Sleepers

A couple sleeper teams I think can surprise this year:

-Washington

Good teams start with good guards. Washington has 3 of them, potentially. Isaiah Thomas, Venoy Overton, and Freshman stud Abdul Gaddy should make for an entertaining type of basketball for the Huskies. Wth Quincy Pondexter's scoring as well, this should be one of the better teams in the PAC-10, a conference that should be very balanced this year.

-Illinois

Bruce Weber got himself a great recruiting class last winter/spring, and the freshman will make an impact this year. DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul should help out right away, as both a guards who know how to get to the hoop. Big man Tyler Griffey will help out on the glass as well. Returning for the Illini is Demetri McCamey, who was actually their leading scorer last year. Mike Davis and Alex Legion should also help Coach Weber to a decent season. The only problem for them is that they are going to get beat up in Big Ten play with the Big Ten being so good this year.

-Notre Dame

As much as that hurts to type, I think they will be decent this year. They have a great big man, as ugly to watch as he is, in Luke Harangody. He's developed an outside shot, which makes him that much more dangerous. Tory Jackson also enters his Senior year, and the Guard from Saginaw knows how to distribute, as well as defend. The guy I think can really help this team is Ben Hansbrough, yes, he's his brother. He's a transfer from Miss. State, and he can provide some of what McAlarney and Ayers took with them when they left.

Season starts tonight, with a few games on ESPN U. MSU tips off Friday Vs. Florida Gulf-Coast, who is actually a D1 team, if you didn't know. They feature former Wolvie Reed Baker... lol.

Today's remember when is Tayshaun Prince, raining 5 straight 3's against UNC. Great video.

Just a quick Update: Ray McCallum is deciding Wednesday, between Oklahoma, Zona, UCLA, and UDM. My best guess is UDM to play for his dad... wish MSU had room for him haha.


Also, was looking around at UDM stuff... and I remembered this guy. Durco, if you're reading this, enjoy.

Syracuse lost to D2 Le Moyne yesterday. Does it mean anything? Not really, but is it a sign of how this Syracuse team is going to be this year? Possibly. MSU lost to Grand Valley State a few years ago. MSU then went on to have a great year and a great tournament run. There's one difference. This Le Moyne team is in the same town as 'Cuse. You gotta know these kids know each other and ball in the summer together. If you don't think so, then you've never been to the Lansing Pro-Am where every player who was ever anything from the Lansing area in the past 10 years plays with and against LCC and MSU players, who def. know each other. You have to know after halftime when this game was still close, those kids were trying hard. Think of a time you were ever getting beat and DIDNT try hard to come back. Hats off to Le Moyne.


On another note, Tom Izzo is at it again. He just received a coimmit in Brandan Kearney, a 6'5" SG/SF/PG? from Detroit Southeastern. That last part is a key part. EVERY great player from the D the last few years has made the trip up to EL and at least considered MSU. A few have went out of state (some of that because of other thing$$$$), but a lot have ended up in Detroit. MSU players from Detroit the last 5 years:

2011- Brandan Kearney, **** #9 SF, Detroit Southeastern
2010- Keith Appling, **** #9 SG, Detroit Pershing
2009- Derrick Nix, **** # 11 C, Detroit Pershing
2007- Durrell Summers, *****, #4 SG, Redford Covenant
2007- Kalin Lucas, **** #4 PG, OLSM
2003- Brandon Cotton, **** #6 SG,Detroit DePorres
2002- Mo Ager, **** #13 SG, Detroit Crockett
and to a lesser extent, Paul Davis, ***** #1 C, Rochester HS

There have been guys who have gone elsewhere, Tajuan Porter, Joe and Malik ($), CDR ($), Manny Harris (bum), etc. but a lot fo talent is coming up the road and that will continue with the way Izzo (and Asst. Dwayne Stephens) is doing work!

Brandan Kearney, top 15 SG/SF, Top 100 Nationally, has committed to MSU for the class of 2011. Think of Durrell with better handles, but less athleticism.

First post of the blog. Anyone else JACKED for this upcoming college hoops season? This guy is. I'll try to fill this otherwise un-basketball-related (read: worthelss) internet space with rankings, top 5's, profiles, and anything else I think of. I'll try to stick to College Hoops, but some NBA and even other sports may trickle in and out. To start off, I'll give oyu my Pre-season All-American team, and 5 guys who will make an impact this year you may have not heard of.

Hedge and Retreat Preseason All-Americans:

PG: Kalin Lucas, Michigan State

-How he plays determines MSU's season. If he cranks it up yet another notch, MSU becomes the outright Big Ten favorite and another Final Four is in the sights. If he doesn't find the balance between agressive attacker and heady PG, MSU gets mixed up with the Purdues, Michigans, and Ohio States of the world.

SG: Evan Turner, Ohio State

Evan will be manning the Point for OSU, but he's a 2 at heart. He's only running the 1 because their other options are slim at best. Matta has to get the talent on the court. Evan will push Kalin for B10 POY this year, and he will carry OSU to a tournament. Look for Evan to put up 20 8 and 4 every night.

SF: Al Farouq-Aminu, Wake Forest

This pick might surprise you, but I hate Kyle Singler. Sorry. Aminu is a freak athletically, and Wake lost James Johnson and Teague, so it's all on Aminu's slender shoulders. He put up 13 and 9 last year as the 3rd option, and those numbers should increase greatly this year. I see him putting up 19 and 10, and maybe more if he learns to shoot.

PF: Patrick Patterson, Kentucky

On a team LOADED with talent, Patterson is the for sure guy on the team. You know what you're getting here. Double doubles every night, and he won't back down from anyone. He gets the job done and with Calipari running the show, look for his 18 and 9 from last year to increase.

C: Cole Aldrich, Kansas

Everyone saw his season last year, and his tournament production. He is a force inside, the definition of old-school. Defensively he will be the cornerstone of this talented Kansas team.

Next in line: Willie Warren, John Wall, Luke Harangody, Kyle Singler, Ed Davis, Craig Brackins, Manny Harris

5 to Surprise:

SG/SF Gordon Hayward, Butler

C Solomon Adibi, Florida State

SF Edwin Ubiles, Siena

PF Craig Brackins, Iowa State

G Jerome Randle, Cal