Colorado Buffaloes 2010-11 College Basketball Predictions

Former Colorado head coach Jeff Bzdelik left for Wake Forest this past Spring, but he really left behind a good team for his successor. Colorado went 15-16 last season and they have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2003. Still, with what new head coach Tad Boyle has to work with gives Colorado hope to end this drought. Boyle came over from Northern Colorado and has the benefit of the three key players that led Colorado last season. Last year’s Big 12 Freshman of the Year in Alec Burks coming back, as do seniors Cory Higgins and Marcus Relphorde. The three put up 47.0 points per night last season. This team equals the talent of that 2003 squad that made it to the Big Dance, and with a new practice facility and a switch to the Pac-10, interest surrounding the team is at an all-time high. First and foremost, the Buffaloes need to get better on defense (74.2 PPG) and their rebounding (-7.5 margin) to attain their ultimate goal this season.

Colorado is +2000 to win the league this season. That translates to a $100 wager would win you $2,000 if this were to come true. I certainly think it’s a longshot, but viewing they return more offense than any other school in the Big 12 it’s not out of the question. Check out these college basketball lines for futures betting at BetUS. This reliable book will give you up to a $500 bonus on your initial deposit simply by signing up for a new account and depositing $500 or more.

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Frontcourt:

The team had a -7.5 rebounding margin last year, and it was even worse in Big 12 games at -11.4. A big reason was the play of first-year center Shane Harris-Tunks, as well as sophomore forward Austin Dufault playing out of position. An extra year for each should bring improvement in this area. Boyle was able to bring in 7-foot freshman Ben Mills last May who should play instantly as long as he can hold his own inside. Senior Marcus Relphorde contributed 11.0 PPG and 4.1 RPG last season, but he is recognized for his penetrating offensive skills more than his defense. Junior Trey Eckloff will be one of the guys coming off the bench after not finding much action last season. Burks led the Buffs in rebounding at 5.0 RPG, and when a backcourt player is leading the team in rebounding there’s clearly a problem. Colorado will certainly return to square one as Boyle teaches rebounding and defense with a lot more frequency than Bzdelik.

Backcourt:

Burks ended up seventh in the Big 12 in points at 17.1 PPG and led the league in shooting percentage at 53.8 percent. He could not have had a better freshman season, but for him to reach his full ability he needs to get stronger. Boyle struck gold when he got Burks to stick around instead of entering the NBA Draft, telling him how his passing offense would help Burks in the future. Higgins was fourth in the Big 12 in scoring at 18.9 PPG and finished second behind Burks in field goal percentage at 50.5 percent. It’s hard to consider how Colorado could have a losing season with two solid players like Burks and Higgins on the outside who were able to knock down more than 50% of their shots even though opposing teams game-planned around preventing them from doing so. The wild card is freshman point guard Shannon Sharpe, who had to redshirt last year after hurting his knee in the preseason and undergoing microfracture surgery. He’ll battle it out with junior Nate Tomlinson, who started 21 times last year at point guard despite being inconsistent.

Jack’s Pick: 6th Place in the Big 12 – There hasn’t been much excitement around Colorado basketball in recent years, but there is promise of a breakout in 2010-11. Boyle was able to get Higgins, Burks and Relphorde and their huge offensive contributions to come back, and that’s a victory within itself. He has plenty of talent to geniunely make a run at a league title, but must get this team to rebound and defend. Colorado posted 74.6 PPG last season and can score with anyone, but a lack of depth and a wonder about how seriously these returning players want to buy in on the defensive end makes it hard for me to pick Colorado to end up any higher than 6th in the standings. I do see the Buffaloes sneaking into the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid, reaching the Big Dance for the first time since 2003.

Oklahoma State Cowboys 2010-11 Basketball Predictions

Head coach Travis Ford wanted to run an up-tempo style here at Stillwater, and he might now have the bits in place to execute it. Oklahoma State was led almost single-handedly to the NCAA Tournament last season by James Anderson, who Ford had to build the team around. Oklahoma State went 22-11 and earned an at-large bid last year before losing in the first round. Anderson contributred 22.3 PPG to top the Big 12 and 5.8 RPG. Obi Muonelo is the other big loss for the Cowboys. Still, the team returns quite a few important players and brings in five potential impact recruits that are a better fit to run the fast paced style Ford believes in.

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Frontcourt:

Matt Pilgrim ultimately came around at the end of last season after transferring from Kentucky, putting up 10.9 PPG and 8.0 RPG over his final 12 games. He is a outstanding athlete who can run the court and is the perfect forward in Ford’s system. Senior Marshall Moses must be much better on and off the court after a disappointing junior season. Junior college transfer Darrell Williams is a 6’8” 250-pounder who does a good job of clogging up the middle. J.P. Olukemi joined the program last January and competed against James Anderson every day while redshirting. He is more of a penetrating forward who raised eyebrows while learning from one of the tops in the nation. Forward Roger Franklin and center Jarred Shaw gained valuable experience while playing as true freshman last season. 6’8” freshman Michael Cobbins has the worth ethic and skills to be a future solid for Oky State, but must bulk up if he’s going to be able to handle the grind of a brutal Big 12 schedule.

Backcourt:

Point guard Ray Penn was hurt last February with a knee injury, but is expected to be at 100% this year. Ford thinks he will be the catalyst of this offense, running the fast-break. Freshman Markel Brown led Peabody Magnet High to the Louisiana Class-4A Championship by putting up 32 points en route to leading his team to an unbeaten 41-0 record. He is versatile and can fill in either the 2 or the 3, and should be the ideal player to help fill the holes left by Anderson and Muonelo. Keiton Page had to play the one when Penn got hurt, but should be able to get back to his more comfortable role of knocking down the 3-pointer. Senior Nick Didorakis has been named a captain due to his all out hustle on both sides of the floor, and his smarts. Fred Gulley, Reger Dowell and freshman Brian Williams will likely be role players.

Jack’s Pick: 7th Place in the Big 12 – Just like most coaches in their third year on a new team, Ford has his players in position. He has a more athletic and versatile squad to run the up-tempo style he covets. The conference is certainly up for grabs this season, and even with the departures of Anderson and Muonelo the Cowboys have enough ability to make some noise. A third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth is likely, especially if Penn can stay healthy and Brown can live up to the hype.

Texas Longhorns 2010-11 Basketball Predictions

The Texas Longhorns started 17-0 last season and made it up to the No. 1 rating for the first time in school history. Many expected them to make a Final Four run, especially with future NBA prospects in Avery Bradley, Damion James and Dexter Pittman. But over the next several months, the Longhorns would finish the year with a 7-10 record while getting bounced in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament to Wake Forest. Head coach Rick Barnes believes the way they concluded last year was due to missing team chemistry. Barnes felt that there were too many egos on last year’s team, and not enough leadership. The Longhorns will be looking for quite a few players to step up this season to supply that leadership. It would be guards Varez Ward or Dogus Balbay. Senior forward Gary Johnson could be ready to breakout, and even possibly freshman five-star recruit Cory Joseph may be the solution. Either way, Texas needs to return to playing team basketball after a unsatisfactory season to say the least.

You will find Texas at +300 to win the Big 12 this year. In my mind, there isn’t much value in them winning the league title. This has the looks of a reloading year for Texas. BetUS has these NCAA basketball spreads posted, so if you want to wager on which team will win the conference then sign up for a new account with them. Deposit $500 or more and they’ll reward you with $500 free money to get you started.

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Frontcourt:

The Longhorns may go small this year, with two bigs and three guards on the court most of the time. Gary Johnson figures to be their top player inside after averaging 9.4 PPG and 5.6 RPG last season. He’ll be joined by five-star recruit Tristan Thompson, who was Cory Joseph’s teammate at Findlay Prep in Nevada. But Texas will have to replace their leading scorer in Damion James, who also ended up as the Big 12’s all-time leading rebounder. Dexter Pittman will also be missed after being taken No. 32 overall by the Miami Heat. The Longhorns do have some experience that will provide depth in the frontcourt. It will come from seniors Matt Hill and Clint Chapman along with junior Alexis Wangmene.

Backcourt:

Guard play will probably determine how Texas fares this season. Cory Joseph must gel with offensive-minded shooting guards in J’Covan Brown and Jordan Hamilton. Brown averaged 9.6 PPG last year but shot just 35.4 percent from the floor, while Hamilton is the team’s leading returning scorer at 10.0 PPG. Barnes is very big on both players with what they’ve done in the offseason to improve their games beginning their sophomore seasons. Ward and Balbay are both healing from injuries that required surgery, and each is able to provide leadership and defensive toughness, two traits that are very key to Texas’ success this season. Hamilton, Brown and Joseph figure to be the team’s primary point producers, and Texas could get some scoring from Shawn Williams as well. He is returning from an ankle injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the season just seven games into their 2010-11 season. At 6’6”, he can get a shot whenever he wants and could be a great 3-point shooter.

Jack’s Prediction: 5th Place in the Big 12 – Barnes said last season was the worst coaching job of his career. He had a team full of offensive talent, but advocated defense and rebounding so much at the end of the season that his team could lost their rhythm on the other end. He will always teach defense and rebounding first, but this year he must find a way to replace three of their top four scorers from a year ago. If Joseph can master the ball screen offense that Barnes likes to employ, then it could be a great season in Texas after back-to-back middle-of-the-pack finishes in the Big 12.

Missouri Tigers 2010-11 College Basketball Predictions

Missouri head coach Mike Anderson supposedly rejected a deal that would have been worth close to $2 million per season to coach at Oregon. Missouri would not have been able to equal that amount of money, a year after they gave Anderson a new seven-year contract worth $1.55 million per year. The decision by Anderson to remain shows quite a bit about his character. This will be his fifth year in Columbia, and he wants to complete what he began. A veteran roster along with a Top 10 recruiting class gives Missouri an opportunity to do some serious damage not only in the Big 12, but in the NCAA Tournament. After reaching the Elite Eight in 2009, Missouri went 23-11 overall and 10-6 in conference action last season while making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

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Frontcourt:

Justin Safford returns from a torn anterior cruciate ligament for his senior year, making him the only senior on the Tiger roster. Junior Laurence Bowers is healthy after offseason wrist surgery, and hopes to continue his stellar play within the conference where he led the team in rebounds and blocked shots last year. The signings of Ricardo Ratliffe and Tony Mitchell has Columbia humming. Ratliffe was the country’s top junior college players last season, averaging 27.4 points and 11.3 boards for Central Florida Community College. As good as Ratliffe will likely be, Mitchell has the potential to be even better. He was a top-15 recruit with NBA talent who, if he can keep his grades up, will probably be a big addition for Missouri. Providing depth on the inside is junior Steve Moore along with sophomore John Underwood.

Backcourt:

No question the Tigers will miss the services of J.T. Tilller and Zaire Taylor, two team leaders who were able to lock down opponents on defense. But there are still a lot of talented guys on the roster, as junior Kim English is the team’s top returning point producer at 14.0 PPG. Junior Marcus Denmon put up 10.4 PPG and shot 40.7% from behind the line a year ago. English must improve his shooting after netting just 34.6 percent of his attempts, and he also needs to protect the basketball after committing a team-high 71 turnovers. Sophomore Michael Dixon will probably get the first opportunity to run the point, especially with his quickness and ball-handling skills. If he can make more of his jump shots, the sky is the limit for Dixon. Phil and Matt Pressey are two brothers and two new faces the Tigers are depending on right away. Both are sons of former NBA player Paul Pressley, who was Anderson’s college roommate. Phil is a freshman who is one of the top recruits at the one, while Matt is a junior college All-American. Look for freshman Ricky Kreklow to possibly find some playing time as well due to his excellent shot.

Jack’s Prediction: 4th Place in the Big 12 – Anderson coaches a fast paced brand of basketball, and he has the depth this season to run his scheme to perfection. Kansas, Kansas State and Baylor are the preseason favorites to contend for the Big 12 title, but if Anderson can get his new players to buy into his defensive philosophy, then Missouri will be competing for that championship themselves. The Tigers have never reached the Final Four, and they don’t just want to make it to the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season. Anderson stuck around because he knows the talent this team has and their upside, which makes the Tigers a clear sleeper in both the Big 12 and on a national level.

Texas A&M Aggies 2010-11 NCAA Basketball Predictions

The Texas A&M Aggies have been the definition of overachiever under head coach Mark Turgeon. After getting chosen to finish in the bottom half of the Big 12 last year, the Aggies went on to go 24-10 overall and 11-5 in the conference, ending up in a tie for second place overall. The Aggies did lose a tough one to Purdue 63-61 in overtime in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a loss that surely leaves a bad taste in Turgeon’s mouth. Many don’t know this, but A&M is one of only two squads to win at least one time in the NCAA Tournament for five consecutive seasons. The other is the Pittsburgh Panthers, so that’s quite a feat in itself. This team has proven they can overcome hardship, and they had a lot more of it this offseason. In May, top recruit Tobi Oyedeji died in a car accident. Then in July, the NCAA denied Derrick Roland an extra year of eligibility after getting hurt last December.

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Frontcourt:

Junior forward David Loubeau has made big strides in his first two seasons on campus. He showed potential in his first year, and really learned a nice back-to-the-basket game as a sophomore. If the Aggies can earn a sixth consecutive showing in the NCAA Tournament, Loubeau will be one of the biggest reasons as he’s relied upon to carry the bulk of the scoring load. Sophomore Ray Turner needs to make some improvements, and with his athleticism it’s a likely possibility. Turner’s power to play above the rim gives him the potential to be one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers in the league. If the Aggies are to be so strong inside again this season, they’ll need contributions from three true freshman in Kourtney Roberson, Keith Davis and Daniel Alexander.

Backcourt:

Because Texas A&M is lacking depth in the frontcourt, they’ll likely go to small ball lineups lineups while playing a faster tempo. The Aggies have the tools to run this type of style, particularly with point guard Dash Harris running the show. He dished out a team-high 109 dimes last year, and if he can shoot better than his 37.4 mark from a year ago, he’ll keep opposing defenders honest. B.J. Holmes is the team’s top scorer back at 9.3 PPG, and he’s a sharp shooter who shot 36.6 percent from behind the 3-point line last season. Developing senior Nathan Walkup along with sophomores Khris Middleton and Naji Hibbert will be key to the Aggies year as well. Middleton has the athletic ability and length that has many comparing him to former Aggie great Josh Carter. Walkup has hit big outside shots in the past, but he slumped last year making just 26.5 percent from 3-point range.

Jack’s Pick: 8th Place in the Big 12 – If the sophomores on this roster can develop, Texas A&M will shock some people again in 2010-11. But I believe there are too many gaps to fill, and too many doubts surrounding the players coming back for Texas A&M to make a sixth consecutive trip to the Big Dance. An NIT appearance is most likely, but as Turgeon has shown in year’s past you can never count his teams out.

Baylor Bears 2010-11 NCAA Basketball Predictions

The buzz surrounding Baylor basketball is very high. That’s because the Bears played in the Elite 8 last season in front of 47,492 fans at Houston’s Reliant Stadium. After going 28-8 last season and ending up 11-5 in the league, Baylor enters their 2010-11 season rated in the Top 20. Baylor will have to replace three starters, but leading scorer LadeDarius Dunn is back and incoming freshman Perry Jones is one of the top recruits in the country. Head coach Scott Drew knows this team is gifted, but it will be hard to replace the leadership they had last season from Ekpe Udoh, Tweety Carter and Josh Lomers.

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Frontcourt:

Udoh set a Big 12 single-season mark for blocked shots last year, so clearly that’s not going to be something the Bears can look to replace. The 6’10” Perry Jones will not be the same rim protector that Udoh was, but he can make up for it with his power to score around the hoop. Many think he will even be Baylor’s top offensive choice this year. Almost every recruiting service had Jones as a Top 10 player, and he is anticipated to be a 2011 NBA lottery pick. The Bears have never had a one-and-done player, but Jones is likely to be the first. The loss of 7-footer Josh Lomers could be getting overlooked here. He stepped his game up at the end of last year. Still, there is some size here with the 6’10″ Anthony Jones coming back at small forward. Jones put up 6.2 PPG and 4.8 RPG as a strong contributor last season, while junior Quincy Acy put up 9.3 PPG as a sophomore last season. Acy was the team’s sixth man and obviously their most athletic player, throwing down 10 dunks Texas last year.

Backcourt:

Drew believes that LaceDarius Dunn is one of the most under-appreciated players in the nation after averaging 19.6 points and 4.8 rebounds a year ago. He thinks that Dunn will be able to score at will, but hopes he can improve on his ball-handling and distributing skills this year. Though Udoh will be missed on defense, no player will be missed more than Tweety Carter. The senior point guard was the heart and soul of this squad, and his vocal leadership cannot be replaced. Taking over for Carter will either be sophomore A.J. Walton or freshman Stargell Love. Walton averaged 3.8 points in 17.6 minutes per contest last year, while Love is a nice young talent.

Jack’s Prediction: 3rd Place in the conference – The Bears tied for second in the conference last season and gave eventual champion Duke all they could want in the Elite Eight. It’s hard for me to see them having that same kind of season with the players they lose, especially Carter and Udoh. Still, the Bears can contend with anyone in the country with a frontcourt of Acy, Anthony Jones and Perry Jones along with Dunn at shooting guard. I question this team’s depth and their ability to find a point guard who can lead this team with the ball in their hands, and that’s why I have them third in the Big 12.

Kansas Jayhawks 2010-11 NCAA Basketball Predictions

The Kansas Jayhawks are primed to make their attempt at a Big 12 title this season. They finished 33-3 overall last year, including 15-1 in conference play. It will be tough to replace 49 percent of their point production, two top draft choices and the player with the most wins in school history. Head coach Bill Self is one of the top recruiters in the nation, and he’ll have no problem keeping with the winning tradition here in Kansas with what he has coming back and some fresh faces. Marcus Morris, Josh Selby and Tyshawn Taylor will be three players that Self depends upon to carry the load this year. Morris and Taylor are juniors who united for 20 points per contest last year, and Selby is a freshman point guard who is nearly a certain Top-10 choice in the 2011 NBA Draft. A deep bench will have Kansas contending for another conference title.

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Frontcourt:

Twins Marcus and Markieff Morris return for their junior seasons, and though it will be difficult to take the place of Cole Aldrich, that pair gives the Jayhawks a strong foundation in the paint. Aldrich was chosen 11th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft, and his rim protection will be missed. But Marcus put up 12.8 PPG and 6.1 RPG last season while Markieff put up 6.8 PPG and 5.3 RPG and each will likely up those averages this year. Marcus really upped his play within the conference, averaging 14.2 PPG and 7.3 RPG in league play. Sophomore Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey supply strong depth off the bench. Although Withey is no Aldrich, he’s a 7-foot presence inside and could be one of the league’s top shot-blockers if he can earn the minutes.

Backcourt:

Sherron Collins’ leadership will be tough to replace after being a part of a school-record 130 victories in his four years as a Jayhawk. There’s no question that leadership along with his toughness in crucial-game situations cannot be replaced. Selby is in reality better than Collins when you look at athleticism and overall talent. He is Self’s top-rated recruit ever, and was listed among the Top-5 prospects for this freshman class by almost every service. Taylor will give Selby some service in the backcourt, providing the experience. But Taylor must overcome some of the problems he had on and off the floor last year. Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed give this team some senior leadership off the bench it desperately needs. After redshirting last year, senior Mario Little will supplant Xavier Henry as the starting small forward. Little was the 2008 Junior College Player of the Year, so he has proven he can get it done. Self believes this team will be much more athletic than last season’s squad, but it will need to find that leadership that cannot be learned if they are going to make the most out of this talent.

Jack’s Prediction: 1st Place in the Big 12 – Though Aldrich, Collins and Henry have all left, there is still plenty of leadership and depth on the Jayhawks to win the conference once more. The Morris Twins along with Morningstar and Reed provide the veteran leadership, while getting Selby and Little offer the athleticism and talent to replace what has been lost. Few schools in the country have a better home-court advantage than the one Kansas enjoys, and no squad in the conference can equal the talent level of the Jayhawks. I trust in Self to put it all together as he’s shown he can do, and if Selby can live up to the hype this team will contend for a national championship.

Wisconsin Badgers 2010-11 NCAA Basketball Predictions

The Wisconsin Badgers exceeded expectations last year, going 24-9 overall and finishing just one game out of a share for the Big Ten regular-season title at 13-5. Wisconsin however sputtered to get the job done in postseason play. After being knocked out in the opening round of the conference tournament, the fourth-seeded Badgers were eliminated from the postseason in the second round by Cornell. It was the third time in the last four years that the Badgers were taken out by a lower-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament.

Wisconsin lost senior guards Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes from last season, but once again think they have a real good chance to win the Big Ten title this year. Head coach Bo Ryan hasn’t allowed Wisconsin to finish worse than fourth in the Big Ten in nine seasons, but with the conference packed with talent this season, whether or not Wisconsin makes a run will turn on the improvement of some of its young players.

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Frontcourt: The Badgers return seven players who have seen the floor on the interior, and the most talented of the group is senior Jon Leuer, who averaged nearly 16 points and six boards a night last season. Leuer probably would have received first-team All-Big Ten honors last year if he hadn’t missed seven games with a wrist injury. Leuer is a difficult matchup with his power to score in the paint and nail the outside jumper, and could be ready for a standout year in 2010.

Seniors Keaton Nankivil and Tim Jarmusz also return to the starting lineup, but the pair needs to grow from last year. Jarmusz went from making 42% from deep to just under 30% last year, and will need to find his touch if he wants to keep starting. Junior Rob Wilson and sophomores Jared Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz, and Ryan Evans are extra bodies Wisconsin will have in the frontcourt.

Backcourt: How well this team replaces Bonannon and Hughes will go a long way in determining how good this team is this year. Junior Jordan Taylor is the most experienced guard on the team, and will be relied upon to have a big season this year. Taylor posted 10 points with just over three boards and assists a night, but will probably be required to put up closer to 16 a game this year.

Senior walk-on Wquinton Smith also started in the backcourt in Wisconsin’s first win over Prairie View A&M, but freshman Josh Gasser scored 21 points in 26 minutes, and could end up being the starter by the end of the year. Also seeing time will be freshman Ben Brust, who like Gasser, can play either guard spot.

Pick – 5th Big Ten: While it’s hard to ever go against Wisconsin, I just believe the conference is too packed with talent for the Badgers to come away with a conference title. Wisconsin will still be good enough to make the NCAA Tournament, but I have a hard time seeing this team making a deep run unless they get a lot of improvement from their returning players.

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Michigan State Spartans 2010-11 NCAA Basketball Predictions

Last season the Michigan State Spartans were just one win away from competing in their second straight NCAA Championship game, but lost 52-50 to Butler in the National Semis. The Spartans ended the year with a 28-9 record and were 14-4 in Big Ten action, earning them at least a share of the Big Ten Championship in two consecutive years. Head coach Tom Izzo not only wishes to bring home the Big Ten regular-season title, he wants to win the conference tournament for the first time in 10 years, but with a squad as talented as the one he possesses this season, winning the National Title is really all that matters after the success this school has had the last two seasons.

The Spartans lost guard Chris Allen and forward Raymar Morgan from last year’s squad, but with a gifted core returning, featuring seniors Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers, and a good freshmen class, the Spartans figure to be even more improved than they were last season. Michigan State opens the 2010 NCAA basketball season ranked second in the nation, and unless they fall victim to injuries, they should be primed for a No.1 seed and some additional wins in the postseason.

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Frontcourt: Junior Draymond Green started just three times for the Spartans last year, but after dropping 15 pounds this past offseason, Michigan State is planning on big things as Green steps into the starting lineup this season. Green put up almost 10 points, eight boards, and three assists a game last year. Fellow junior Delvon Roe returns to the starting lineup after putting up six points and five boards a game last year. Roe has struggled with knee problems the last two years, and if he is capable of getting healthy, he could be one of the more improved players on this squad. Sophomore Derrick Nix has also slimmed down from last year, and should be able to make more of an impact after posting just under eight minutes a game as a freshman. Nix should split time at center with sophomore Garrick Sherman, who made the starting lineup in the Spartans season opening win over Eastern Michigan. Also added to the mix is freshman Adreian Payne, who is a real threat on the offensive end, and should get a lot of floor time whether he ends up starting or coming off the bench.

Backcourt: Lucas and Summers are what really makes this team special. Lucas was the Big Ten Player of the Year as a sophomore, but struggled with an ankle injury that really slowed him down last season. When at full strength Lucas is among one of the top point guards in the nation, with his ability to do so much on offense. Summers is extremely athletic and is a solid finisher, but didn’t do well from outside most of last year, before heating up in the NCAA Tournament, and being named the Midwest Region Most Outstanding Player.

Junior Korie Lucious would start on most teams, but figures to be the Spartans leading option off the bench this year. Giving the team even more depth are junior Austin Thorton and freshman Keith Appling, and while they won’t log a ton of minutes with Lucas and Summers on the floor, they should be ready to step in and play well when needed.

Prediction – 1st Big Ten: As talented as Michigan State is this year, the Big Ten is packed with top notch teams, and winning the Big Ten will be a challenge. Still I believe with the talent this team has and one of the best coaches in the game, they are the team to beat this season. This is the best squad Izzo has had at Michigan State since he bought home the championship back in 2000.

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Ohio State Buckeyes 2010-11 NCAA Basketball Predictions

The Ohio State Buckeyes ended the 2009-10 campaign 29-8, wining both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, and advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Tennessee 76-73. The Buckeyes were led by the consensus player of the year Evan Turner, who put up 20 points, nine boards, and six dimes a contest, but Turner has left for the NBA and Ohio State enters the 2010-11 year depending on what many consider to be the country’s top recruiting class to help them return to the NCAA Tournament.

Even with the departure of Turner, the Buckeyes still have four starters returning from last year, giving the Buckeyes plenty of experience to go along with a very electric group of newcomers. Ohio State already has one game down, taking care of North Carolina AT&T 102-61 and it was freshmen Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas who stole the show. Here is a closer look at what Ohio State will have on the court this year, plus my prediction on where they finish the season in the Big Ten.

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Frontcourt: Seniors David Lighty and Dallas Lauderdale return manning the paint, while freshman Jared Sullinger is added to the mix. Sullinger debuted with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Lauderdale chipped in 12 points and 13 rebounds. These two should form quite the duo on the inside, and the Buckeyes should have one of its best rebounding teams in years. Lighty will spend the majority of the time playing the small forward, but has the versatility to move down and play the power forward position and can also handle the ball and play the point. Thomas didn’t start for Ohio State in the opener and scored a team-high 24 points and grabbed eight boards in just 20 minutes. If Thomas continues to put up numbers like this, head coach Thad Matta might not have a choice but to find a spot for him in the starting lineup. Freshman J.D. Weatherspoon adds depth, but might not see a lot of time on the floor.

Backcourt: Junior William Buford and senior Jon Diebler are both back in the starting lineup. Buford put up 14 points and almost 6 rebounds a contest as a sophomore, and while he was the fifth leading scorer in the team’s first game, this kid is a pure offensive threat and will be depended on a lot with the departure of Turner. Diebler is a three-point specialist, and one of the best in the nation from the outside, and when he is knocking down shots, Ohio State is very tough to beat. Freshman Aaron Craft came off the bench to score eight point with nine assists, and should be one of the top options off the bench this season. Also added to the mix are freshmen Jordan Sibert and Lenzelle Smith.

Prediction – Second in the Big Ten: I believe Michigan State is the only team standing in the way in the conference, but if the freshmen continue to play like they did in the first game, Ohio State could once again be the best in the Big Ten. I look for Ohio State to only get better as the season progresses, and I wouldn’t be amazed in the least to see Ohio State win quite a few games in the NCAA Tournament, regardless if they win the Big Ten or not.

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