NCAA Basketball Preview 2001
Sports
Mar 14, 2001, 16:31
By Eric Gold http://www.gamblingonlinemagazine.com
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Last year's season was a downer for the NCAA Atlantic Coast Conference, as only three schools made it to the Field of 64 for the second straight year. This year most ACC schools have taken so-called cupcake opponents off their schedules to improve their chances when reviewed by the Big Show selection committee.
A good example is Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are scheduled to travel to Cincinati, Temple and Michigan (ACC-Big Ten Challenge) and will also play at home against Kansas and Georgia in some real tough contests. The selection committee was criticized because Virginia had a strong argument to make the tournament, nevertheless the Cavaliers got turned down. The Cavs lost to North Carolina State in the first round of the ACC tourney and that got them into the NIT rather than the NCAA. This year, Virginia head coach Pete Gillen is beefing up his schedule by playing Tennessee, Purdue, Missouri and Virginia Tech. Purdue and Missouri don't look that tough this season, as both programs are rebuilding, but the NCAA selection committee could still look at those "strength" games to make a valid argument for postseason play. The bad news is that Wake Forest will prove a dicey proposition at the bookmaker's because of it.
Even with the loss of Chris Carrawell, Duke figures to be a force in the ACC and should make another run at the Final Four. There was some concern late last year that Shane Battier would not return for another season and would jump to the NBA, however, he changed his mind and will return as a senior threat. The Blue Devils fresh off a 29-5 campaign that saw a third-round exit in the NCAA's with a loss to Florida, have four seniors returning. The Blue Devils also added 6-5 guard Dahntay Jones from Rutgers, but he won't be eligible to play until the 2001-2002 season.
There seemed to be some disarray in Chapel Hill earlier this year after Bill Guthridge stepped down as head coach of the Tar Heels, and most thought Roy Williams would leave Kansas to take over at North Carolina. Matt Doherty, a starter on UNC's 1982 championship team, seems to be a solid choice to replace Guthridge. Despite this, the team is a good one to back since it has ton of talent to work with this fall. But be careful early in the season since the team has left a couple of important questions unanswered; like who will replace Ed Cota at point guard? There's a chance sophomore Joseph Forte could move to that position, but the job could as easily fall to incoming freshman Adam Boone or sophomore Jonathan Holmes.
A couple of injuries hampered Carolina last season, but Brian Bersticker is expected back from a broken foot and guard Ronald Curry is expected to return from rupturing his Achilles' tendon during football season. Center Brendan Haywood figures to be the key ingredient for Doherty to make a run at the Final Four. This team is a solid bet early in the season while odds makers take last season's peformance into account.
Maryland is likely to enter this season ranked in the top 10 nationally, especially with the announcement earlier this year that Terence Morris will return for another season. The Terrapins are loaded for this coming season. Even though they lost to UCLA by 35 points in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, it won't deter head coach Gary Williams. He has won 21 or more games five times over the last six seasons and Maryland just made its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Morris, Lonny Baxter, Juan Dixon, Danny Miller, and Steven Blake - all starters - will return again for the 2000-2001 season and Maryland should make a clean run at the Final Four; but don't bet the farm on them taking home the trophy.
Tennessee is a solid bet this year with 11 players coming back this season. That's great news for head coach Jerry Green, who led his club to a 26-7 mark last season and a third round exit in the NCAA Tournament. Vincent Yarbrough, Isaiah Victory and Tony Harris are back for another year as the Volunteers figure to make a dent in the Southeastern Conference.
When Kansas heard the news in early July that Williams was not leaving, there was a loud cheer from a throng of fans at Allen Fieldhouse and a sense of relief from Jayhawk fans everywhere. Williams considered taking the North Carolina job, but decided to stay in Lawrence. It will prove a great choice with the crop of talent the Jayhawks have to work with this season. Kansas will be a young team this season with three sophomore starters, and will take the smart money in all but the toughest challenges.
Arizona seems to be a solid selection to make it to the Final Four, especially after the Wildcats were upset by Wisconsin in the second round of the tournament in March. There is really only one aspect of suspense in this team and that's whether or not Arizona will be ranked first or second in the winter polls. The return of center Loren Woods will make it easier for Head Coach Lute Olsen to focus on another successful season. Woods hurt his back last season and was out for the NCAA tournament. Eugene Edgerson, a power forward, and guard Lamont Frazier, will jumpstart a good roster for Olson. The starting five of Woods, forwards Richard Jefferson and Michael Wright, and guards Gilbert Arenas and Jason Gardner could be the best Olson has ever coached.
Cincinati doesn't figure to be a top 10 team as DerMarr Johnson left early for the NBA. Bearcats head coach Bob Huggins was considering a move to the Los Angeles Clippers, but at the last minute decided he didn't want to coach a loser and turned down the multi-million-dollar offer. Cincinati also lost Kenyon Martin to the NBA draft.
Michigan State, on the heels of their national championship in April, don't look as good a bet as last season. Tom Izzo has another good crop of players to make a run into the NCAA Tournament, but it's nearly impossible to ask him to come up with the caliber of players like Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson he had last year.
My money on the NCAA is with Seton Hall. "Who?" "The Pirates?" "No Way!" The Hall have gotten good in a hurry and last year's upset of Temple in the NCAA Tournament was no farce. This team is LOADED. The players enjoy working hard for young head coach Tommy Amaker, who has led Seton Hall to three straight postseason apperances. Their NCAA Tournament bid last season was the school's first since 1994 and Amaker is sure to have his team back in the field this March.
The Pirates lose two starters in Shaheen Holloway and Rimas Kaukenas, both good outside shooting threats. But remember, Holloway was hurt in the first half of the NCAA Temple game and the Pirates still managed to win thanks mostly to freshman guard Ty Shine. Ty is back along with Samuel Dalembert, Darius Lane and Greg Morton, all of which are returning starters. Dalembert has the potential to be a major scoring threat this season, and key reserves Al Harris, Charles Manga and Kevin Wilkins also figure heavily into the winning equation.
One huge element for Amaker this season figures to be 6-9 freshman phenomenon Eddie Griffin, a forward from Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. Griffin is considered one of the best recruits in years and easily could make the Hall a top-ranked team.
Seton Hall also has the pleasure of welcoming 6-6 forward Marcus Tony-El in from New Jersey. He is an athletic frontcourt player who amazingly led his high school (Seton Hall prep) to an unbeaten season as a junior before breaking a foot to ruin his senior season.
Amaker's team went 22-10 last season and 10-6 in the Big East, a conference that doesn't figure (on paper at least) to give Seton Hall a serious challenge. UConn lost Khalid El-Amin and St.John's has a lot to replace.
Every once in a while there is a Cinderella team that runs through the NCAA Tournament and "dances" until the stroke of midnihgt to the delight of fans and punters. With the talent Seton Hall has this upcoming season, don't be shocked to see the Pirates climb to the top of the rankings this season.
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