Alex Gasick, Asst. Sports Editor
Let’s review the main plot of the NCAA Division I basketball final from last season.
Duke, the bluest of basketball bluebloods, was facing Butler, a small (4200 undergraduate enrollment) mid-major located six miles away from downtown Indianapolis.
In one sense, this game was no David vs. Goliath matchup. Duke had been ranked as low as no. 10 and Butler as high as no. 11 during the season. However, there is no overstating the disparity in resources and resumes.
Duke had a legendary coach. Butler had a coach who just learned how to shave. Duke went into the game with three NCAA championships in its trophy case, the largest basketball budget in the nation ($13,873,859) and six McDonald’s All-Americans on its roster. Butler had as many Final Four appearances as it had McDonald’s honorees (zero), and it spent less on total players’ expenses ($347,108) than Duke did on each of its players ($394,068).
The game lived up to the hype. Butler fell just inches short when Gordon Hayward’s 45-foot, last-second heave hit the backboard and bounced off the rim, giving Duke a hard-earned 61-59 victory.
Though Butler didn’t pull off the improbable win, the game still had a special feel to it. It was one heck of game, and it was the right way to end one heck of a college basketball season. Something tells me this season will be just as fun. Let’s take a look at what we have to look forward to for the 2010-11 season.
Can Duke repeat?
The sight of Coach K and company cutting down the nets in April for a second consecutive year would not be a shocker. The Blue Devils are loaded. They return Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, Mason Plumlee and Myles Plumlee, who were all major contributors to the title team from last year. Kyrie Irving, a super frosh, and Seth Curry, a transfer from Liberty who just became eligible this year, may be the two most talented players on the team. Even with all their talent, repeating will be no easy task for the Blue Devils. Michigan State, Kansas State, Pittsburgh and Syracuse are four favorites to steal the throne from Duke.
Eligibility
Some eligibility rulings are really going to shake things up in college basketball. Enes Kanter, a touted Kentucky freshman, was recently ruled ineligible by the NCAA for accepting roughly $33,000 above necessary expenses from his professional club in Turkey. Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said the school will appeal because of the “uniqueness” surrounding Kanter’s situation.
Kansas’ Josh Selby, another freshman expected to be one of the top players in the country, is also awaiting word on his eligibility. The NCAA is investigating Selby’s high-school coursework as well as his shady relationship with Bay Frazier, a “business associate” of Carmelo Anthony.
With Kanter and Selby on their teams, Kentucky and Kansas are both top ten material. Without them, they’re barely cracking the top 25.
First team All-Americans
G – Jimmer Fredette, BYU
G – Jacob Pullen, Kansas State
F – Derrick Williams, Arizona
F – Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
F – Kyle Singler, Duke
The all-name team
G – Jimmer Fredette, BYU
F – Lucas O’Rear, Northern Iowa
C – Fab Melo, Syracuse
G – Alibaba Odd, Delaware State
G – Picasso Simmons, Murray State
Sleepers
Mississippi State, Georgia, UC Santa Barbara, Detroit, Murray State, Wichita State and San Diego State are all teams that aren’t hyped, but should make some noise this season. Don’t be surprised if any of these teams end up in the Sweet Sixteen.
The best leagues
1. Big Ten-Michigan State is the chief with quality pursuers in Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue and Minnesota. Northwestern is also looking for their first NCAA Tournament bid in school history.
2. Big 12-The State of Kansas plus Missouri, Baylor and Texas gives them five quality Tournament teams. Colorado is also a dark horse.
3. Big East- The conference is solid up front with Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Villanova. Its’ mid-pack teams aren’t as good as usual, but the conference still should put seven teams in the NCAA Tournament.
4. ACC-Duke, North Carolina and Virginia Tech will battle for the league crown. After these three teams, there is a considerable drop off.
5. SEC-Florida is a Final Four contender as is Kentucky if Kanter is ruled eligible. Georgia, Mississippi State and Ole Miss are quality teams as well.
Drinking games
1. Every time Dick Vitale mentions Duke, take a drink.
2. Every time you get scared of Kansas State coach Frank Martin through your television set, take a drink.
3. Every time you lip-read a Bob Huggins profanity, take a drink.
Key additions
The newly expanded NCAA Tournament will feature four opening-round games of teams vying for the last four spots in the field of 64. Two of the games will be between the last four teams selected for at-large berths. The other two games will be between four teams that only made the Tournament because they won their conference tournament.
Most importantly, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith will be part of the NCAA Tournament this year offering post-game analysis.
And I thought the Tournament couldn’t get any better.
Alex Gasick
Sports Editor | Click here for Alex's Archives
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