Here are a couple programs to keep in mind for when the NCAA basketball season kicks off this fall.
Florida Gators
Florida is four years removed from back-to-back national titles and has rebuilt the program into a contender in 2011. Coach Billy Donovan brings back the first five from last season’s team that went 21-13 (15-14 ATS) and earned a spot in the NCAA.
The Gators are very similar to the 2010 Duke Blue Devils, with a ton of experience but no real true NBA talent. Kenny Boynton blossomed into a big-time scorer down the stretch and has Erving Walker, Alex Tyus, Chandler Parsons and Vernon Macklin around him. There will be more support off the bench with top reserves returning from injuries and some promising recruits heading to Gainesville.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Rarely will a program watch the National Player of the Year bolt for the NBA and still remain relevant. Ohio State will be right back in the Top-25 mix despite losing Evan Turner to the pros.
Thad Matta counters that loss with another stellar recruiting class that includes five-star freshman forward Jared Sullinger. On top of the young guns, the Buckeyes bring back a slew of upperclassmen in David Lighty, William Buford, Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale. That experience will carry OSU deep into March and gives the Buckeyes great value heading into the season.
Baylor Bears
Baylor made waves in last year’s tournament, advancing to the Elite Eight and putting the program’s dark past behind it. The Bears bring back key pieces of that uber-athletic lineup, minus pro forward Ekpe Udoh and point guard Tweety Carter. Top scorer and potential Wooden-winner LaceDarius Dunn stayed in Waco along with point guard to-be A.J. Walton and forward Quincy Acy, who could be the most explosive leaper in college basketball.
Coach Scott Drew hit the bricks this past year and reels in a recruiting class ranked among the Top-25 freshman hauls in the country. The crowning jewel of that group is near 7-footer Perry Jones, whose size makes up for the loss in the frontcourt. His wing play will terrorize Big 12 opponents.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Pitt bids farewell to only two seniors, one of them being team leader Jermaine Dixon. However, he was plagued by injury last season, leaving a young Panthers squad to grow up fast. That process has Pitt running among the favourites to win the Big East in 2011.
Coach Jamie Dixon returns leading scorer Ashton Gibbs, Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown and forward Nasir Robinson. There is also plenty of potential off the bench for Pittsburgh, and depth plays a big role during the grueling Big East schedule. The Panthers overachieved in a rebuilding year in 2010 and will surpass that this season.