2005 NCAA Power Houses
Illinois: Illinois was my number one team going
into the season. They're still there. The backcourt
in Illinois gets me thinking undefeated regular season.
Dee Brown and Deron Williams... Wow! If I wrote this
article without praising Luther Head, I'd be just as
ridiculous as the other sports writers who aren't including
Luther in their player of the year articles. A little
appreciation and respect please. I can't predict an
upset of these studs any time soon; their confidence
is sky high, always a good sign. This team struts 5
guys averaging double digits in scoring. Carolina is
the only other top squad that boasts the same. Upcoming
games of Iowa, Northwestern, and Purdue will leave The
Fighting IIllini with smiling faces and a 29-0 record
in the beginning of March. Could these future stars
get upset? Sure, this is college ball. Would I bet on
it? Not likely.
North
Carolina: Fab 5 anyone? There's something about
five guys in double figures that gets me real excited
about this squad of NBAers. (Each of the 5, scores more
than 11 a game) There are 5 different guys who could
be the best player on this team. There top 6 players
are better than any other team's. If college hoops had
the 6th man award, Marvin Williams would take home the
hardware. Sean May has really impressed me with his
tough play and rebounding prowess, but if Carolina wants
to end the season ranked ahead of Illinois, May and
Felton will have to cut their turnovers in half. Rashad
McCants has the game breaking ability to carry the team
on his back during any drought, and Raymond Felton is
my top point guard in college hoops (Much love to Chris
Paul though). When 60 teams have been beaten, upset,
clobbered, heartbroken, and Cinderella'd, North Carolina
will still be playing ball in March.
Wake
Forest: Chris Paul tops Felton in most point guard
top 10 lists, and he deserves the hype. Paul is a sophomore
who's played like a senior for the greater part of two
years. He runs his team with perfection, and he' s getting
more and more comfortable every game. Paul disappears
from the box score in some games, but his presence is
always felt, by his team and the opponents. Justin Gray
has been tough since he walked in the double doors of
the gym, and Eric Williams is a force down low. This
Sunday's game in Cameron Indoor will be as exciting
as it gets. A Wake win could drop the Blue Devils to
3-5 after their 15-0 opening. A WF loss could help return
Duke's ACC swagger just before tourney time. If Wake
wins at Duke, they'll see the Yellow Brick Road leading
to the FInal Four.
Kansas:
Wayne Simien is sticking around this year, and it's
making Kansas a bunch of happy hoopers. The double OT
loss to Texas Tech wasn't a sign of things to come.
J.R. Giddens won't go 3-13 to often, and a measly 18
attempts from the free stripe doesn't seem right either.
Simien's 20 points and 13 boards does. Look for Kansas
to bounce back in a big way, ending the regular season
without another loss. Keith Langford, Aaron Miles, and
Giddens give Simien a fearsome foursome that could pull
them through the Tourney. A North Carolina/ Kansas Final
Four match-up might be in the cards... and how does
former Kansas coach Roy Williams feel about that? "...that
would be the worst moment of my life." Does that
pave the way or what? Stars align for stuff like that
Roy, what are you thinking saying that out loud?
Syracuse:
Hakim Warrick doesn't get enough credit, and he might
be the player of the year. He's really, really good.
A one-week stretch with two losses at home gives me
a bit of a scare, but then again, that's why these guys
are my fifth top team. Warrick and backcourt gunner
Gerry McNamera could beat, and often will beat any team
in the country, which is why they land here. Even with
Boston College leading the Big East, I'd still favor
Syracuse in the post season. 'Cuse has been there before,
and all though recent losses to Pittsburgh and UCONN
left some clear holes in the depth of Syracuse, Warrick
and GM will give their Big Dance opponents all they
bargained for. A strong run to the Tourney could get
the Orangemen a 1 or 2 seed.
|
