Early season and pre-conference can offer profitable opportunities
should certain scenarios fall into place. The following observations are not to be taken as to which teams are top ten or conference winners, etc.- they should only be considered as games with potential should certain factors fall into place.
Good Luck on All Bets!
Makers
Florida State
Leonard Hamilton, one of the very best recruiters in college basketball adds considerable talent to an ascending Seminole squad. While Trevor Harvey will be missed in the paint, the back-up experience from last year is plentiful.
Tim Pickett
17.1 PPG....5.7 RPG and the league leader in steals leads a veteran five that should be a factor in the ACC
* Two possibilities stand out!! Hosting the Terps Dec 28th and visiting Florida Jan. 3rd
Maryland Terps
Losing 49 PPG along with 20 +RPG does not bode well for Williams especially the first few weeks of the season./b]
North Carolina Charlotte
While Pitino's Cards and Cincinnati are the darlings of the CUSA (justifiably so) excellent coaching (Lutz) and a "solid" returning nucleus puts this group near the top of teams to watch after a 13-16 mark from last year!!!!!
Southern Mississippi
Defensive minded club with an influx of talent to bolster an already veteran group assures a nice improvement from a 13-16 season esp. @ home ATS 8-3.
Oregon
A go against club last season now relies on frosh PG Brooks to team with more experienced front court that should step-up after a year of defining their roll! Make no mistake "Brooks" can play and the solid Jackson should relish his roll as team leader sans the flashy Ridnour.
U.N.C. Wilmington
A team with tremendous holes to fill losing 69% of scoring 44% rebounding as well as two time CAA player of the year Brett Blizzard
*This club rocked V.C.U by 31 and 17 last year..Look for some payback here as Rams should field a solid squad. Jan. 14th
Auburn
Veteran laden squad (4 Seniors/8 Juniors) with 3 high profile JC players that should blend nicely with 3 returning starters. Great athleticism and quickness should soften the blow of losing the multi-talented Daniels. Extremely tough in the paint with all time shot blocker Kyle Davis and two of the most underrated forwards in NCAA Killingsworth 13 PPG... 6.4 RPG and Robinson 8.2 and 4.5.
N.I.U.
With the return of all world Smallwood, Huskies should equal the success of their gridiron brethren and rule the MAC
* Visit N.D. Nov. 24th.... Irish better have their game face on!!!
W.M.U.
"Loaded" club especially if Reed recovers fully from off season knee surgery. This could be an offensive machine
* Host loaded U.S.C Nov. 21..Price could be enticing with highly publicized Trojans! .
C.S.U.
Picked to finish 5th-6th in MWC could surprise as 7 footer Nelson has rebounded from knee surgery showing well in the Pan Am Trials.
Niagara
Returning an intact roster headed by J. Mendez 18.4 PPG...9 RPG will bode well for this vet squad versus the perennial hierarchy (Iona and Manhattan) in this tough albeit small conference
* Visit St. Johns Jan 3rd...Could offer nice value!!!
Ohio State
Two talented transfers plus a McDonalds AA replacing 40 PPG from Darby-Connolly-Williams would under most circumstances would equate to a year of rebuilding. However couple the transfers and Harris with the return (off injury) of Dials and Cheatham plus one of the best coaches in the Big Ten this is a club that could surprise lots of opponents! .....Don't sell this club short!!!!
* Dec. 3rd Ga. Tech visits with what could be an overrated five!
Match-ups with Possibilities
Arkansas/Illinois Dec. 4th
A bit hesitant to call this a neutral site but odds makers could become a bit generous with over hyped Illini....Hogs will be much improved with more experience and nice recruiting class. Well coached five here. Look for Stan Heath (remember this name) to restore this school to glory days of past in short order!!!
California vs's Colorado Dec. 6th
Talented and hyped Bears (even without Shipp and Wethers)could enter this with a clean slate assuming they can handle a good BYU on Nov.26th. This scenario could offer nice value in a match-up that will be strictly in Colorado's favor!
X vs's Ms. State Dec. 13th
Both missing last years dominant inside player...Both have high expectations and for good reason. X will be in the midst of a grueling road trip facing a team with one of the premier guards in the country (Bowers)aided by Baylor defector 6"9" Lawrence Roberts that will all but negate the loss of Super Mario. Weak State schedule coming into this match-up should be overcome by home court and national TV!
should certain scenarios fall into place. The following observations are not to be taken as to which teams are top ten or conference winners, etc.- they should only be considered as games with potential should certain factors fall into place.
Good Luck on All Bets!
Makers
Florida State
Leonard Hamilton, one of the very best recruiters in college basketball adds considerable talent to an ascending Seminole squad. While Trevor Harvey will be missed in the paint, the back-up experience from last year is plentiful.
Tim Pickett
17.1 PPG....5.7 RPG and the league leader in steals leads a veteran five that should be a factor in the ACC
* Two possibilities stand out!! Hosting the Terps Dec 28th and visiting Florida Jan. 3rd
Maryland Terps
Losing 49 PPG along with 20 +RPG does not bode well for Williams especially the first few weeks of the season./b]
North Carolina Charlotte
While Pitino's Cards and Cincinnati are the darlings of the CUSA (justifiably so) excellent coaching (Lutz) and a "solid" returning nucleus puts this group near the top of teams to watch after a 13-16 mark from last year!!!!!
Southern Mississippi
Defensive minded club with an influx of talent to bolster an already veteran group assures a nice improvement from a 13-16 season esp. @ home ATS 8-3.
Oregon
A go against club last season now relies on frosh PG Brooks to team with more experienced front court that should step-up after a year of defining their roll! Make no mistake "Brooks" can play and the solid Jackson should relish his roll as team leader sans the flashy Ridnour.
U.N.C. Wilmington
A team with tremendous holes to fill losing 69% of scoring 44% rebounding as well as two time CAA player of the year Brett Blizzard
*This club rocked V.C.U by 31 and 17 last year..Look for some payback here as Rams should field a solid squad. Jan. 14th
Auburn
Veteran laden squad (4 Seniors/8 Juniors) with 3 high profile JC players that should blend nicely with 3 returning starters. Great athleticism and quickness should soften the blow of losing the multi-talented Daniels. Extremely tough in the paint with all time shot blocker Kyle Davis and two of the most underrated forwards in NCAA Killingsworth 13 PPG... 6.4 RPG and Robinson 8.2 and 4.5.
N.I.U.
With the return of all world Smallwood, Huskies should equal the success of their gridiron brethren and rule the MAC
* Visit N.D. Nov. 24th.... Irish better have their game face on!!!
W.M.U.
"Loaded" club especially if Reed recovers fully from off season knee surgery. This could be an offensive machine
* Host loaded U.S.C Nov. 21..Price could be enticing with highly publicized Trojans! .
C.S.U.
Picked to finish 5th-6th in MWC could surprise as 7 footer Nelson has rebounded from knee surgery showing well in the Pan Am Trials.
Niagara
Returning an intact roster headed by J. Mendez 18.4 PPG...9 RPG will bode well for this vet squad versus the perennial hierarchy (Iona and Manhattan) in this tough albeit small conference
* Visit St. Johns Jan 3rd...Could offer nice value!!!
Ohio State
Two talented transfers plus a McDonalds AA replacing 40 PPG from Darby-Connolly-Williams would under most circumstances would equate to a year of rebuilding. However couple the transfers and Harris with the return (off injury) of Dials and Cheatham plus one of the best coaches in the Big Ten this is a club that could surprise lots of opponents! .....Don't sell this club short!!!!
* Dec. 3rd Ga. Tech visits with what could be an overrated five!
Match-ups with Possibilities
Arkansas/Illinois Dec. 4th
A bit hesitant to call this a neutral site but odds makers could become a bit generous with over hyped Illini....Hogs will be much improved with more experience and nice recruiting class. Well coached five here. Look for Stan Heath (remember this name) to restore this school to glory days of past in short order!!!
California vs's Colorado Dec. 6th
Talented and hyped Bears (even without Shipp and Wethers)could enter this with a clean slate assuming they can handle a good BYU on Nov.26th. This scenario could offer nice value in a match-up that will be strictly in Colorado's favor!
X vs's Ms. State Dec. 13th
Both missing last years dominant inside player...Both have high expectations and for good reason. X will be in the midst of a grueling road trip facing a team with one of the premier guards in the country (Bowers)aided by Baylor defector 6"9" Lawrence Roberts that will all but negate the loss of Super Mario. Weak State schedule coming into this match-up should be overcome by home court and national TV!
