week as well.)
Feb 19
Clearly the most frustrating team to put your faith in. Some lousy performances this year, in front of the home folks, no less.
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
Fayetteville, Arkansas

[OFFICIAL] Arkansas Men's Basketball Website

Nov 27: (#19)
Winning the ESPNU/OLD SPICE CLASSIC is a solid calling card for rankability. Transfer pGary Ervin (ex-Mississippi State), JuCo transfer tSonny Weems and freshman gPatrick Beverly have gelled into a fine core. Veteran fCharles Thomas is the happy recipient of the structure they provide for him and coach Stan Heath.

In the strong SEC, the Gators are the favorites in the East (and overall) with Tennessee right behind if they fall; in the West, LSU is the favorite with Alabama right behind as well; Kentucky and the Razorbacks will do well to spoil.

The ESPNU/OLD SPICE win is great. Beating Texas Tech and Oral Roberts are now to be expected. Winning at Texas won't happen. In league play, two big games come right off the bat -- Ouch!

Nov 18
Even though it wasn't technically in the normal home arena, you'd have to expect the Hogs to defeat Texas Tech in Little Rock. Instead, the Red Raiders' intensity right from the start took Arkansas by surprise and they could never match it. There are plenty of high-profile games on the schedule to restore/embellish their standing, but a return to the rankings doesn't look likely.
Jan 8: (#16)
The rout of Alabama is the marquee win that garners a ranking for the Razorbacks. The three-way attack on the perimeter with pGary Ervin, bPatrick Beverly and gSonny Weems is a nice combo. Consistent inside play from fCharles Thomas and fSteven Hill could make this squad a real contender.
Jan 22: (#18)
Forget the close loss to Georgia (which is playing well and matches up perfectly with the Hogs). This team is playing a very nice brand of ball with the three-guard attack on the perimeter and blue-collar big men in the paint. There are championship teams that have been built upon that very same mold.
Mar 11
Apparently, the run in the SEC tournament (and subsequent NCAA bid) saved Stan Heath's job. Rumor was that if the Hogs didn't make the tournament, they were going to buy out his contract.
AUSTIN PEAY GOVERNORS
Clarksville, Tennessee

[OFFICIAL] Austin Peay Men's Basketball Website

Jan 29
The rout of Samford confirms what was already apparent -- that the Governors are the form team for the OVC and not the Bulldogs. (No need to track both teams from a league this low in the power ratings.)

pDerike Wright, fDrake Reed and fFernandez Lockett are the mainstay sthat return from last year for coach Dave Loos' young squad that is mostly juniors and sophomores.

In the OVC, Samford was supposed to have top spot to themselves as most of the the rest of the league rebuilt from strong showings last season.

Nobody expected wins at Illinois or Memphis, or even Dayton. A home win over Evansville wouldn't have been out of the realm of possibility. In league play, it's been a different story, though. Getting to play Samford at home first was a big help.

Feb 12
The second win over Samford (this time on the road, no less) solidifies their position in the conference race. NIT for sure, NCAA hopefully. BRACKETBUSTERS is just for fun because they're going to get a tough NCAA seed no matter what happens in that game.
Mar 5
The heartbreaker loss to Eastern Kentucky means no NCAA tournament. But, there's still the consolation prize automatic bid to the NIT since they won the regular season title.
BELMONT BRUINS
Nashville, Tennessee

[OFFICIAL] Belmont Men's Basketball Website

Jan 1
Nearly everyone is back from last year's regular season co-champs and tournament champs. Leading the way are gJustin Hare and cBoomer Herndon as well as gJosh Goodwin. fMatthew Dotson and gAndy Wicke should be ready to step up their roles for coach Rick Byrd.

In the Atlantic Sun, both Lipscomb and the Bruins should fight it out for league supremacy; but Kennesaw State should be spoilers at least and contenders at best.

Getting out of the Nashville bracket of the NIT SEASON TIP-OFF (Tennessee) was a tall order. Winning the SHAMROCK-II CLASSIC (St. Mary's) wouldn't have been unthinkable; winning at Illinois and Michigan State was. In league play, getting the first big match at home helps.

Feb 5: (untracked)
No need to track two teams from this league. They split with East Tennessee State, but it's the Buccaneers who are in first place past the midway point of conference play.
Mar 5
Well, well. Look who had the last laugh after all (but good, too!) The Bruins rained down a barrage of three-pointers and blew out East Tennessee State (at their place, no less) and punched their own ticket once again for the NCAAs.
BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

[OFFICIAL] Boston College Men's Basketball Website

Nov 13: (#12)
The departure of fCraig Smith doesn't complete spell the end, but his shoes will be tough to fill. tJared Dudley won't have as much room to roam inside and outside without Smith to anchor the paint. tSean Marshall must move up to second option, and gTyrese Rice must mature into the roll of running the team. Freshman fShamari Spears' debut is a welcome sight for coach Al Skinner.

In the rebuilding ACC, North Carolina is the favorite; Duke, the Eagles and Maryland will fight it out for second; Georgia Tech and Florida State will do well to spoil.

Beating Michigan State (ACC-BIG 10) shouldn't be a problem; winning at Massachusetts might be; winning at Kansas is too much to expect. In league play, the schedule is pretty soft early on.

Nov 20
You've got to be kidding. A home loss to Vermont? That's a long way from rankability. And they were outrebounded to boot. Doesn't square with their first game, which seemed so promising.
Dec 11
A solid home league win over tough Maryland more than makes up for the preseason unfocused losses to Vermont and Providence. fJared Dudley can't do it all, but he'll try. Maybe pTyrese Rice has turned a corner in terms of learning the point.
Jan 15
A great start to the regular season. We'll find out the next two weeks how real is the turnaround. (What a linescore for tJared Dudley against UVa, eh?)
Jan 22
cSean Williams and fAkida McLain have been dismissed from the team. That's a big blow for a team that barely had enough pieces as it was. Williams was a major defensive presence blocking shots in the lane. Rebounding was an issue even with him on the floor. Now there's even more of a burden on versatile tJared Dudley to be a physical man on O and D.
Two road losses against league powers are all that blemish the Eagles record through the first half of conference play. That's not bad when not even North Carolina is running dominantly through the league. Five of eight games remaining are on the road. It's a tough task, but they've proven this is a tough team.
BRADLEY BRAVES
Peoria, Illinois

[OFFICIAL] Bradley Men's Basketball Website

Nov 13
Lots of talent is gone from last year's squad, so not much was expected. But the blowout win over DePaul suggests there's plenty of winning know-how still around. pDaniel Ruffin is the experienced returning starter. cZach Andrews must provide some inside presence. gJeremy Crouch appears quite ready to step up into a leading role.

In the mighty Missouri Valley, Creighton will again fight it out with Wichita State, Southern Illinois, Missouri State and Northern Iowa. The Braves may well make some noise yet again this year.

A big home win over DePaul got things off to a fine start. Winning at Illinois (CHICAGO CHALLENGE) and at Michigan State will be tougher, though. Wins at Iowa State (CYCLONE) and at home against Loyola-Illinois are more reachable. The BRACKETBUSTERS game might well be make or break for an at-large bid. In league play, there are tough games home and away spread throughout the schedule.

Nov 27
A valiant effort against Illinois won't count for much at the end of the season. This team needs real Ws if it expects to keep pace with its conferencemates. Great guardplay from gJeremy Crouch is fine, but cZach Andrews could use some more frontcourt help.
Feb 19
The road win at VCU was a big boost to their fading hopes of an NCAA at-large bid. From here, holding onto fourth place in the league standings is a minimum, as is at least a semifinal run in the conference tourney (hopefully including a win over one of the teams ahead of them on the wait list as well). Their excellent three-point shooting helps recommend them as a force to be reckoned with.
Mar 5
As good as the conference was in the preseason, fourth place and a semifinal loss most likely won't get them into the NCAAs. It's not automatic into the NIT, either; but that should at least be a consolation prize.
BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS
Provo, Utah

[OFFICIAL] Brigham Young Men's Basketball Website

Feb 29
The wins over Air Force and at UNLV legitimize their standing as contenders in the league.

fTrent Plaisted, fKeena Young, gJimmy Balderson, gRashaun Broadus and gLee Cummard form a deep cadre of returning talent for coach Dave Rose. fVuk Ivanoic (ex-Seton Hall) and gAustin Ainge were expected to contribute.

In the thin Mountain West, San Diego State were expected to best Air Force, with BYU and UNLV following closely behind.

The losses at UCLA and Michigan State were to be expected. The wins over Utah State and BYU HOLIDAY CLASSIC (Oral Roberts, Seton Hall) were noteworthy. In league play, the tougher games mostly come away from home.

Mar 5
The Cougars are definitely the most unsung "mid-major" conference champ. Everyone's so enamored with Air Force's "Princeton" offense, but the Cougs swept the Falcons and won the Mountain West going away. Pay attention.
BUTLER BULLDOGS
Indianapolis, Indiana

[OFFICIAL] Butler Men's Basketball Website

Nov 20: (#25)
The State Title upsets in the NIT SEASON TIP-OFF Indianapolis regional caught everyone by surprise. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year after losing a star frontcourt player and a couple of starting guards. But gA.J. Graves' heart, amply supported by transfer gMike Green (ex-Towson) has coach Todd Lickliter waiting until this year.

In the Horizon League, Loyola(Illinois) should be able to take control with most of the rest of the league in rebuilding mode; but the Bulldogs might have something to say about it.

Advancing to New York in the NIT SEASON TIP-OFF is already quite a feather in their cap; but don't expect any more wins. Capturing the Indiana State Title will still be difficult even though they're the early frontrunners -- beating Purdue (JOHN WOODEN) would clinch it in my book. In league play, the tough games come on the road first -- not good. The BRACKETBUSTERS game could still wind up being a knockout blow if they lose it.

Nov 27 (#6)
A couple of fluke wins in front of the home folk against in-state archrivals ... that's all it was, right? Guess again! They shook off the jitters and came back to beat Tennessee and then ruined Gonzaga's bid to be The Story of the Week in a masterful performance in the NIT TIP-OFF final. Double-overtime a day later? No problem! All kudos aside, rebounding is an issue that needs to be addressed if they want to keep overachieving. Plus, despite these upsets, they don't really shoot a great percentage from the floor or from three-point range. That could actually get better! In the meantime, no turnovers and superior free-throw shooting will do just fine, thank you.
Dec 11: (#8)
The loss to Indiana State ruins their chances to run the table for an undisputed "Indiana State Title", but it hardly erases all the juice from their previous big wins. They're still the best in the state and have generally taken care of business against teams they should beat. A poor performance against Purdue in the JOHN WOODEN TRADITION could start to make people thing the rest was all a lucky fluke run.
Dec 18: (#8)
Another neutral-site endplay win over a major conference rival cements their claim to the "Indiana State Title" (despite the road loss at Indiana State). Too bad there aren't any NCAA tournament games in Indianapolis this year (but Lexington might be just as friendly). gA.J. Graves continues to have an All-America- (and even Player of the Year)-calibre season. Without him, this team is just a bunch of parts; with him, they've achieved Top-10 results.
Jan 18: (#19)
By losing to Illinois(Chicago), the Bulldogs have allowed the regular season to become a three-way race (along with Wright State and UIC. If they actually fall out of a virtual tie for first, they won't be ranked at all. This is worrisome news for all those MVC teams eyeing an at-large bid.
Feb 12: (#18)
Losing at Wright State is big. The Bulldogs are no longer in control of the league race ... again. A NCAA bid isn't in jeopardy, but their shot at a #4-seed is probably done. A convincing win over tough Southern Illinois is about the only thing that could recover that (on top of winning out inside the league).
Feb 26: (#24)
The stumble at home against tough Loyola(Illinois) cost the Bulldogs the #1-seed in the conference tournament (and the right to host the games). That's a big misstep that may come back to haunt them. (They'll get an NCAA bid no matter what, but for such a stellar season, it'd be a shame if they didn't have a regular season or conference title to show for it.)
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
Berkeley, California

[OFFICIAL] California Men's Basketball Website

Nov 27
Winning GREAT ALASKA makes up for the loss at San Diego State. Trackability is the reward (and even rankability, for the time being). gAyinde Ubaka, cDevon Hardin and gOmar Wilkes are enough of a returning nucleus for newcomer fRyan Anderson to step in and be an instant contributor to an effective team. Freshman gJerome Randle is also expected to be a factor for coach Ben Braun.

In the solid Pac-10, UCLA, revamped Washington and Arizona will fight for the top spot; Oregon and the Bears will spoil.

The GREAT ALASKA win already great. The loss at San Diego State hurts. Beating Nevada (PETE NEWELL) won't be easy. The GOLDEN BEAR CLASSIC is a showcase at best. In league play, tough games run throughout the schedule.

Dec 27
cDevon Hardin is out 8-12 weeks with a knee injury. That doesn't ruin their season altogether, but it does lower the bar of possibility for this team to overachieve. fRyan Anderson can't do it all (try as he might).
Feb 5: (untracked)
In a league this tough, you can't afford injuries or a two-week slide like the Bears have been on. No reason to continue to track this team. NIT.
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE BLUE DEVILS
New Britain, Connecticut

[OFFICIAL] Central Connecticut State Men's Basketball Website

Feb 12
Why deny the obvious, child? These Blue Devils have been the form team for the league from early on in the regular season. Last year's league runners-up had to replace a lot of talent, but pTristan Blackwood, fObie NWadike and gJaiver Mojica have stepped up for coach Howie Dickenman.

In the weak Northeast [OFFICIAL], Monmouth was supposed to battle Sacred Heart, Fairleigh Dickinson, Robert Morris and Long Island for supremacy.

Winning the JOHN THOMPSON CHALLENGE-A (Michigan, Davidson) wasn't likely to happen. Even at home, beating Massachusetts would have been unexpected. Beating Vermont wasn't outside the realm of possibility, but it didn't happen. In league play, the toughest games came at home first, for the most part.

CHARLOTTE FORTY-NINERS
Charlotte, North Carolina

[OFFICIAL] Charlotte Men's Basketball Website

Nov 13
At least the two returning starters are a veteran backcourt: tDe'Angelo Alexander and gLeemire Goldwire. The return of fE.J. Drayton after injury last season also means more experienced talent will be on court from the start. Newcomers JuCo transfers gCarlos Williams and fSean Phaler should provide a boost.

In the weak Atlantic 10, Xavier should battle the 49ers, George Washington and Massachusetts for supremacy.

The win over Hofstra got things off to a good start. Wins at Syracuse and Indiana won't be so easy. The RAINBOW CLASSIC (Creighton, Houston) is within reach. In league play, a tough two-week stretch at the end of January will make or break the regular season.

Jan 1
The 49ers have never been able to get anything going that warrants tracking them. Both Xavier and Dayton are better representatives of the league.
CLEMSON TIGERS
Clemson, South Carolina

[OFFICIAL] Clemson Men's Basketball Website

Jan 1: (#25)
The convincing win over Georgia at least validates the undefeated record against a solid preseason schedule. No superstar talent here, just a decent team lead by a capable coach, Oliver Purnell. Four starters return (gVernon Hamilton, gCliff Hammonds, fJames Mays and bK.C. Rivers) plus fSam Perry has experience as well.

In the rebuilding ACC, North Carolina is the favorite; Duke, Boston College and Maryland will fight it out for second; Georgia Tech and Florida State will do well to spoil.

The Unwelcome Guest win at the COX CLASSIC (Old Dominion) was nice; so were the wins over decent Appalachian State and woeful Minnesota (ACC-BIG 10). In league play, they have a tough schedule with practically no breathers.

Jan 8: (#13)
The Tigers just barely hung on to two wins at the buzzer, but they're now the only undefeated team left in the country. That's nothing to sneeze at. More intense than flashy -- that will get you a long way, especially during the regular season.
Jan 18: (#12)
No one seriously thought they would go undefeated. It's better that that distraction is over. Now comes the real stuff: can you win as a contender in the conference when they see you coming? We'll see. The next three weeks are brutal.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON COUGARS
Charleston, South Carolina

[OFFICIAL] College of Charleston Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
The return of coach Bobby Cremins to college basketball is good news for both school and conference. With four returning players (gDontaye Draper, fJermaine Johnson, cJosh Jackson and fDavid Lawrence), this squad should hit the ground running and hit the heights right away.

In the Southern Conference, the Cougars should have the upper hand while most of the other contenders are rebuilding at best.

Don't expect much at PARADISE JAM (Alabama, Xavier, Villanova, Iowa); beating UNC-Wilmington will be tough even at home; beating Kentucky and South Carolinaon the road will be tougher. The COFC CLASSIC is an aptly named showcase. In league play, some early road games might be a problem.

Jan 1
The Cougars haven't come through the preseason as being the standardbearers for the league. Track Davidson instead.
CONNECTICUT HUSKIES
Storrs, Connecticut

[OFFICIAL] Connecticut Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#14)
The top six players from last year's talent-laden team are gone -- that can't be good. pA.J. Price (he of the medical redshirt followed by the criminal redshirt) is back eligible and should be a capable point; fJeff Adrien and gCraig Austrie do have some experience at least. Enter a "Fab Five"-nominee recruiting class, led by 7-3 cHasheem Thabeet, gJerome Dyson, fCurtis Kelly and fStanley Robinson, plus cJonathan Mandeldove, fGavin Edwards, gDoug Wiggins and tBen Eaves for good measure. Coach Jim Calhoun has plenty of talent to work with; the question is how long it will take to develop a successful team identity.

In the rebuilding Big East, Georgetown and Pittsburgh will battle for the top spot, with Syracuse, the young Huskies, Louisville, Marquette and Villanova around as spoilers.

The HISPANIC FUND-NORTH is a three-day showcase, winning the final (at LSU) is a lot to ask. A home win over Indiana isn't. A road win at Georgia Tech might be tougher than they think. In league play, their biggest games are on the road.

Jan 1
The loss to West Virginia was a reality check after nothing but cupcakes in front of the home folks. This is a brand new team from last year, so there's no carry over of experience of how to win big games. The Huskies go back into the "Prove-it-to-me" box.
Jan 29: (untracked)
There are no wins that merit tracking this team. The only reason they lasted this long is the reputation of the brand name.
CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS
Omaha, Nebraska

[OFFICIAL] Creighton Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#21)
The return of gNate Funk has expectations sky-high for this veteran squad that returns four starters. Last year, cAnthony Tolliver became the go-to guy; this year, he'll also get help from fTy Morrison. It's the program, stupid. With a full complement of weapons, coach Dana Altman can take this team a long way.

In the mighty Missouri Valley, the Bluejays will again fight it out with Wichita State, Southern Illinois, Missouri State and Northern Iowa.

Wins over George Mason, Xavier, Nebraska and Dayton are all possible. A win at the RAINBOW CLASSIC (Charlotte, Houston) is very attainable as well. A BRACKETBUSTERS win will only affect their seeding. In league play, some tough road games come first -- but that's no problem for a veteran squad.

Nov 20
The hiccup at Nebraska is a little bit of a worry. Not the loss so much as the fact that gNate Funk received so little help from his teammates. He was supposed to be an addition to a returning veteran squad, not The King and His Court. Keeping George Mason in its place is a must. It's still early, but this team is clearly still in search of its identity.
Nov 27
Second one through, they don't get as much of a bump from beating George Mason, especially in a squeak victory at home.
Jan 1
The win over Missouri State stopped the bleeding. At least, now the Bluejays can reset the season and play like the league favorites they're supposed to be.
DAVIDSON WILDCATS
Davidson, North Carolina

[OFFICIAL] Davidson Men's Basketball Website

Jan 1
Forget College of Charleston, it's the Wildcats that are the true standardbearers for the league.

In the improved Southern Conference, the Wildcats are the class of the South Division (and overall) while Appalachian State should rule the North Division. Chattanooga, Georgia Southern and College of Charleston will do well just to spoil.

No breakthroughs at the JOHN THOMPSON-A CHALLENGE (at Michigan), at Missouri or at Duke. Beating Charlotte isn't that big of a deal. The Unwelcome Guest win at the ASU CLASSIC (at Arizona State, Ohio University) was nice. In league play, they get Appalachian State at home -- that's a plus.

DELAWARE STATE BLUE HORNETS
Dover, Delaware

[OFFICIAL] Delaware State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 27
Five starters return from last year's conference regular season champs. No reason not to expect the same thing this year. gJahsha Bluntt and pDarrin Shine are the mainstays. Newcomer JuCo transfer fRoy Bright is already making big contributions for coach Greg Jackson.

In the weak Mid-Eastern Athletic [OFFICIAL], the Hornets are the favorites; upstart Hampton, and Coppin State will only spoil.

Beating Southern (SOUTH PADRE) was good for bragging rights. No wins out of conference (especially all on the road) are in the offing. In league play, not much difference one way for a veteran team.

DUKE BLUE DEVILS
Durham, North Carolina

[OFFICIAL] Duke Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#11)
The superstars are gone, but new stars are arriving. The question is whether the new kids can step in to help the returning "veterans" quickly enough to make for a seamless transition. fJosh McRoberts has plenty of talent to be the go-to guy, pGreg Paulus is a capable point guard (and should return from a broken foot by January), bDeMarcus Nelson has yet to step up beyond the occasional good game. Newcomers bGerald Henderson (son of Gerald Henderson Sr.), fLance Thomas, cBrian Zoubek and bJon Scheyer are also expected to contribute sooner rather than later. Mike Krzyzewski doesn't have a problem throwing freshmen directly into the fire. They'll be fine by season's end.

In the rebuilding ACC, North Carolina is the favorite; the Blue Devils, Boston College and Maryland will fight it out for second; Georgia Tech and Florida State will do well to spoil.

It won't be easy but they're still the favorites in the CBE (Texas Tech, Marquette, Stanford). Home wins over Georgetown, Indiana (ACC-BIG 10), George Mason and Holy Cross (plus the "home" crowd in NYC against Gonzaga) should all be expected. In league play, the tough road games come later on -- a good thing for a young squad.

Nov 27: (#14)
They will always be able to dominate also-rans in Cameron Indoor Stadium. That's a given. Air Force's rebounding issues made for an easy win, but Marquette's intensity and perimeter quickness were a big problem. There's always the vulnerability of their individual slow-footedness, but this Duke team doesn't have the unstoppable scoring talent to save the day like in years past. That's a huge worry.
Dec 27: (#6)
To look at them live, this is clearly one of the least talented Blue Devil teams in recent years. Yet, on paper, they only have one loss and have posted wins over a number of decent teams. Are they really Top 5 -- no way? But in a year where lots of teams have already shown plusses and minuses, posting Ws against all comers deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Jan 8: (#7)
Lesser individual talent meant no miracle saves this year against Virginia Tech. More troubling than an overtime loss is the implosion of pGreg Paulus.
Jan 29: (#9)
The Blue Devils seem to have found a workaround for the poor play of pGreg Paulus -- he's not playing any better, but the team is. A worry is how severly fDavid McClure reinjured his knee. This is a team that doesn't have a lot of depth to begin with.
Feb 12: (unranked)
The Blue Devils unranked? Can this really be true? Yep. And if they don't close strong, they might even manage to blow an NCAA at-large bid to boot. Several league teams are still playing pretty solid ball with lots of self-belief still intact.
EAST TENNESSEE STATE BUCCANEERS
Johnson City, Tennessee

[OFFICIAL] East Tennessee State Men's Basketball Website

Jan 29
Two big road wins, at Belmont and at Lipscomb, have the Buccaneers set up to coast through the second half of the season.

gCourtney Pigram, gTravis Strong and fBrad Nuckles were a decent returning nucleus of players for coach Murry Bartow. gDante Williams and fAndrew Reed have also been able to contribute.

In the Atlantic Sun, both Lipscomb and Belmont were supposed to fight it out for league supremacy; Kennesaw State would be spoilers at least and contenders at best.

A better showing at SOUTH PADRE (Oklahoma State, Missouri State, Auburn, Sam Houston State) might have been hoped for. Wins at Vanderbilt and Tennessee weren't going to happen. Beating Chattanooga at home was quite nice. In league play, home games with the two main contenders right off the bat would seem to be a must.

Mar 5
No OT necessary this time. Belmont rained down the three-pointers and blew away the Buccaneers' hopes of an NCAA bid. At least there's the automatic bid into the NIT as a consolation prize.
FLORIDA GATORS
Gainesville, Florida

[OFFICIAL] Florida Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#1)
All five starters return from last year's defending national champions. What's not to love? cJoakim Noah, pTaurean Green, tCorey Brewer, fAl Horford and gLee Humphrey are as well matched as you could ever ask for. Depth from freshmen fMareese Speights and fDan Werner up front and gWalter Hodge and freshman gBrandon Powell out top should be enough as well. Anything less than a repeat title will be deemed a disappointing underachieving season -- those are high expectations for anyone; and to start out with, they'll have to contend with pressures of a run at an undefeated season to boot. It's a great problem to have for coach Billy Donovan.

In the strong SEC, the Gators are the favorites in the East (and overall) with Tennessee right behind if they fall; in the West, LSU is the favorite with Alabama right behind as well; Kentucky will do well to spoil.

Winning LAS VEGAS THANKSGIVING (Kansas) is no gimme; neither is a home win against Ohio State. Beating Florida State (even in a grudge), Western Kentucky (LV-T) and Samford won't be a problem. In league play, February is a brutal month.

Nov 27: (#3)
An overtime endplay loss in front of a "road" crowd to Kansas isn't exactly a wake-up call for panic. The Gators showed a lot of resolve and resilience in coming from behind to make such an intense affair a toss-up. That said, the halfcourt defense left a lot to be desired against the individual talent of the Jayhawks.
Dec 27: (#2)
The Gators finally turned in a performance worthy of a defending national champ with everybody back. Despite a sore ankle, it was fAl Horford who neturalized Ohio State's cGreg Oden and the perimeter defense held OSU's talents guard corps relatively in check. Nothing terribly wrong with their two squeak losses, anyway; but they needed this resume win to remind everyone just who they are. As soon as UCLA stumbles, they'll be #1 again. (They're the de facto #1 team already.)
Jan 1: (#1)
Taken as a whole, the Gators had the most impressive preseason (although it's UCLA who's playing the better ball right this week). Could we be headed for a national championship rematch? That's still a long, long way off.
Feb 12: (#1)
The Gators survived a test of their depth and resolve in the Kentucky game. With both cJoakim Noah and fAl Horford on the bench with foul trouble, they decent play from the bench and great leadership from tCorey Brewer down the stretch to preserve the win. That's exactly the kind of championship mettle that we're looking for.
Feb 19: (#3)
The Gators have been trying to lose a game for a while now. It finally happened. Not a huge deal, but let's hope it gets them to focus a little better from the start in games instead of goofing around "waiting for the run to come" when they'll sweep their way to victory. That's a good way to get upset come tourney time. Make it happen from the get-go.
FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
Tallahassee, Florida

[OFFICIAL] Florida State Men's Basketball Website

Dec 4: (#19)
The "State Title" grudge win over (albeit undermanned) archrival Florida is huge. The Seminoles' talent is as good as many, but do they believe? One win doesn't a season make, especially with two big losses to other powerhouse teams and the grueling conference schedule ahead as well. Hopefully, they can build from this point forward. fAl Thorton is a first-rate power forward. Transfer gToney Douglas (ex-Auburn) figures to provide the outside threat to counterbalance him. gJason Rich is a solid second guard as well for coach Leonard Hamilton.

In the rebuilding ACC, loaded North Carolina is the favorite; Duke, Boston College and Maryland will fight for second; Georgia Tech and the Seminoles will do well to spoil.

Winning at Pittsburgh or at Wisconsin was a long shot ... and it didn't happen. Beating Florida at home was too much to hope for, but it came to pass. In league play, a lot of tough road games come first.

Feb 5: (#16)
The win over Duke showed the kind of resolve that this talented team has seemed to lack. Let's hope they can build on it. More consistent contributions from gJason Rich and fUche Echefu (and some more defensive intensity overall) would make this a much more formidable squad.
GEORGE MASON PATRIOTS
Fairfax, Virginia

[OFFICIAL] George Mason Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#25)
Don't expect a repeat of last year's glorious run to the Final Four, but don't expect the clock to strike twelve, either. fWill Thomas and tFolarin Campbell return to lead the way, as does tGabe Norwood. JC transfers fDarryl Monroe and gAndre Smith should be able to step in and provide immediate contributions for coach Jim Larranaga's squad.

In the strong Colonial, the Patriots will battle Hofstra for the top spot, but don't expect Old Dominion and UNC-Wilmington to be far behind.

An ambitious out-of-conference schedule will be tough to live up to. Don't expect a win at Duke; a split with Wichita State and Creighton can happen, as well as wins against Bucknell, Mississippi State and even at Holy Cross. The BRACKETBUSTERS game could be a knockout blow if they don't earn their way into the NCAAs automatically. In league play, getting Hofstra at home only once is a plus.

Nov 13
Opening the season on the road is a tough assignment. Any road win is great, but this performance doesn't warrant a ranking. We'll know more soon enough when they have their BRACKETBUSTERS rematch against Wichita State.
Nov 20
Losing at home to new rival Wichita State puts the Patriots behind the eight ball. If they fall to Creighton this week as well, not even a BRACKETBUSTERS win may be enough to secure an at-large bid at season's end.
Nov 27
It's not the 1-2 record that's so troubling; it's that those two losses (both to MVC teams) will push the Patriots towards the back of the line on the At-Large Waiting List at season's end. There's no way to get those results back, either. Poor shooting from three-point range is a weakness ... and shooting a lot of them doesn't help matters. The lack of free-throw attempts indicates there's not enough of a muscle attack in the paint. cWill Thomas needs some help.
Jan 1: (untracked)
Time to face the truth: not only is all the magic from last season gone, but other than the memory of last season, there's no compelling reason to be tracking this team based on this year's preseason results. Track VCU instead for this (downgraded all around) league.
GEORGETOWN HOYAS
Washington, District of Columbia

[OFFICIAL] Georgetown Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#5)
Three starters return from last year's Sweet 16 team -- fJeff Green, cRoy Hibbert and pJonathan Wallace are more than enough of a nucleus for continued lofty expectations. More frontcourt talent has arrived in the likes of fVernon Macklin and fDaJuan Summers, as well as pedigreed newcomers transfer fPatrick Ewing Jr. (ex-Indiana) and freshman gJeremiah Rivers (son of Doc Rivers). Coach John Thompson III has proved he belongs on the big stage; can he follow up with another season, this time with the spotlight squarely on from the start?

In the rebuilding Big East, the Hoyas and Pittsburgh will battle for the top spot, while Syracuse, revamped Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette and Villanova right behind ready to spoil.

Don't expect a road win at Duke, but Michigan on the road or Oral Roberts at home won't be a problem. In league play, one tough road game early will be huge but then it's a month before the big finish.

Nov 20
A home loss to an unheralded mid-major is unacceptable for a ranked team. Passive defense only forced 7 turnovers against Old Dominion, and tJeff Green disappeared to boot. That won't cut it.
Jan 8
Things look like they're heading in the right direction after the last two results.
Jan 29: (#22)
A solid run of play has the Hoyas back in the rankings. There's no signature win to serve as their calling card, though; so let's hope this isn't premature wishful thinking.
Feb 12: (#15)
When cRoy Hibbert is a presence on the floor, this is a high-quality team. Is it lack of drive in him that has him disappear in some games, or do the guards forget to feed him? As long as they remember to keep him involved, things are just fine. (And he's not even the best player on the team -- that's fJeff Green, to be sure.)
Feb 19: (#9)
This team is starting to play the way they were expected to do before the season even started. A first-place tie for the Big East lead is more like it.
Feb 26: (#8)
The big win over Pittsburgh puts the Hoyas in the lead in the conference race with one week to go.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Athens, Georgia

[OFFICIAL] Georgia Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Every one is back from last year's .500 squad. The talent is all in the backcourt: gLevi Stukes, bSundiata Gaines, gChanning Toney and gMike Mercer. JC transfer fTakais Brown (and, hopefully, freshman fAlbert Jackson) will help up front, but it won't be enough to turn them instantly into winners. At least coach Dennis Felton has things heading in the right direction.

In the strong SEC, Florida is the favorite in the East (and overall); Tennessee will be right behind if they slip, Kentucky will do well to spoil; the improved Bulldogs won't make much noise. In the West, LSU is the favorite with Alabama right behind.

Don't expect much out of conference, not on the road at Clemson or Wake Forest, or at home against Wisconsin, Gonzaga; best best are at home against Western Kentucky and in a grudge on the road at Georgia Tech. In league play, it's tough all the way through.

Nov 20
gChanning Toney's decision to transfer has made the perimeter a little less deep, but it also provides more minutes for the strongest players on the roster: Stukes, Gaines and Mercer.
Dec 18: (#23)
The win over national power Gonzaga marks the end of the "Post-Harrick" Era and the beginning of the "Dennis Felton" Era at UGA. There seem to be enough bargain basement big men to do the dirty work underneath to allow the superb trio of gLevi Stukes, bSundiata Gaines andbMike Mercer. (Who figured they go into the Georgia Tech game as the favored/ranked team?)
Jan 22: (#25)
The Dawgs won at a very good Arkansas team and had Alabama down 19 on the road before the Tide came back and won it at the buzzer. The three-guard attack on the perimeter plus blue-collar frontcourt bruisers is a formula that has worked for championship teams. They're nowhere near that calibre, but the blueprint is right on.
Feb 12
bMike Mercer is out for the season after injuring his knees in the South Carolina game. That makes the push for an NCAA bid a great deal tougher. Can gBilly Humphrey step up his contribution this late in the year?
Feb 26
gLevi Stukes has been suspended (conduct). It just goes from bad to worse. This team could have been the transitional squad from probation woes back into a league contender. Now, it's just another hit/miss season with no postseason in the offing.
GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS
Atlanta, Georgia

[OFFICIAL] Georgia State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Last year, the backcourt was the strength and the frontcourt was the question mark; this year -- (with the same players, mind you) -- the roles are reversed. fRashad Chase, tLance Perique, cDeven Dickerson and fJustin Billingslea are now veteran leaders. Newcomers JC transfers pRon Larris and gDuke Sturdivant, and freshmen pTrae Goldston and gNorman Mitchell have a tough assignment running the show from the perimeter for coach Michael Perry.

In the strong Colonial, the Panthers will do well to even be a factor as spoilers. George Mason and Hofstra will fight it out at the top, with Old Dominion and UNC-Wilmington pushing from behind.

Beating the likes of Georgia Tech, Florida State, College of Charleston, Iowa, Charlotte and Clemson is out of reach for this bunch. A BRACKETBUSTERS win won't be enough to earn them an NCAA bid. In league play, the schedule isn't a factor for a team not in contention.

GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS/RAMBLIN' WRECK
Atlanta, Georgia

[OFFICIAL] Georgia Tech Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Things can't go worse than last year's bust of a season. Talent returns in the likes of tAnthony Morrow, fJeremis Smith and fRa'Sean Dickey; gLewis Clinch, gMario West and tD'Andre Bell also have experience. Some quality newcomers have arrived in fThaddeus Young and gJavaris Crittenton, as well as cBrad Sheehan and fZach Peacock. Coach Paul Hewitt's magic didn't work a year ago, but things are bound to be better this time around.

In the rebuilding ACC, loaded North Carolina is the favorite; Duke, Boston College and Maryland will fight for second; the Yellow Jackets and Florida State will do well to spoil.

Winning MAUI (UCLA, Memphis, Oklahoma, Kentucky) won't happen; a "home" win over Connecticut will be tough as well; a road win at Vanderbilt should be possible. In league play, some tough road games come early -- not ideal for a young team.

Nov 27: (#25)
The schizophrenic performance against Memphis was telling. There's obviously enough talent to rout top quality opponents; but, as also shown in the rout loss to UCLA, there's a long way to go before this becomes a solid, mature team that plays great team defense and works for good shots in a fine-tuned offensive scheme. Right now, either the (considerable) individual talent gets off, or it doesn't.
Jan 8
gLewis Clinch has been suspended for the rest of the year due to an honor code violation. That means that tAnthony Morrow will get more playing time. In the long run, that could be a good thing because his size combined with his shooting range gives him greater potential than Clinch (who himself a solid deep shooter). Basically, anything that shortens Paul Hewitt's rotation is a good thing.
Jan 18: (#23)
Can the young Jackets follow two big home wins with success on the road? We'll see. Nice to see consistent contributions from tAnthonay Morrow (although the reason for more playing time is regrettable).
GONZAGA BULLDOGS/'ZAGS
Spokane, Washington

[OFFICIAL] Gonzaga Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#19)
Lofty national expectations are off the table, but that could be a good thing. No superstar to cloud the quality of the team as a whole. This is gDerek Raivio and fSean Mallon's team now -- never headliners until now. But it's the program, stupid. Coach Mark Few has handled big-name losses before. bDavid Pendergraft and gPierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes have plenty of experience; transfer bMicah Downs (ex-Kansas) has major talent; newcomers freshman bMatt Bouldin, JC transfer fAbdullahi Kuso, transfer David Burgess (ex-BYU) and sophomore fJosh Heytvelt should provide plenty of help.

In the weak WCC, the Bulldogs won't be pushed by the likes of Loyola Marymount.

A win at the NIT TIP-OFF (North Carolina) is too much to ask. Don't expect much from a murderous out-of-conference schedule (Texas, Duke, Nevada, Memphis). Wins at Georgia, Stanford and Virginia might be the most they can hope for. In league play, the "big" game comes at home first.

Nov 27: (#9)
fJosh Heytvelt was fantastic against North Carolina (and was only held down by foul trouble against surprising Butler). gDerek Raivio doesn't pull back on his game (even when his mistakes may seem to cost them) -- in the bigger picture, that's a great thing. Overconfidence is much better than self-doubt. gJeremy Pargo has been solid. gMatt Bouldin seems poised to explode into stardom sooner rather than later. What's lacking is great man-to-man defense and a player who can face the basket, put the ball on the floor and score from the forward spot.
Dec 18: (#14)
Yet another loss to an unheralded opponent, Georgia, threatens to negate the fine wins over UNC and Washington. (But an 0-2 record in the next two games will ruin what had shaped up to be their best preseason ever.) A shocking inability to guard anybody inside or outside against UGA is quite troubling.
Jan 1: (#17)
An ambitious preseason schedule has caught up with the 'Zags. Taken as a whole, a lot of good things happened. But starting conference play already with 5 losses looks bad. More consistent contributions from gMatt Bouldin and fJosh Heytvelt and fSean Mallon would make things a lot easier on everyone. Their athletic deficiences probably limit how well they'll ever be defensively.
Jan 22
Where has it all gone wrong? A win over vaunted North Carolina had this team soaring to unknown heights, but now they aren't even in control of the league race in the lowly WCC. Yikes. Start with not much defensive intensity in a soft zone. That's one problem right there.
Feb 5: (#21)
The great road win against a surging Stanford is the kind of performance that this team is capable of. gJeremy Pargo is the most important player on the roster. If only fSean Mallon could consistently deliver the strong play he shows in spurts. tMicah Downs has become eligible. Another long range shooter is nice, but it doesn't exactly shore up the place where this team is the weakest (inside strength).
Feb 12
fJosh Heytvelt (and fTheo Davis) have been suspended indefinitely (after being arrested for possession of marijuana and psychodelic mushrooms). This team runs the risk of blowing a sure NCAA berth if it's not careful.
HOFSTRA PRIDE
Hempstead, New York

[OFFICIAL] Hofstra Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
bLoren Stokes and gAntoine Agudio as one of the most solid backcourt duos around. Newcomers will have to fill in the rest.

In the strong Colonial, the Pride will battle George Mason for the top spot, while Old Dominion and UNC-Wilmington will be right behind them.

Winning GREAT ALASKA (California, Hawaii, Pacific) is very possible; the same goes for the HOLIDAY FESTIVAL (St. Joseph's, St. John's). Don't expect a win at Syracuse; the likes of Charlotte, St. Joseph's, Hawaii, Manhattan and Siena are all within reach. The BRACKETBUSTERS game will be tricky -- a loss could kill an at-large NCAA bid. In league play, a late road game with George Mason could be big.

Nov 20
Yikes. Two road losses have things off to a rocky start. The guards are getting theirs, but they aren't getting enough out of the rest of the cast. A good showing in GREAT ALASKA would erase the bad memories, though.
Jan 1: (untracked)
After all is said and done, the Pride didn't do enough in the preseason to warrant tracking. Instead, follow VCU as the trackable team for the league.
Mar 5
The loss to George Mason drops their chances at an NCAA bid -- they needed a result that improved on their regular season placement, not the other way around. A squeak home win over Holy Cross probably isn't enough to get them in. They're even a bubble team in line for an NIT bid at that.
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS
Worcester, Massachusetts

[OFFICIAL] Holy Cross Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Four returning starters should be enough to push this team over the top. gJose Olivero and bKyle Neptune lead the way; fBryan White helps out underneath and much is expected from freshman gMarquis Hall.

In the Patriot [OFFICIAL], the Crusaders will battle Lehigh and Bucknell for the top spot; American and Navy may be able to spoil behind individual stars.

Winning at Syracuse or Duke won't happen; even a home win over George Mason is a tall order. Taking the crown at the EXPLORER CLASSIC isn't beyond their reach, though. BRACKETBUSTERS only matters for seeding if they make the NCAAs on their own. In league play, the big games come at home first -- that's an advantage.

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI
Champaign, Illinois

[OFFICIAL] Illinois Men's Basketball Website

Nov 20: (#16)
Supporting players fBrian Randle, gRich McBride and gJamar Smith return, as do fShaun Pruitt and fWarren Carter. Transfer gTrent Meacham (ex-Dayton) should also be ready to contribute right away. These are no-names by Illinois' usual standard, but coach Bruce Weber knows how to put together a solid team from less-than-blue-chip players. So far, so good.

In the rebuilding Big 10, veteran Wisconsin and the youngsters at Ohio State are the favorites; the Illini and the Hoosiers will be right behind ready to spoil.

The CHICAGO CHALLENGE (Bradley) doesn't figure to be much of one. Winning against Maryland (ACC-BIG 10) and on the road against Arizona (HALL OF FAME) will be for sure. Winning at Xavier is no gimme, either. The border war with Missouri (BRAGGIN' RIGHTS) is about as even as it has been recently. In league play, the toughest games are all at home.

Nov 27: (#16)
They're no-names by comparison to past years, and the final two rounds of the CHICAGO CHALLENGE were just that. Still, there's something to be said about a team with star egos that fits Bill Self's style better than not. He knows how to coach selfless overachievement.
Jan 22: (untracked)
Even a league that's lacking in depth like this one, nothing special is happening in Champaign to merit tracking this team.
Feb 26
gJamar Smith has been suspended from the team after a DUI/car accident.
INDIANA HOOSIERS
Bloomington, Indiana

[OFFICIAL] Indiana Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Coach Mike Davis left to take over at UAB, and Kelvin Sampson left a mess at Oklahoma to take over here. Four starters are gone from last year's NCAA splash team, but returning from injury is fD.J. White. JC transfers fMike White and fLance Stemier should provide enough help up front; holdovers gRoderick Wilmont, gEarl Calloway and gA.J. Ratliff have plenty of experience on the perimeter.

In the rebuilding Big 10, veteran Wisconsin and the youngsters at Ohio State are the favorites; Illinois and the Hoosiers will be right behind ready to spoil.

Winning the NIT TIP-OFF (North Carolina, Tennessee, Gonzaga) is too much to ask, but making the final isn't. Winning at Duke and Connecticut (even when they're down) is a big task. Beating Charlotte and Southern Illinois at home, and even Kentucky on the road are all attainable. In league play, going on the road to Ohio State irght off the bat is a bad schedule.

Dec 18
The win over brutal Southern Illinois is a step in the right direction. Yes, it was at home; and, yes, fD.J. White wasn't particularly effective; but a win is a win and this team needs some momentum.
Jan 8
All things considered, the Hoosiers haven't done anything terribly wrong so far. Sure, fD.J. White isn't a first-line dominant star, but he does show up as best he can. Third place in the league is kind of up for grabs. It may as well be theirs.
Jan 22: (#17)
Maybe it's the softness of the league, but this team keeps on posting the Ws and a road win at young Connecticut doesn't look bad on the resume. Rebounding is still a big issue, though.
JACKSON STATE TIGERS
Jackson, Mississippi

[OFFICIAL] Jackson State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 27
It begins and ends with scorer b"Trey" Johnson (10th in the nation in scoring last year). gCharlie White and bJulius Young are veteran backcourtmates. Newcomers JuCo transfers cStanley Turner and fDeShawn Ford are expected to help out on the boards for veteran coach Tevester Anderson.

In the weak Southwestern Athletic [OFFICIAL], will battle Southern, Alabama A&M and Alabama State for league supremacy.

Forget the road blowouts against ranked powerhouses; two road wins in the CHICAGO CHALLENGE (Illinois, Bradley) is a great result for this team. Any more road wins out of conference would be a surprise. In league play, two tough road games come right away in January.

Feb 26
The loss at Mississippi Valley State loses control of the conference title race (and gives it to MVSU).
KANSAS JAYHAWKS
Lawrence, Kansas

[OFFICIAL] Kansas Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#2)
Everyone is back from last year's conference regular season and tournament champs. If only they weren't coming off their second-straight first-round upset in the NCAAs! tBrandon Rush, fJulian Wright, gMario Chalmers are talented; gRussell Robinson has experience; freshmen fDarrell Arthur and gSherron Collins will take some of the pressure off the leading players to do it all. We know coach Bill Self can get it done. This could be a team on a mission.

In the rebuilding Big 12, the Jayhawks are the favorites, followed by Texas A&M, with young Texas as well as veteran Oklahoma State and Texas Tech ready to spoil.

Winning the LAS VEGAS THANKSGIVING (Florida) might be tougher than winning the league; wins over Boston College, Oral Roberts and Northern Arizona should all be expected. In league play, the softer "North Division" schedule is made better by home games with Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.

Nov 20: (#9)
Wait just a minute. Yeah, Oral Roberts does have a couple of stars with experience, but a home loss to a 1BC Giant Killer is unacceptable. Get the message now. Looking ahead to Florida will be too late.
Nov 27: (#1)
Forget the earlier loss, the win over Florida was spectacular. Intense, mature, resilient, thrilling. fJulian Wright showed a great ability to put the ball on the floor, move without the ball, pass to cutting teammates and rebound. Freshman fDarrell Arthur is a solid presence in the paint. This team played like the veterans they are. Great.
Dec 4: (#8)
What do you do with a team that can beat the defending national champions, but not 3-4 DePaul? If you have an answer, be sure to let Bill Self know. "Fool me once, ..." "Will the real Kansas Jayhawks ..." Take your pick. Bad losses tell you more about a team than dramatic wins.
Feb 5: (#9)
The Jayhawks did everything but finish the job against tough Texas A&M. It was a close game throughout but some more relaxed flow allowed them to get to a 62-52 lead with four minutes left before the Aggies put on a 17-4 closing run to steal the victory. The emergence of freshman gSherron Collins(18p) during conference play bodes well in the long run. KU has the easier "North Division" schedule, so don't concede the regular season title just yet.
Mar 5: (#)
Thanks in no small measure to the easier "North Division" schedule, the Jayhawks emerged as regular season champs. They're certainly no a roll, but the true league champion will be determined in Oklahoma at the conference tournament.
KENNESAW STATE FIGHTING OWLS
Kennesaw, Georgia

[OFFICIAL] Kennesaw State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Plenty of scoring returns from last year's solid performance in their first year in Division I. pGolden Ingle (son of coach Tony Ingle), bRonnell Wooten and bAndre Morgan are all capable on the perimeter and fBrent Ragsdale scores well despite being undersized in the paint. 6-8 transfer fShaun Stegall (ex-Nebraska) will add some needed size.

In the Atlantic Sun, both Lipscomb and Belmont should fight it out for league supremacy; but the Owls should be spoilers at least and contenders at best.

Don't expect any out-of-conference magic against Western Kentucky, George Washington, Georgia, Kansas State or Wichita State. In league play, the first week of January at home will make or break the regular season.

Feb 26
The Owls are ineligible for postseason play until the 2009-10 season. Thanks for a solid year, guys.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
Lexington, Kentucky

[OFFICIAL] Kentucky Men's Basketball Website

Feb 5: (#17)
Have the Wildcats gotten better as the season went on, or has the rest of the league come back to them? More likely the latter, actually. No matter, though. They're alone in second place overall at the midpoint of conference play. Veterans cRandolph Morris, bJoe Crawford, gRamel Bradley and fBobby Perry have plenty of experience. Freshmen gJodie Meeks, gDerrick Jasper and fPerry Stevenson have also contributed for coach Tubby Smith.

In the strong SEC, Florida is the favorite in the East (and overall), with Tennessee right behind; in the West, LSU is the favorite, with Alabama right behind; the Wildcats will do well to spoil.

Winning in MAUI (UCLA, Memphis, Georgia Tech) was a stretch; winning at North Carolina wasn't to be expected, either. Beating INdiana and Louisville was great, and Massachusetts as well. In league play, the toughest road games don't come until the second half.

LONG BEACH STATE FORTY-NINERS
Long Beach, California

[OFFICIAL] Long Beach State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Three returning starters (including the backcourt of gAaron Nixon and gKejuan Johnson) are enough to rise to prominence this season.

In the Big West, the 49ers will battle to hold off Cal State-Fullerton and what's left of Pacific for the league title.

Making it to Kansas City in the CBE CLASSIC (Stanford) is doable; winning it isn't. Road wins out of conference aren't likely, either. A BRACKETBUSTERS win won't get them a bid, but it will help their seeding. In league play, the big games come at home first -- that helps.

Feb 12
The narrow road win over UC-Santa Barbara gives the 49ers the lead all to themselves in the league race. They're not home free just yet, but it's a big step. The BRACKETBUSTER game should only serve to give them confidence. This is a one-bid conference, no matter what that outcome.
LOUISIANA STATE TIGERS/BAYOU BENGALS
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

[OFFICIAL] LSU Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#3)
Last year's run to the Final Four will be hard to duplicate, but this is still a national power. fGlen "Big Baby" Davis (who might be the best player in the nation) assures that alone; fTasmin Mitchell has plenty of talent, and fDarnell Lazare and cMagnum Rolle are ready to contribute more; the return of gTack Minor means a capable leader in the backcourt is still present; gGarrett Temple and transfers tDameon Mason (ex-Marquette) and gTerry Martin (ex-Texas Tech, eligible in December) will be key to balance outside threats with the inside power. Coach John Brady still has a powerhouse with no limits.

In the strong SEC, Florida is the favorite in the East (and overall), with Tennessee right behind; in the West, the Tigers are the favorite, with Alabama right behind; Kentucky will do well to spoil.

Winning the HISPANIC FUND (Connecticut) should happen. Home wins against Texas A&M and Wichita State are likely as well; even road wins at Texas and Washington are possible. In league play, the tough interdivision games are split home and away.

Nov 27: (#15)
Yikes. Not that Wichita State is a bad team at all. They're not. Most distressing is this: the Tigers only had 4 assists total from all 4 guards who played in that game. That's a lack of ball-movement and two much one-on-one play from the front court. That has to change in a hurry.
Dec 11: (#20)
Don't worry too much about the frustrating Border War loss to Texas. Remember, the Tigers also stopped Texas A&M early this week. Generally, they are getting improved guardplay from gGarrett Temple, and even gTack Minor showed some hope here and there. gBen Voogd, however, remains The Instant Turnover.
Feb 19
Stop denying the obvious. This team isn't headed for the postseason of any kind.
Feb 26
A mini-Year After Rule -- call it the Week After Effect -- was in force for the Tigers. With cGlen Davis sitting out with a leg injury, they actually turned in two of their best performances in conference play. They led by 16 in the first half on the road before eventually losing at Kentucky; then, they took it to Florida from start to finish with a shocking upset. Everyone stepped up in the absence of their star, and their ball- and player-movement was greatly improved without a clogged lane and a post-up player to feed.
LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Louisville, Kentucky

[OFFICIAL] Louisville Men's Basketball Website

Feb 19: (#15)
Two huge road wins of the highest magnitude cannot go unnoticed. It's a soft week for the rankings, but this performance deserves as much credit as you can give it.

fDavid Padgett, gBrandan Jenkins, tJuan Palacios and fTerrence Williams made for plenty of experienced talent returning for coach Rick Pitino. Something was missing from this team, though. Only lately have they semed to put things together in the second half of conference play. Freshmen gEdgar Sosa, fDerrick Caracter, tEarl Clark and gJerry Smith have increased their contributions and made this a stronger squad.

In the rebuilding Big East, Georgetown and Pittsburgh were supposed to fight for the top spot, with Syracuse, revamped Connecticut, the Cardinals, Marquette and Villanova right behind ready to spoil.

Losses to Arizona (JIMMY V) and at home to Massachusetts (BILLY MINARDI) and Kentucky were disappointing. In league play, they've had a tougher selection of teams to play compared to some others.

LOYOLA (OF ILLINOIS) RAMBLERS
Chicago, Illinois

[OFFICIAL] Loyola(Illinois) Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Four returning starters, including the league's best player (tBlake Schilb), means a strong season. gMajak Kou, gJ.R. Blount and fLeon Young are a fine supporting cast.

In the Horizon League, the Ramblers should be able to take control with most of the rest of the league in rebuilding mode; but Butler might have something to say about it.

Don't expect much more than a first-round win at the BCA CLASSIC (Ohio State). Wins against Northern Iowa and Bradley are more within their reach. A BRACKETBUSTERS win might do the trick for an NCAA bid. In league play, some December games shouldn't be trouble for a veteran squad.

Jan 1: (untracked)
As long as Butler is so strong, there's no reason to track two teams from this league.
MARIST RED FOXES
Poughkeepsie, New York

[OFFICIAL] Marist Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Four returning starters, including the nation's leading assist man (pJared Jordan), bodes well. tWill Whittington, fJames Smith and fRyan Stilphen offer plenty of talent to boot.

In the Metro Atlantic [OFFICIAL], the Red Foxes are a big favorite while the rest of the league powers are in rebuilding mode.

A win at the ESPNU/OLD SPICE CLASSIC (Southern Illinois, Arkansas) is wishful thinking; even winning the MARIST CLASSIC (Bucknell) will be tough. A BRACKETBUSTERS win only helps for seeding, not for a bid. In league play, the league schedule is pretty balanced.

Nov 27
The Red Foxes had a fine showing in the ESPNU/OLD SPICE CLASSIC. They hung in with Arkansas and handled both Minnesota and Western Michigan comfortably. It was all about gJared Jordan in Orlando, though; for better and for worse.
Mar 5
Bombing out in the semifinals won't get it done. NIT.
MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

[OFFICIAL] Marquette Men's Basketball Website

Nov 27: (#7)
Increased intensity from the three-guard lineup of gDominic James, gWesley Matthews and gJerel McNeal have this bunch overachieving a national ranking. They just wanted it more than Duke in the CBE CLASSIC final. Great ball-handling is hard to come by, but that's a big factor in the quality of shots that coach Tom Crean's squad creates for itself. Will the bargain basement front court be their downfall? (We've seen guard-oriented teams produce flashy wins but ultimately come up short in the tournament before.)

In the rebuilding Big East, Georgetown and Pittsburgh will battle for the top spot, while Syracuse, revamped Connecticut, Louisville, the Golden Eagles and Villanova will be right behind ready to spoil.

Winning the CBE CLASSIC (Duke, Air Force, Texas Tech) is huge. The BLUE AND GOLD CLASSIC will be a showcase at best. The State Title game against Wisconsin now has national ramifications. In league play, lots of tough road games don't make things easy.

Dec 4
Hanging around with Idaho State seemed odd, but now they've gone and lost at home to {North Dakota State}, which is still only a Provisional Division-I school. When you're all about the guards and nothing else, games like this can happen.
Jan 8
A guard-dominated team that doesn't shoot well from the perimeter? That's an odd formula, but it's what the Golden Eagles seem to be working with.
Jan 18: (#25)
Two solid wins have the Golden Eagles back in the game (if not the conference race quite yet). Nothing new in their formula, just better results.
Jan 22: (#14)
The great road win at Pittsburgh has officially wiped the bad start in league play off the map. Size up front is a worry -- but cAaron Gray didn't dominate them as you might have expected him to, so maybe that's not as much of an issue as it seems. Clearly, it's all about pDominic James, though. That's good and bad.
MARYLAND TERRAPINS
College Park, Maryland

[OFFICIAL] Maryland Men's Basketball Website

Nov 20: (#14)
The win in the COLLEGE HOOPS/CVC CLASSIC was nice. Increased depth makes their full-court press more effective than last year. Against a team with good enough guardplay not to turn the ball over, Michigan State, their halfcourt offense and defense were more ordinary. bD.J. Strawberry, fEkene Ibekwe and gMike Jones have started well; fJames Gist has yet to step up to their level of contribution early on. Freshmen gGreivis Vasquez and gGary Neal may help bring more stability to the offensive flow for coach Gary Williams.

In the rebuilding ACC, North Carolina is the favorite; Duke, Boston College and the Terrapins will fight it out for second place; Georgia Tech and Florida State will do well to spoil.

Winning the COLLEGE HOOPS/CVC (Texas, Michigan State) is already a big feather in their cap. Winning at Illinois (ACC-BIG 10) won't be as easy; beating Notre Dame (BB&T) will be. In league play, a huge early road game comes in December, but after that the schedule is pretty smoth until late February.

Jan 18: (#11)
Were the Terps looking ahead to Clemson when they were tripped up at home by Miami(Florida)? Let's hope that's all it was. There isn't always a natural offensive flow for UM since so much is keyed off of their defense. Not having a true point guard will always be a problem for this bunch.
Feb 19: (#16)
Two big-time road blowouts is a lot more like it. This week's rankings are soft -- so don't get used to that number next to their name -- but, for now, no else deserves it any more than they do.
Feb 26: (#13)
Two solid weeks back-to-back -- there's hardly a team in the nation that's been able to do that all season long.
MEMPHIS TIGERS
Memphis, Tennessee

[OFFICIAL] Memphis Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#18)
The A-list superstars have departed, but there are plenty of B-listers to make this a noteworthy squad. tChris Douglas-Roberts, fJoey Dorsey, fRobert Dozier, gAntonio Anderson and pAndre Allen will thrive with more playing time (and more touches); add the return of bJeremy Hunt, and freshmen gWillie Kemp and bDoneal Mack, and there's no reason to expect a total drop-off from last year's Elite Eight run. They'll struggle for identity to start to be sure, but coach John Calipari has plenty to work with (and should be able to create a less star-driven ensemble).

In the weak Conference USA, the Tigers are still the cream of the crop, ahead of Houston and UAB.

MAUI (UCLA, Kentucky, Oklahoma) comes to early in the season for any reasonable expectation of success; don't expect road wins at Tennessee or Arizona; a win over Cincinnati is a good bet; the late season clash with Gonzaga will be huge for seeding and assurance of an at-large bid. In league play, the schedule is pretty neutral.

Jan 18: (#24)
The Tigers have already won their two toughest road games. Give them credit now because the only name team left on their schedule is a road showdown with Gonzaga. This is a solid no-frills team, but they could very easily hit the postseason with no name wins to speak of all year long.
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
East Lansing, Michigan

[OFFICIAL] Michigan State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 27
The win over Texas in the COLLEGE HOOPS/CVC CLASSIC shows there's still enough talent left to compete with. pDrew Neitzel had plenty of scoring power in reserve which is now coming to prominence after the departure of last year's stars. cGoran Suton is contributing more this year as well. Freshmen fRaymar Morgan and gIsaiah Dahlman are expected to be factors sooner rather than later for coach Tom Izzo.

In the rebuilding Big 10, veteran Wisconsin and young Ohio State will fight it out for the top spot, with Illinois, Indiana and the Spartans ready to spoil.

Beating Texas is great. A win at Boston College (ACC-BIG 10) is certainly possible, and over at home over Bradley as well. Taking out Nevada (SPARTAN CLASH) won't be so easy, even in front of a home crowd. In league play, four games against Ohio State and Wisconsin is tougher than most.

Dec 11: (#21)
Continued solid play (and a lot of transitivity from from teams they've already played) allows the Spartans to sweep into the rankings. gDrew Neitzel provides a solid foundation and the forward spot is showing signs of consistent play.
Jan 8
A rough start to league play has been a harsh dose of reality. Beyond gNeitzel, there's not much there ... and you can key on Neitzel if you have to.
Feb 26: (#17)
Two weeks of great play back-to-back -- excellent!
MISSOURI TIGERS
Columbia, Missouri

[OFFICIAL] Missouri Men's Basketball Website

Dec 4: (#25)
An undefeated run including a three-day showcase win (JOHN THOMPSON CLASSIC) as well a win over a ranked opponent makes a good case for a national ranking ... this week. Coach Mike Anderson (ex-UAB) doesn't have much to work with on paper. JuCo transfers gStefhon Hannah and fVaidatos Volkus may be as talented as any of the returning veterans, led by fMarshall Brown.

In the rebuilding Big 12, Kansas is the favorite, followed by Texas A&M; young Texas, veteran Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and the Tigers will all be around tospoil.

Beating Arkansas turned out to be a nice preseason pelt. Beating Illinois (BRAGGIN' RIGHTS) would be even better ... and it's possible. In league play, the easier "North Division" schedule is mitigated by every single tough "South" game is on the road.

Jan 22: (untracked)
It was only ever the home win over Arkansas that made the Tigers worth taking notice. Yes, Mike Anderson is doing a solid job, but that's about it as far as expectations for the season.
MISSOURI STATE BEARS
Springfield, Missouri

[OFFICIAL] Missouri State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 27: (#18)
Knocking off Wisconsin makes the Bears more than just trackable. They missed out on the MVC's NCAA party last year, but now they've claimed the biggest scalp so far this season among their conferencemates. Four returning starters, led by gBlake Ahearn. The supporting cast of fNathan Bilyeu, bTyler Chaney and cSky Frazier is a veteran upperclass. Coach Barry Hinson's squad has a lot to prove to outsiders, which should motivate them throughout the season.

In the mighty MVC, the Bears will fight it out with Wichita State, Southern Illinois, Creighton and Northern Iowa.

The SOUTH PADRE ISLAND result (Wisconsin, Oklahoma State) is already a huge one. Out-of-conference games with UNC-Wilmington, St. Louis, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Indiana State (not to mention the BRACKETBUSTER game) are now only landmines that could sabotage the credibility they'll get for any big in-conference wins. In league play, three big games come right off the bat.

Jan 8: (#25)
Despite the unraveling of an apparent win at Creighton, it appears that the Bears are the strongest club in the league. gBlake Ahearn is trying to become the first player to lead the NCAAs in one category (free-throw percentage) for four straight years. 14-for-14 is how you get it done.
Mar 5
The Bears weren't able to improve their stock by advancing past their third-place position in the regular season. What's more, the blowout margin doesn't help their chances of garnering an at-large bid into the NCAAs, either. They'll be one of the last teams in, if it happens.
MONMOUTH HAWKS
West Long Branch, New Jersey

[OFFICIAL] Monmouth Men's Basketball Website

Nov 27
fMarques Alston and fDejan Delic headline a solid returning cast. bWhitney Coleman and pMike Shipman should also be solid contributors for coach Dave Calloway.

In the weak Northeast [OFFICIAL], the Hawks will battle Sacred Heart, Fairleigh Dickinson, Robert Morris and Long Island for supremacy.

Only one OT win in the COX CLASSIC was barely acceptable. Don't expect any out of conference wins, even at home against Loyola Marymount. In league play, one big road game comes early but most of the tougher games come later.

Jan 8: (untracked)
The rout loss makes the obvious official: it's Sacred Heart that's the trackable team for this league.
Feb 27
The Hawks tied for eighth place in the final NEC standings and lost the tiebreaker with St. Francis(NY) for the last berth into the conference tournament.
NEVADA WOLF PACK
Reno, Nevada

[OFFICIAL] Nevada Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#23)
cNick Fazekas is back for his senior -- that alone makes this team worth tracking; bMarcelus Kemp and gKyle Shiloh provide a nice outside balance; gRamon Sessions adds depth on the perimeter. Necome fJaVale McGee may be the key to adding depth in the paint and making this finesse team more physical for coach Mark Fox.

In the shallow WAC, the Wolf Pack is again the clear favorite, but New Mexico State may gel into a formidable challenger.

A win against Cal (PETE NEWELL) is doable; a win at Akron may be tougher than they think; winning the BATTLE IN SEATTLE against Gonzaga will be tough. A BRACKETBUSTERS win will only matter for seeding. In league play, tough games come on the road first, but that's no problem for a veteran squad.

Jan 1: (#20)
A fine performance in the comeback win against Gonzaga in the BATTLE IN SEATTLE has given rise to more optimism than usual for this bunch. This group is more athletic than they were last year, but the three-point shooting is still in-and-out. Too bad there's that grudge loss to in-state rival UNLV, or else this team would be high up on the list of the Hype Machine. (And maybe that's a good thing.)
Jan 18: (#20)
In the short run, the Wolf Pack can get by without cNick Fazekas, but in the long run, he needs to be 100% healthy if they want to achieve any of their postseason aspirations.
NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

[OFFICIAL] North Carolina Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#6)
Too many good players -- it's a good problem to have ... but it's still a problem. fTyler Hansbrough might be the best returning player in the nation; tReyshawn Terry finally turned in the kind of solid season that was two years in the making; pBobby Frasor, tDanny Green and tMarcus Ginyard are a very solid sophomore class. The superfrosh coming in might sweep them all aside as yet another "Fab Five"-nominee recruiting class: fBrandan Wright, gWayne Ellington and pTy Lawson are as good as any newcomers anywhere; fAlex Stepheson and fDeon Thompson will add depth in the frontcourt. In '93-94, a UNC team coming off a national championship (led by cEric Montross) had all kinds of chemistry problems with a freshman class (featuring cRasheed Wallace, fJerry Stackhouse and gJeff McGinnis) and they flamed out in the NCAA 2nd round. Coach Roy Williams' run-run-run style will provide minutes for everyone better than most systems; but how well the sophs take the inevitable demotion will write the story of this season.

In the rebuilding ACC, the Tar Heels are the favorite; Duke, Boston College and Maryland will fight it out for second place; Georgia Tech and Florida State will do well to spoil.

Even this early, don't be surprised by a win in the NIT TIP-OFF (Tennessee, Gonzaga, Indiana). Even at home, Ohio State (ACC-BIG 10) will be a huge challenge; beating Kentucky and Penn won't be a problem at home; beating Arizona on the road shouldn't really be, either. In league play, some tougher games come on the road first -- not ideal.

Nov 20: (#3)
The Winthrop game was quite a scare, but the Tar Heels' superior depth saved the day against the tired legs of the Eagles' ironmen. The good news is that fBrandan Wright, gWayne Ellington and pTy Lawson don't seem to be having any adjustment problems and are already making major contributions. No chemistry problems so far.
Nov 27: (#11)
The perils of having an All-Star squad caught up to the Tar Heels against Gonzaga. fTyler Hansbrough had a rough go of it against the Bulldogs and then there was a big question of who should step up in the absence of their leader. fBrandan Wright has even more talent than Hansbrough, but the leadership needs to come from the back court and their needs to be more continuity in the rotation. Can gBobby Frasor make this his team when gTy Lawson is right there waiting, getting about the same amount of minutes?
Jan 8: (#1)
The Tar Heels are able to treat even a team as good as Florida State as an all-star game rather than an intense struggle for victory. Impressive on the one hand, but how will they handle tight games?
Jan 18: (#4)
Someone was finally able to make the Tar Heels pay for their "All-Star Game" mentality. They're not much of a lockdown defensive team and, like Arizona, it's usually plenty good enough to play "can-you-top-this" basket-trading basketball. But Virginia Tech used its penetrating guard corps to build as much as a 23-point lead before UNC was able to rally to make the final score respectable. Will they learn from this loss? Let's hope so. They've got a tough week coming up.
Jan 29: (#1)
fBrandan Wright didn't play; fTyler Hansbrough was no factor until the second half; and yet the Tar Heels routed Arizona anyway. Yes, depth put the Wildcats in foul trouble and in jeopardy; but this was more than some mere win by attrition. They took it right to Arizona and it blinked. In fact, it ran away and hid until the onslaught was over. The team up over in Gainesville won't have that kind of issue, to be sure, but foul trouble could actually be its Achilles' Heel. These Heels have no such problem.
NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES
Las Cruces, New Mexico

[OFFICIAL] New Mexico State Men's Basketball Website

Feb 19
The big comeback against Ohio U saved the prospects of the Aggies for an at-large NCAA bid. The earlier win over Nevada legitimizes their standing as a league contender.

fTyrone Nelson and gElijah Ingram were the only key returning starters. Several transfers gFred Peete (ex-Kansas State), cMartin Iti (ex-Charlotte), gJustin Hawkins (ex-Utah) and cHatila Passos (JuCo) have been key additions for coach Reggie Theus.

In the shallow WAC, Nevada was the clear favorite, but the Aggies might possibly gel into a formidable challenger.

The loss to Arizona was to be expected. The showcase LOU HENSON win (San Francisco) doesn't mean much. A home-and-home split with New Mexico and a sweep of UTEP is the best the could muster. In league play, more tough games came on the road first time around.

NORTHERN ARIZONA LUMBERJACKS
Flagstaff, Arizona

[OFFICIAL] Northern Arizona Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
A strong nucleus returns from last year's regular season champs, including fRuben Boykin, gTyron Bazy and gSteve Sir.

In the Big Sky [OFFICIAL], the Lumberjacks will again battle Montana for league supremacy, with Eastern Washington and Portland State poised to spoil behind individual stars.

Road wins at Kansas and Arizona (and even Arizona St and UNLV) won't happen. A BRACKETBUSTERS win would only affect their seeding; it wouldn't earn them an NCAA bid on its own. In league play, the big game with Montana comes at home first.

NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS
Cedar Falls, Iowa

[OFFICIAL] Northern Iowa Men's Basketball Website

Jan 1
Plenty of history of success accompanies a returning nucleus of talent. Gone is star guard Ben Jacobson. Arriving is new head coach Ben Jacobson (an assistant last year, no relation). fGrant Stout and fEric Coleman are now the focus from what had been a guard-oriented team. gBrooks McKowen, gJared Josten and gTravis Brown must step up their roles. Newcomer 7-1 cJordan Eglseder is expected to add depth to the strongsuit of this squad.

In the mighty MVC, Southern Illinois will fight it out with Wichita State, Creighton, Missouri State and the Panthers.

Winning the TRAVELERS CLASSIC (Washington) was an ambitious goal. Losing at Loyola-Illinois pushes them down the list of at-large teams. In league play, a balanced schedule means you've got to prove it on the court.

Jan 8
Who says there's no Year After Rule? The Panthers are 4-0 in the league's strongest campaign in years. And they're sharing the load in perfect YAR tradition.
Mar 5
The pecking order in the MVC held up in the conference tournament. The Panthers couldn't break through that, so there's no NCAA bid in the future. An NIT spot should open up for them, though.
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
South Bend, Indiana

[OFFICIAL] Notre Dame Men's Basketball Website

Dec 11: (#15)
Two Top 10 wins are no mirage. The Irish have a capable team, led by the perimeter attack of gColin Falls, gKyle McAlarney and the extended shooting range of tRussell Carter. Frontcourt bangers fRob Kurz, fLuke Harangody and cLuke Zeller aren't big rebounders, but this team is finding a way to get it done nonetheless for coach Mike Brey.

In the rebuilding Big East, Georgetown and Pittsburgh will battle for the top spot, while Syracuse, revamped Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette, Villanova and the Irish will be right behind ready to spoil.

Losing to Butler in the NIT SEASON TIP-OFF now doesn't seem as bad a loss at it did at the time. Wins over Maryland (BB&T CLASSIC) and Alabama could be the difference when it comes to getting an at-large bid at season's end. In league play, they don't play UConn at all, but two of three big games are on the road.

Jan 1: (#14)
The suspension of gKyle McAlarney (for possession of marijuana) threatens the chemistry of a team on a roll heading into conference play. This sweet-shooting squad can go along way if they can keep it together.
Jan 22
gKyle McAlarney has been suspended from school for the spring semester, so that's that. A potentially great year will now only be potentially good.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Columbus, Ohio

[OFFICIAL] Ohio State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#9)
Can you lose four starters (including the conference Player of the Year) and actually be better? The answer might be "yes". An experienced backcourt, gJamar Butler and gRon Lewis, is just what the doctor ordered for a supremely talented bunch of newcomers. Freshman 7-1 cGreg Oden might immediately be the best player in the nation (as long as his wrist is completely healed after off-season surgery); add freshmen gMike Conley, bDaequan Cook and tDavid Lightly to JC transfer fOthello Hunter to get what's being called "The Thad Five". The only question is how quickly coach Thad Matta can get the new mix of players to gel -- there's plenty of talent to go as far as they want.

In the rebuilding Big 10, veteran Wisconsin and the young Buckeyes will fight it out for the top spot, with Illinois and Indiana ready to spoil.

The BCA CLASSIC (Loyola(Illinois), Kent State). Winning at North Carolina (ACC-BIG 10) and at Florida aren't likely; beating Tennesse is; beating Cincinnati and Iowa State should be no problem. In league play, only six tough games is an easier schedule than most. play,

Nov 13: (#6)
Even without cGreg Oden (who isn't expected to play until January while he continues to heal from his off-season wrist surgery), the Buckeyes have shown their talent(especially, tDaequan Cook). The veteran perimeter players are making the transition seem easy.
Dec 4: (#5)
cGreg Oden didn't play in the loss at North Carolina, but the perimeter players were very impressive. His debut against Valparaiso was just fine, thank you ... yet even with him on the floor, they were still outrebounded by lowly Valpo. He's a difference-maker, to be sure, but just how much we don't know quite yet.
Dec 27: (#8)
Finally a real result against a quality opponent to add some reality to all of the hypothetical hype. Florida's fAl Horford was able to neutralize cGreg Oden and the Gator perimeter defenders held the OSU guards relatively in check. Even with Oden, this is no dominant rebounding team. They aren't invincible by any means (although there are very few teans, if any, with as much talent at all five spots on the floor as UofF).
Jan 8: (#5)
Can you credit cGreg Oden with the perimeter defense that the Buckeyes are deploying? Well, yes. With his securing the lane, his teammates can extend their pressure out further and harrass three-point shooters more than most.
Feb 26: (#2)
Not sure they really settled which is the better team, but how about the conference regular season title in the meantime? I'll take it. cOden's offense has continued to become smoother and they're still improving on learning how to balance feeding the post with letting the perimeter players create on their own.
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
Stillwater, Oklahoma

[OFFICIAL] Oklahoma State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
All five starters return from last year's so-so squad. gMario Boggan and pJamesOn Curry are a nice inside-out combo. Freshman gObi Muonelo should help in the backcourt. fDavid Monds and gByron Eaton don't provide much support. It's the first full season with Sean Sutton as official head coach after the retirement of his father, Eddie Sutton.

In the rebuilding Big 12, Kansas is the favorite, followed by Texas A&M; young Texas, the veteran Cowboys and Texas Tech will all be around to spoil.

Winning SOUTH PADRE (Wisconsin, Missouri State, Auburn) will be tough. Beating Syracuse and Tennessee on the road won't likely happen; even in front of the home folks, beating Pittsburgh won't be easy, either. In league play, going on the road to Kansas early on only compounds the tougher "South Division" schedule.

Nov 27: (#17)
The Cowboys are the beneficiaries of transitivity. It was Missouri State that pulled off the real shocker (by upsetting Wisconsin), but taking the crown in the SOUTH PADRE final against the Bears still counts as a big win over a loaded field.
Jan 22: (#15)
The triple-OT thriller with Texas was great, but a much bigger concern is the second straight massacre loss on the road, this time against Texas A&M. Things degenerate into a two-man team with gJOCurry looking for his own shot too much and fBoggan left to scavenge for putbacks.
Mar 5
How did things go so terribly wrong with this team? Top 10 at one point (too high for sure); but by the end of the season, this team wasn't even worth tracking. The OT thrillers in front of home crowds (and the transitivity ranking in the first place, probably) had this team overrated from the start.
ORAL ROBERTS GOLDEN EAGLES
Tulsa, Oklahoma

[OFFICIAL] Oral Roberts Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Two big stars, gKen Tutt and cCaleb Green, are back and expectations are just as high this year after last year's success. Transfer gAdam Liberty (ex-Wichita State) should help in the backcourt; JC transfer cShaw King should allow Green to play power forward.

In the Mid-Continent [OFFICIAL], the Eagles will again fight to hold off IUPUI and Missouri-Kansas City for league supremacy.

The biggest upsets on the road (at Kansas, at Georgetown, at Arkansas) won't happen; lesser wins (including winning the BYU HOLIDAY CLASSIC) aren't beyond their reach. A BRACKETBUSTERS win won't get them a bid, but it will affect their seeding. In league play, a veteran squad won't be affected by the schedule.

Nov 20
Apparently Loyola Marymount is a tougher road game than Kansas -- who knew? All credit to the Eagles for showing the resolve to go into the Lion's Den and emerge victorious. Beating #2 on the road is just one notch below the best win you can have on your resume. Outstanding. Too bad they're only 1-1.
OREGON DUCKS
Eugene, Oregon

[OFFICIAL] Oregon Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
All five starters return from last year's so-so squad. tMalik Hairston, gAaron Brooks and gBryce Taylor make for a solid perimeter attack. Transfer gChurchill Odia (ex-Xavier) will only add depth out top. There's not much to fear from this team in the paint, though. That's the challenge for coach Ernie Kent.

In the solid Pac-10, UCLA, revamped Washington and Arizona will fight for the top spot; the Ducks will spoil.

The BCA CLASSIC is just a three-day showccase. Winning at Georgetown won't happen. In league play, some rough road games come in the middle of the season.

Nov 13
5-6 pTajuan Porter has been an explosive addition to the roster. The Ducks cruised the three-day showcase BCA CLASSIC even without tMalik Hairston (who's out with a groin injury).
Dec 4: (#22)
Winning on the road at Georgetown is enough of a calling card for an undefeated team to garner a ranking. Now that all of the pieces are on the court, let's see how far they can push things this season.
Jan 8: (#15)
USC spoiled what was supposed to be "The Battle of the Unbeatens", but no matter. The Ducks and UCLA put on quite a show just as is.
Jan 18: (#5)
Don't look now, but the Ducks are only two points away from an undefeated season. A nail-biter road win over Arizona has them tied for the league lead with UCLA. As if they needed more guys who could score off the dribble, fMalik Hairston is now back healthy and contributing. Now how about a little scoring margin!?
Jan 29: (#4)
Forget the loss to Washington without gAaron Brooks -- (except, that is, to note that this team becomes beatable when he's not on the floor, say, with foul trouble?). Focus on the wonderful clash with game Washington State when the Ducks were at full strength. They've won big games on the road this year. That's a great sign.
Feb 5: (#8)
1-3 on the road the past two weeks is a tough when you're fighting for a league title (and possibly a #1-seed). They close with five of seven games at home, though, so don't count them out just yet. More consistent production in the frontcourt from fMaarty Leunen and fAdam Zahn would go along way to making this a more complete team.
Feb 12: (#12)
Failing to take care of business at home against Arizona is a bad sign. So much was falling right for this team in the first half of the season that it was probably a false sense of how good they were. Top 10, they're probably not. But it's time to regroup now before they hit the postseason, now that the regular season title is out of reach.
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

[OFFICIAL] Pittsburgh Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#8)
The loss of the heart and soul of last year's squad would normally be a cause for concernt, but there's plenty of talent still around. It's the program, stupid. Coach Jamie Dixon has proven he's more than just the caretaker of Ben Howland's leftovers. cAaron Gray is one of the most effective centers in the nation; gLance Fields, gRonald Ramon and gAntonio Graves form a capable backcourt; fSam Young and fLevon Kendall provide support in the paint; transfer tMike Cook (ex-East Carolina) should be able to help inside and outside.

In the rebuilding Big East, Georgetown and the Panthers will battle for the top spot, while Syracuse, revamped Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette and Villanova will be right behind ready to spoil.

Winning the COLONIAL (Florida State) should happen. A win at Wisconsin is a tall order, on the road against Oklahoma State isn't; home wins over Washington and Florida State should should happen. In league play, a tough series of early home games can break open the race.

Feb 19: (#10)
cAaron Gray injured his ankle late in the Washington game. Not the best time of year for him to be less than 100%.
PRINCETON TIGERS
Princeton, New Jersey

[OFFICIAL] Princeton Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Last year's season started out woefully out of conference. fNoah Savage, fLuke Owings and tKyle Koncz have experience, but that's not enough by itself. Newcomers Zach Finley and gMarcus Schroeder can only help. The jury is still out on coach Joe Scott's tenure at the helm.

In the Ivy League, Penn is the heavy favorite well ahead of the Tigers.

Even a first-round win at the BCA CLASSIC (Ohio State, Loyola-IL) will be a stretch. Second place at the BLUE AND GOLD CLASSIC (Marquette) is reasonable. Don't look for any big out-of-conference wins from this bunch, especially on the road. In league play, travelling to Penn first only makes it tougher.

Nov 13
Two wins at the BCA CLASSIC is a great showing. This team hasn't had much success at all out of conference in recent years.
Dec 11
A promising preseason start seems to be hitting a wall. Stats don't completely tell the story for a team that never plays at a pace where players can have normal numbers. But Ws and Ls do not lie.
Jan 8
A fine preseason all told, actually. Things should get much easier inside the league.
Jan 18
Just when things were beginning to look promising, a disastrous road trip has the Tigers well behind Penn in the race right away. gKyle Koncz is out with a foot injury.
SACRED HEART PIONEERS
Fairfield, Connecticut
Jan 8
The rout win over Monmouth makes the obvious official: it's the Pioneers who are the trackable team for this league. Four starters return from last year's subpar squad, led by bJarrid Frye and pTavio Hobson. gLuke Granato has been a leading contributor as well.

In the weak Northeast [OFFICIAL], the Hawks will battle Sacred Heart, Fairleigh Dickinson, Robert Morris and Long Island for supremacy.

No chance to win the NIT TIP-OFF bracket (North Carolina) or at Connecticut and Boston College. The win over Albany was the highlight of the preseason. In league play, the big games are at home first -- that helps.

Feb 12: (untracked)
Time to face the reality that it's Central Connecticut State that's the form conference champ for this league.
SAM HOUSTON STATE BEARKATS
Huntsville, Texas

[OFFICIAL] Sam Houston State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Four starters return from last year's squad, including pJeJuan Plair and fRyan Bright. JC transfer fJames Barrett should help out underneath.

In the realigned Southland [OFFICIAL], the Bearkats should outpace new leaguemate Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the West and overall; while Lamar and McNeese State should rule the East.

Winning at Oklahoma State is a stretch (but not the other SOUTH PADRE games). No win at UCLA, but a home win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a possibility. A BRACKETBUSTERS win won't secure an NCAA bid (but it would make a difference in their seeding should they get there). In league play, getting to play both Lamar and McNeese State at home is a big edge.

Mar 5
Ouch. The blowout loss (at home, no less) to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was humbling, to say the least. No matter. This is league is 1BC. The only win that matters is the conference tournament final. (And it's NCAA or bust, most likely, since the NIT probably won't come calling to the Southland regular season runner-up.)
SAMFORD BULLDOGS
Birmingham, Alabama

[OFFICIAL] Samford Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
All the supporting cast returns from last year's second-place conference finishers. It's the system, stupid (not one star player). gRandall Gulina and cTravis Peterson still have enough experience to lead the rest of the veterans, including gJoe Ross Merritt and gJerry Smith.

In the OVC, the Bulldogs should have the top spot to themselves as most of the the rest of the league rebuilds from strong showings last season.

No way any upsets against Florida, Arizona or LSU are on the table. Ohio and South Alabama are outside possibilities; Mississippi State and Wright State in the HISPANIC COLLEGE FUND-SOUTH are also within reach. A BRACKETBUSTERS win won't earn a bid, but it will affect their seeding. In league play, most of the big games come early in the season -- not a problem for a veteran squad.

Jan 29: (untracked)
The blowout loss at Austin Peay seals what was already apparent, that the Governors (not the Bulldogs) are the form team for the OVC. Track APSU instead from here on out.
SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS
San Diego, California

[OFFICIAL] San Diego State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#22)
Star gBrandon Heath is back, and that alone is reason for optimism; upfront help returns in fMohamed Abukar. Plenty of new help arrives as well in transfer tLorenzo Wade (ex-Louisville), JC transfer fJerome Habel, and freshman gKashif Watson. Coach Steve Fisher's tenure at SDSU has hit its stride and last season's regular season title and tournament crown were only the beginning.

In the thin Mountain West, the Aztecs should again best Air Force, with BYU and UNLV following closely behind.

Beating Arizona, California and Washington State isn't beyond their reach. Winning the SHAMROCK INVIATIONAL (St. Mary's) is a no-brainer. In league play, the big games all come on the road first before finishing on the road -- that's tough, but a veteran squad can handle it.

Nov 13
Despite going 3-0 to win the SHAMROCK INVITATIONAL at St. Mary's, the Aztecs barely survived all three games. Great individual performances from bBrandon Heath and fMohamed Abukar, but for the team as a whole, this isn't a performance level worth ranking.
Jan 8: (untracked)
With the stellar play of Air Force and the steady play of UNLV, there's no compelling reason to keep tracking the team.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS
Carbondale, Illinois

[OFFICIAL] Southern Illinois Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#20)
Everyone is back from last year's conference tournament champs. That's the good news. The bad news is that last year's height-challenged squad didn't do much to improve that weakness. gJamaal Tatum, gTony Young, bruiser fMatt Shaw and fRandal Falker are a hard-nosed defensive bunch. Freshman gJosh Bone should help with outside scoring punch. Coach Chris Lowery's squad got it done last year; no reason to believe they can't do it again.

In the mighty MVC, the Salukis will fight it out with Wichita State, Creighton, Missouri State and Northern Iowa.

Winning the ESPNU/OLD SPICE CLASSIC (Arkansas, Marist) should be a big feather in their cap. A win at Indiana isn't unthinkable; wins against Western Kentucky, St. Louis, Louisiana Tech and St. Mary's are to be expected. A BRACKETBUSTERS win will only matter for seeding. In league play, the neutral schedule is still a rough go.

Nov 27
One made free throw would have turned an overtime loss into a gutty victory over Arkansas and the Salukis would have likely moved inside the Top 20. No matter, I'll take a rout of a low-Big 10 team and an endplay win over a middle-ACC team to go with an OT loss to a middle-SEC team. That's a fine week's work.
Jan 29: (#24)
This league is having a banner season and hardly anyone has noticed. No way the league leader doesn't get ranked. Sure, the Salukis have height problems and scoring problems, but they still manage to find a way to be a winning squad.
Feb 19: (#13)
The Salukis played a marvelous, hard-fought game and came away with the victory on the road at Butler as the marquee BRACKETBUSTERS matchup. They may be playing their way into a #4-seed in the NCAA tournament. Unreal. First things first, though: secure the regular season MVC title.
Mar 5: (#)
Losing the MVC final to Creighton hurts. No #4 seed now, more like #7 or #8. Their vulnerability to height hasn't been exposed that much in a league without a lot of big men, but the Bluejays took advantage to the degree that they could. (But there are much taller teams lurking in the NCAAs.)
STANFORD CARDINAL
Palo Alto, California

[OFFICIAL] Stanford Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
The Big Three (fMatt Haryasz, pChris Hernandez and tDan Grunfeld) are gone; in come a pair of 7' twin brothers -- (sound familiar?) The Collins twins stepped into a much better situation than fBrook Lopez and cRobin Lopez are this time around. At least there's a little bit of experience still around in fTaj Finger and gMitch Johnson. Trent Johnson has his work cut out for him this season.

In the solid Pac-10, UCLA, revamped Washington and Arizona will fight for the top spot; Oregon will spoil; the Cardinal will to well to finish above .500.

They'll do well to get out of their own regional in CBE (Duke, Texas Tech, Marquette, Air Force, Long Beach State); wins over Gonzaga, Texas Tech (PETE NEWELL) and Virginia aren't sure things. In league play, a December road trip to Arizona could put them down before they even get going.

Nov 20
cRobin Lopez is out, recovering from September back surgery. Blowing a chance to get to Kansas City in the CBE CLASSIC is a big blow, (but judging by the score of the rout loss to Air Force, it wasn't a realistic possibility, anyway).
Jan 18
Two nail-biter home wins have pleased the home folks. This is a decent season, but it's really the groundwork for something bigger a year from now. For now, best to be content with spoiler upsets here and there as they come. This was a good week for that, to be sure.
Jan 29
Wow! Two spectacular wins from a team that seemed only to be a work-in-progress with a focus on next year. fBrook Lopez had the first triple-double in Stanford hoops history against USC. Forget the slow start, this team could do some damage this year -- in fact, it already has.
Feb 5: (#22)
The Cardinal played great in the double-overtime loss to Gonzaga. Then, they bounced back to rout California to boot. This team is putting together something special. Can't hold off ranking them any longer. This is real.
Feb 19: (#18)
The Cardinal have been getting better while the rest of the league is coming apart at the seams all around them. Lo and behold, they're tied for third-place.
SYRACUSE ORANGE
Syracuse, New York

[OFFICIAL] Syracuse Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Can you replace one of the school's all-time heroes (gGerry McNamara) and be better? Not likely, but this team won't fall completely off the radar, either. Four starters return, led by tDemetris Nichols, gEric Devendorf and fTerrence Roberts. There isn't much depth, but superfrosh 6-5 gPaul Harris will likely step right in and run the show, while fMike Jones adds some depth on the baseline. They will struggle early for coach Jim Boeheim, but they could even benefit from the Year After Rule.

In the rebuilding Big East, Georgetown and Pittsburgh will fight for the top spot, while the Orange, revamped Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette and Villanova will be right behind ready to spoil.

The BCA INVITATIONAL is just a three-day showcase; home wins over Wichita State, Hofstra, Holy Cross and Charlotte aren't automatic, neither is a "home" win against Oklahoma State (JIMMY V). In league play, 3 out of 4 big games are at home.

Nov 13: (#15)
The veteran Orange have shown they're still a solid (and deeper) team. bPaul Harris is blending in well with his elders (but it's not his team by any means).
Jan 8
A home loss to Pittsburgh isn't great, but a road win at Marquette is a nice consolation prize.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Knoxville, Tennessee

[OFFICIAL] Tennessee Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#10)
Last year's turnaround in coach Bruce Pearl's first year in Knoxville was no one-hit wonder. This year, he's got prize recruits to implement the system. gChris Lofton is one of the best guards in the nation; tDane Bradshaw is a versatile performer. Freshmen gRamar Smith and gMarques Johnson add depth in the backcourt while fWayne Chism and fDuke Crews may even upgrade the frontcourt from last year. Lack of height in the paint is a problem, but that's less of an issue an an up-tempo pressing style.

In the strong SEC, Florida is the favorite in the East (and overall); the Volunteers will be right there if they fall; in the West, LSU is the favorite with Alabama right behind; Kentucky will do well do spoil.

Making the final of the NIT TIP-OFF (North Carolina, Indiana, Gonzaga) should be the most they can expect. Beating Texas, Memphis, Oklahoma State and Western Kentucky in front of the home folks should be expected; winning at Ohio State shouldn't. In league play, the tough interdivision games both come at home -- that's a big plus.

Nov 27
Two losses in New York in the NIT TIP-OFF signal that this is a new year. Last year's hustle made up for a dominant inside presence, and this year has less of both so far. gChris Lofton has been good, but not great, and that's not enough for rankability.
Dec 18
The team may not quite be rankable, but gChris Lofton's stellar season continues to make a claim not only for All-America status, but even Player of the Year. Now, if he could only get some consistent help, the team's fortunes might be headed in the same direction as his individual stock.
Dec 27: (#10)
"How do you like me now?" Two big wins (albeit both were nail-biters in front of partisan crowds) over the likes of Oklahoma State and Texas are plenty good enough for a ranking, and this week it's even good enough for the Top 10. Nothing new or different -- just lots of gChris Lofton.
Feb 12: (#25)
He's far from 100%, but just having gChris Lofton back on the court makes this a very good team again. The role players improved even during the losses when he was out.
TEXAS LONGHORNS
Austin, Texas

[OFFICIAL] Texas Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
No elite team experienced more turnover than this one -- gone are the entire starting five plus the first sub off the bench. That's the bad news. The good news is that a great crop of incoming freshman is on hand. 6-9 tKevin Durant is a star waiting for the curtain to open; pD.J. Augustin is a fine passer; fDamion James can score inside or outside; 6-10 fMatt Hill, gJustin Mason, cDexter Pittman and gHarrison Smith are all brand new to college game. Only sophomore gA.J. Abrams and transfer fIan Mooney (ex-St. Louis) have any experience. Don't expect coach Rick Barnes to be able to pull this bunch together instantly; but by season's end, they may have come together enough to make some noise.

In the rebuilding Big 12, Kansas is the favorite, followed by Texas A&M; the young Longhorns will do well to be in the mix with veteran Oklahoma State and Texas Tech as spoilers.

Getting their act together in time to take COLLEGE HOOPS/CVC (Maryland, Michigan State, St. John's) is too much to ask; ditto for wins over Gonzaga (HALL OF FAME), LSU and Tennessee; a home win over Arkansas will be a good barometer. In league play, the tougher "South Division" schedule finishes with a road game at Kansas -- couldn't be worse.

Nov 13: (#17)
(With Ohio State's cGreg Oden sidelined until January), tKevin Durant has the spotlight all alone as the freshman who has made the biggest impact. This is already his team.
Nov 20
Yes, tKevin Durant has fabulous offensive skills; yes, pP.J. Augustin is a solid point guard already; yes gA.J. Abrams is off to a fine start at shooting guard; yes fDamion James looks solid and fMatt Hill is a steady complement to the stars. But, how about a little team defense, guys!? The offense is still quite a bit in "All-Star" mode, with individuals using their talent to score one-on-one. There's plenty to like on paper, but those weren't world-beater teams in Michigan State and St. John's that took them to the wire.
Dec 11: (#22)
They only just barely got it, but the win over LSU finally gives the Longhorns something on their resume that measures up to their talent. gD.J. Augustin was excellent, and could use that performance as a springboard to make him and tKevin Durant a formidable tag team combo.
Jan 18: (#22)
More convincing wins have things looking up for the young Longhorns. Consistent points from gA.J. Abrams will go a long way to alleviate the burdern on tKevin Durant and pA.J. Augustin.
TEXAS AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL AGGIES
College Station, Texas

[OFFICIAL] Texas A&M Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#13)
Four starters return from last year's NCAA splash team. gAcie Law and fJoseph Jones are a rugged inside-out combo; gDominqie Kirk is a hard-nosed defender as well. Freshman gDonald Sloan should provide more scoring punch for coach Billy Gillepsie.

In the rebuilding Big 12, Kansas is the favorite, followed by the Aggies, with the youngsters at Texas as well as the veterans at Oklahoma State and Texas Tech right behind ready to spoil.

SHELBY METCALF is just a three-day showcase; wins on the road against LSU and UCLA are anything but -- don't expect either; home wins over Pacific and Winthrop might be the best out-of-conference results. In league play, the tougher "South Division" schedule is made worse by a road game at Kansas.

Dec 11: (#24)
No shame in losing at LSU and on the road against UCLA, but without an undefeated record to go with it, those blowouts over scrubs no longer warrant a Top-10 ranking. fAntanas Kavaliauskas must become a consistent third option for this team in order for this team to do something special.
Jan 22: (#7)
It was a long time coming, but the Aggies finally played a ranked team and won. A little bit of the luster is off of the rout win over Oklahoma State seeing as how Kansas just did the same thing to that team the week before. Still, nobody else in the league is playing more solidly, so give them their full due.
Feb 5: (#4)
A great 17-4 closing run keyed by gAcie Law(23p7a) turned certain defeat into a shocking road win at Kansas and earned them first place all to themselves in the conference standings. Great job. Trouble is, because they're in the tougher "South Division", there are plenty of tough games left in the second half (including Texas twice).
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES BRUINS
Los Angeles, California

[OFFICIAL] UCLA Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#4)
Plenty of talent returns from last year's national runner-up squad. bArron Afflalo and fLuc Richard Mbah a Moute lead the way this time; gDarren Collison is ready to step up at the point; the return of fJosh Shipp and the arrival of newcomer fJames Keefe are cause for lots of optimism that there won't be much of a drop-off for coach Ben Howland.

In the solid Pac-10, the Bruins will battle revamped Washington and Arizona for the top spot; Oregon should be ready to spoil just behind them.

Winning MAUI (Memphis, Kentucky, Oklahoma) will be tough but doable. In front of the home folk, Texas A&M, Long Beach State and Sam Houston State should all be wins. In league play, the tough games come at home first -- that helps.

Nov 27: (#2)
The Bruins looked sharp as they played like the veterans that they are in beating back Kentucky and Georgia Tech. pDarren Collison is just fine, thank you, as the point guard. gArron Afflalo has as complete a game as any college guard. fLuc Richard Mbah a Moute has been solid in the paint so far.
Jan 1: (#2)
Taken as a whole, Florida's tougher schedule allowed it to have the more noteworthy preseason (but it's actually the Bruins who are playing the better ball right this week). Could we really be headed for a national championship rematch? That's a long, long way down the road. In the short run, there's a little matter of a Battle of Unbeatens looming this week.
Jan 29: (#5)
It's not so much the loss the Stanford that's the worry. It was a great comeback fueled by the frenzy of the home crowd. It's the fact that the Bruins aren't getting consistent contributions from anyone other than gArron Afflalo. There needs to be a frontcourt double-figures scorer every time.
Feb 5: (#2)
The solid win over Oregon solidifies the Bruins hold on first place in conference place. That's big because it will most likely mean a #1-seed in the NCAA tournament (and avoiding Florida and North Carolina until the Final Four). Active production from fMbah a Moute is key to their title hopes.
Feb 12: (#5)
Not having pDarren Collison on the floor was a much bigger issue than trying to deal with West Virginia's gimmick style of play. Only gArron Afflalo can get his own shot without Collison ... and it showed in a big way.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TROJANS
Los Angeles, California

[OFFICIAL] USC Men's Basketball Website

Feb 5: (#23)
A nice mix of veterans and new blood has the Trojans steadily improving into a formidable team. tNick Young, gGabe Pruitt and bLodrick Stewart have plenty of experience; cAbdoulaye N'Diaye is a veteran role player as well. Add freshmen fTaj Gibson and pDaniel Hackett and you've got a great, athletic roster for coach Tim Floyd. Don't underestimate the motivational drive from the off-season death (by shooting) of teammate Ryan Francis.

In the solid Pac-10, UCLA was supposed to battle revamped Washington and Arizona for the top spot; with Oregon should be ready to spoil just behind them. The Trojans have upset that prediction with strong play.

They lost "USC(East) vs USC(West)" battle with South Carolina. A road win at Kansas was a stretch. Home crowd wins over Long Beach State and George Washington were nice. Winning the LAS VEGAS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC (Wichita State, Kansas State, New Mexico) would have been nice. In league play, in such a strong league with a balanced schedule, you've got to deliver no matter when the games come.

VANDERBILT COMMODORES
Nashville, Tennessee

[OFFICIAL] Vanderbilt Men's Basketball Website

Feb 19: (#17)
This is more than just a few nice upsets here and there. The solid home win over Florida is as real as it gets. This team is playing focused defense and offense and the results are coming.

tShan Foster and tDerrick Byars are returning stars for coach Kevin Stallings. LSU-transfer fRoss Neltner was expected to contribute (as he has). gDan Cage has also been able to step up his contribution from past seasons.

In the strong SEC, Florida was the favorite in the East (and overall); with Tennessee right behind; in the West, LSU was the favorite with Alabama right behind; and Kentucky ready to spoil.

The win over Georgia Tech was the highlight of the preseason. A loss to Georgetown could be expected, but they had a shot a winning the SAN JUAN SHOOTOUT (Virginia, Appalachian State). In league play, they're in the tougher East Division, so that doesn't help.

VERMONT CATAMOUNTS
Burlington, Vermont

[OFFICIAL] Vermont Men's Basketball Website

Feb 12
Better late than never. The road win over Albany completes the sweep. No need to track two teams from this league, and the Catamounts are clearly it this year for the America East. Five starters return from last year's sub-.500 squad. Sophomore gMike Trimboli and seniors fMartin Klimes and cChris Holm (holdovers from the glorious run in 2005) lead the way. Sophomore fColin McIntosh has stepped up on occasion as well for coach Mike Lonergan.

In the weak America East [OFFICIAL], Albany was supposed to stay ahead of veteran teams from SUNY-B, the Catamounts and Maine.

Advancing in the COLLEGE HOOPS CLASSIC (Maryland) was unlikely, as was a road win at Michigan State. But they did manage to pull off the big win at Boston College early on. Beating Drexel on the road wouldn't have been unthinkable. In league play, getting to play Albany at home first porbably helped.

VIRGINIA CAVALIERS/WAHOOS
Charlottesville, Virginia

[OFFICIAL] Virginia Men's Basketball Website

Feb 5: (#24)
A great backcourt can take you a long way, and the Cavaliers have one of the best in pSean Singletary and gJ.R. Reynolds. tMamadi Diane has been a nice third option and fJason Cain has also contributed as well for coach Dave Leitao. The new John Paul Jones Arena has given this program a boost with a great home crowd environment.

In the rebuilding ACC, North Carolina is the favorite; Duke, Boston College and Maryland will fight it out for second; Georgia Tech and Florida State will do well to spoil.

A great win right off the bat against Arizona was tempered by the disappointing road loss at Purdue (ACC-BIG 10 CHALLENGE). The SAN JUAN SHOOTOUT (Vanderbilt, Utah, Appalchian State) was winnable but they came away (1)-2. Big win against Gonzaga, heart-breaking loss against Stanford. (This season has been all over the map.) In league play, two tough road games to start didn't make it easy, but they've regrouped nicely.

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH RAMS
Richmond, Virginia

[OFFICIAL] VCU Men's Basketball Website

Jan 1
Track the Rams instead of Hofstra as the form team for the league. gB.A. Walker, bJesse Pellot-Rosa and pEric Maynor are the mainstay holdovers from last year for first-year coach Anthony Grant.

It's a down year after all for the Colonial. It's the Rams, Old Dominion and Drexel who have come through the preseason looking the most solid. Expected contenders George Mason and Hofstra and UNC-Wilmington haven't looked good.

Winning the PARADISE JAM (Alabama, Xavier) was a bit beyond their reach. The loss to Appalachian State isn't quite as bad as it seems. In league play, the tougher games come at the end of the season.

Jan 29: (#25)
It's about time to give the Rams some credit. Sure, the league is down from last year, but it's still a quality league with several good teams at the top. Going undefeated at this level is worth a ranking for sure.
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
Blacksburg, Virginia

[OFFICIAL] Virginia Tech Men's Basketball Website

Jan 29: (#19)
Consistent play on top of the upset of Duke actually has the Hokies in first place in the league standings at this point. Yikes! Well, it is truly a guard's, guard's, guard's world. This veteran squad returned all five starters from last year, gZabian Dowdell, fColeman Collins, gJamon Gordon, tDeron Washington and tDeron Washington -- all double-figure scorers -- and tA.D. Vassallo. They know what they're doing.

In the rebuilding ACC, North Carolina is the favorite; Duke, Boston College and Maryland will fight it out for second; Georgia Tech and Florida State will do well to spoil.

Winning the OLD SPICE/ESPNU CLASSIC (Arkansas, Southern Illinois, West Virginia) wasn't out of the question, but losing to Western Michigan was a bust. The BB&T CLASSIC (George Washington) was a toss-up, but that didn't go their way, either. Wins over Appalachian State and Old Dominion look better now than they did at the time. Beating Seton Hall (AEROPOSTALE) wasn't much to crow about. In league play, it was supposed to be rough facing Duke and North Carolina so early on, but that's where they flourished! Who knew!?

WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Seattle, Washington

[OFFICIAL] Washington Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#15)
Lots of talent from last year is gone, but a lot of new talent is also on board. Still around are fJon Brockman, gJustin Dentmon and gRyan Appleby -- that's a nice foundation. Freshman cSpencer Hawes is instantly the best post player in the league, fQuincy Pondexter is a flashy scorer; gAdrian Oliver and fPhil Nelson add depth. The overall talent level is down, but coach Lorenzo Romar still has plenty to work with.

In the solid Pac-10, UCLA, the revamped Huskies and Arizona will battle for the top spot; Oregon should be right there ready to spoil.

TRAVELERS (Northern Iowa) is just a three-day showcase. Winning at Pittsburgh and Gonzaga will be tough; even at home, beating LSU might not happen. In league play, two huge games come back to back early on -- that's not good for a young team.

Dec 27: (#20)
The dominant performance over LSU probably says more about the Tigers than it does about the Huskies, but we'll take it. The frontcourt overmatched the Bayou Bengals and it was an easy victory. Ready or not, here comes league play.
Feb 12: (#24)
It's still not too late for the Huskies to make a push for the NCAAs (especially thanks to all the name teams on their conference schedule. A sweep of California and Stanford is a start. They can't go 0-2 this week, but that's more likely than not against two Top-10 opponents.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
Pullman, Washington

[OFFICIAL] Washington State Men's Basketball Website

Dec 11
The Unwelcome Guest win at the JOHN THOMPSON-B CHALLENGE wasn't enough to make them trackable, but a win over heavyweight Gonzaga certainly is. Practically nothing was expected from this team with no returning double-figure scorers and an uncertain coaching transition from Dick Bennett to his son, Tony Bennett. gDerrick Low has been the mainstay so far for this guard-oriented squad. pKyle Weaver, fRobbie Cowgill, fIvory Clark are veterans. Redshirt sophomore tDaven Harmeling and transfer gTaylor Rochestie (ex-Tulane) should add some punch.

In the solid Pac-10, UCLA, revamped Washington and Arizona will battle for the top spot; Oregon and hopefully the Cougars should be right there ready to spoil.

JOHN THOMPSON-B (UAB, Wisconsin-Milwaukee) was OK, but beating Gonzaga is huge. Why not San Diego State as well? It could be a ticket to an at-large bid at season's end. In league play, there are too many strong teams for them to really be a factor.

Jan 8: (#14)
The Cougars can play it close with anyone in the league. That's a great quality for regular season play, especially in one of the few remaining leagues with a full home-and-home schedule.
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
Morgantown, West Virginia

[OFFICIAL] West Virginia Men's Basketball Website

Jan 1: (#21)
It was supposed to be a rebuilding year, but so far so good. Only fFrank Young returns from last year's starters, but it's the system, stupid. Coach John Beilein knows what he's trying to get his players to do, and they understand how to execute it. It's all new as far as major contributions from gDarris Nichols, fJoe Alexander and fAlex Ruoff and transfer 7-0 cJamie Smalligan (ex-Butler). Freshman gJonnie West is the son of legend Jerry West.

In the rebuilding Big East, Georgetown and Pittsburgh will battle for the top spot, with Syracuse, young Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette and Villanova around as spoilers.

A nice run at the ESPNU CLASSIC (Arkansas) didn't end quite the way they wanted. In league play, they're off to a great start upsetting Connecticut, but generally there are several tough road games ahead.

Feb 12: (#22)
A great win over UCLA should give this team all the confidence in the world. Guess the names don't matter when it's the system, stupid. Can they keep it rolling with a big game against Georgetown coming up?
WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS
Bowling Green, Kentucky

[OFFICIAL] Western Kentucky Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
A solid perimeter attack returns (tCourtney Lee, bBenson Callier, gTy Rogers) and is supplemented by JC transfer pTyrone Brazelton.

In the realigned Sun Belt, the Hilltoppers have the strongest returning nucleus among lots of teams in rebuilding mode.

An ambitious out-of-conference schedule may undo them. Don't expect wins against Tennessee, Southern Illinois or in the LAS VEGAS THANKSGIVING INVITATIONAL (Florida, Kansas). In league play, big December games should be to their advantage with veteran players.

Nov 27
No shame in being routed by Florida. In fact, they looked pretty good for the better part of the first half. bCourtney Lee is getting consistent help from pTyrone Brazelton, but nobody else with any regularity.
WICHITA STATE WHEATSHOCKERS
Wichita, Kansas

[OFFICIAL] Wichita State Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#17)
Last year's run to the Sweet 16 may not be duplicated, but another fine season is assured nonetheless. tP.J. Couisnard and tKyle Wilson are a fine pair of inside-out talents; gSean Ogirri provides punch on the perimeter as well. Freshman gGal Mekel's international experience (as captain of Israel's under-18 national team) should mean he'll be ready to contribute right away. The worry for coach Mark Turgeon is finding an inside game to provide some balance.

In the mighty Missouri Valley, the Shockers will fight it out with Southern Illinois, Creighton, Missouri State and Northern Iowa.

Road wins at George Mason and Wyoming are possible; wins at LSU and Syracuse are a tougher task. Nobody else is any better in the LAS VEGAS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC (Kansas State). The BRACKETBUSTERS game should only be a factor in seeding. In league play, the neutral schedule is still plenty tough.

Nov 20: (#20)
Winning at George Mason is a big result. (H'm. Can you imagine saying that this time last year?) It keeps them atop the list of at-large bidees should something go wrong in the conference tournament. Just staying close to LSU on the road will be an achievement.
Nov 27: (#13)
Yeah, they're not blowing away their opponents, but here's what they do have: TWO ROAD VICTORIES OVER TEAMS THAT MADE THE FINAL FOUR LAST YEAR. How's that for impressive? Five players in double-figures when you only score a total of 57 points is hard to accomplish, but they did. This is a true team.
Dec 4: (#10)
It seems wrong for a team without an All-America-type talent to lead the way to be ranked in the Top 10, but there it is. They posted their third impressive road victory over a quality opponent, Syracuse. The whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts here.
Mar 5
One of the stranger seasons (along with Clemson): a Top-10 ranking in the preseason with two wins over last year's Final Four teams ... and a collapse inside the tough MVC may wind up with no postseason whatsoever. No crucial injuries or suspensions to explain it, either. (Just maybe those "big" wins were never as big as they seemed at the time, anyway.)
WINTHROP EAGLES
Rock Hill, South Carolina

[OFFICIAL] Winthrop Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON
Plenty of talent returns from last year, including bTorrell Martin, cCraig Bradshaw and pChris Gaynor. Freshman fByron Faison may add needed scoring in the paint.

In the Big South [OFFICIAL], the Eagles will again battle Coastal Carolina for supremacy.

One round in the NIT TIP-OFF, a road win at Northern Illinois or Old Dominion are possible; wins against North Carolina, Mississippi State, Maryland, Wisconsin and Texas A&M are all out of the question. BRACKETBUSTERS is only important for seeding if they make it to the NCAAs on their own.

Nov 20
Best thing about last week: the Eagles didn't hang their heads and say, "If only?" after their game effort against North Carolina in the NIT SEASON TIP-OFF. No, they went right back out and took an SEC scalp on the road. That's positive week. Just staying close to Maryland at their place will be an accomplishment.
Jan 29
Even without the injured bTorrell Martin, the Eagles won two big games, at High Point and against Coastal Carolina. They have no bad losses and they're undefeated in conference. (Only a BRACKETBUSTERS loss could spoil this resume.)
Feb 19: (#24)
It may not last, but the confident win going away at Missouri State confirms what was apparent on paper: this is a majorly solid team that is capable of doing some real damage come NCAA time.
Mar 5
The Big South final against VMI wasn't easy, but the Eagles have come through. We'll see whether they get seeded high enough to avoid the top seeds for the first two rounds. Should do.
WISCONSIN BADGERS
Madison, Wisconsin

[OFFICIAL] Wisconsin Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#7)
Four starters return, led by tAlando Tucker and bKammron Taylor. The hope is that freshmen gJason Bohannon or gTrevon Hughes can take over the point and move Taylor to scoring guard. There is plenty of supporting talent in the likes of fBrian Butch, cGreg Stiemsma, cJason Chappell and gMichael Flowers for coach Bo Ryan to forge a champion.

In the rebuilding Big 10, the veteran Badgers and the youngsters at Ohio State will battle it out for the top spot, with Illinois and Indiana right behind ready to spoil.

A win in SOUTH PADRE (Oklahoma State, Missouri State) is to be expected, as is a home win over Florida State (ACC-BIG 10); even at home a win over Pittsburgh isn't guaranteed; wins against Winthrop, Pacific and Georgia shouldn't be a problem; on the road at Marquette might be. In league play, more tough games are on the road than at home.

Nov 27: (#22)
Ouch. The final result was a buzzer-beater loss, but they were down big to Missouri State before coming back. Still no consistent help for fAlando Tucker besides on-again/off-again bKammron Taylor.
Dec 18: (#4)
Fueled by tAlando Tucker's run at Player of the Year, the Badgers are now fully back on track as the Top-10 team they were expected to be in the preseason after their solid win over Pittsburgh. Yes, Kammron Taylor still comes and goes; but more performances from tBrian Butch like the one he just turned in, and the continued improvement of fMarcus Landry, and this could be a multipronged attack consistently.
Jan 18: (#3)
The tough home win over Ohio State was great. The Badgers got just the outside scoring help from gKammron Taylor and they were defensively able to hold the Buckeyes in check. That's Round One. (Round Two is yet to come in February.)
Feb 26: (#3)
Not sure they really settled which is the better team, but it's Ohio State that claimed the regular season crown. A bigger long-term concern is the loss of fBrian Butch with a fractured elbow.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS
Cincinnati, Ohio

[OFFICIAL] Xavier Men's Basketball Website

Nov 6: PRESEASON (#24)
Last year's run to the conference tournament crown provided a positive finish to a mediocre season. This year, the addition of transfer 5-7 pDrew Lawender (ex-Oklahoma) is further cause for higher expectations. Solid talent returns in gStanley Burrell, tJustin Doellman and fJustin Cage. The question for coach Sean Miller is whether there is enough muscle in the paint to balance the attack.

In the weak Atlantic 10, the Musketeers should battle Charlotte, George Washington and Massachusetts for supremacy.

Winning PARADISE JAM (Villanova, College of Charleston) is too much to ask; same for a win against Illinois and Creighton; home wins over Bucknell, Kansas State, Arizona State, Miami(Ohio) and Cincinnati (CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT) are more attainable. In league play, the toughest game come later in the schedule -- a good thing after the rough preseason.

Nov 27
They played solidly in the PARADISE JAM, but here was a week when anything less than an undefeated week including a name win might not get you a ranking. gDrew Lavender at the point and gStanley Burrell playing as a shooting guard is still a work in progress.
Feb 12
A huge win at George Washington may be just what the doctor ordered. The Musketeers are the only team in this league good enough to be in the running for an at-large bid ... but it shouldn't have to come to that. They need to win the regular season outright and then take the conference tournament as well. No reason they can't.
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