|
|
HOOP SCOOP’S PRE-SEASON RANKING OF THE TOP 30 COLLEGE TEAMS
by Clark Francis, Editor & Publisher of the HOOP SCOOP
| Rank | Team | Returning Starters | 2000-2001 Record League/Overall |
Conference | Comments |
| 1. | Duke | 4 | 13-3 | 35-4 | ACC | Four Returning Starters + Dahntay Jones = A Repeat. |
| 2. | Kentucky | 4 | 12-4 | 24-10 | SEC | Anything less than the NCAA Final Four will be a disappointment. |
| 3. | Maryland | 4 | 10-6 | 25-11 | ACC | 2001 Final Four demise will likely be turned into a plus. |
| 4. | Illinois | 3 | 13-3 | 27-8 | Big-10 | Beat three Final Four teams a year ago; should be better in 2002. |
| 5. | Memphis | 3 | 10-6 | 21-15 | Conference USA | DaJuan Wagner &Chris Massie make this one of the teams. |
| 6. | Kansas | 4 | 12-4 | 26-7 | Big-12 | Roy Williams is overdue, but has one of his best team's ever. |
| 7. | Florida | 3 | 12-4 | 24-7 | SEC | Forget about Kwame Brown; David Lee was always the key. |
| 8. | Iowa | 4 | 7-9 | 23-12 | Big-10 | The key is a healthy Luke Recker (best 3-shooter in nation). |
| 9. | Missouri | 3 | 9-7 | 20-13 | Big-12 | They're still young, but the cupboard is full for Quin Synder. |
| 10. | St. Joseph's | 4 | 14-2 | 26-7 | Atlantic-10 | Phil Martelli should give lessons on how to build a program. |
| 11. | UCLA | 4 | 14-4 | 23-9 | Pacific-10 | Freshmen point guards don't get you ranked among our top 10. |
| 12. | Cincinnati | 4 | 11-5 | 25-10 | Conference USA | Bobby Huggins is at his best when the Bearcats get overlooked. |
| 13. | Texas | 3 | 12-4 | 25-9 | Big-12 | Rick Barnes finally has the point guard he needs in T.J. Ford. |
| 14. | Oklahoma St. | 5 | 10-6 | 20-10 | Big-12 | Everybody is back, but Maurice Baker will carry the Cowboys. |
| 15. | Stanford | 1 | 16-2 | 31-3 | Pacific-10 | Casey Jacobsen is a prolific scorer, but others have to step up. |
| 16. | Michigan St. | 1 | 13-3 | 28-5 | Big-10 | Only one starter returns, but don't let that fool you. |
| 17. | Alabama | 4 | 8-8 | 25-11 | SEC | A tougher schedule ensures the Tide more than just a NCAA bid. |
| 18. | Arizona | 1 | 15-3 | 28-8 | Pacific-10 | Lute Olson still has plenty of talent waiting in the wings. |
| 19. | Virginia | 4 | 9-7 | 20-9 | ACC | Cavaliers are still a year away with Mapp again on the sidelines. |
| 20. | North Carolina | 3 | 13-3 | 26-7 | ACC | You can't have a top 20 pre-season ranking without the Tar Heels. |
| 21. | Utah | 5 | 10-4 | 19-12 | Mountain West | The return of Rick Majerus should make a big difference. |
| 22. | Boston College | 3 | 13-3 | 27-5 | Big East | Will lightning strike twice for last year's biggest sleeper team? |
| 23. | Temple | 4 | 12-4 | 24-13 | Atlantic-10 | Match-up defense & four starters back = top 25 team. |
| 24. | Western KY | 4 | 14-2 | 24-7 | Sun Belt | The Hilltoppers are no sleeper with the return Chris Marcus. |
| 25. | Gonzaga | 3 | 13-1 | 21-6 | West Coast | We're talking about college basketball's perennial sleeper team. |
| 26. | Fresno State | 2 | 13-3 | 26-7 | Western Athletic | Does Tark have enough depth to go deep into the NCAA Tourney? |
| 27. | Georgetown | 3 | 10-6 | 25-8 | Big East | Three starters return, but Demetrius Hunter is a big loss. |
| 28. | Indiana | 4 | 10-6 | 21-13 | Big-10 | Jared Jeffries has to live up to all the expectations. |
| 29. | Southern Cal | 3 | 11-7 | 24-10 | Pacific-10 | Henry Bibby will find it tough to replace Brian Scalabrine inside. |
| 30. | Louisville | 2 | 8-8 | 12-19 | Conference USA | Have you ever heard of the Pitino Factor? |