Big Year for College Basketball

The NBA lockout has left the world without one of its greatest professional sports. Basketball superstars in their prime, such as LeBron James, Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade, are on the sidelines, or are playing elsewhere. While Kobe Bryant plays in Italy, fans of the game need high quality basketball closer to home. Most people don’t really pay attention to college basketball until March, but the sport might garner more focus now that the world’s most competitive league is on hiatus. Many stellar players skipped out on the NBA Draft this year and decided to return to their schools, making this season an intriguing one. Here are some of the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament when it’s all said and done:
North Carolina: The Tar Heels boast one of the best front courts in the nation with big men Tyler Zeller and John Henson. The 7-foot-tall Zeller is averaging 18 points per game and 7 rebounds per game so far this season, and the 6’10” Henson is averaging 9.5 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game. And by the way, Coach Roy Williams also brings back one of the nation’s best players in sophomore small forward Harrison Barnes, who could have been the number 1 pick in the last NBA Draft. Classmate Kendall Marshall has continued to run the point with authority, averaging 10 assists per contest. The Tar Heels have started 3-0, including an impressive victory over Michigan State on the USS Carl Vinson, the first aircraft carrier to host a college basketball game. North Carolina will be well tested throughout the season, playing at #2 Kentucky and #24 Florida State, hosting #13 Wisconsin, and playing two must-see battles against archrival #6 Duke, another title contender. With more experience and depth than last season’s Elite 8 squad, anything short of the Final Four will be a bitter disappointment in Chapel Hill.
Kentucky: Coach John Calipari has put together some of the greatest recruiting classes of all time over the past few seasons, and this year is no exception. Marquis Teague is the latest superstar freshman point guard for Calipari, following in the footsteps of Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall, and Brandon Knight. 6’10” classmate Anthony Davis has averaged over 13 points and 7 rebounds per game, and freshmen forwards Michael Kidd-Gilchrest and Kyle Wiltjer are expected to make big contributions. Just like the other title favorites, the Wildcats boast a national player of the year candidate in forward Terrence Jones, who was projected to be a top draft choice before he chose to return to school. Guard Doron Lamb is averaging nearly 20 points per game in Kentucky’s 4-0 start this season, which has included a huge win over #11 Kansas. Kentucky gets to face most of their tougher opponents at home, such as #1 UNC, #7 Louisville, #8 Florida, #15 Alabama, and #20 Vanderbilt. They do have to play Florida, Vanderbilt, and a talent-filled Mississippi State club on the road. Nevertheless, Calipari returns many key pieces from last season’s Final Four squad that lost to UConn by one point, and combined with another crop of incredible freshman, it could result in the Wildcats’ 8th national title.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes are another perennial power returning one of the nation’s best sophomores. 6’9”, 280lb Jared Sullinger is a legitimate candidate for the Naismith Award, which is given to the country’s best player, after averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game as a freshman last season. Coach Thad Matta lost key guards to graduation in Jon Diebler and David Lighty, but returns guards William Buford (15ppg this season) and Aaron Craft (4.7 assists per game). The Buckeyes will rely on youngsters like forward Deshaun Thomas and 6’11” Amir Williams to step up and play key roles this season. Ohio State has started the season 3-0, including a very impressive victory over #8 Florida. They have several other key games against the likes of #6 Duke, #11 Kansas, #17 Michigan, and #13 Wisconsin. With the exception of Duke, the Buckeyes have to play those ranked opponents on the road. Ohio State would love to bring a title back to Columbus, something they haven’t done since 1960, and with a beast like Sullinger leading the way, this would be the year to do it.
Connecticut: The defending national champs lost superstar point guard Kemba Walker, who was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats, but return most of their title-winning squad. The Huskies are young but experienced thanks to their title run, and they too have superb sophomores leading the way. Jeremy Lamb has continued the hot streak he started at the end of last season, averaging 22 points per game so far this season. Fellow sophomore Shabazz Napier is averaging 17 points and 4 assists per game, and classmate Tyler Olander has been a rebounding machine. A huge factor for Huskies in their title defense may be the play of the big men down low, including 6’9”junior Alex Oriakhi and 6’10”, 275lb freshman Andre Drummond, who was a top-5 recruit in the nation. The Huskies have begun the year 4-0 in a easy non-conference schedule, but will be well tested in the rugged Big East, playing #20 Cincinnati, #19 Marquette, #9 Pittsburgh, and #7 Louisville once, and #5 Syracuse twice. Coach Jim Calhoun has led UConn to 3 national titles since 1999, which is more than any other team has won in that span. With the talent and unforgettable experience of last year’s run, this season’s team is prepared to prove to the nation that they can win it all again, without Kemba.