November 4, 2007
NATIONAL PREVIEW | Can L.A. rivalry match Heels-Devils?
DAVID SCOTT
TAKE NOTE
Is there another Duke-North Carolina rivalry brewing anywhere?
YES and it might be in Los Angeles, where the campuses of UCLA and Southern California are just 10 miles apart (a bit farther than the 7-mile distance separating the Blue Devils and Tar Heels). UCLA (Kevin Love) and Southern California (O.J. Mayo) have two of the country's top freshmen who -- if they don't leave too quickly for the NBA -- will make this an intriguing rivalry for at least one season. Coach Ben Howland has UCLA back in the national spotlight (two straight Final Four appearances), and Tim Floyd figures to put the Trojans there if he can keep landing recruits like Mayo.
Familiar Coaching Faces in Unfamiliar Places
Rick Majerus is back on the sidelines at Saint Louis after his ESPN gig. Bob Huggins left Kansas State after one season for his alma mater of West Virginia. Tubby Smith is at Minnesota, where his seat will be decidedly cooler than the one he left in Kentucky. John Beilein leaves West Virginia to resuscitate Michigan. Cliff Ellis replaces Buzz Peterson at Coastal Carolina. Perry Clark, formerly of Miami and Tulane, lands at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Next Big Thing
Folks around Charlotte might not have kept up with Tony Bennett since his days as an over-achieving point guard for the Charlotte Hornets. But Bennett, now coaching at Washington State, has built a solid program on the Palouse, with four starters (including a great backcourt of shooting guard Kyle Weaver and point guard Derrick Low) back from last season's Pac-10 runner-up.
The Next Winthrop
The Eagles were last season's popular pick as a mid-major surprise in the NCAA tournament. To find this season's, head up Interstate 77 about 40 miles to Davidson. The Wildcats, with sharpshooter Stephen Curry, superb point guard Jason Richards and everybody else back, might win at least one game in the tournament. They'll be toughened by nonconference games against North Carolina, UCLA, Duke and N.C. State.
Whatever Happened To...
Florida? With the top six players gone from two straight national championship teams, it's time for coach Billy Donovan to rebuild. The Gators will be lucky to make the NCAA tournament, but they have some impressive-looking freshmen, including point guard Jai Lucas, another of former Maryland point guard John Lucas' sons.
COACHES ON THE HOT SEAT
Leonard Hamilton, Florida State:
Seminoles, now without Al Thornton, haven't turned the corner under Hamilton.
Dave Odom, South Carolina:
National Invitation Tournament success shouldn't be the measuring stick.
Billy Gillispie, Kentucky:
It's always hot in Lexington, even if you haven't coached a game there yet.
Frank Martin, Kansas State:
Has no Division I head-coaching experience, replaces Bob Huggins (former 49ers assistant Dalonte Hill is associate head coach).
Bill Self, Kansas:
If only because he wears "Best Coach Never To Make The Final Four" label.
TOP FRESHMEN
KEVIN LOVE, C, UCLA: Bruins get a Bill Walton-esque big man.
O.J. MAYO, G, Southern California: But will he give up the ball?
KYLE SINGLER, F, Duke: His all-around game will make Blue Devils better.
MICHAEL BEASLEY, F, Kansas State: What might have been for Charlotte 49ers, could be this season's Kevin Durant.
ERIC GORDON, G, Indiana: Great scorer and who also gets to pass to D.J. White.
ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
TYLER HANSBROUGH, F/C, North Carolina: Still hasn't played in a Final Four.
ROY HIBBERT, C, Georgetown: Old-school low-post player.
CHRIS DOUGLAS-ROBERTS, G, Memphis: Can get to the basket on anybody.
D.J. AUGUSTIN, PG, Texas: Point guard won't have Kevin Durant to go to anymore.
CHRIS LOFTON, G, Tennessee: The nation's top long-distance threat.
SECOND TEAM: Brandon Rush, G, Kansas; Darren Collison, G, UCLA; Chase Budinger, F, Arizona; Drew Neitzel, G, Michigan State.
PREDICTING THE TOURNAMENT
THE SCHEDULE
PLAY-IN GAME: March 18, Dayton, Ohio
FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS (MARCH 20 AND 22): Anaheim, Calif.; Denver; Omaha, Neb.; Washington.
FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS (MARCH 21 AND 23): Birmingham, Ala.; Little Rock, Ark.; Raleigh; Tampa, Fla.
REGIONAL FINALS
March 27, 29: Charlotte, Phoenix
March 28, 30: Detroit, Houston
FINAL FOUR
April 5, 7: San Antonio, Texas
ONE AND DONE
TEAM (BID, CONFERENCE): COMMENT
AKRON (auto, Mid-American): Zips beat out Miami (Ohio) for league's NCAA bid.
AUSTIN PEAY (auto, Ohio Valley): F Drake Reed was last season's OVC player of the year.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY (auto, America East): Terriers loaded in the backcourt.
BRADLEY (Missouri Valley, at-large): Relied on 3-point shooting last season (50 percent).
BUTLER (auto, Horizon): A.J. Graves, Mike Green form standout backcourt.
CAL STATE FULLERTON (auto, Big West): Will survive without standout Bobby Brown.
CONNECTICUT (at-large, Big East): One of the country's biggest guys, 7-3 Hasheem Thabeet.
CORNELL (auto, Ivy): Big Red breaks Penn's hold on league title.
EAST TENNESSEE STATE (auto, Atlantic Sun): Lost in league tournament final last season.
FLORIDA (at-large, SEC): Talented, but very young, Gators far from winning another title.
GEORGE MASON (at-large, Colonial): Remember Patriots' Final Four run of two seasons ago?
GRAMBLING ST. (auto, S'western Athletic): Top scorers, led by G Andre Ratliff, are back.
HAMPTON (auto, Mid-East. Athletic): G Rashad West led league in scoring last season (17.8).
HIGH POINT (auto, Big South): Former Queens coach Bart Lundy gets moment in the sun.
HOLY CROSS (auto, Patriot): C Tim Clifford (6-foot-11) can dominate his league.
ILLINOIS (at-large, Big Ten): Walk-on freshman named Jeffrey Jordan, son of Michael.
IUPUI (auto, Summit): It stands for Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis.
KENT STATE (auto, Mid-American): F Mike Scott joins four other returning starters.
LAMAR (auto, Southland): Lamar's best player is actually F Lamar Sanders.
LOYOLA, MD. (auto, Metro Atlantic): Will have to beat Siena for league supremacy.
MIAMI, OHIO (at-large, Mid-American): F Tim Pollitz does it all -- 16.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg.
MISSOURI (at-large, Big 12): Four starters back, as well as Vanderbilt-transfer DeMarre Carroll.
MONTANA (auto, Big Sky): F Jordan Hasquet a tough player inside.
NEVADA (auto, Western Athletic): Makes tournament despite loss of C Nick Fazekas.
NOTRE DAME (at-large, Big East): Irish are one of the Big East's most physical teams.
OHIO STATE (at-large, Big Ten): Will struggle to make tournament after last season's magic.
PROVIDENCE (at-large, Big East): Freshman Jamine Peterson has great nickname -- "Greedy."
SACRED HEART (auto, Northeast): Perimeter-oriented, have excellent PG in Drew Shubick.
SYRACUSE (at-large, Big East): Won 24 last season, but weren't invited to the tournament.
VANDERBILT (at-large, SEC): Shan Foster leads team that's been to two Sweet 16s .
VILLANOVA (at-large, Big East): Wildcats are young. How young? No seniors.
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH (auto, Colonial): Rams have rising star in coach Anthony Grant.
WASHINGTON (at-large, Pac-10): F Jon Brockman can rebound with the best of them.
2 AND OUT
TEAM (BID, CONFERENCE): COMMENT
ARIZONA (at-large, Pac-10): F Chase Budinger one of the country's most athletic players.
ARKANSAS (at-large, SEC): New coach John Pelphrey has five returning starters to work with.
BRIGHAM YOUNG (auto, Mountain West): 6-11 Trent Plaisted is a force in the middle.
DAVIDSON (auto, Southern): Stephen Curry, crew learned hard lesson in first-round loss
KANSAS STATE (at-large, Big 12): Freshman Michael Beasley joins Bill Walker.
KENTUCKY (at-large, SEC): New coach Billy Gillispie has stud freshman 6-9 Patrick Patterson.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (at-large, SEC): Jamont Gordon's versatile and effective.
N.C. STATE (at-large, ACC): Need point guard to distribute ball to talented big men.
OREGON (at-large, Pac 10): Replacing Aaron Brooks is tough, but Ducks have Tajuan Porter.
PITTSBURGH (at-large, Big East): Levance Fields, Ronald Ramon provide stability.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (at-large, Pac 10): Probably O.J. Mayo's first and only tournament.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (auto, Missouri Valley): F Randal Falker is a strong defensive presence.
TEXAS A&M (at-large, Big 12): New coach Mark Turgeon comes aboard from Wichita State.
VIRGINIA (at-large, ACC): Cavaliers breathed sigh of relief when Sean Singletary stayed.
WISCONSIN (at-large, Big 10): C Brian Butch one of conference's better big men.
XAVIER (auto, Atlantic 10): Drew Lavender, Stanley Burrell make Musketeers class of A-10.
SWEET 16
East (at Charlotte)
TEAM (BID, CONFERENCE): COMMENT
1. NORTH CAROLINA (auto, ACC): Tar Heels, with Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson, primed for another national title shot.
2. MICHIGAN STATE (auto, Big Ten): PG Drew Neitzel is one of the country's clutch players.
3. GONZAGA (auto, West Coast): Strong group of newcomers will complement F Josh Heytvelt.
4. INDIANA (at-large, Big Ten): D.J. White is one of the best low-post players around.
West (at Phoenix)
TEAM (BID, CONFERENCE): COMMENT
1. UCLA (auto, Pac-10): Bruins' freshman Kevin Love might be enough for school's 12th national championship.
2. GEORGETOWN (auto, Big East): C Roy Hibbert, G Jonathan Wallace will be a potent 1-2 punch.
3. DUKE (at-large, ACC): Young Blue Devils use this season to re-establish themselves among nation's elite.
4. LOUISVILLE (at-large, Big East): Wing Earl Clark is one of the country's impact players.
Midwest (at Detroit)
TEAM (BID, CONFERENCE): COMMENT
1. MEMPHIS (auto, Conference USA): Talented Tigers cruise through conference schedule again, get boost from freshman PG Derrick Rose.
2. KANSAS (auto, Big 12): Jayhawks fall short of Final Four again under Bill Self.
3. MARQUETTE (at-large, Big East): Golden Eagles need help inside, but a plethora of guards will carry them.
4. STANFORD (at-large, Pac-10): 7-foot Lopez twins (Brook, Robin) anchor Cardinal's front line.
South (at Houston)
TEAM (BID, CONFERENCE): COMMENT
1. TENNESSEE (auto, SEC): Already a great shooter, Chris Lofton has worked on his ball-handling and will go to the basket more.
2. WASHINGTON STATE (at-large, Pac-10): Cougars improve on breakthrough season that saw them finish second in the conference, win an NCAA tournament game.
3. TEXAS (at-large, Big 12): A.J. Abrams can really shoot it from 3-point range (42.3 percent last season).
4. CLEMSON (at-large, ACC): Cliff Hammonds, James Mays, K.C. Rivers (Independence High) lead breakout year for Tigers.
ELITE EIGHT
EAST: North Carolina over Michigan State
WEST: UCLA over Duke
MIDWEST: Memphis over Kansas
SOUTH: Tennessee over Washington State
FINAL FOUR (at San Antonio)
North Carolina over Memphis
UCLA over Tennessee
CHAMPIONSHIP
UCLA over North Carolina