| Wunderdog's 2004 College Basketball Preview
Wunderdog's Pre Season Men's College All AmericanTeam
PG - Chris Paul, Wake Forest - The Super Soph will lead the DeamonDeacons as far as he can take him. If he is able to build on hiswonderful freshman season, the sky could be the limit for bothPaul and the Deamon Deacons. Paul, who once scored his deceasedgrandfathers age in points in high school the day after he died,is one of the best shooters in the country and is automatic fromthe charity stripe.
SG - JJ Redick, Duke - Will JJ ever graduate?This sweet shooting Dukie is as money as they come from the perimeterin college basketball. He is underrated defensively, and wouldbe a player of the year candidate if he was better off the dribble.It could be a tough year for Duke in a stacked ACC, but Redickwill give his all every time out, and that should be enough tokeep Duke formidable this season. They'll need his leadershipthroughout the ACC schedule.
SF - Julius Hodge, NC State - The best returningplayer in the country in my humble opinion. Hodge is the typeof slashing playmaker that makes NBA scouts drool. He can scorefrom anywhere on the court. He'll lead NC State to a high finishin the ACC and deep into the NCAA tournament. He's had problemswith ankle injuries and will need to stay healthy this season.If he is able to keep his health, it will be fun to watch himdismantle defenses designed specifically to stop him this season.
PF - Wayne Simien, Kansas - The Jayhawk toughguy is simply an all around great player. You'll not find a bigman with better post moves anywhere in the country. He gets tothe foul line and converts and also is a tremendous rebounderand defender. He will make an NBA franchise very happy next June.
C - Hakim Warrick, Syracuse - High Wire Act isthe best way to describe Warrick. The Cuse will be very formidableagain this season with Warrick and McNamara returning. ProvidedWarrick stays healthy, he will put up sickening numbers and multipledouble doubles this season. I love his thunderous dunks whichhave the ability to completely change the course of a basketballgame.
Wunderdog's Preseason Great Eight Predictions
North Carolina
2003-04 record: 19-11 (8-8, tied for 5th in ACC)
2003-04 postseason result: Lost to Texas, 2nd round, NCAA
Key players returning: Rashad McCants, Raymond Felton, Sean May,Jackie Manuel, Jawad Williams
Key players lost: None
This could be the season that North Carolina returns to all ofits former glory. This roster is stacked with talent but Roy Williamshad a difficult time with some of the personalities, i.e. RashadMcCants, one year ago. That should not happen again in his secondseason. Look for the Tar Heels to get very deep into the tournamentand battle it out with Wake for the ACC title.
Kentucky
2003-04 record: 27-5 (13-3, 1st in SEC East)
2003-04 postseason result: Lost to UAB, 2nd round, NCAA
Key players returning: Chuck Hayes, Kelenna Azubuike
Key players lost: Cliff Hawkins, Gerald Fitch, Erik Daniels, AntwainBarbour
Maybe a fringe pick for then top eight. UK will need their newcomersto be big time performers for them to be there in late March,but Randolph Morris and Joe Crawford should be big time playersas freshman. Kentucky should once again win the SEC and get deepinto the NCAA tournament. Chuck Hayes could be a household namedown South by the end of this season.
Kansas
2003-04 record: 24-9 (12-4, tied for 2nd in BIG 12)
2003-04 postseason result: Lost to Georgia Tech, Elite Eight,NCAA
Key players returning: Wayne Simien, Keith Langford, Aaron Miles,J.R. Giddens
Key players lost: David Padgett (transferred), Jeff Graves
Rock Jock huh? This team is simply loaded with Simien, Langfordand Miles all returning. The Jayhawks will run away wit the Big12 title, but will they fold once again in the tournament? Simienreminds a lot of Danny Manning, so maybe this will be the yearthat Kansas gets it done once again.
Georgia Tech
2003-04 record: 28-10 (9-7, tied for 3rd in ACC)
2003-04 postseason result: Lost to Connecticut in national championship
Key players returning: B.J. Elder, Jarrett Jack, Luke Schenscher,Will Bynum, Isma'il Muhammad, Anthony McHenry
Key players lost: Marvin Lewis, Clarence Moore
Last year's runner up will have another great season. BJ Elder,when healthy is one of the best players in the country. Schenscherand Jack make this a formidable club that will once again contendin the ACC and Nationally.
Syracuse
2003-04 record: 23-8 (11-5, tied for 3rd in Big East)
2003-04 postseason result: Lost to Alabama, Sweet 16, NCAA
Key players returning: Hakim Warrick, Gerry McNamara, Josh Pace,Craig Forth, Demetris Nichols, Louie McCroskey, Terrence Roberts,Darryl Watkins
Key players lost: Jeremy McNeil
McNamara and Warrick will make this another exciting season inupstate New York. The return of point guard Billy Edelin willbe a hige boost and should allow McNamara more room on the perimeter.This team will be very difficult for opponents to defend. TheOrangeman should be a Final Four team next March.
Wake Forest
2003-04 record: 21-10 (9-7, tied for 3rd in ACC)
2003-04 postseason result: Lost to St. Joseph's, Sweet 16, NCAA
Key players returning: Chris Paul, Justin Gray, Eric Williams,Taron Downey, Jamaal Levy, Vytas Danelius, Trent Strickland, KyleVisser
Key players lost: None
Newcomers of note: Cameron Stanley
Chris Paul and Justin Gray form what may be the best backcourtoutside of Tuscon. My only concern about the Deamon Deacons ishow much they rely on the three pointer. They'll need to diversifytheir offense from one year ago or they'll meet the same fatecome tournament time.
Arizona
2003-04 record: 20-10 (11-7, 3rd in Pac-10)
2003-04 postseason result: Lost to Seton Hall, 1st round, NCAA
Key players returning: Mustafa Shakur, Channing Frye, Hassan Adams,Salim Stoudamire, Chris Rodgers, Isaiah Fox, Ivan Radenovic
Key players lost: Andre Iguodala
The Wildcats are loaded once again this season. They did not liveup to expectations one year ago because they refused to play defensefrom the get-go. Isiah Fox is back from injury and the backcourtis, simply put, the most talented in the land. If Olson can getthis team to commit on the defensive end of the basketball court,the Wildcats will be cutting down the nets in April.
Michigan State
2003-04 record: 18-12 (12-4, tied for 2nd in Big Ten)
2003-04 postseason result: Lost to Nevada, 1st round, NCAA
Key players returning: Paul Davis, Chris Hill, Alan Anderson,Kelvin Torbert, Maurice Ager, Shannon Brown, Delco Rowley
Key players lost: Jason Andreas
Izzo's team struggled last season through some growing pains.The nice part about having a young team is that they come backthe following season. Chris Hill can fill it up from three-pointland, and Paul Davis is a tough customer down low. I'll be watchingthe Michigan / Michigan State games this season. We look for theSpartans to win the Big Ten and step back into National prominencethis season.
Wunderdog's Top 5 Surprise Teams of the CollegeHoops Season
Michigan Wolverines
One of only two big school teams in my surprise category, Michiganstormed to the NIT title one year ago and returns their corpsin tact. Daniel Horton is as good a PG as there is in the BigTen, and Dion Harris will give teams fits down low. Head CoachTommy Ammaker finally has the troops to get the Wolverines backin the tournament where they belong.
UMASS Minuteman
The Minutemen return all five starters from a team that stuggledsomewhat last season. Leading the way for UMASS is Rashaun Freeman,the 2003-2004 A-10 Rookie of the Year. Look for the Minutemento take the A-10 by storm this season. Other players of note arePG Anthony Anderson and sophomore Lawrence Carrier. The door appearsopen for the Minutemen to step back onto the tournament stage.
Iowa State Cyclones
This team was on the cusp in the Big 12 last season and this willbe the year they return to prominence in hoops. Curtis Stinsonis a stud and I still wonder how he ended up in Ames from NewYork City. Jared Horman is very tough down low as well, whileWill Blalock is one of the better point guards in the Big 12.Iowa State should surprise in what looks like a down Big 12 beyondKansas. Look for ISU to get back into the NCAA tourney this season,and make a run at the top three positions in the Big 12. Theyneed to play better on the road this season which should happendue to their experience.
Buffalo Bulls
Many of us fell in love with the Bulls last season as they roaredto the finish line, falling up just short in their conferencetournament. Most of their team returns in tact this season ledby PG Turner Battle, and C Mark Bortz. Bottom line is that theBulls could win the MAC this season which would be a major coupfor a team that was a perennial doormat two short seasons ago.
Wichita State Shockers
WSU had another great year last year winning 21 games, but theyfell short of the NCAA tournament. This team returns four startersfrom that team led by guard Randy Burns and senior 6'-5"Jamar Howard. I see the Shockers shocking the Salukis of SouthernIllinois and taking the Missouri Valley title this season andheading to the Big Dance.
The Wunderdog
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The Wunderdog has been handicapping for over 15years and specializes in picking underdogs (and underrated favorites).He publishes a free weekly newsletter, available on his website,with a free daily pick.
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