Tweeting the Preview: #90 – #67
Posted by rtmsf on November 7th, 2009Ok, we’ve officially lost our minds, but they say the first step toward healing is recognizing the problem. As of 8am EDT last Monday, there were 347 hours until tipoff of UNC vs. FIU and Ohio State vs. Alcorn State on Opening Night, Nov. 9. Beginning that morning, we started releasing our rankings of every Division I team from worst to first as tweets on the social networking platform known as Twitter (you may have heard of it). We’ll release one team preview every single hour from now until Opening Night, and in case you’re not following us over there, we’ll put the updated list here each night for your review. The key to tweeting, of course, is conciseness, so we’ll try our best to relay some relevant information about each and every team in the requisite 140 characters or less, and hopefully some of you will be paying attention along the way. Here are Friday’s entries, #90 to #67. Now we’re starting to get somewhere…
Rank | School | Tweet |
90 | Wichita St | Gregg Marshall is slowly turning things around at WSU; solid guards C. Hannah & T. Murry lead Shockers into Y3 of regime. |
89 | Utah | The Utes can go huge with a 6’5-6’5 backcourt and a 6-5-6’11-7’3 frontline, but there’s no Luke Nevill so others must step up. |
88 | Wright St | Almost everyone back incl. G Vaughn Duggins (12/4) for a team that will totally lock you up (#30 D and #8 defending 2s). |
87 | Marquette | It’s all L. Hayward (16/9) this yr after heavy losses at MU, who’ll find it tough to run out to a great start again this yr. |
86 | Oakland | POY candidate F Derick Nelson is back to join PG Johnathan Jones (natl. assist leader) and C Keith Benson (14/8) for SL fav. |
85 | S. Illinois | SIU won’t have a repeat of the disaster in 09. Iowa transfer T. Freeman will help a lot, but young bigs need to step up. |
84 | Houston | A. Coleman (19/8/2) & K. Lewis (18/3) one of best backcourts in America, but lack of inside pts will keep UH from top of CUSA. |
83 | Cornell | The class of the Ivy, with all 5 starters back and firepower at every position, goes for 3 in a row; nobody else even close. |
82 | Miami (Fl) | Canes bring back G James Dews (8/3) and F Dwayne Collins (11/8) and hope transfer Malcolm Grant can run the point. |
81 | Virginia | ACC is in for a surprise with Tony Bennett’s style of play, but having ACC FrOY S. Landesberg (17/6/3) is a great start. |
80 | Arizona | It’s the Nic Wise show as Sean Miller revamps a proud program. Must play defense and get production from 4* recruits, though. |
79 | Penn St | Another B10 team that needed a weak conf this yr; PG T. Battle (17/5/5) is a star but losses of Cornley and Pringle hurt. |
78 | New Mexico St | Strong team feat. J. Young (17/4/3) and J. Gibson (14/2) in backcourt, but Menzies needs his stud Fs to return in Dec. |
77 | LSU | Don’t expect an SEC title, but F Tasmin Mitchell (16/7) is a stud and G Bo Spencer (11/3) a capable PG. Youth must step up. |
76 | Duquesne | Dukes have 4 starters back incl. all-A10 forward D. Saunders (13/8); if PG spot is ok, this team can do damage in the A10. |
75 | Iowa St | C. Brackins is a great player but he needs to hit the boards on the off end – ISU #12 def reb team, #339 off reb team in 09. |
74 | Northeastern | Led by backcourt of Matt Janning (14/5/3) and Chase Allen (10/5/3), NE should be near top of CAA standings all season. |
73 | Akron | Zips have a good shot at another NCAA berth, with top almost everyone back and RSCI #65 recruit Zeke Marshall on board. |
72 | Illinois St | Star O. Eldridge (14/6) returns to a team with many key players back, but need to finish games strong (2-4 in OT last yr). |
71 | SDSU | Count on 20 Ws for Steve Fisher, but 4 of his top 6 are gone and he needs quick production from a top 15 recruiting class. |
70 | Nevada | C Luke Babbitt (17/7) & G Armon Johnson (16/4/4) make a stud inside/out tandem, but how will new coach David Carter adjust? |
69 | Arkansas | C. Fortson (15/6/6) & M. Washington (16/10) are a great in/out duo and with everyone back UA will surprise in the SEC West. |
68 | Richmond | UR has most back incl. D. Geriot (14/6) who missed last yr with an injury; trendy pick to win the A10 if UD and XU falter. |
67 | Seton Hall | Transfers K. Lawrence & H. Pope will make/break this team, regardless of J. Hazell’s (23/4) point production every night. |