The new college basketball season will start in less than two weeks’ time. With that in mind, College News decided to take a quick look at the teams poised for a breakout season. Outstanding new recruits are certainly a key factor for potential success. However, challenges remain as some teams continue to work on their weaknesses. Here they come:
Kentucky Wildcats
2008-09: 22-14 (National Invitation Tournament)
The Wildcats have only six returning players from last year’s roster. Jodie Meeks, last year’s fifth-leading scorer in college basketball, was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks. Meanwhile, John Calipari was assigned as the new head coach of the team.
Most teams in such a situation would usually be in a rebuilding mode. However, the Wildcats are talking about a national championship. Yes, the NCAA title. Led by John Wall, a 6’ 4” point guard hailed by some as a potential number 1 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the six freshmen in Kentucky provide healthy new blood that the Wildcats desperately need.
Coach Calipari’s vision is for the basketball program to become “the gold standard not just in basketball but in all of college athletics”. He definitely has to start with basketball though, and, based on the talent of his young bench, he’s off to a good one.
Texas Longhorns
2008-09: 23-12 (NCAA 2nd Round)
The Longhorns lost two seniors this year. But somehow, head coach Rick Barnes managed to get the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class. Texas’ offense remains as its trump card. With outstanding scorers at virtually every single position, the Longhorns’ opponents are going to have a very difficult time on D.
Kevin Durant, a rising NBA superstar out of Texas, spent the entire month of June in Austin with the team, giving both the recruiting class and returning players invaluable lessons about the game. In the 08-09 tournament, the Longhorns were tied with the Blue Devils in the final minute in a fight for the Sweet 16. This year, the expectations are well beyond that.
Kansas Jayhawks
2008-09: 27-8 (NCAA Sweet Sixteen)
The Jayhawks received a bunch of good news in the off-season. Both senior guard Sherron Collins and junior center Cole Aldrich announced that they would play for Kansas instead of going for the NBA Draft. Xavier Henry, one ranked as high as number 3 by ESPNU among the 2009 recruits, decided to join the Jayhawks for at least a year. On top of this good news, Xavier’s brother C.J. also transferred to Kansas from Memphis.
However, the off-court transgressions might have tinted the image of the top-ranked team. Several basketball players were involved in a fight with members of the football team. Tyshawn Taylor dislocated his thumb in the fight and won’t be cleared to play for at least a month. Brady Morningstar, a junior guard at Kansas, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. With these setbacks, the ‘Hawks will definitely have to behave like a championship team before they actually become one.
West Virginia Mountaineers
2008-09: 23-12 (NCAA First Round)
As UConn and Louisville lost key players to the 2009 NBA Draft, the Mountaineers might have their best chance of clinching the conference title this year. That is provided they could take down powerhouse Villanova, the fourth-ranked basketball team in the nation.
West Virginia managed to bring in freshman Deniz Kilicli—a 6’ 9,” 260-pound Turkish national—who is viewed by coach Huggins as the biggest surprise of any player. According to Huggins, Kilicli has “bigger hands than your head. He stepped out and caught a ball like it was a softball”. Let us just see if Kilicli’s huge hands could help the Mountaineers grab more wins this year.
What are your picks for rising NCAA basketball teams?
