College Basketball Preview Part 5: The Top Ten

Here is the hypocrisy of college basketball. Kentucky is almost universally considered the number one team in college basketball. As I touched on a couple weeks back in the very first part of my preview, that just sucks.

But I will not follow the trend. 6 McDonalds All-Americans is impressive for sure, but what is more impressive is tested talent. And that is what paves the way for the official In All Directions Preseason Top 10.

1. Michigan State

There is no doubt that Tom Izzo has the best core of returnees in the country. I will take Keith Appling and Gary Harris over any backcourt in the country almost any day of the week.

2. Duke

Depth. Depth. Depth. As I will expand on later, this team has a bench for days. Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood make the headlines, but my money to make this team their best is inspired play from Quinn Cook.

3. Kentucky

See, I am not a total hater, I will give the Wildcats their due because their freshman class in intriguing, just not sensational yet. But again, while all eyes are on Julius Randle, I am looking out for a breakout year from Alex Poythress.

4. Louisville

This is a tough one for me because I really think the defending champs lost a lot in Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng, but Russ Smith may be one of the toughest guys in the game to guard. And who won’t like the Kevin Ware storyline this year?

5. Arizona

Aaron Gordon has a huge upside and Duquense transfer T.J. McConnell is better than it sounds of the surface. How good the rest of the PAC-12 is will dictate Arizona’s long term potential, but look for them to stay hot for a while.

6. Florida

Billy Donovan has depth too and that is all he has ever really needed. He doesn’t have breakout players like his title run years, but Florida stays strong and they should power through the SEC.

7. Michigan

This is a team who really surprised me after their National Title loss. I really felt like it was all or nothing on turning pro, but instead they split. Glenn Robinson III should move into little Tim Hardaway’s spot, Mitch McGary could be the nation’s best big and I, for one, want to see what Spike Albrecht can follow up his great title game with.

8. Kansas

Yes, they have Andrew Wiggins. But what do they have around him? Skill and talent? Sure, this is Kansas after all, not NJIT. They are young, they will have a shot to win the Big 12, but I don’t expect them to be a big threat come March.

9. Oklahoma State

Not many teams can claim to have a sure top-10 NBA Draft pick back. The Cowboys can. Marcus Smart is dynamic, will be one of the very best players in the country and their team experience will drive them well throughout the season.

10. North Carolina

I am going to go ahead and give this spot to the Tar Heels. James Michael McAdoo may be an All-American and if PJ Hairston can get back and not be stupid, the Tar Heels can contend with almost anyone in the country blow for blow.

Don’t sleep on: Creighton, VCU or Marquette.

>Big East is tough, but ACC is due

The year has been up and down for everyone in college basketball. Duke, UNC, Wake Forest, UConn, Pittsburgh...it seems like everyone got a shot to be #1 in the nation for a while. But none of that means anything now.

Because it's tournament time!

Out in the Midwest, Louisville is the top overall seed and for good reason. They are a solid team that has been underrated, won the regular season and tournament in ONE of the toughest conferences in the nation (the top spot still belongs to the ACC) and they have the best defense in this country. However, I disagree with anyone who says that they have the easiest bracket heading to the Final Four. Wake Forest, Boston College and West Virginia could all be possible spoilers along the way, though I am still picking the Cardinals to slither out of the Midwest to the Final Four.

The region carries few potential upsets, though my pick for a 'Cinderella' story does reside here with North Dakota State. I have seen Ben Woodside and the Summit League champion Bison grow, seeing them play once in person each of those years. This team is dangerous and not only do I think they will beat defending champion Kansas in the opener, I have them upsetting West Virginia and heading to the Sweet Sixteen. Other than that, it's pretty standard with the exception of my pick of Boston College over Michigan State that will propel them to the Elite Eight. BC guard Tyrese Rice is as dangerous as any single player in the entire tournament.

In the West, UConn is the most debatable top seed, but I also think they have the easiest road through as long as someone knocks off Memphis, which I see Marquette doing in the Sweet Sixteen. That however should allow UConn to coast to the Final Four even though they are THAT good of a team. This bracket should follow seeded-suit with Marquette (6-seed) being the only one to step out of line. This team has a lot of heart and I think they will play well specifically in-spite of not having Dominic James. The Golden Eagles will be the team that falls to UConn in the Elite Eight.

The East is the most intriguing region to me with the deadly Pitt at the top at Duke down as the 2-seed. I think that Florida State is highly underrated, even as a 5-seed and their inside game could catch any team off guard on any given day, which could be interesting for Pitt in the Sweet Sixteen. I also love the match of Duke and Texas in the second round. And as much as they have both been choke artists in past tournaments, I see Pitt and Duke as the only 1/2 combo to make the Elite Eight in their region. And even though Pitt and the Big East have been tough, I don't think they can get the job done in the clutch and I have to take Duke (being a Blue Devil fan or not).

It will however be nice to see Olek Czyz and Steve Johnson get some PT for Duke in the opening round against Binghamton.

In the South, I hope North Carolina loses to Radford. Sadly I know better, but the Overtime kids in Orange will keep people from seeing the Tyler Hansbrough/Blake Griffin meeting in the Elite Eight. Well, Syracuse will be the other team at least...in reality, I think it's Michigan that derails the overrated Oklahoma train. I also like Western Kentucky in one of those 12/5 upsets against Illinois. In the end, the Orange are just too impressive right now, Johnny Flynn is amazing and I have them over Carolina, keeping the Heels from a third meeting with Duke.

In the Final Four, Louisville gets Hasheem Thabeet in foul trouble and coast against UConn, while Duke out energizes Syracuse in a game of will. The finals will be close, final score 76-70. And while Louisville's defense is godly, if Duke gets this far, I see them being to hot from 3-point range to faulter. Give K his fourth ring, probably say goodbye to Gerald Henderson and hate them or love them, Duke claims a title.

Check out my full 2009 NCAA Bracket here:
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