Quote:
Originally Posted by kelmac07
If Roy Williams get UNC playing like they were at the end of the season right out the gate...I don't see anyone touching them.
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My first reaction is to say "From your lips to God's ear, Mac." But I'll refrain, and merely say that I don't care if they get touched a bit, as long as they don't get slapped around.
I'm a bit fuzzy from two days without power, but I'll try to get a few more pre-season rankings in, beginning with:
# 7 - Vanderbilt = It's good to see some other SEC team foreseen to give UK a challenge, and it's even better as far as I'm concerned that it is a "quality" program like the Commodores. But I'm not yet convinced their frontcourt talent will be enough to carry them, at least on the road. In Nashville, however, on that funky elevated court of theirs, they will be tough.
# 8 - Florida = Though the Gators are not expected to be as good as their back-to-back team was, keep in mind that THAT team was not supposed to be as good as they turned out either. We know Donovan will have them ready to play . . . even though he didn't get them ready last year, at least early in the season. I don't expect he'll make the same mistake again.
# 9 - Louisville = Despite what Calipari believes, there's more than one team in Kentucky. I'm not much better a Pitino fan than I'm Cal's, but one must admit Rick knows his hoops. He likely won't be as distracted this year by off-the-court (or more precisely, in-court) issues, so I won't be surprised if they can make a little noise in the KFC/Yumi Crum Bucket.
# 10 - Pittsburgh = Every year we seem to hear about how good the Panthers are, and how far they will go. Every year they have a nice season, then fall off the face of the earth when the chips are down. If they want to make their place in Big East history, they'd better do it soon, since they'll be moving to the ACC once they get all their bags packed and tickets punched. Me, I'll believe it when I see it, because I haven't seen it yet.
# 11 - Memphis = It is remarkable what a good job young Josh Pastner has done for the Tigers. Calipari robbed the cupboard bare when he fled to UK, yet Pastner managed to get his team back into the CUSA hunt by the end of last season. This year, they should be able to do what they are used to doing in conference play, and rule the roost.
# 12 - Baylor = Much like Vandy above, the Bears are supposed to have a superior frontcourt, which leads to this relatively high regard. Again, I have to say I want to see it first. It's not easy for a team that has little history of competing at a top level to be able to actually do so on the court night after night, and this is precisely the situation I see here. If I'm wrong, I'll admit it, but they will have to prove me wrong first.
This brings us about halfway through the Top 25, yet there are still some interesting teams to notice . . . including a few big names. I'll get back to those ASAP, but for now the fuzz in my brain has bugun to leak out my ears. Later, brothers.