hatvol96
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Realizing that academics, defections, and summer shenanigans will inevitably impact some of these teams, here is the first Halfcourt Trap Top 10 for the '08-'09 season:
1. Pitt. Jamie Dixon's most talented squad will be tough enough to survive the meat grinder in the Big East and bring the trophy to the Steel City.
2. North Carolina. By far the most talented team in the country. However, their playing with both hands firmly placed around their throats against Georgetown and Kansas in the last two NCAA tourneys tells me there is a lack of testicular fortitiude on that squad.
3. Louisville. Had they played UNC in any of the other 49 states in the regional final, they would have been in the Final Four last season. Pitino will not have to worry about playing on someone else's court on the regionals this year.
4. Arizona State. From the NIT to the Final Four. Herb Sendek will lead Pendergraph and Harden to college basketball's promised land.
5. UCONN. Jim Calhoun doesn't stay out of the spotlight for long. The Huskies will be deep and talented. That recipe has won them two National Championships.
6. Michigan State. Tom Izzo is due for another deep tourney run. He now has the horses to do so.
7. Villanova. Guards win in college basketball. Nobody has a more explosive backcourt at their disposal than Jay Wright.
8. UCLA. Despite their early defections to the NBA, the Bruins will be just fine. Ben Howland will never allow them to fall far.
9. Memphis. Another program that will weather their personnel losses just fine. Cal has enough talent at his disposal to make a run at a fourth straight Elite 8.
10. Tennessee. The Vols will put the most physically talented team in program history on the floor. Experience and point guard play are the only question marks that keep them out of the top 5.
1. Pitt. Jamie Dixon's most talented squad will be tough enough to survive the meat grinder in the Big East and bring the trophy to the Steel City.
2. North Carolina. By far the most talented team in the country. However, their playing with both hands firmly placed around their throats against Georgetown and Kansas in the last two NCAA tourneys tells me there is a lack of testicular fortitiude on that squad.
3. Louisville. Had they played UNC in any of the other 49 states in the regional final, they would have been in the Final Four last season. Pitino will not have to worry about playing on someone else's court on the regionals this year.
4. Arizona State. From the NIT to the Final Four. Herb Sendek will lead Pendergraph and Harden to college basketball's promised land.
5. UCONN. Jim Calhoun doesn't stay out of the spotlight for long. The Huskies will be deep and talented. That recipe has won them two National Championships.
6. Michigan State. Tom Izzo is due for another deep tourney run. He now has the horses to do so.
7. Villanova. Guards win in college basketball. Nobody has a more explosive backcourt at their disposal than Jay Wright.
8. UCLA. Despite their early defections to the NBA, the Bruins will be just fine. Ben Howland will never allow them to fall far.
9. Memphis. Another program that will weather their personnel losses just fine. Cal has enough talent at his disposal to make a run at a fourth straight Elite 8.
10. Tennessee. The Vols will put the most physically talented team in program history on the floor. Experience and point guard play are the only question marks that keep them out of the top 5.
