2012 Top 144

[waggy]

By Joel Welser. Already down to #101 as of today, and only a few X opponents (or potential opponents) have been previewed so far.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/mens-basketball/top-144-previews

[waggy]

#137 George Washington


Coach Mike Lonergan took over the George Washington program last season and it was supposed to be a rebuilding year. The rebuilding will continue, but this is a team that is growing up nicely and will eventually compete with the best teams in the Atlantic 10 as long as Coach Lonergan sticks around. There are some key pieces to replace, but with the influx in overall talent, the Colonials can only go up in the revamped A-10. With a likely starting five that consists of all upperclassmen, now is the time to get the program a winning record while they continue to build with talented recruiting classes.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4298

[waggy]

#112 St. Bonaventure


St. Bonaventure had a memorable 2011-2012 campaign that culminated in a trip to the NCAA Tournament and the first round selection of power forward Andrew Nicholson. The Bonnies navigated their way through three tough games in the Atlantic-10 Tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000. Once there, they lost a close one to Florida State. Of course it was Nicholson who had a lot to do with that run and he is now in Orlando after being drafted 19th overall by the Magic in the 2012 NBA Draft.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4459

[waggy]

#109 Drake is in the Anaheim Classic, so a potential opponent. But they're on the other side of the bracket, so not real likely.


Drake finally achieved some success under Coach Mark Phelps and now that success should continue. The Bulldogs finished with just a 9-9 record in the Missouri Valley Conference, but they made some big strides. Four starters are returning, plus a two-year starter who missed the 2011-2012 campaign with an injury, so there is plenty of reason to be optimistic. Yet, there is reason to be pessimistic as well since the Bulldogs lost their best scorer and every other player on their roster besides the returning starting four. Another trip to the postseason is very feasible though, but a vast improvement may have to wait another year or two.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4479

[drudy23]

#109 Drake is in the Anaheim Classic, so a potential opponent. But they're on the other side of the bracket, so not real likely.



http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4479


????????

Why not real likely? You act like UNC, Kansas, and OSU are in our bracket.

There's no reason we can't win that tournament.

[waggy]

So you expect Drake to win their first 2 games drudy?

[drudy23]

My bad...thought you were saying the only way we'd face them was the finals, and that we'd be a long shot to get there.

[waggy]

#98 Robert Morris


The 2011-2012 campaign was supposed to be one of rebuilding for Robert Morris. With just one senior on the roster, the expectations were down a little bit. And perhaps a third place finish in the NEC was a slight disappointment, but it was still a squad that won 26 games and made a nice run in the CIT. This year they will shoot for a more prestigious postseason tournament. With Velton Jones leading the way, the Colonials have the depth, talent and experience to reach the NCAAs. Jones averaged 16.0 points per game last year and added team highs with 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals. Jones is a good enough outside shooter to keep the opposition honest, but he will do most of his scoring around the basket. With junior Anthony Myers available to provide another ballhandler or give Jones a break, RMU is in great hands at the point guard position.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4554

[bleedXblue]

Love the fact that St Johns, Villanova and Seton Hall are already on the list.

St Johns was a one hit wonder in Lavin's first year.

[Juice]

Love the fact that St Johns, Villanova and Seton Hall are already on the list.

St Johns was a one hit wonder in Lavin's first year.

The dude got butt cancer. Give him some time.

[ballyhoohoo]

The dude got butt cancer. Give him some time.

Things you don't expect to see on a message board

[outsideobserver11]

The dude got butt cancer. Give him some time.

I feel bad laughing but that is a hilarious way of putting it.

[waggy]

#92 Dayton Flyers


Dayton has a lot of talent coming in and quite a bit returning as well, but the lack of proven shooters and a much tougher new look Atlantic 10 conference could keep them down the pecking order for now. Coach Archie Miller will have his work cut out for him working in all of the new faces and finding replacements for some key players from last year’s NIT squad. The tougher A-10 will work to the Flyers advantage as far as their RPI is concerned, but they do need to win some games for that to mean much of anything. But by February and March, this could be one of the better teams in the conference.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4599

[FIGHTING MUSKETEER]

La Salle is #80.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4709

[FIGHTING MUSKETEER]

It doesn't mean much but 5 days after the Dez news came out, these guys are down to #76 (Lehigh) but we are not there yet so....

[FIGHTING MUSKETEER]

#75 Vanderbilt

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4735

[FIGHTING MUSKETEER]

Temple #71

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4762

[waggy]

Temple #71

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4762

If Randall is fully back to pre-injury form I think they are easily better than projected.

[Xman95]

The dude got butt cancer.

That had to be a pain in the ass.

[UCGRAD4X]

That had to be a pain in the ass.

Yeah, my sister had it. Not a pleasant ride. Thankfully she has been in complete remission for several years.

Temple at #71 does not seem to bode well for the A10.

[FIGHTING MUSKETEER]

Butler is #66. http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4789

They are down to #65 (Arkansas) and XU is yet to be mentioned. I wonder if these guys are up to date with our offseason developments. I still believe we have a good team but dont think I would rank us better than #60.

[blueblob06]

Butler is #66. http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4789

They are down to #65 (Arkansas) and XU is yet to be mentioned. I wonder if these guys are up to date with our offseason developments. I still believe we have a good team but dont think I would rank us better than #60.
Maybe they moved X down to #145 and thus will not be listed in their top 144.

[FIGHTING MUSKETEER]

Maybe they moved X down to #145 and thus will not be listed in their top 144.

Ouch.

[waggy]

#63 Georgia Tech

Tech is in the Anaheim Classic.


Georgia Tech struggled through the 2011-2012 campaign during Coach Brian Gregory’s first year at the helm. The offense just never got rolling effectively and the defense could only do so much. The result was just four ACC wins and some pretty lopsided losses. But there is reason to be optimistic. Year two under Coach Gregory should go a little smoother with four starters returning. The Yellow Jackets lack star power, but Coach Gregory does not need a superstar to win games. Point guard Mfon Udofia has never lived up to the hype and he has just one year left to turn into the scoring point guard that everybody thought he would be. Udofia did average 9.9 points per game last season and can score by attacking the basket or from long range. However, he has not developed into an explosive playmaker. His turnovers are high and he often struggles to create shots for his teammates. That will need to be fixed if he hopes to turn into a senior leader and take this team to the postseason.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4799

[waggy]

#58 Massachusetts


Coach Derek Kellogg made huge strides at Massachusetts last season. After a few years of mediocrity, at best, the Minutemen finished the 2011-2012 campaign with 25 wins and a nice run through the NIT. The emergence of point guard Chaz Williams really turned Umass into a serious A-10 contender. Williams spent his freshman campaign at Hofstra before dominating in Amherst. As a sophomore last season Williams averaged 16.9 points, 6.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals. He is only 5-9, but Williams can score from anywhere on the floor and he obviously does a great job of getting his teammates involved as well. Now that he is an upperclassman and has a year of experience at Umass, Williams will be ready to take this team over even more.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4823

[waggy]

#55 Saint Mary's

SMC is possible Anaheim 2nd round opponent.


Saint Mary’s always reloads. No matter who they lose, others are ready to step up and pick up the slack. That will be the case again in the frontcourt, but it will be senior Matthew Dellavedova who leads the Gaels back to the postseason. The 6-4 senior led the squad last season with 15.5 points and 6.4 assists. The Aussie is a superb playmaker and an even better all-around scorer. Dellavedova is a capable shooter, but his three-point percentage has dipped every year. That is not a horrible thing since he took over the point guard duties last season, but if he starts knocking down over 40 percent of his long range attempts again, this is a Gaels team that will give Gonzaga and BYU more than they can handle.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4830

[waggy]

#54 California

I believe Cal is the #2 seed in the Anaheim Classic.


California was the only Pac-12 team to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament last season. Coach Mike Montgomery has the Golden Bears headed in the right direction, as he does with every program, and this is a squad that should be right back in the mix for a trip to the big dance. Justin Cobbs and Allen Crabbe will lead the way. Cobbs had a great season for Cal after transferring from Minnesota. He averaged 12.6 points and 5.0 assists. More impressively, he averaged just two turnovers per game. While Cobbs does some scoring and creating, Crabbe will again be the go-to-scorer. The 6-6 junior can do it all and averaged 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Crabbe is a prolific outside shooter, but he will also use his size to finish in the paint. With those two leading the way, Coach Montgomery has a nice core to build around on the perimeter.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4835

[waggy]

#50 Purdue


Purdue made it back to the NCAA Tournament last season and Coach Matt Painter should have his team ready to make yet another trip to the postseason. In order to do so, the Boilermakers will need to rely on wings Terone Johnson and D.J. Byrd. Johnson came in mostly off of the bench during his sophomore season, but was third on the team in scoring with 9.2 points per game. He will be the new go-to-scorer on the perimeter. While Johnson is not much of a shooter from anywhere on the floor, he will do plenty of damage around the basket. Byrd is the shooter of the bunch and connected on 42.7 percent of his attempts from long range. A year ago the 6-5, 228 pound wing spent some time at the four spot, but he should be able to play at his more natural wing spot more often this year. That is good for Byrd and even better for the Purdue rebounding margin.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4853

[waggy]

#46 St. Joseph's


It seems like Saint Joseph’s has been a very young team for quite some time. They are still a young team with just one senior on the roster, but this group went to the NIT and returns everybody. This is one of the most talented teams Coach Phil Martelli has had in a while and Coach Martelli knows what to do with a talented team. His lone senior, Carl Jones, will be the leader on and off the court. Jones averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals last season. Jones is a capable outside shooter and can beat just about anybody off of the dribble. If the shot clock is winding down, the Hawks always have their man who can make something happen.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4874

[waggy]

#41 The Muskies


The Xavier offseason has not gone very well. This is now a team that needs to replace all five starters. As bad as that sounds, the Musketeers are still a very talented team. It may take a little time for all of the pieces to come together and the younger players to live up to their potential, but this group will be very dangerous by March. With the roster, presumably, finalized Xavier will be happy to get out on the court and play some basketball. Xavier has reached the Sweet Sixteen in four of the last five years, but it will take a minor miracle for another run like that.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4893

[X-Fan]

#41 The Muskies



http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4893

While this article incorrectly states Reynolds will play this year, I am pleased to see it has X at #41 and points out there is still a good amount of talent there. Damn the Torpedos, Let's Go X!!!!

[waggy]

#36 Drexel

X could see the Dragons in round 2 of the Anaheim Classic


After losing January 2nd at Georgia State, Drexel did not lose again until the CAA title game against VCU. This was a team that went 16-2 in conference play and won the regular season title over teams like Old Dominion, VCU and George Mason. The loss to the Rams in the title game left the Dragons in the NIT. There they made a nice run to the quarterfinals, but it still seems that the team never got the respect they deserved. That should all come to an end this year.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4921

[waggy]

#28 Tennessee


Well it did not take Coach Cuonzo Martin to raise the expectations at Tennessee. After a 19-15 season that saw the Volunteers playing great basketball down the stretch, this is a team that can make a dangerous run in March. The arrival of Jarnell Stokes in January really turned this team around on both ends of the floor. The 6-8, 270 pound Stokes stepped in for conference play and did an amazing job for a freshman. He averaged 9.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. His presence completely changed what Tennessee could do. With a half year of experience under his belt, Stokes is only getting better. He will team up with Jeronne Maymon to form one of the best frontcourts in the nation. Maymon, a 6-7, 260 pound senior, averaged 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds during the 2011-2012 campaign. He is not a shot blocker, but he knows how to use his girth to create space for himself in the paint. Add part-time starter Kenny Hall, Dwight Miller and Yemi Makanjuola to the mix and the Volunteers do not lack in talented big men.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4976

[waggy]

#27 Virginia Commonwealth


The competition just got tougher…for VCU and the Atlantic 10. The Rams left the CAA and will join Butler as the newest members of the A-10. That turns an already underappreciated conference into one that will be right in the mix with the Big Six when it comes to the RPI. Despite all the scorers, it is point guard Darius Theus who is the extension of Coach Shaka Smart on the floor. Theus can score when he needs to, but it is his job to orchestrate the Rams offense and spearhead the havoc on the defensive end of the floor. Theus dished out 4.7 assists last year and tallied 2.0 steals per game. His senior year should be even better. Briante Weber is another pesky defender who creates plenty of fast break opportunities for the Rams. Weber is also the backup point guard, but do not be surprised to see Theus and Weber on the floor at the same time more in 2012-2013.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/4982

[waggy]

#26 Cincinnati


After a NCAA Tournament drought, Cincinnati has now gone to the big dance two seasons in a row. Last year Coach Mick Cronin led the Bearcats to the Sweet Sixteen. The goal should be the same in 2012-2013. Sean Kilpatrick, a 6-4 wing, knocked down 92 three-pointers during his sophomore season and led Cincinnati with 14.3 points per game. Kilpatrick is also a decent ballhandler and knows how to use his size on the glass. JaQuon Parker will join Kilpatrick on the wing. Parker may not score much, although he did average 9.4 points per game, but he does absolutely everything. Parker was second on the team in rebounding last year and is an all-around great glue player. Yet, unlike many typical glue guys, Parker will put up some solid numbers. With those two doing it all from the wing, this is a team that has the potential to make a serious run in the Big East.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/5000

[waggy]

#24 Saint Louis


Saint Louis finally pulled everything together last season and reached the NCAA Tournament. The program spent years under Coach Rick Majerus having a lot of bad luck and failing to live up to expectations because of it. The 2011-2012 campaign ended with a trip to the NCAA Tournament where they beat Memphis and took Michigan State down to the wire. This year’s team is even better, but the bad luck struck again. Coach Rick Majerus is taking this season off following a health scare. Jim Crews will be the interim head coach. Coach Crews has a ton of experience at Saint Louis and elsewhere throughout his long coaching career and this should be a smooth transition, even with the relatively late change on the sideline for this year.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/5030

[waggy]

#18 Memphis


The lack of experience at Memphis has been very apparent during March. Last year the Tigers lost to Saint Louis in the round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament. A season earlier they also lost in the first round. The year before that, back in 2009-2010, the Tigers were left out and went to the NIT. Experience is less of an issue this time around. The Tigers have ten upperclassmen on the roster. While that obviously does not guarantee success, this is a group that should not be overwhelmed in March like many of Coach Josh Pastner’s other squads.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/5077

[drudy23]

While I think we'll be better than most people are anticipating, 41 is VERY generous.

[CinciX12]

If we are going to be the 41st best team in college basketball, then this is the worst season collectively in 50+ years. We are basically a MAC school this season.

[X-band '01]

You also need to keep in mind that these rankings were decided back in July/August which was well before the shit hit the fan.

[CinciX12]

Oh. Carry on then.

[bleedXblue]

While I think we'll be better than most people are anticipating, 41 is VERY generous.

Normally agree you with you on most topics, but what win total do you think we'll see this year ?

Just curious. I would be thrilled with 17 wins.

We have no shooting guard, no true post player, a THIN bench and 8 schoarlships players....leaving no room for any kind of injury.

No disrespect to Redford, but he's not a D1 shooting guard who can play both ends of the floor.

[RealDeal]

No disrespect to Redford, but he's not a D1 shooting guard who can play both ends of the floor.

So you're saying Redford couldn't start for any of the 346 Div I teams? That's a ton of disrespect to throw at Redford. And you're totally wrong.

[bleedXblue]

So you're saying Redford couldn't start for any of the 346 Div I teams? That's a ton of disrespect to throw at Redford. And you're totally wrong.

Brad would thrive at the D2 level. He's too short and too slow to create his own shot and too short and too slow to guard at this level.

He's all we got this year......I hope I'm wrong, but the last three years have proven to me he isn't going to reincarnate into something he isn't.

[xlax]

IMHO, Redford is at best a role player on a solid D1 team. He's a guy who you deploy when the game is getting away from oyu in the hop he hits a couple threes and swings the momentum back your way.

He is not a guy who starts for a top 50 D1 squad. Just my $0.02

[GoMuskies]

Redford is a role player. But the role doesn't have to be THAT small (assuming he is shooting a high percentage). He's a fine D-I player. If he's playing 30+ minutes a game, we're screwed. I'll give you that.