12.3.02
College basketball season is upon us and I couldn?t be happier. My favorite NFL team, the Rams, have
been a complete disappointment, my college football team, the Missouri Tigers, were exciting, but
inexperienced, and their season is already over, and hockey and NBA basketball don?t really get exciting
until the playoffs. So I am ready for some college hoops.
There are two teams that I root for consistently, the Missouri Tigers, and whoever is playing against
Kansas. So far, my teams have done quite well. Missouri is 3-0 (against very weak competition), and
Kansas is 2-2 (admittedly, against much better competition). But I don?t care, it makes me feel good
anytime Kansas loses. The #2 ranked team in the preseason, Kansas has dropped all the way to #13 this
week. Unfortunately, they are a good team and will rebound from their losses against North Carolina and
Florida.
Missouri, on the other hand, might be a little underrated in the preseason. They started ranked #17 and
have climbed to #15 this week. They have one of the most exciting players in all of college basketball in
Rickey Paulding, along with two good rebounders in the paint in Trevon Bryant and Arthur Johnson.
Newcomers Jimmy McKinney and Ricky Clemons are fun to watch as well. They might not have the big
names or the exposure of a Kansas or Arizona, but they?ve got the talent to compete with the big boys.
A lot has already been said about North Carolina this season, so I won?t spend too much time on them,
but you have to be impressed early. Their team seems to be pulling it together quite well this year after
their historic collapse last season. It does not surprise me in the least that Doherty was able to make this
team competitive again, the surprise is how quickly it happened.
LeBron James is not going to play college basketball, he?s going straight to the NBA, people need to quit
kidding themselves. Even NBA teams are posturing for it. The Nuggets have decided to field the worst
team in the league just for the chance to draft him (that?s really not a joke, either).
My favorite player to watch, outside of the Tigers, is Emeka Okafor of the Connecticut Huskies. He is
probably the most dominant defensive force in college basketball, and he?s only a Sophomore. Last year
he set shot-blocking records for Connecticut and changed the way opponents played the game. He is
able to provide help defense in the lane while not abandoning his own defensive responsibilities by utilizing
his quickness and impeccable timing. Rumor has it that he is a much improved offensive player this year as
well, so that will be something to look out for.
Remember when Michigan was a powerhouse in college basketball? It seems so long ago now. They are
on probation and are 0-4 to start this season. Doesn?t Chris Webber still have eligibility?