College Basketball Pre-Season Top 30 For 2011-12

• Azubuike24

  

  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/748910-preseason-college-basketball-2011-12-power-ranking-the-top-30-teams#/articles/748910-preseason-college-basketball-2011-12-power-ranking-the-top-30-teams
  
  This is a pretty quality write-up IMO. We are shaping up for one of the best college basketball seasons in recent memory, and with the NBA lockout underway (without much positive direction to head at this point), it will be nice to see NCAA basketball in the spotlight not just for the Tournament, but all season.
• Laley23

  

  #1 UNC
  
  Key Loses: Justin Knox
  
  
  That alone shows me how good they are going to be this year. The fact they arent runaway favorites is so awesome for college bball. It should be amazing all season. Each night, and especially Saturdays/Sundays will have barnburners all night long. Cant wait.
• Writerbuckeye

  

  All those top players skipping the NBA draft is going to end up making the college season very enjoyable this year. Loads of talent on a lot of very good teams.
• Azubuike24

  

  UNC is clearly pre-season #1, but I think they have less upside than Kentucky and Ohio State. Honestly, I haven't been this excited for a season in a long time, and it's magnified with the NBA being in turmoil and so many guys returning to school.
• wildcats20

  

  Laley23;822152 wrote:#1 UNC
  
  Key Loses: Justin Knox
  
  
  That alone shows me how good they are going to be this year. The fact they arent runaway favorites is so awesome for college bball. It should be amazing all season. Each night, and especially Saturdays/Sundays will have barnburners all night long. Cant wait.

  
  I literally lol'd when I read that. I mean Knox was nice, but it's not like he was a key guy lol.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  List form, please?
• sportswizuhrd

  They want more hits to their site, so they made a slideshow of 30 pages of the 30 teams.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  sportswizuhrd;823063 wrote:They want more hits to their site, so they made a slideshow of 30 pages of the 30 teams.

  
  I hate that shit.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  ernest_t_bass;822860 wrote:List form, please?

  
  click the link you fucking vagina
• ernest_t_bass

  

  DeyDurkie5;823115 wrote:click the link you ****ing vagina

  
  Vagina
• killer_ewok

  

  The Orange come in at 4th on the list. I just hope Scoop cuts out the dumb shit this year.
• Little Danny

  

  killer_ewok;823893 wrote:The Orange come in at 4th on the list. I just hope Scoop cuts out the dumb **** this year.

  
  The Big East is going to be stacked once again this year.
• killer_ewok

  

  Yes it is.
• Heelz

  

  I'm not to sure how the Heels are goingo to get along without one of the key guys in Knox, guess they will just have to be satisfied with what they got.
• SportsAndLady

  

  I literally have zero idea how KU's season is going to go..lol
  
  They have some tough OOC games this year (about time, Self), so we'll find out how good (or bad) they are.
• Azubuike24

  

  1. North Carolina
  2. Kentucky
  3. Ohio State
  4. Syracuse
  5. Louisville
  6. Connecticut
  7. Duke
  8. Vanderbilt
  9. Baylor
  10. Memphis
  11. Pittsburgh
  12. Xavier
  13. Florida
  14. Texas A&M
  15. Alabama
  16. Missouri
  17. Florida State
  18. Gonzaga
  19. Arizona
  20. Kansas
  21. Marquette
  22. Temple
  23. Michigan State
  24. Cincinnati
  25. UCLA
  26. Wisconsin
  27. Washington
  28. Michigan
  29. Miami (FL)
  T-30. New Mexico
  T-30. Mississippi State
  
  I think we have some teams that could creep onto this list, including VERY young teams that will only get better from the time they step on the court. St. John's, Arkansas, West Virginia, California and Villanova are in that mold. I also think some mid-majors will be in the hunt for top 30, including St. Mary's, San Francisco, Indiana State, Creighton and definitely a CAA team or 2, maybe Old Dominion, Drexel or George Mason.
• swamisez

  

  Only thing Carolina has to worry about is the ability to get this team to mesh. I think they struggled early last year with chemistry, but the addition of Kendal Marshall did wonders in that department. Its up to Dexter Strickland, how much this team want to win together.
• ironman02

  After Larry Drew II got the hell out of Chapel Hill, the team chemistry was outstanding. From everything I have seen and heard, the entire team gets along very well, on and off the court. I think "great expectations" will be something that could have an effect on the Heels. They'll be expected to be absolutely perfect by the fanbase and the media, and they may even expect it from themselves as well. The reality is that they're not gonna go undefeated and they will face some type of adversity. If they stay healthy, stick together, and take everything in stride, they'll be ready to go in March/April, and will make a run at a third championship in eight years.
• Azubuike24

  

  I saw where Leslie McDonald tore his ACL. What is the official word on prognosis from Tar Heel land?
• WebFire

  wildcats20;822753 wrote:I literally lol'd when I read that. I mean Knox was nice, but it's not like he was a key guy lol.

  
  That was the writers' point. Read his first sentence.
• Heelz

  

  Azubuike24;831363 wrote:I saw where Leslie McDonald tore his ACL. What is the official word on prognosis from Tar Heel land?

  
  Said he tore is ACL and is out indefinatly no surgery has been scheduled at this time........this sucks he was playing very well in the Pro-Am, hate to see this happen to any kid.
• Azubuike24

  

  It's only mid-July though. Given the breakthroughs in rehabbing ACL injuries, especially with UNC's medical facilities, he should still be able to make it back. March Madness is still over 8 months away. It's different for a basketball player, especially a guard who is so reliant on the lower half of their body, but still, I'd think they can still factor him in as possible for this year. If not, he redshirts for 2012-13 when UNC will likely have ample PT available with losing many players.
• ironman02

  Damn it! I really felt like McDonald was gonna have a break out season. Let's hope the injury bug is satisfied and stays away now.
  
  Bullock and Hairston will see more minutes because of this, which will probably end up being a good thing. They both have a lot more upside than McDonald, but LMac is obviously more experienced, especially due to Bullock's injury last season.
  
  I don't think we'll see McDonald at all this season. Medical reshirt is my guess. Seems similar to Ginyard's situation in 2009. A great chance to make a run at a title, but he can't be a part of it. Feel terrible for Leslie.
• Heelz

  

  I also dont think we will see him this year, the upside is I'm sure we will lose some talent after this year so he will get more PT then he would this year. This really sucks though if you watch the Pro-Am highlights he looks like he was really working on his game this summer.He and Dex were an amazing combo in the Pro am.
• sleeper

  

  UNC is by far the best team.
  
  Still amazed how many UNC basketball and Ohio State football fans that populate the site. Just sayin'