Comments on: College Basketball’s Contenders and Pretenders

By: zhayes9

zhayes9 — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:39:10 +0000

I didn’t up until this season but every quote I’ve read from the kid is that he’s focused on becoming an impact guy EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. Does have double digit scoring in all of the Vols games this season too. We’ll see if he can keep it going into SEC play.

By: rtmsf

rtmsf — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:29:55 +0000

In reply to BOtskey.

I’d also like to add that I don’t trust Scotty Hopson to get it done in big games night after night. Sure, in a single game he can be fantastic as he was at Pitt on Saturday… but I’ve never seen him and thought the word “consistency” at the same time. He still needs to prove that to me.

By: rtmsf

rtmsf — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:28:44 +0000

In reply to zhayes9. This: How they’ll respond to being a favorite rather than underdog is more pressing.

By: TMW80

TMW80 — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:23:59 +0000

Preseason games don’t matter. Why hold a glorified exhibition against a team? Tenn has had the most impressive season so far, and with their athleticism, I think they are definite contenders.

In regards to Baylor, most of those turnovers were in the games without Lace Dunn. In the 3 games that Dunn has played in, the Bears have 19, 5 and 15 turnovers. The 5 turnover game was against a horrid Prairie View A&M team. While 19 against Lipscomb (a nice mid major team with a chance at the tourny) and 15 against ASU (a very fundamentally sound team, just low on talent) is not great, it is much better than the games without Dunn where they averaged 23.66 turnovers per game.

By: zhayes9

zhayes9 — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:07:45 +0000

I can see UK. Depends on PG play and you have to think they’ll get better and better.

By: BOtskey

BOtskey — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:48:23 +0000

That’s certainly a fair point but I think they’ll miss having his presence on the sideline during the games. I think it does matter a lot. There’s no doubt they’ve looked good and have the makings, but I think this may be their peak. They’ve got a chip on their shoulder playing for Pearl but eventually that’ll wear off as the reality of the situation becomes clear. At least I think so, haha.

I’ll stick with Kentucky as my pick to win the SEC East, plus they’re currently rated 11 spots better than UT in the Pomeroy ratings.

By: zhayes9

zhayes9 — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:33:17 +0000

Brian-

Syracuse last season convinced me that exhibition contests are totally 100% meaningless. Tennessee has all the makings as a team that’s for real. Pearl leaving doesn’t concern me too much because he can practice/set up game plans and he’s had the same top assistants since his Milwaukee days that are familiar with substitution patterns. How they’ll respond to being a favorite rather than underdog is more pressing.

By: BOtskey

BOtskey — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:08:19 +0000

I guess it depends on what your definition of contender is. I agree with all of your contenders except Tennessee, I think the Vols are a big time pretender. Keep in mind this team lost an exhibition game to D2 Indianapolis and they lose their coach for 8 games. I think losing Pearl will have a bigger impact than you say it will.

With Minnesota, I think they’re a contender near the top of the Big Ten but not one that can make the Elite Eight or Final Four.

I love Georgetown, Vandy and San Diego State (last night’s game not withstanding). Georgetown does look a lot like Duke last year offensively, though their defense concerns me a bit. Duke was rated #4 in efficiency last year while GT is 39th this year. Still a long way to go however.

Not sure what to make about Louisville. They’re not a national contender but they could scare some teams and possibly sneak into the top 4 or 5 in the Big East.

Totally agree on Kansas State, UConn, Florida and NW. I’m not sure about Baylor but would probably lean pretender as well. I do think the Bears can do a lot of damage in the Big 12. Florida plays that classic Pitino style under former assistant Donovan. You see that with every Pitino protege regardless if the team they’re coaching is a good shooting team or not.

I’m pleasantly surprised you have Kansas State in the pretender list and totally agree. They’re tough and physical but really held back by their offense.

As for UConn, you hit it out of the park. This is by far the most overrated team in the country, their top 5 ranking isn’t just somewhat laughable, it’s totally laughable.