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Conference Previews Galore!

© Chris Lin

The time has come again. November has arrived and that can only mean one thing – the Road to the Final Four has begun! Sure, everybody’s still talking about Duke, Maryland, and Illinois, but look out for Kentucky, UCLA, and Kansas. With all of those studs leaving early to the pros, you never know what’s gonna happen. Here’s a look at some of the major conferences, and who’s most likely to be standing come March Madness.

Big Ten – Always one of the toughest conferences in the country, that’s not going to change this season. With Michigan State suffering the loss of Zach Randolph, look for Illinois to take charge. This is a game of opportunity, and when you have Frank Williams, Brian Cook, Marcus Griffin, and Sergio McClain all on the same squad, you have to feel pretty good about your chances. Those Spartans should be looking pretty good too. Despite some pretty tough departures over the last couple of seasons, Tom Izzo’s team still has a young dynamic backcourt in Marcus Taylor and stud freshman Kelvin Torbert. Then there’s Indiana, the team that despite losing to Kent State in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season, seems to be on the rise two years after Bob Knight. Jared Jefferies is the complete package, and though the Hoosiers lost Kirk Haston, they will be competitive. Look for Steve Alford’s Iowa squad to mix it up, with Luke Recker and Reggie Evans making life tough for defenses. The wild card is probably Michigan, as Tommy Amaker takes over a proud program that needs some serious rebuilding. LaVell Blanchard is one of the best all-around players in the country, and Bernard Robinson Jr. is as smooth as they get. As always, look for something from Gene Keady’s Purdue squad, as well as Wisconsin and Penn State. There are no easy wins in the Big 10.

Atlantic 10 – It seems that this is the year for St. Joseph’s. Marvin O’Connor and Jameer Nelson form the most dangerous backcourt in the country, and they’re only two of the four returning starters. This team is definitely ripe for a serious splash next year, and in a weaker conference, it will thrive. While this may be a weaker conference, Temple certainly is not part of that mold. John Chaney’s team is tough and tenacious, and the Owls are a contender as usual. UMass may not be back to the glory days of John Calipari and Marcus Camby, but the Minutemen now have Steve Lappas at the helm. With the loss of all-A-10 guard Monty Mack, Kitwana Rhymer and Micah Brand have to step up big time. Out West, Thad Matta’s Xavier squad should dominate. David West, Kevin Frey, and Romain Sato are real studs that will make the rookie coach sleep much easier. Look out for Dayton and LaSalle to challenge the Musketeers.

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