2009-10 season previews
The thing about coaches on the “hot seat” is that there’s no one temperature.
Some coaches feel the heat immediately, depending on the expectations and the hoops environment. Others endure a rough few seasons – or six – finally put together a decent year and that seat ain’t so bad anymore.
But there are other reasons a coach may be feeling the heat. Here are 13 for 2009-10.
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Some college hoops pundits think freshmen will play a key role in this year’s national title hunt. Others are reserving judgment until they actually get on the court.
How about a little bit of both?
Every fan has high hopes for their team’s incoming freshmen when they could be the missing piece of a championship puzzle. But those freshmen who don’t quite live up to the hype? That hurts.
Still, it’s hard not to get just a little bit excited about watching the incoming freshmen. Here are 16 I’m excited to watch.
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Coaches are the face of college hoops. Whether it’s Mike Krzyzewski appearing in seemingly every other commercial during March or John Calipari swooping in as the game’s newest rock star, the coaches are the guys everyone knows.
Maybe it’s because the players don’t stick around for four years anymore (with some exceptions), or because they’re the face of the programs, schools simply don’t win without a good coach.
Thus, the ever-lasting search for the next great coach. This year, there were 27 of ‘em, not counting the recent switch at Army. Here’s a rundown of the 10 most notable coaches.
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Quick hitters on 17 of college hoops' 27 new coaches this season.
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Does anyone really need a reason to watch college hoops? I suppose there could be conflicting interest occasionally, but I’m here to correct that: Non-conference games you can’t miss.
Essentially, there’s a game to watch starting mid-November. So just print this page and cross ‘em off as they come along. I’m user-friendly that way.
Pay special attention to Nov. 27, Dec. 6 and Dec. 22. You won't be able to get up from the couch those days.
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Self-promotion/programming alert!
The plan to roll out a new preview for the 2009-10 season began Sunday with the Top 10 conferences. Coming this week: Games you can’t miss.
I know, I know, you can hardly wait. Perhaps these links will help tide you over.
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Today’s reality check: Midnight Madness is just over a month away.
All the NFL, college football and U.S. Open stuff is dominating the news, but it’s always a pleasant thought to think how close the college hoops season is.
On that note, it’s time to start previewing 2009-10. Every Sunday, until the season begins, I’ll focus on different topic, including the best freshmen, player of year candidates, All-American team and more. Let’s start with rating the conferences.
The Big East was by all accounts the top NCAA’s top league last season. It featured title contenders in UConn, Pitt, Syracuse, Villanova and Louisville and posted a 17-7 record in the NCAA tourney. North Carolina may have been the top team, but the Big East had better teams overall and far more depth.
That’s not the case this year. The best conferences are in the middle of the country.
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Hoops fans already know the ideal game for the 2009-10 season: Kansas vs. Kentucky.
Turns out oddsmakers feel the same way. Sportsbook.com installed the Jayhawks as 4-1 favorites to win the NCAA tournament next season. Kentucky’s right behind at 5-1.
The small surprise is who’s right behind the blue bloods.
It’s not Michigan State or Duke. Both are listed at 15-1. Purdue, North Carolina and Villanova are all 25-1. Everyone else is 40-1 or higher.
Except two.
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Nearly every piece is now in place for next year’s Top 25. Nearly every recruit is in place. Only a few schools are without a coach.
And the deadline for the NBA draft’s early entrants has now … passed. (Well, at least those players who didn’t sign an agent. Guys like Jonny Flynn were done with school long ago.) That means the ridiculously early Top 25s that circulated after North Carolina won the NCAA tournament can be updated with meaningful changes.
Like Syracuse dropping out, Mississippi State moving up and Washington holding steady. The No. 1 team on my old list didn’t change, but there was plenty of other movement. And, like 2008-09, there are groups to consider: the contenders, the hopefuls, the Top 25 rotation and everyone else. The teams are separated by slim margins – especially since it’s June. (June, people! Everything can and will change in the next six months.)
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The SEC’s basketball woes are over – even if you’re not a Kentucky fan.
Little by little, the league everyone loved to kick around last season (including me), caught some nice breaks this spring. Kentucky’s recruiting class grabbed most of the attention, but the players withdrawing from the NBA draft are just as crucial and should help the SEC at least double its number of schools in the NCAA tournament from 2009.
Never too early for a little hyperbole.
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