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#17 – Ohio State Buckeyes College Basketball Preview & Predictions

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Barnabeee in College Basketball,Headlines

david-lighty-ohio-state — David Lighty will be expected to pick up the production after the loss of Turner to the NBA

It’s hard to find someone who does not believe that the Ohio State Buckeyes (29-8, 14-4 Big Ten) fit somewhere in the top five of college basketball. In 2009-2010, the Buckeyes tied for first in the conference, won the Big Ten Tournament and at the Big Dance made it to the Sweet 16. In that round, Tennessee eliminated them 76-73. This year, OSU will take to the court without the star power of swingman Evan Turner. Turner, who turned pro after last season, was a massive force with a huge amount of talent as he averaged 20.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 3.7 APG. Still, this team is filled with a boatload of returning talent and the best incoming class in the Big Ten, including center Jared Sullinger, who is considered to be one of the nation’s top three recruits.

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#18 – Louisville Cardinals College Basketball Preview & Predictions

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Barnabeee in College Basketball,Headlines

Terrence-Jennings-louisville — Terrence Jennings leads the Louisville Cardinals and they check in at #18 in our power ratings

The Cardinals of Louisville (20-13, 11-7 Big East) finished tied for fifth in the Big East last season. They were dispatched in one game in the Big East Tournament, losing to Cincinnati 69-66. They then went to the NCAA Tournament where they were upset by the California Golden Bears 77-62 in round one. That was the worst showing for the Cardinals in their last four Big Dance appearances. In the previous three, they made it to the Elite Eight twice and went two and out in another. For Louisville to succeed this season they are going to have to see a lot of young guys and rookies step up quickly. If there’s one coach in college basketball who can make that happen, it’s the Cardinals’ Rick Pitino.

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#19 – Butler Bulldogs College Basketball Preview & Predictions

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Barnabeee in College Basketball,Headlines

shelvin-mack-butler — While not as good as last year, Shelvin Mack and Butler are still going to pretty damn good and check in at #19 in our ratings

For the past four years the Butler Bulldogs (33-5, 18-0 Horizon League) have qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the Bulldogs dominated their league in the regular season and also in the league tournament, winning both. At the Big Dance, they did something amazing; they ran the through the entire tourney to the title game.

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#20 – Purdue Boilermakers College Basketball Preview & Predictions

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Barnabeee in College Basketball,Headlines

etwaun-moore-purdue — The loss of Hummel is killer but Etwaun Moore and the Boilers still check in at #20 in our preseason rankings

For the Purdue Boilermakers (29-6, 14-4 Big Ten), who last season finished tied for first in the Big 10 and then made it into the Sweet 16, so much depends on the health of star forward Robbie Hummel, who last season suffered a torn ACL. Many feel that Purdue might have gone to the finals of the Big Dance if it had not been for his mishap. The bad news for the Boilermakers is that Hummel tore his ACL once again this October, which probably knocks him out for the season and diminishes much of the luster on Purdue’s potential championship season.

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#21 – Syracuse Orange College Basketball Preview & Predictions

Posted on November 9, 2010November 10, 2010 by Barnabeee in College Basketball,Headlines

Scoop-Jardine-syracuse — Scoop Jardine and the Orange check in just outside our top 20 at #21 in our rankings

Just a few years ago the Syracuse Orange (30-5, 15-3 Big East) could not get a ticket to the Big Dance. In 2007 and 2008, after the loss of three key starters, the Orange went to the NIT twice. But last year they were back in the NCAA Tournament mix. Syracuse won the Big East regular season title and although they got knocked out of Big East Tournament in round one, losing to Georgetown 91-84, they did end up in Match Madness.

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#22 – Wisconsin Badgers College Basketball Preview & Predictions

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Barnabeee in College Basketball,Headlines

jon-leuer-wisconsin — Jon Leuer and the Wisconsin Badgers check in at #22 in our basketball rankings

The Wisconsin Badgers (24-9, 13-5 Big Ten) ended the regular season fourth in the Big Ten. They were out of the conference tournament in round one after losing to Illinois 58-54. They made it to the NCAA Tournament, beating Wofford 53-49 in round one and then losing to Cornell 87-69 in the second round. That marked the third time in five appearances that Wisconsin was knocked out of the Big Dance in round two. The deepest they’ve gone in those five years is the Sweet 16 in 2008. The Badgers have won one NCAA Championship. That was in 1941. This season they will go to the tournament for the 16^th time. They have a strong string of appearances, having appeared at every tournament since 1999.

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#23 – UCLA Bruins College Basketball Preview & Predictions

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Barnabeee in College Basketball,Headlines

Malcolm-Lee-ucla — Malcolm Lee and the UCLA Bruins check in at #23 in our power rankings

It was back in the 1960s and 1970s that the UCLA Bruins (14-18, 8-10 Pac-10) dominated the college basketball tournament, winning championship after championship. But that was long before the NCAA went to the almost 70-team and 70-game format. The field has expanded greatly, making even a repeat championship bid very rare.

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#24 – Missouri Tigers College Basketball Preview & Predictions

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Barnabeee in College Basketball,Headlines

kim-english-missouri — Kim English and the Missouri Tigers check in at #24 in our preseason rankings

Head coach Mike Anderson starts his fifth season with the Missouri Tigers (23-11, 10-6 Big 12) having gotten the team to the Big Dance two of the last four seasons. In 2009, they went to the Elite Eight and last season the Tigers went two and out. When Anderson took over at Missouri, they had missed the tournament two years running. The Tigers had a long tradition of NCAA Tournament play, having been there a total of 22 times. With their new head coach, they’ve started another string of appearances. This is a team that has gone to the Elite Eight four times. They are still searching for their first National Championship.

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#25 – Washington Huskies College Basketball Preview & Predictions

Posted on November 9, 2010November 9, 2010 by Barnabeee in College Basketball,Headlines

Isaiah-Thomas-washington — Isaiah Thomas leads the Washington Huskies

Which club will be the best team in the Pac-10? It may just be the Washington Huskies (26-10, 11-7 Pac-10), who welcome back a whole group of seniors and juniors with a lot of experience. Last season, the Huskies finished third in the Pac-10. The team went to the Pac-10 Tournament, beating Oregon State 59-52, Stanford 79-64 and California 79-75 and winning the title. At the NCAA Tournament, the Huskies made it to the Sweet 16. On the way, they were victorious over Marquette 80-78 and New Mexico 82-64. It all came to an end when West Virginia beat them 69-56.

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