Midnight Madness is Here!

The excitement is building. Midnight Madness has struck the nation. As practice begins in full swing, the seniors assume the roles of leaders while new recruits get ready to focus and battle for spots on the roster. While Michigan State prepares to be this season's favorite and Connecticut begins its defense of the championship, only 26 days remain before the first season of the next millenium begins. Who is the team to watch for the next season? Well, for starters, the Michigan State Spartans should go on a tear, even against a tough schedule. After seasoning themselves against the Big Ten, a national championship should be in clear focus by the time March comes around. Cincinnati, with Kenyon Martin returning, should be bolstered by the addition of blue-chipper DerMarr Johnson. Scoonie Penn and Michael Redd are still in Ohio State, making the Buckeyes a dangerous threat to return to the Final Four. Connecticut should also stay in the running, with three starters returning and the highly touted Ajou Ajou Deng coming to Storrs. Don't forget Florida, which should be even stronger with freshman standout Donnell Harvey. Don't forget Duke, with Shane Battier and Chris Carrawell. Four All-Americans should ease the pain of losing Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, William Avery, and Trajan Langdon, but don't expect the Blue Devils to work miracles right away. The best players for next season? Mateen Cleaves should be the Player of the Year, as he leads the Spartans to a Final Four berth. Chris Porter of Auburn, Khalid El-Amin, Quentin Richardson of DePaul, Kenyon Martin, and Scoonie Penn should all be in the running for the All-America team. With many of the great players leaving to the pros, it's no wonder that many of the reputable players are hardly recognizable. But by the end of March Madness, those names will be heard all around the country.

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