2011-2012 B1G Team Evaluations

[sportstalent]

UNC signed one of the better three point shooters in the nation in Hairston so they are definitely stacked.

The Kentucky vs. UNC game next year will likely have 10 or so NBA players in one game which may double the amount of NBA players in the entire Big Ten next season. Right now Kentucky and UNC have to be 1/2 with a pretty large gap between the rest of the field. College basketball should be much improved next season after the crapfest that was this season.

As for Michigan being the #2 team in the conference. Morris was their offense last year, so unless Burke can come in and be a stud they will struggle quite a bit. They had one slasher last year in Morris so they will need someone to create 3 point opportunities next year or it will be a struggle.

OSU will have three legit NBA players in their starting lineup and then about 4 more that are potential NBA players: Sullinger/Buford/Thomas are givens. Craft/Scott/Amir Williams/LaQuiton Ross having very good chances and anyone in their incoming recruiting class really. Don't underestimate the talent and the depth of their roster. I haven't even mentioned Jordan Seibert and JD Weatherspoon, I think Weatherspoon has a chance to be something really special. In high school off the jump ball they ran a play if his team won to get an alley-oop off of it...the one game I saw they tried it, the pass was just a little too high and Weatherspon almost killed himself on the rim he was so high, he is a great defender and one of the more athletic kids we haven't seen much of yet.
Obviously, UNC/UK have a ton of talent and I recognize that, just don't underestimate OSU...think about UK, they actually have their best player back from the year before and with the recruiting class they have. The loss of Lighty and Deibler may end up being addition by subtraction and I don't mean that as an insult. I guess, my belief in what OSU has on their roster just comes from seeing so many of their recruits in high school and then how they have transitioned into the BIG so far. However, if Matta doesn't put some faith in his bench all my points are moot.

 

[IAJay]

OSU will have three legit NBA players in their starting lineup and then about 4 more that are potential NBA players: Sullinger/Buford/Thomas are givens. Craft/Scott/Amir Williams/LaQuiton Ross having very good chances and anyone in their incoming recruiting class really. Don't underestimate the talent and the depth of their roster. I haven't even mentioned Jordan Seibert and JD Weatherspoon, I think Weatherspoon has a chance to be something really special. In high school off the jump ball they ran a play if his team won to get an alley-oop off of it...the one game I saw they tried it, the pass was just a little too high and Weatherspon almost killed himself on the rim he was so high, he is a great defender and one of the more athletic kids we haven't seen much of yet.
Obviously, UNC/UK have a ton of talent and I recognize that, just don't underestimate OSU...think about UK, they actually have their best player back from the year before and with the recruiting class they have. The loss of Lighty and Deibler may end up being addition by subtraction and I don't mean that as an insult. I guess, my belief in what OSU has on their roster just comes from seeing so many of their recruits in high school and then how they have transitioned into the BIG so far. However, if Matta doesn't put some faith in his bench all my points are moot.

There is no way Craft ever steps on an NBA floor. I am not trying to sleep on OSU either, I am just saying they aren't at the UNC/Kentucky level. Those two teams may have 10 lottery picks on the floor at one time which is different than normal "drafted players" which is insane to think about.

It will be interesting to see how much rope Matta gives the bench this season.

 

[JerseyTyHawk]

My guess would be that the preseason polls will open something like... 1. Kentucky 2. UNC 3. Ohio St.

Personally, I think UNC should be 1, but I just have this gut feeling Cal's kids will edge them out. Off the top of my head Vanderbilt, Syracuse, and as usual Duke would be about the next tier. Florida will get a lot of preseason love too, but I worry about how Rosario might effect chemistry.

I feel like I am forgetting an obvious powerhouse though.

Anyway, back to our Hawks... has anyone heard about a kid who was highly ranked, but fell off the radar after a football injury and is now considering Iowa? I didn't get a name, perhaps I was mislead.