2011-2012 NCAA Basketball Season Preview: Missouri Tigers
Mizzou is a legit team and had a decent shot to win the Big 12 and go far in the Big Dance mainly because Laurence Bowers and Kim English decided to forgo the NBA and come back to Columbia.
Tag: college basketball futures
2011 CBB Predictions & Gambling Preview: Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten)
The Wisconsin Badgers are always good but seldom great. This seems like another one of those teams with Jordan Taylor leading the way.
2011 CBB Predictions & Gambling Preview: Vanderbilt Commodores (SEC)
When Vanderbilt’s three top players elected to return to campus this season the expectations for this team exploded.
2011 CBB Predictions & Gambling Preview: Louisville Cardinals (Big East)
It looks like it might be a top heavy season in the Big East. Most polls have Syracuse and UConn in the top five with Louisville and Pitt in the top 15 too.
2011 CBB Predictions & Gambling Preview: Florida Gators (SEC)
I was higher than most on Florida heading into last year. I liked that they returned all five starters and the Gators had a strong season all the way into the NCAA tournament.
2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews – Duke Blue Devils
Mike Kryzewski is entering his 32nd year as head coach at Duke University. He sits just two wins behind his mentor, Bob Knight, in the all-time wins department.
2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews – Syracuse Orange
Syracuse was in the news a lot over the past few months, but that was because the school will be leaving the Big East to join the ACC in a couple years. Jim Boeheim has made it clear he’s no fan of the move, but at this point there really isn’t anything he can do about it.
2011- 2012 Syracuse Orange College Basketball Preview
Syracuse 2011-2012 Odds to Win NCAA Championship from Bookmaker: +1,200
Syracuse 2011-2012 Odds to Win Big East Regular Season Championship from 5Dimes: +250
For the time being, the Big East will still be the deepest and best conference in college basketball. Syracuse is being as good of a chance as anyone to top the league this season. Can the Orange be serious title contender?
Last Year’s Results: 27-8 (Loss in Round of 32 to Marquette)
Syracuse didn’t lose until mid-January last year. It was an up and down season for the Orange. After starting 18-0, they lost six of their next eight games. The Orange were a team with plenty of talent, but they lacked a clear leader on the floor. Syracuse was one of the youngest teams in the Big East in 2010-2011. The team appeared ready to make a fairly deep run in the tournament, but they upset on the first weekend to fellow Big East member Marquette.
Roster Changes
Rick Jackson was the only senior on the Syracuse team last year. Jackson was one of the better big men in the league, and the team will certainly miss his rebounding and his shot blocking presence on the defensive end. Many were concerned that talented freshman Dion Waters may transfer after last season, but he stayed with the team. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The good news for Syracuse is that Rakeem Christmas will step right into the role of Rick Jackson. Christmas may be the best shot blocker entering college this year. Michael Carter-Williams is a point guard who has the ability to be an absolute star for Syracuse. Trevor Cooney doesn’t get as much attention as the other two, but he is a knockdown shooter from beyond the arc. This year’s recruiting class has several players that should contribute right away.
Top Players
Kris Joseph is probably the team’s best all-around player. Joseph is a 6’7 forward who can shoot it from distance and take the ball to the rim. Joseph is also one of the best defenders in the Big East. Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche are both very talented guards, but neither of them is particularly consistent when it comes to shooting the basketball. When Jardine and Triche are on, this team is tough to beat, but they can also go cold for extended periods of time. C.J. Fair and Fab Melo didn’t do too much as freshmen last year, but people around the program have high hopes for both of these players.
Syracuse 2011-2012 College Basketball Prediction: #3 Seed in NCAA Tournament (Loss in Sweet Sixteen in NCAA Tournament)
The Orange are going to be even more athletic than they were last season, but the shooting woes could still be an issue. Their athleticism should carry them through most games, but I think the lack of a consistent scoring guard will keep them from advancing past the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.
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2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews- Pittsburgh Panthers
Pittsburgh was the top team in the Big East last year in the regular season with a conference record of 15-3, but an early exit in the conference tournament with a 76-74 loss to Connecticut as a 5.5-point favorite helped set the stage for an even more disappointing early exit from the NCAA Tournament.
2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews – Washington Huskies
Washington may not be the top team in the expanded PAC-12 this season, but it will be more than capable of beating anyone on a given night.
2011 CBB Predictions & Gambling Preview: Connecticut Huskies (Big East)
Last year the Huskies were picked to finish 9th in the Big East. If they hadn’t won the Big East tournament they might have sat out the Madness leaving someone else to become champs. This year, even without Kemba Walker, the expectations are much higher, but justifiably so.
2011 CBB Predictions & Gambling Preview: – North Carolina Tar Heels (ACC)
There isn’t a poll I have seen that doesn’t have North Carolina at the very top. It is difficult to argue with that positioning too because even though there are some other very talented teams out there, this one is primarily relying on experienced players who have shown that they are very good at the collegiate level already.
2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews – Alabama Crimson Tide
Anthony Grant is one of the young stars in the coaching profession. Grant worked his magic at VCU before coming over to Alabama.
2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews – Cincinnati Bearcats
With major changes brewing on the horizon for the Big East, the Cincinnati Bearcats are one of the few teams that appear committed to holding their ground in the beleaguered conference.
2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews – California Golden Bears
It will be the first year for the new Pac 12 conference, and California is looking to play a major role in the Pac 12 standings.
2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews – Xavier Musketeers
The Xavier Musketeers have built up a nice winning tradition in the Atlantic 10. Chris Mack is now in his third year as head coach at Xavier, and expectations are higher this year than they have been in either of his previous two years.
2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews – Kansas Jayhawks
No one has dominated a league the way Kansas has dominated the Big 12 over the last few years. Seven straight years the Kansas Jayhawks have been on top of the Big 12 Conference.
