Hey everyone. So we're one week closer to tip-off time which means it's time to pick up where I left off last week and finish the ABC's of college basketball this season. So without further delay....
N is for...New Mexico State. The team with the best chance of knocking Nevada off from their pedestal at the top of the WAC. Last season's conference tournament MVP Justin Hawkins (15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds) will lead a hungry Aggies team that will continue to make some noise this year.
O is for...O.J. Mayo. After all the years of hype he has finally reached college. Mayo will make an immediate impact at USC and could already be the team's best player. It will certainly be exciting to see him in action and see what he can do against college players. Don't be shocked if and when he bolts after his freshman season though.
P is for...Parity. That's the direction the college game is continuing to move towards. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in the recruiting game where big time schools like Duke, who used to be guarenteed a fresh batch of McDonald's All-Americans every season, are now losing players to schools not as traditionally rich in basketball history.
Q is for...Quaintance. As in Haminn and Rob Quaintance. Not related, actually from opposite sides of the country (Florida and Arizona), but what are the odds that two players would share a same last name as obscure as that?
R is for...Rhode Island. The Rams surprised a lot of people by challenging in the Atlantic 10 last year, this year though URI wont be able to sneak up on anyone in conference play. Rhode Island returns ten players from last year's squad, including senior forward Will Daniels (17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds) who will challenge for conference player of the year honors.
S is for...Saint Louis. Why you ask? Because Rick Majerus is back where he should be, on the bench coaching. It will be a lot of fun to see what the former Utah coach can do in his first season with the Bilikens.
T is for...Trouble. If Louisville's Derrick Character can stay out of any off the court issues this year, he has the chance to emerge as one of the brightest starts in the Big East this season.
U is for...University policy. This is something that Pepperdine's Kingsley Costain apparently wasn't aware of when he broke the policy and was kicked off the team. Pepperdine will be hurting as Costain was the team's top returning scorer from last season.
V is for...Victory. As in a national championship victory. Something that fans in North Carolina are dying for and wont accept anything less.
W is for...Washington State. The Cougars aren't a secret any longer. After being picked for dead last in the Pac-10, Washington State shocked the nation by posting a 26-8 record and earning a 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With most of last year's team back, expect another big year out west.
X is for...Jeff Xavier. The junior guard from Providence is the only player in D-1 basketball with a last name starting with X.
Y is for...Young talent. In the second year of the NBA's policy that players must play one year of college basketball before declaring for the draft, it will be another season of underclassmen having a major impact on the game, and in many cases dominating them.
Z is for...Brian Zoubek. With Josh McRoberts a Trailblazer now, the 7'1" prospect out of New Jersey will get a chance to show his stuff for Duke, who will need him to be an impact player in the tough ACC this season.
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