Conference Call For 11-14-2006 - College Basketball News, Tips And Picks

Conference Call For 11-14-2006
By Jim Johnson
Posted: 5:00 am PDT 2006-11-14

One of the unique aspects of college sports is that fans not only support a school but often align themselves with their school's conference. Odd are that some of the most passionate sports arguments center around which conference is the better in a particular sport. Well, I love a spirited debate, so here's my take on where the best college basketball will be played this season.

1. -SEC: No, I'm not getting my sports mixed up. Football will always be king in the Southeastern Conference, but basketball seems to be catching on quite well down in those parts. The league has Florida, one of the three teams featured in national championship conversations, and two other teams, LSU and Alabama, that are ranked in the Top 10.

Florida and LSU won't sneak up on people like they did late last season on their way to the Final Four, but they have the talent and experience to withstand the extra pressure. Florida, led by Joakim Noah, has more depth and could be better this season. LSU, without Tyrus Thomas, still has (not as) Big Baby Glen Davis and will be bolstered by the return of point guard Tack Minor, who redshirted last season. Alabama has one of the best point guards in the nation, Ronald Steele, and a lot of strength on the front line.

Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas should also reach the NCAA Tournament. Georgia, Mississippi State, Auburn and Mississippi all have veteran teams that weren't bad last year and should be better this season.

2. ACC: North Carolina, like Florida, is one of the national title favorites, but the strength of this conference is its depth. There are no fewer than eight schools that have realistic aspirations of reaching the NCAA Tournament. Boston College and Duke lost a lot of senior talent from last season but will still be among the top 15 teams in the nation. Georgia Tech, led by stud freshmen Javaris Crittendon and Thaddeus Young and a strong veteran nucleus, will bounce back strong this year.

Florida State, which is in action Monday night against Illinois State and is a 15.5-point favorite on WagerWeb.com, has been on the cusp of ending its NCAA drought for the last couple of seasons, and star Al Thornton should push the Seminoles over the hump. Virginia has everyone back from a team that exceeded everyone's expectations in Coach Dave Leitao's first year. Maryland has some new blood in its freshman class who should inject some life back into the Terps. A veteran Virginia Tech team should turn around enough of its close losses from last season to be a contender this year.

3. Big East: There is no powerhouse team in the league this season, but the conference could still earn eight NCAA bids. Pittsburgh and Georgetown, two defensive-oriented, old-school Big East style teams, are the class of the conference. Marquette, led by guard Dominic James, is a Top-25 caliber team. Syracuse starts the post-Gerry McNamara era with another freshman prodigy in wing Paul Harris.

Villanova and Connecticut will look a lot different from the Elite Eight squads they had last season. The Wildcats will rely more on their frontcourt, strengthened by the return of forward Curtis Sumpter. UConn lost its top six scorers and will be very young this year, but Coach Jim Calhoun's recruiting prowess has insured the growing pains won't last long -- I still expect to see the Huskies dancing in March. If Louisville can keep forwards David Padgett and Juan Palacios healthy, the Cards will be factors in the league. DePaul finished strong last year and still has sharp shooting guard Sammy Mejia to terrorize opposing defenses.

Best Mid-Major League-Missouri Valley: Last season, the Colonial Athletic Association was the first mid-major conference to reach the Final Four since 1979, but the MVC is still where the most serious basketball is played at that level. Creighton, led by the return of star Neil Funk, and Southern Illinois are legitimate Top 25 teams. Wichita State and Northern Iowa are threats to return to the NCAA Tournament, which Missouri State just missed last year (and may break through this season). Drake and Evansville are also programs on the way up.

The Pac-10 gets my No. 4 ranking. ... I think the Big Ten and Big 12 are both way down this year. ... The Atlantic 10 is on the way back after a couple of lean years. ... I would be surprised if the CAA is a multiple bid league this year as George Mason and UNC Wilmington both lost a lot of talent. ... The WAC has moved ahead of the Mountain West as the best mid-major out west.

Nothing But Net
Call my cynical, but it's hard to imagine that Bob Knight's dismissal of star Jarrius Jackson was anything but PR. He must have had an amazing week getting his academics in order, because that's how long his "dismissal" lasted. Give me a break!

I've already got a nomination for ugliest game of the year -- that didn't take long, now did it? We can all hope that Michigan State's 45-34 win over Brown holds the title because I don't think any of us want the misfortune of seeing a worse game.

Kansas' Brandon Rush was named to the AP's preseason All-American team, and he has the talent to earn that when all is said and done. Does he have the assertiveness to become the leader an All-American should be and that the Jayhawks need in order to be one of the top teams in the nation? I'm not so sure.

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