College basketball has finally arrived to give fans a break from the gridiron. The 2012-2013 season was an extremely weak year for basketball; perhaps the lowest point it has been in decades — but this season is a whole other story.
This year features some very loaded teams all gunning for their opportunity to cut down the nets in Dallas next spring. There is also no shortage of stars on the court this season, made even more obvious by the fact that NBA GMs are doing everything they can to tank the season to get a great lottery pick and take a franchise player. Here at CraveOnline, we will show you what you can expect for this incredible season to come.
Pre-season Awards
1st Team All-America
Marcus Smart – Oklahoma State
Julius Randle – Kentucky
Andrew Wiggins – Kansas
Doug McDermott – Creighton
Russ Smith – Louisville
Best Newcomer of the Year
Julius Randle – Kentucky
Yes, I said it. Randle is an absolute beast and is extremely athletic and smooth on the court. His game has been compared to former greats like Chris Webber and Charles Barkley. Many people close to the program are calling Randle the best freshman to play at Kentucky in decades. That is quite the compliment and some heavy expectations. Andrew Wiggins will get some media buzz but Bill Self doesn’t have a history of developing and letting NBA talent flourish. John Calipari does.
Player of the Year
Marcus Smart – Oklahoma State
Predictions
Biggest Sleeper
Colorado
Watch out for the Buffaloes this season. Colorado returns four starters from a year ago. Guards, Spencer Dinwiddie (15.3 ppg) and Askia Booker (12.4 ppg) along with big man, Josh Scott (10.2, 5.7 rpg) look to lead coach Tad Boyle to a possible conference championship. Under Boyle, Colorado has been steadily building a power. In Boyle’s two years the Buffs have went to the NCAA Tournament in back to back seasons, something the school had not done since 1963. Their veterans will make that streak grow to three trips in a row. Arizona, you and the nation have been warned.
Best Out of Conference Regular Season Game: Michigan State vs Kentucky 11/12/13
…If only the big boys in college football willingly played top ranked teams from out of conference. Talk about an absolute juggernaut of a match-up so early in the season. No. 1 vs No. 2. Tom Izzo vs John Calipari. Veteran squad vs Kentucky’s youth. Every college basketball fan alive has to appreciate those storylines.
2013-2014 National Champion: Kentucky
Michigan State will be the best team at the beginning of the year but at the end of the season, expect Kentucky’s chemistry to be flourishing at the right time. Their depth is reminiscent of their 1996 championship team and not too many teams can run with teams like that. If Kentucky were just reliant upon the incoming freshmen, they would not be my pick to win the title. However, with Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress — two superb sophomore talents — I think that will be enough to win the ship for Calipari.
The 2012 team didn’t just win the title because of their amazing freshmen; they needed sophomores Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones to make an impact. And that is what you should expect in 2014. Kentucky will cut down the nets for their ninth championship.
Pre-season Top 10
Joshua Caudill is a writer for CraveOnline Sports, a college basketball guru, a surfing enthusiast, and an expert on all things Patrick Swayze. You can follow him @JoshuaCaudill85 or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
NCAA Basketball Preview
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10. Syracuse
Fresh off of their first Final Four in a decade, the Orange look to get back to college basketball’s promised-land. The ACC’s addition of the Orange has got to be the most exciting thing about this year’s Syracuse team. We are all sad to see the Big East rivalries die but to see Cuse playing Duke and Carolina regularly will be a treat for fans.
As for this season, C.J. Fair is back and incoming playmaker and point guard Tyler Ennis will look to replace Michael Carter-Williams' production. Don’t expect another Final Four but they will still be a dangerous team. -
9. Florida
Billy Donovan’s Gators came up short yet again in the elite eight last season for the third straight year. They seek to replace 36.7 ppg they lost from key members in 2013.
Big man Patric Young is back to lead the Gators with his physical prowess. Troubled guard Scottie Wilbekin is back to help in the backcourt and his defensive presence will be welcomed (SEC All-Defense last year). The Gators' McDonald’s All American Kasey Hill will look to replace Kenny Boyton’s scoring. Chris Walker, another burger boy, was deemed ineligible for the fall semester but even without him they should give Kentucky all they can handle in conference play. -
8. Michigan
The Wolverines nearly won the national championship last season before losing to Louisville, thanks in large part to National Player of the Year Trey Burke and his talented teammates, Tim Hardaway Jr, Glenn Robinson III, Mitch McGary, and Nick Stauskas.
Burke and Hardaway bolted to the NBA; their 33.1 ppg will be extremely difficult to replace. But newcomers Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin look to be the next talented backcourt in Michigan. There is no denying though that having three significant players returning from a national runner-up team is nothing to turn your noses up at considering just how talented Robinson (11.0 ppg) and McGary will be this season. Expect a Sweet 16 run for sure. -
7. Oklahoma State
Cowboys fans must have thought they were dreaming when expected NBA lottery pick Marcus Smart announced he was returning; not to mention star forward Le-Bryan Nash was coming back with him.
The Cowboys return four double digit scorers from last year’s team. Three-point shooter Phil Forte, Markel Brown (15.3 ppg) and Le’Bryan Nash (14 ppg) all look to join Freshman Player of the Year Marcus Smart as the Cowboys' most dangerous threats. Smart led the team in points, assists and steals... Think about that for a second. That is amazing. Smart definitely has a problem with Kansas’ Wiggins being considered the best in the nation and rightfully so. He’s the best player in the country. -
6. Kansas
Wiggins-mania has been running through Lawrence, KS like a sickness. The media has already anointed freshman Andrew Wiggins as the next Lebron James before he has played a second of college basketball. He’s considered the clear-cut favorite to be the No. 1 pick in next summer’s NBA Draft. Wiggins definitely highlights Coach Bill Self’s stellar recruiting class but he’s not the only stud. 6’5’’ guard Wayne Selden is going to blow people’s minds with his talent, which will make Wiggins and Selden among the most feared duos in college basketball. 7-foot newcomer Joel Emblid and Memphis transfer Tarik Black will look to fill the hole that Jeff Withey left.
Kansas is starting to mirror Kentucky in recruiting success. Expect the Jayhawks to win the Big 12 yet again. -
5. Arizona
Coach Sean Miller’s recruiting has lead the Wildcats to one of their most talented rosters in over a decade. Highlighting the class is McDonald’s All Americans Aaron Gordon and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. They will fit in nicely with veteran guards T.J. McConnell and Nick Johnson who both averaged over 11 ppg last season. Miller is no fool though. He knows his team will either sink or swim based on Gordon’s production. There is no reason for any concern in that department though. Gordon was the MVP of the FIBA U19 World Championships last summer where he lead Team USA to the gold. Tuscon is hoping he can lead them to a title of their own.
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4. Duke
Remember the name Jabari Parker because you will be hearing it for many years. It was Parker that was on the cover of Sports Illustrated titled “The Best High School Basketball Player since Lebron James" -- not Andrew Wiggins. The former Simeon star is one and done for Coach K but will do his best to pull a Carmelo Anthony and lead them to a national championship before bolting to the NBA. He’s got the cast to do it too.
Mississippi State transfer, Rodney Hood, is there to help in the frontcourt. He averaged 10.3 ppg in his one season in Starkville. Quinn Cook will run the point (second in assists in the ACC in 13’), serviceman, Andre Dawkins and three point specialist, Rasheed Sulamon, round out the main threats. The Blue Devils are a lock for Dallas. -
3. Louisville
The defending national champions are loaded and return leading scorer, Russ Smith (18.7 ppg), sharpshooter Luke Hancock, Chane Behanan, and sophomore Montrezi Harrell -- all who were significant contributors last season. That is a ton of firepower and experience returning for a team that has went to two straight Final Fours and won a title.
The Cards will have to replace Peyton Siva with JUCO star, Chris Jones at the point guard but losing big man, Gogui Deng will be a big obstacle to overcome. They have the talent to bring coach Rick Pitino another Final Four though. -
2. Kentucky
John Calipari brought in what most experts are calling “the greatest recruiting class of all time.” Kentucky signed an eight man recruiting class with six of them being McDonald’s All Americans. Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison and James Young are all prolific scorers that round out the incoming backcourt that the Wildcats so desperately needed last season. They also, added burger boys Marcus Lee, Dakari Johnson and alpha-best Julius Randle (expected to be a top pick in 2014 NBA Draft) to this incredible roster; that alone would make a team extremely feared. However, when you remember that former McD’s All American, Alex Poythress (11.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and versatile center, Willie Cauley-Stein (8.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.1 bpg) also return, you’re seeing a dominant team being assembled.
There will be no lack of depth on this roster which the Cats lacked last season. The talent is so overwhelming that critics are discussing the possibility of a 40-0 season. Can it be done? Doubtful, but Kentucky should definitely be playing for the title. Anything less would be a disappointment. -
1. Michigan State
Spartans fans think this is the year they finally win their first national title since 2000 and it’s hard to disagree with them. Coach Tom Izzo is on record saying he loves the maturity of this unit and thinks they can be something special. The veteran group is lead by a trio of guards in senior leader, Keith Appling (13.4 ppg), Gary Harris (12.9 ppg), and Branden Dawson (8.9 ppg, 6 rpg) and big man, Adreian Payne (10.5 ppg, 7. 6 rpg). Payne has been inconsistent over the years and considered leaving last year for the NBA Draft before deciding to return. But Izzo thinks Payne has improved his post game and is ready to be the double-double machine he knew he could be.
There is nothing flashy about this group. None of them will have any major shoe contracts or become NBA phenoms but they’re a solid group with a high basketball I.Q. and are coached by one of the best coaches in the game. Their lack of frontcourt power is a weakness but this is Izzo’s best shot since Mateen Cleaves and Co. won him a ring nearly 14 years ago.
