some good info

[THUNDER]

Early Season Basketball Considerations by Makers

Early season and pre-conference can offer profitable opportunities
should certain scenarios fall into place. Over the past several years I have scripted an early season game plan with some success. The following observations are not to be taken as to which teams are top ten or conference winners, etc.- they should only be considered as games with potential should certain factors fall into place.

Florida State

Leonard Hamilton, one of the very best recruiters in college basketball adds considerable talent to an ascending Seminole squad. While Trevor Harvey will be missed in the paint, the back-up experience from last year is plentiful.
Tim Pickett
17.1 PPG....5.7 RPG and the league leader in steals leads a veteran five that should be a factor in the ACC
* Two possibilities stand out!! Hosting the Terps Dec 28th and visiting Florida Jan. 3rd .

Maryland Terps

Losing 49 PPG along with 20 +RPG does not bode well for Williams especially the first few weeks of the season.

North Carolina Charlotte

While Pitino's Cards and Cincinnati are the darlings of the CUSA (justifiably so) excellent coaching (Lutz) and a "solid" returning nucleus puts this group near the top of teams to watch after a 13-16 mark from last year!!!!!

Southern Mississippi

Defensive minded club with an influx of talent to bolster an already veteran group *** ures a nice improvement from a 13-16 season esp. @ home ATS 8-3.

Oregon

A go against club last season now relies on frosh PG Brooks to team with more experienced front court that should step-up after a year of defining their roll! Make no mistake "Brooks" can play and the solid Jackson should relish his roll as team leader sans the flashy Ridnour.


U.N.C. Wilmington

A team with tremendous holes to fill losing 69% of scoring 44% rebounding as well as two time CAA player of the year Brett Blizzard
*This club rocked V.C.U by 31 and 17 last year..Look for some payback here as Rams should field a solid squad. Jan. 14th



Auburn

Veteran laden squad (4 Seniors/8 Juniors) with 3 high profile JC players that should blend nicely with 3 returning starters. Great athleticism and quickness should soften the blow of losing the multi-talented Daniels. Extremely tough in the paint with all time shot blocker Kyle Davis and two of the most underrated forwards in NCAA Killingsworth 13 PPG... 6.4 RPG and Robinson 8.2 and 4.5.

N.I.U.

With the return of all world Smallwood, Huskies should equal the success of their gridiron brethren and rule the MAC
* Visit N.D. Nov. 24th.... Irish better have their game face on!!!


W.M.U.

"Loaded" club especially if Reed recovers fully from off season knee surgery. This could be an offensive machine
* Host loaded U.S.C Nov. 21..Price could be enticing with highly publicized Trojans! .


C.S.U.

Picked to finish 5th-6th in MWC could surprise as 7 footer Nelson has rebounded from knee surgery showing well in the Pan Am Trials.

Niagara

Returning an intact roster headed by J. Mendez 18.4 PPG...9 RPG will bode well for this vet squad versus the perennial hierarchy (Iona and Manhattan) in this tough albeit small conference
* Visit St. Johns Jan 3rd...Could offer nice value!!!

Ohio State

Two talented transfers plus a McDonalds AA replacing 40 PPG from Darby-Connolly-Williams would under most circumstances would equate to a year of rebuilding. However couple the transfers and Harris with the return (off injury) of Dials and Cheatham plus one of the best coaches in the Big Ten this is a club that could surprise lots of opponents! .....Don't sell this club short!!!!
* Dec. 3rd Ga. Tech visits with what could be an overrated five!

Match-ups with Possibilities

 

[Jalen45]

great write up, thanks thunD

 

[Box and one]

thunder,nice write up.
And your right about them vs. the Johnnies.Mihalich is a great coach.Mendez was my second most fav. player in the Metro.I still cannot believe how Darden disappeared in the finals.Niagara can challange Manhattan but their achilles heel is FT shooting.Hopefully Mihalich worked on that this summer.Shoot under 60% and we throw you down the "Falls". GL

 

[Heyward]

I have been patiently waiting to see how the linesmakers are going to value Florida State and Maryland this year. Especially at home, I'm thinking the Seminoles will be well undervalued & should surprise a lot of people, and in the early season, Maryland should be valued over their true value considering all the newcomers (Lost all 5 of their top players in minutes played from last year - not a good sign).

Colorado State picked 5th or 6th - ridiculous

UNC-W - a good go against early with the loss of not only all-everything Blizzard, but also their 2nd and 3rd top scorers Craig Callahan (16 pts, 7 reb) and Tim Burnette (11 ppg).

Nice calls. I may add a couple after work when I can get to my notes. Thanks.

 

[Hoops]

Just to give the guy credit who did that write-up, at least where I saw it originally, a poster named Makers who posted it on another forum.

 

[dawgball]

That's the first line of Thunder's post.

 

[Hoops]

That's the first line of Thunder's post.

Yep, I saw that. Also saw a couple of replies that were thanking thunder for the write-up. Just wanted to give credit to where credit is due, that's all.

 

[THUNDER]

there is no way i could type up something that nice-that one fingered thing- but i thought for the most part some good info- thanx for pointing out hoops were that credit should go.