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**xubrew** · 09-28-2003, 08:54 PM

alright guys, lets see who you think will exceed most peoples' expectations.

GONZAGA i think this is going to be the best team gonzaga has ever had. they return EVERYBODY, they will have one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, and when we vote in our first site poll, they will be in my top ten. i seriously think that this is a final four caliber team. the only concern about this is that they will be constantly undermatched in conference play and they can develop the habit of not having to give 100% to win.

other quick notes, their ooc is as strong as anyone's. they open the year against st. joes, a team that finished in the top 25 last year and returns all starters. they also play georgia, maryland, missouri and stanford. they have a total of seven games on national television and will be on cbs for their first ever regular season game to be on network television when they play missouri. that game is in seattle, i'm assuming its wherever the sonics play their home games. it should be a great year for the bulldogs.

NORTH CAROLINA i guess you really can't call them a dark horse, but they should win 20+ games this year, get back into the rankings, and back into the ncaa after a two year hiatus. they 've got an outstanding team coming back. i think that roy williams will do an excellent job, but one must also commend the recruiting of daugherty. one can't help but wonder how well they would have done last year had everyone stayed healthy.

AKRON they should win the mac conference and be in a position to receive an at large bid to the ncaa. their schedule has few highlights on it, but they do open against cincinnati and will also be paying a visit to north carolina. both games are on the road. they are also in the bracket buster. if they can win 20+ games and either win their bracket buster or pull the upset against cincinnati or unc, they should be a lock for the ncaa tournament.

SIENA they should be a good team. they return four starters, three of which were freshman from what was a fairly decent team last year. i expect the saints to have a 20+ win season. unfortunately for them there are no standout games on their schedule and they are likely to have the quality wins they need or quality opponents that could put them in a position for an at large bid. a great year for the saints, but they need to win the maac tourney to make the big dance.

FLORIDA A&M they were 17-12 under first year coach mike gillespe after only winning 9 games the previous season. they have yet to release the schedule. this is sort of a bad team to highlight, but i did want to point out what was an amazing turnaround last season and that i think it will continue. the meac is a low major conference at best that has never sent more than one team to the ncaa tournament. florida a&m has yet to release their schedule, so barring a surprising amount of wins against quality teams in the ooc, they will likely need to win their conference tournament to get to the ncaa and will likely be seeded low.

DAYTON this team isn't necessarily a dark horse, but i'm expecting them to do far better than where they are projected. they should be the best rebounding team in the a-10 conference this year. their schedule is less than difficult, but all their big games are on the road, which is actually better in the eyes of the selection committee if they are able to win a few. i have dayton going 25-4 this year in the regular season. the a-10 tournament is also on their floor, but they should be a highly ranked team by the end of the year.

LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE this is a team that is trying to make a push for an at-large bid. i believe they won 19 games last year and finished with an rpi in the 70s or thereabouts. this year, they've really vamped up the ooc schedule. they have yet to post their schedule on their basketball page, but i know they play at xavier, at dayton, and in the preseason nit. the biggest problem they will face will be to keep everyone eligible. i believe they've lost one potential starter for the first half of the season due to academics and there are others in trouble.

thats all for now. i may have others later, but i've gotta get busy on homework.

**OwnTheBlocks** · 09-28-2003, 11:42 PM

xubrew - i agree with 98% of your post wholeheartedly but i seriously think that siena will fall off now that mr. everything (and canadian national team member) prosper karangwa graduated...they are a decent team but once you lose your leading scorer rebounder and assist maker, then you can naturally expect a falling off

niagra should be tough in that conference though because juan mendez is an absolute beast

**WKU Topper Jeff** · 09-29-2003, 12:40 AM

Xubrew... how can you leave off my Hilltoppers?! I'm hurt!!!

Darkhorse they are, indeed! New coach, the loss of Patrick Sparks (to uk), loss of David Boyden, and Filip Vidinov, might make it sound like the 2003-04 season is a year of rebuilding. But not so!

Most people will have forgotten some of these names, which are now back and ready to play.

Todor Pandov 6'9" 230lbs- He went down with an ACL in the first game of last season against Arizona. In exhibition play, he was the leading scorer and was going to be a force to reckon with. I've personally see him this summer in some pickup games, and he is 100% and has a fire. Not only will you see him post some great numbers this season, you will see him in the NBA draft next year.

Nigel Dixon 6'11" 320lbs- Formerly known as "Big Jelly," he has toned up and now can be referred to as "Big Firm." Nigel played in Italy this summer and averaged a double double and just for fun broke two backboards. Nigel transferred to WKU so he could sit out one year and prepare for the NBA. Nigel has a goal, he will achieve it.

New Face:

Okay, so Western loses Patrick Sparks. I won't lie and say that isn't a big loss. But Coach Horn has found a worthy replacement in Antonio Haynes.

Haynes comes to Western as a JUCO from Georgia Perimeter College, 6' 185lbs. He was honorable mention All-American, averaged 14.6 assists, 7.1 steals, 13.2 points, and 6.8 rebounds, also hitting 93.5% from the foul line, and 46.9 from three-point. They are some VERY impressive numbers. He was ranked as one of the top JUCOs this past year.

Returning also is Sun Belt defensive player of the year, Mike Wells. He will likely lead this team as captian. Sun Belt Freshman of the year Anthony Winchester will also be a strong "gun" (pun intended) for the Hilltoppers.

Western will have to make some adjustments to a new style of play that Coach Darren Horn will bring, but by the end of the season watch out! Horn (former player at WKU) will bring back an exciting full court run and gun style play.

As for ULL -- As long as Coach Evans is the coach, they will do nothing. The man cannot coach talent. Anywhere else, Michael Southall would be an All-American. Good OOC schedule doesn't mean anything if you can't win. ULL just needs to remember, the Sun Belt is still owned by Western Kentucky, and goes through Bowling Green again this year. MUAHA

**WKU Topper Jeff** · 09-29-2003, 10:23 AM

Intersting article about ULL's academic woes.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/sports/...D103ABE1.shtml

JarvisHayes24 · 09-29-2003, 04:00 PM

Wisconsin

**xubrew** · 09-29-2003, 04:47 PM

after thinking about it some more, i think jeff is right in his assessment about wku. they've won three conference tournament championships in a row and i believe they won the regular season three years in a row. make it four.

wisconsin is an interesting pick. one would think it impossible to win two big ten titles in a row and still not be high on the radar, but they aren't. they'll be excellent again this year.

freakofnature · 09-29-2003, 06:05 PM

FSU.

They only lost one contributor from last year (a minor one), and they have the talent. Only one game under .500 last year, almost beating Wake Forrest in conference play. They have the nations top recruiting class. Watch out for em'.

#1BucksFan · 09-29-2003, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeorgiaSports!
Wisconsin

Damn Straight. They lost only one player (1st team all big 10 Kirk Penny) and gained a McDonalds All American Brian Butch

JuniorNoboa · 09-30-2003, 04:22 PM

Wisconsin - Excellent Choice. More underappreciated, then a darkhorse really.

I remember getting ribbed last year for picking Wisconsin in the Big-Ten. I will pick them again this year.

As for a darkhorse:

How about UCLA in the top 10? I really like Ben Howland.

Seton Hall can be a top 15 team, IMO.

JuniorNoboa · 09-30-2003, 04:24 PM

There HAS TO BE, a major darkhorse in the SEC. Right now only Kentucky and Florida look solid.

Somebody has to win those interconference games. The SEC is losing alot of talent, but they have had decent recruiting in the past two years, and some young team, perhaps a Miss St., will move in to the top 20.

**HKF** · 09-30-2003, 07:27 PM

My problem with Western Kentucky is that by the time they will get really good and gel as a team they will be heading into the conference tournament. But as for the good news they play it on their Home Floor and they don't lose at home. So expect them to steal that bid again, though Middle Tennessee, Denver and UL Lafayette are all improved.

I will go with non-major conference teams for my darkhorses.

Weber State - without Jermaine Boyette they will be a more well rounded team and will play real well with their Serbian big men, (Slobodan and Matas). They should win the Big Sky again and be super dangerous.

UW-Milwaukee - they lost 3 starters, but they had a ton of players redshirting and they also have some real good JUCO's coming in. Watch Ed McCants pick up where Clay Tucker left off. Pearl is a heck of a coach.

Tennessee-Chattanooga - they lost in the SoCon final last year but return leading scorer Ashley Champion and some top notch JUCO's as well. Expect them to be in the SoCon final again, but this time Jeff Lebo will take them to the dance. Very good team.

Iona/Siena/Manhattan - honestly anyone of these three teams could make it to the tournament, but I expect Rob Lanier and Siena to beat Iona in the final. Whichever team makes the tournament will have a dangerous dangerous team in the first round.

I agree with Akron, but watch out for Northern Illinois and Rob Judson. They were a year ahead of schedule last year and with their new arena they have a true home court adv. Expect them to be competing for the MAC crown this year and they will be a handful if they make the dance.

The OVC - this year if Murray State performs very well out of conference with Pitino style of ball (new coach Mick Cronin) expect Murray to get an at large bid if they don't win their conference. If they win the league and win 25+ games, they would have to get a bid, but Austin Peay is good enough to be just as good as them. If either make it they will be very dangerous as well.

The MVC - is always tough and Wichita State, Bradley, Southern Illinois and Creighton will be dangerous for whoever plays them in the tournament. This is the year the MVC gets three in the dance just like in 99. (this depends, I don't think the Big 12 is as good this year)

And my last team, though their are other good mid-majors is Pepperdine. Gonzaga will get all the credit, but Paul Westphal has a damn good team this year with Terrance Johnson, Alex Acker, Glen McGowan and the return of PG Devin Montgomery (who is one of the quickest, best shooting PG's in the country). If Pepperdine makes the dance they will win a first round game.

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