^ It does.....but I still think the only thing we can do is "guess-timate" as to where they'll end up. I say #10 pre-season.

^ It does.....but I still think the only thing we can do is "guess-timate" as to where they'll end up. I say #10 pre-season.

 

UK?

 

I would agree. I think Calipari will land another monster class that will send UK back up the rankings. But, we'll know for sure in a fairly short time, so I can wait a month or so to project the 2011 champion. :lol:

^ hahaha......true

I think Singler stays & Duke will be solid again next year. Michigan State & Purdue will make the Big 10 formidable. Butler should be strong, and I look for them to prove that this year wasn't a fluke.

I think Singler stays & Duke will be solid again next year. Michigan State & Purdue will make the Big 10 formidable. Butler should be strong, and I look for them to prove that this year wasn't a fluke.

 

The Big 10 is going to be tough next year with Purdue, Michigan St, and Ohio St.

 

Purdue has Hummel, Johnson, and Moore returning to go along with a recruiting class led by Terone (46) and Anthony Johnson (100).

 

Michigan St returns Lucas, Greene, Morgan, and Roe to go along with a talented recruiting class, led by Adreian Payne (20) and Keith Appling (34).

 

Ohio St returns 4 out of 5 starters with Lauderdale, Lighty, Diebler, and Buford. Joining them is the #2 recruiting class in the country led by Jared Sullinger (3), Deshaun Thomas (17), and Jordan Sibert (37). As a whole, OSU brings in SIX top 150 players.

 

Should be fun to watch these teams compete for not only the league title but also a national championship.

Until further notice otherwise, I'll tend to lean towards those that get paid for their opinions.

 

You do that... I just think he cant go any higher than he is now..

You do that... I just think he cant go any higher than he is now..

 

Unless he starts out next season gang buster, which he didn't this past one.

Unless he starts out next season gang buster, which he didn't this past one.

 

Very true. Most people that didn't see much of Duke until the tournament doesn't realize that Singler was having probably his worst year of his career up until halfway, maybe 2/3 thirds of the season was over with. He did finish very strong though.

Duke should be solid next year along with Michigan State.

 

I look for UK to have a season much like they had this season, not quite as successful though. Win the SEC, and make a run in March. I don't feel we will have as much star power as we had this season and I know we'll be young again.

 

If things fall into place, the 2011-2012 season is when I expect UK to be a threat to win a NC. A stud freshman class combined hopefully with a little upperclassmen leadership.

 

This is what I argued with people just yesterday. I told that next year we are going to be a top 15 team all year and at times a top 5 possibly but I don't see us being a force but possibly with a chance to win a NC, but unlikely if everyone leaves.

But in the following year we will have more experience because the class that just left us in the draft is a one every 15 year class and we were blessed to be part of it. But after this next season and from then on is when I see Coach Cal having the Dribble Drive in full effect and a NC near in sight.:thumb:

I said it all year that next year's Duke team will be a great team

whether Singler stays or not. If Singler stays then Duke is a huge favorite to repeat. Miles Plumlee went from getting no time at all as a freshman to most significant bench player in a year. He improved leaps and bounds from freshman to sophomore. I expect Mason to do the same and I expect both Plumlees to dominate the paint rebounding like Zoubek and Thomas but the Plumlees bring scoring ability which is something that Zoubek and Thomas didn't bring to the table. Now you are adding Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry along with returnees Nolan Smith and Andre Dawkins!!?? Curry also practiced with the team all year so he knows the system as well. Yes, my expectations are very high for this team. I expect Ryan Kelly to play a bigger role next year also. I really like Duke's chances to repeat.

I said it all year that next year's Duke team will be a great team

whether Singler stays or not. If Singler stays then Duke is a huge favorite to repeat. Miles Plumlee went from getting no time at all as a freshman to most significant bench player in a year. He improved leaps and bounds from freshman to sophomore. I expect Mason to do the same and I expect both Plumlees to dominate the paint rebounding like Zoubek and Thomas but the Plumlees bring scoring ability which is something that Zoubek and Thomas didn't bring to the table. Now you are adding Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry along with returnees Nolan Smith and Andre Dawkins!!?? Curry also practiced with the team all year so he knows the system as well. Yes, my expectations are very high for this team. I expect Ryan Kelly to play a bigger role next year also. I really like Duke's chances to repeat.

 

 

I agree with almost everything in this post...obviously you watch a lot more Duke ball than I do, but repeating is so tough. The parity and somewhat mediocrity in the game leads to a better than average chance though. I see Duke as an obvious preseason #1, but i'll (almost) ALWAYS take the field over 1 team in the NCAA. The only times I can think of I would've taken 1 team over the field was '91 UNLV (loss) '96 UK (win) '98 Kansas (loss), and 2009 UNC (win). Maybe the '07 Florida team fits that category, not sure.

No doubt. Especially after watching this year's version of Duke win it, it adds that much more pressure on next year's team. I think it helps somewhat that there will be new faces to take on this pressure. I can't wait to see how they handle it. Duke 2010 proves that sometimes you never know how the tourney will turn out.

I said it all year that next year's Duke team will be a great team

whether Singler stays or not. If Singler stays then Duke is a huge favorite to repeat. Miles Plumlee went from getting no time at all as a freshman to most significant bench player in a year. He improved leaps and bounds from freshman to sophomore. I expect Mason to do the same and I expect both Plumlees to dominate the paint rebounding like Zoubek and Thomas but the Plumlees bring scoring ability which is something that Zoubek and Thomas didn't bring to the table. Now you are adding Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry along with returnees Nolan Smith and Andre Dawkins!!?? Curry also practiced with the team all year so he knows the system as well. Yes, my expectations are very high for this team. I expect Ryan Kelly to play a bigger role next year also. I really like Duke's chances to repeat.

 

I'd be willing to almost guarantee they don't repeat. That's not a knock on Duke, it's just being realistic.

I'd be willing to almost guarantee they don't repeat. That's not a knock on Duke, it's just being realistic.

It is tough losing (potentially) 4 starters and then repeat.

It is tough losing (potentially) 4 starters and then repeat.

 

Even if Singler comes back, the chances of it happening are incredibly slim.

 

Think about this year. Kansas was the odds on favorite all season long, had one bad game, and didn't even make it to the second weekend of the tournament. The preseason favorites rarely ever win it all. UNC two years ago was the exception, not the rule.