Despite the fact college football is now in full swing,I’m ready for another year of college basketball. Seeing thata team like Georgia Tech came out of nowhere last season to earn aspot in the national championship game just makes me giddy at thethought of what could happen this year. And so for you fans whohave been too concentrated on tackle football thus far, I’llgive you my top four teams to look out for in the upcomingseason.
Kansas University – 2003: (24-9, 12-4 Big 12) – Lost in EliteEight
Teams like Kansas are what make me proud to be a basketball fan.Any team that returns starters like Wayne Simien, Keith Langfordand Aaron Miles are automatically posed to make a title run. WIththree NBA caliber players leading the team, second year coach BillSelf has an overload of talent. Sophomore J.R. Giddens has yet tobreak out of his shell, and with guys like Langford and Simienaround him, he’s bound to have a breakout season. A softearly non-conference schedule against teams like Vermont and SaintJoseph’s will also contribute to this team gaining confidenceearly in the season.
University of North Carolina – 2003: (19-11, 8-8 ACC) – Lost inSecond Round
With the talent in North Carolina, the Tar Heels are starting toresemble a time bomb. Juniors Rashad McCants and Raymond Feltonhave had times in which they looked like the most dominatingplayers in the country. Yet the difference this is year is theirability to feed off each other. Expect center Sean May to have arecord-breaking year as long as he stays healthy. The combinationof three players with exceptional experience, as well as havingincoming freshman Marvin Williams (28.7 points, 15.5 rebounds as ahigh school senior) is enough for anybody to coach these guys tothe Final Four. But for a guy like Roy Williams to be heading theHeels? I don’t even want to imagine the damage that could bedone on Tobacco Road this year.
Wake Forest University – 2003: (23-10, 9-7 ACC) – Lost in Sweet16
In DeaconTown, sophomore Chris Paul is being heralded as thegreated player to the court. The scariest thing is that Paul couldactually be the greatest player to grace his presence on the court.Paul averaged 14.8 points and 5.9 assists per game last season.Expect those numbers to get even better. With incredible leadershipskills, standouts Justin Gray and Eric Williams will feed off Paulin looking to become an unstoppable trio. After years of beingdominated by the Carolinas and the Dukes of the ACC, expect WakeForest to finally step up to the bullies and take over theconference. Early games against Texas and Arizona will provewhether the Deacons have what it takes to make it to March.
University of Arizona – 2003: (20-10, 11-7 Pac-10) – Lost inFirst Round
Two words are what make me excited about basketball in thedesert this year — Mustafa Shakur. Shakur broke into thescene last year as a freshman, averaging 4.5 assists and 9.4 pointsa game. With Channing Frye, Hassan Adams and Salim Stoudamire allreturning, look for Arizona to return to its dominating ways thisseason. Stoudamire will serve as one of the leaders on the team,and having incoming freshman Jawann McCellan backing him upisn’t so bad either. Look for coach Lute Olson and theWildcats to dominate the Pac-10 and return to the tournament with are-energized squad in search of a championship.