Welcome to The Sports Bank’s third annual college basketball season preview series. Two years we looked at 99 teams in 99 days. Last year, we were slightly more aggressive and expanded to 111 teams in 111 days and will do so again as we look ahead to the 2012-2013 season.
We will rank the 75 power conference teams and top 36 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order. We’ll break down rosters, transfers, incoming freshmen, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.
With the disappointing outcome of Friday night’s expected aircraft carrier games, the Syracuse Orange are hoping for better luck Sunday when they take on San Diego State on the deck of the USS Midway. The game has already been postponed from its original tip date of Friday and if the conditions hold, should be the start of another season (and their last season since they move to the ACC next year) in which Jim Boeheim has ‘Cuse competing for a Big East title.
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Don’t expect another re-peat of conference regular season and tournament champs for Louisville. The loss of T-Will and Clark is huge as Rick Pitino will struggle to find someone to replace their leadership and all-around game. The Cards’ guard play should be solid which means their full court pressure will once again be prominent. There is young talent up-front, but the wing play will determine how good L-Ville will be this season. It will also be interesting to see if Pitino’s off-the-court escapade serves as a lingering distraction throughout the season.
2009-2010 Outlook:
Four of their five starters are and transfers Herb Pope, Jeff Robinson, and Keon Lawrence are eligible this season, adding some much needed depth for the Pirates. I would by no means be shocked if they finished above .500 in the conference as their experience should be a major plus, and think they have a very good chance of making the tourney. Jeremy Hazell might be one of the better players in the country who receives little love on the national scene.