Not sure why I decided to go to the SEC next, but I guess I can pretend it is because we started with the conference with the preseason #1 team in the country, so it’s only logical to move on to the conference with the current #1 team in the country (and preseason #2).\u00a0 Either way, it should be an interesting year, as always, in the SEC, especially because the conference finally made the obvious decision to do away with the divisions and just have one 12-team conference.\u00a0 There is still an unbalanced schedule, but at least it won’t wreak havoc with the SEC tournament seedings and whatnot.<\/p>\n
For an unbelievable fifth<\/em> consecutive season, John Calipari will coach a team that starts a freshman point guard.\u00a0 And, as usual, point guard is not the only position that will manned by a teenager for Coach Cal this year.\u00a0 And, also as usual, these are not your ordinary teenagers…they are on the verge of becoming household names.\u00a0 And, the talent that seems to grow on trees in Lexington is so immense that this UK team is, along with the loaded rosters in Chapel Hill and Columbus, one of the true<\/em> favorites to cut down the nets this April.<\/p>\n The Guy.<\/em>\u00a0 It is hard to say who “The Guy” is going to be come March because of all the young talent that could explode, but the smart money is on one of the “elder statesmen” in Lexington, sophomore swingman Terrance Jones<\/strong>.\u00a0 Jones,\u00a0 named as a preseason All-American, is the frontrunner for SEC Player of the Year, and on the short list for the Naismith Award.\u00a0 He is a ferocious scorer, who has the looks of easily scoring in double-digits on the next level<\/em>.\u00a0 Plus, his long arms and elite athleticism and quickness make him a great candidate to develop into a big-time defender here in his second year on the collegiate level.<\/p>\n The Newcomers.<\/em>\u00a0 As unlikely as it was the Jones is back for his sophomore year, and despite all of the hype that has accompanied him, the talk around town in Lexington has to do with this ridiculous recruiting class that, somehow, did the unthinkable, and is even better<\/em> than the class that included Jones last\u00a0year.\u00a0 The guy that has gotten the most noteriety is point guard Marquis Teague<\/strong>.\u00a0 Teague, an Indiana product who spurned Purdue, Kansas, and his father’s head coach, Rick Pitino at Louisville, chose Kentucky to make it five straight for Coach Cal.\u00a0 And, like his predecessors, Rose, Evans, Wall, and Knight, Teague can flat-out fly.\u00a0 His quickness is said to exceed all that of Rose, Evans, and Knight, and maybe even Wall.\u00a0 The brother of NBA lottery pick Jeff Teague, Marquis needs to live up to the billing, though, and some say that he is a little overhyped.\u00a0 Fortunately for Wildcat Nation, he is surrounded by a couple of other freshmen who may actually be underhyped.<\/p>\n While Teague was ranked as the #3 overall recruit in the nation, he actually was not the top-rated recruit to even choose Kentucky!\u00a0 As a sophomore in high school, Anthony Davis<\/strong> was a 6’2″ shooting guard, who was being recruited by several of the better mid-majors in the country.\u00a0 Two years and TEN INCHES later, Davis was the #2 recruit in the country.\u00a0 At 6’10”, Davis has retained all of his perimeter skills and just added a power forward’s body.\u00a0 And, unlike others who have had these late growth spurts (Matt Harpring is the one that comes to my mind), Davis didn’t just go froma 6’2″ perimeter player to a 6’10” perimeter player.\u00a0 His game, even at 6’2″ was a physical, aggressive game, which he enjoyed taking down low on both sides of the floor.\u00a0 Now, he has the 6’10” physique to match the style.<\/p>\n It is understandable that with the talent of Teague and Davis, the rest of the class would be overlooked, but that doesn’t mean that they should be.\u00a0 As good as Teague and Davis will be (and probably will be on the next level), the other two guys that round out this stellar class may provide as much punch to this team as the two blue chippers.\u00a0 This is especially true for 6’7″ swingman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist<\/strong>.\u00a0 In fact, I will make the bold statement now that Kidd-Gilchrist is the better suited right now for domination on the collegiate level than either Teague or Davis.\u00a0 He has elite quickness and a soft jumper, so he must be guarded on the outside, but at a strong 6’7″, 232 pounds, he is not scared to back down any smaller defender.\u00a0 Now, while incredibly athletic 6’7″ wings are basically the norm in the NBA, they are pretty hard to come by in college, so on all but a handful of nights, Kidd-Gilchrist is going to be an absolute nightmare for his opposite number.\u00a0 (Oh by the way, he was the #5 overall recruit in the country and was a complete afterthought in his own class.)\u00a0 The other prize of this class is exactly what Coach Cal seems to never be able to land – a straight-up pure jumpshooter.\u00a0 Kyle Wiltjer<\/strong> won the three-point shooting contest at the McDonald’s All-American game last year as a high school senior from Oregon.\u00a0 Did I mention he is 6’9″?\u00a0 A total stud, yet forgotten, Wiltjer can provide just about anything UK needs off the bench, particularly someone to stretch the defense and give room to the scoring machines that abound on this roster.<\/p>\n What a class!<\/p>\n The Holdovers<\/em>.\u00a0 While UK again produced a slew of NBA draft picks last year, and brought in an epic recruiting class, the cupboard wasn’t exactly bare in Lexington, providing the Wildcats with something else they have been lacking in recent years – actual depth.\u00a0 The one guy that has taken far too long to garner mention here is 6’4″ sophomore guard, Doron Lamb<\/strong> would probably be the star (and possibly a legend) on 99% of D-I programs in the country, but here at UK, he’s just another star that cannot be forgotten about.\u00a0 In fact, Coach Cal has said, on several occasions, that he believes that Lamb might actually be the best all-around player on this team.\u00a0 A very heady, multi-dimensional player, Lamb can dominate on either end of the floor and could thrive with all the attention given to the other stars.\u00a0<\/p>\n And, then there are the seniors.\u00a0 If you are still at Kentucky as a senior, that means you just weren’t good enough to jump ship, right?\u00a0 Yes, that’s probably right, but it doesn’t mean that you aren’t immensely talented.\u00a0 And, UK has two seniors that could play really prominent roles on the team this year in big-bodied and high-energy center Elroy Vargas<\/strong> and smooth, versatile swingman Darius Miller<\/strong>, who will probably find himself coming off the bench this year, after averaging 11 points per game last year.<\/p>\n Their Strengths.<\/em>\u00a0 It is hard to envision a collegiate roster in the country this year (or in the past decade, even) that can honestly say to themselves that they match up well defensively with the collection of offensive talent in Lexington this year.\u00a0 The versatility and flat-out elite scoring ability of guys like Jones, Teague, Kidd-Gilchrist, and Lamb is scary.\u00a0 Throw in the inside presence of Davis, and I definitely don’t see anyone being able to man-up and stop them for 40 minutes.\u00a0 And, while maybe not the most disciplined team on the defensive end, the length and athleticism on the wing, and the unbelievable shotblocking ability of Davis on the inside will give teams fits on their “weaker” end.<\/p>\n Weaknesses<\/em>.\u00a0 It seems it is the same thing every year with Coach Cal, whether it be at UK or Memphis.\u00a0 What can sink this ship is inexperience and inconsistent shotmaking.\u00a0 While Wiltjer helps a lot in stretching defenses, and Lamb actually proved to be a much more capable shooter than expected, a good zone could cause problems to a team that prefers to go to the hoop.\u00a0 And, then there is the free-throw shooting.\u00a0 Would it shock you is I said Teague was a really poor free-throw shooter?\u00a0 Well, if you know anything about Rose, Evans, Wall, or Knight, you shouldn’t be surprised at all.<\/p>\n The Ceiling.<\/em>\u00a0 There is no doubt that this team can be just as bullish on the 2011-12 season as anyone in the country.\u00a0 Anything short of a national championship will leave many people disappointed.\u00a0 While the reality is that six straight wins in March requires a lot of good fortune, it is true that coming up short before at least the Final Four would be, from any objective measure, a disappointment, considering the talent.<\/p>\n As you can probably tell, I developed my “rankings” for each conference before any games were played, and if I wanted to redo it, I probably would downgrade this Vandy team, based on their early-season results.\u00a0 But, I want to stick with my preseason thoughts here, and I really like this Vandy team…a lot.\u00a0 With experience and talent at several key positions and, quite possibly, the nation’s most underrated head coach, the Commodores might be able to make some real noise this year in both the SEC and on the national stage.<\/p>\n The Guy.<\/em>\u00a0 This choice might surprise you because it is not the\u00a0defending SEC scoring leader whom decided to forego the NBA to return to Nashville.\u00a0 It is also not the 6’11” elite athlete whom will most likely be an NBA lottery pick come April.\u00a0 Nope, I honestly believe that the best – and most important – player on this team is 6’7″ senior forward Jeffrey Taylor<\/strong>.\u00a0 The best passer and most versatile defender on this team, I think Taylor gives the Commodores so much in every aspect of the game that he is truly the star of the show.<\/p>\n The Other Two Elites.<\/em>\u00a0 Surrounding the do-it-all Taylor is one of the country’s best scoring point guards and one of the most gifted frontline athletes anywhere.\u00a0 At 19.5 points per game last year, John Jenkins<\/strong> led the SEC in scoring and is, without question, on the short list for the best scoring guards in the nation.\u00a0 Manning the frontline is Festus <\/strong>Ezeli, an elite shotblocker and interior defender, who has developed an all-around, refined offensive game that could boost him into the lottery this year.\u00a0 Ammassing an incredible 87 blocked shots last year (including 15 games with 3+), Ezeli is one of the best post defenders in the nation.\u00a0 But, he also was second in the SEC in field goal percentage at 58.8%.\u00a0 The Taylor-Jenkins-Ezeli combination is pretty much the perfect purely balanced trio you can have.\u00a0 In fact, I am having a hard time coming up with a better guard-wing-center threesome in the entire country.\u00a0 I might pick Vandy to win the 3-on-3 championship this year.<\/p>\n The Supporting Cast<\/em>.\u00a0 Now, that we’ve established that this roster contains a lights-out shooter, a do-it-all wing player, and a force inside, what would you add to the mix now if you could?\u00a0 Personally, the next thing I would add would\u00a0be\u00a0a pure pass-first point guard that can make the open shot, but generally plays good defense and allows Jenkins to run free on the offensive end.\u00a0 Enter:\u00a0 Brad Tinsley<\/strong>.\u00a0 Pretty much typecast for the role of point guard on this team, Tinsley is a steady, smart point guard who shoots too well leave unguarded, but mostly looks to orchestrate the offense.\u00a0 He also is an outstanding free throw shooter and a decent on-ball defender.<\/p>\n Okay, what do we add next?\u00a0 A big-bodied power forward who just loves to attack the glass.\u00a0 May I introduce Lance Goulbourne<\/strong>.\u00a0 Coach Stallings has been quoted as saying that Goulbourne, a 6’8″ senior power forward, truly has the ability to lead the league in rebounding.\u00a0 And, if Goulbourne doesn’t pan out like predicted, Stallings has a couple other options to play the “bruiser” role, most prominently is a 6’9″ senior from Cameroon, Steve Tchiengang<\/strong>, who is a real blue-collar interior player who is never going to make you notice him, but is a really nice guy to have.\u00a0 There are also a couple other nice pieces for Stallings to play with, but overall, this team will go as far as their “Big Three plus Tinsley” can take them.<\/p>\n Their Ceiling.<\/em>\u00a0 This team should still be playing during the second week of the tournament and has a real chance to finish right behind Kentucky in the SEC standings.\u00a0 But, realistically, the talent is probably going to fall just short from being able to take them to the Final Four or beyond.\u00a0 And, it’s hard to imagine them winning enough games to seriously challenge Kentucky for the SEC title, though I would love to see it.<\/p>\n The Gators lost a lot from last year’s team – SEC Player of the Year, Chandler Parsons, as well as two very good big men in Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin.\u00a0 But, trust me, Billy Donovan is not phased.\u00a0 This is not the first time he has had to replace a lot of talent.\u00a0 And, this time, unlike the two-year tournament hiatus that followed the departure of the core from the\u00a0back-to-back title team, this team shouldn’t miss a beat.\u00a0 In fact, they might even be better than last year’s version.<\/p>\n The Guy.<\/em>\u00a0 This might be another surprise because it is still up in the air whether he is going to start right away or not, but I think that by the time the meat of this season rolls around, the one guy the Gators will lean on most is 6’4″ freshman Bradley Beal<\/strong>.\u00a0 Beal, last year’s Gatorade High School Player of the Year, is one of the best jumpshooters you will see on any level.\u00a0 If he is able to adjust his game to get himself open against elite SEC defenders, the sky is the limit for how much this kid can score.\u00a0 And, fortunately for him, he is not the only Gator that teams have to pay attention to.<\/p>\n The Backcourt<\/em>.\u00a0 Joining Beal in the backcourt is a cast of guards that can rival any backcourt in America.\u00a0 In fact, I am hard-pressed to pick a backcourt anywhere in the country better than this one.\u00a0 As good as Beal is, he will not be the focus (at least right away) of opposing backcourt defenders.\u00a0 They have another trio of lights-out shooters that cannot be left alone anywhere inside halfcourt.\u00a0 Erving Walker<\/strong>, at just 5’9″, seems to be able to shoot over just about anyone and has unlimited range.\u00a0 Running the point for the first time last year, Walker broke out and was named the first-team all-SEC point guard.\u00a0 His running mate seems to alternate from enigmatic, frustrating gunner to unstoppable, electrifying scorer on almost a possession-to-possession basis.\u00a0 Kenny Boynton <\/strong>is one of the more fascinating players in the country to watch because, usually in just a matter of a few minutes, he will have you saying “he’s one of the most lethal shooters I’ve ever seen” just shortly after thinking “this guy is a total gunner who is just killing them out there.”\u00a0 Either way, Boynton can definitely put it in the basket and cannot be left alone.\u00a0 And, just when you start to think you might be able to stop the downpour of threes, the Gators can now turn to a guy who scored 1,000 points in just two seasons in the BIG EAST before transferring to Florida last year.\u00a0 Mike Rosario <\/strong>averaged 16.7 ppg as a sophomore for Rutgers two years ago, after averaging 16.2 as a freshman the year before.\u00a0 He is, as should come as no surprise, a deadly outside shooter who never saw a shot he didn’t like.\u00a0 And, with the additions of Beal and Rosario, the guy who seems totally lost in all of this is one of the most talented guys on the roster, Scottie Wilbekin<\/strong>.\u00a0 A heady guy who graduated high school early and, as such, is still an 18-year old sophomore, Wilbekin’s lightning quickness can compensate for his slight build.\u00a0 While still a kid, he seems to have\u00a0a real calming influence on his elder backcourt mates.\u00a0 There is really no way to guard all of these guys all the time, so the only way to stop the Gators this year is to hope that the shots aren’t falling and that you can make some hay on the inside.<\/p>\n The Frontcourt.<\/em>\u00a0 So, the backcourt is loaded and should be a steady force for the Gators.\u00a0 (Yes, I\u00a0know that it’s hard to use the word “steady” when describing a unit with a jumpshooting freshman, a 5’9″ point guard, a transfer who sat out a year, and, well, Kenny Boynton, but the combination should be pretty consistent from night to night, actually.)\u00a0 But, it is the frontcourt of this team that will probably dictate where this team finishes – and it could be anywhere from championship contender to flop.\u00a0 And, it really revolves around two – maybe three – guys.\u00a0 With the roster composition, there is no way that Donovan won’t play at least<\/em> three guards almost at all times, and the best lineup assuredly includes Erick Murphy <\/strong>and Patric Young<\/strong> – both of whom could be stars.\u00a0 Young, a 5-star recruit last year, didn’t get all that much playing time because )Tyus and Macklin were so good inside, but it wasn’t hard to see how good he could be when he was in there.\u00a0 He is truly man-sized, but has an agility that could make him scary good at this level and the next.\u00a0 Murphy is a true inside-outside threat (like they need more shooting prowess?), who is not afraid to mix it up down low.\u00a0 The third possible option in the frontcourt, as a starter or, more likely, a rotation player, is Casey Prather<\/strong>.\u00a0 Prather, who has espoused many a comparison to former Gator star Corey Brewer, did not exactly put the numbers with the hype last year as a freshman.\u00a0 But, the athleticism is there, so if he puts it together, he could be a gigantic addition to a team that could use just what he can potentially bring.<\/p>\n Strengths.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0No team in America has as many unafraid jumpshooters as the Gators.\u00a0 If there wasn’t a three-point line, they might be a middling SEC team.\u00a0 If there was a 4-point line, they might be the best team in America.<\/p>\n Weaknesses.<\/em>\u00a0 While it’s hard to say a frontcourt with Murphy and Young is a “weakness,” it certainly is a question mark.\u00a0 They are both supremely talented, but the debate remains as to whether or not their performance can match their talent.\u00a0 If so, the sky is the limit this year.<\/p>\n Their Ceiling.<\/em>\u00a0 This team has Final Four talent if it all comes together.\u00a0 In fact, if Beal is as good as advertised and the frontcourt guys – Murphy and Young – come into their own, this team could be as good as anyone.\u00a0 But, there are too many if’s to put them in the conversation with the UNCs and OSUs, as well as UK in their conference.\u00a0 I would say that, from what we know now, it’s safe to say that this team is probably the second-best team in the SEC and a legit Top 10 team.\u00a0 But, there is\u00a0a wide potential variance with that assessment.\u00a0 It wouldn’t surprise me to see them grab another 2-seed in March, and it also wouldn’t surprise me to see them hoping just to play against a 2-seed in the second round.<\/p>\n Anthony Grant can flat-out coach, and he has resurrected this program quicker than even I thought he would.\u00a0 And, this might be the year that he plants his Crimson flag among the perennially elite programs in America.<\/p>\n The Guy.<\/em>\u00a0 Jamychal Green<\/strong>, aside from having one of the best names in college hoops, he also has one of the best games.\u00a0 This 6’8″, 240-pound senior is a serious contender for SEC Player of the Year for all the right reasons.\u00a0 He plays big and strong when he needs to, as well as agile and quick, if need be.\u00a0 He is about as true a “go-to guy” as there is in the SEC – probably the most reliable guy to get you a bucket when you need it.<\/p>\n The Frontcourt.<\/em>\u00a0 Alongside Green inside is another incredible talent – 6’9″ forward, Tony Mitchell<\/strong>.\u00a0 Mitchell, who averaged 15 points and 7 rebounds last year, is probably best suited as a small forward, can easily man the power forward position in a small lineup.\u00a0 However, after Green and Mitchell, the frontcourt can get scarily thin, which runs the risk of foul trouble curtailing the Tide in the one-and-done world of March Madness.\u00a0 Off the bench, they will have to lean on 7’1″ Swedish project (and former handball star), Carl Engstrom<\/strong>, and still developing (though highly-rated and possibly super-talented) freshman Nick Jacobs<\/strong>.\u00a0 Engstrom is an athletic 7-footer who is very raw, while Jacobs is an excellent face-up shooter, who could use a few pounds of muscle and a few notches of “mean.”<\/p>\n The Backcourt<\/em>.\u00a0 A potentially excellent backcourt will be led a really steady sophomore point guard, Trevor Relaford<\/strong>.\u00a0 Relaford, who was named to the SEC All-Freshman team last year, and should grow into maybe the league’s most complete point guard by season’s end this year.\u00a0 And, Relaford, who might be leading a 3-guard attack all year, will truly be the senior statesman because he is flanked by a trio of incredibly talented freshmen, highlighting one of the best recruiting classes in Alabama history.\u00a0 Joining Relaford in the starting lineup will be either (or both) the Gatorade Player of the Year in Alabama last year, Levi Randolph<\/strong>, or the consensus top-rated college recruit coming out of Alabama, Trevor Lacey<\/strong>.\u00a0 Both Randolph and Lacey were top-50 recruits and broke a dubious\u00a0streak of\u00a0eight\u00a0straight top-50 recruits from Alabama that left the state to play elsewhere (including, most recently, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe, who went north to UK).\u00a0 And, it was almost a backcourt triumverate, as the Tide also landed instate product,\u00a0Rodney Cooper<\/strong>, who was ranked just outside of the top 50.\u00a0 With Relaford running the point, Grant can now pick and choose the matchups he wants on both ends with these three outstanding freshmen.\u00a0 Randolph and Lacey will most likely start with Relaford in a three-guard attack that is made possible by the stellar frontcourt combination of Green and Mitchell inside.<\/p>\n Strengths.<\/em>\u00a0 A halmark of Anthony Grant teams is their dedication on the defensive end, and that is where this team will earn its keep.\u00a0 Offensively, with Green and Mitchell inside and Relaford distributing, they present a daunting task for any defense to try and combat.\u00a0 If this stellar recruiting class can come through, then this team could really shine.<\/p>\n Weaknesses.<\/em>\u00a0 Depth in the frontcourt could ultimately derail what, otherwise, is an elitely talented team.\u00a0 After Green and Mitchell, there really isn’t much there, unless Jacobs surprises people right away.\u00a0 Also, playing in a league with some of the best guards in the country, it will be interesting to see just how quickly this stable of freshmen acclimates to the college game.<\/p>\n Their Ceiling.<\/em>\u00a0 It might be a bit of a stretch to say that this team could make a Final Four run, but I do think that they will be heard from before it’s all said and done this year.\u00a0 Green is too good to go quietly, and Grant’s stellar recruiting efforts can pay dividends.\u00a0 I like the Tide to crack the top 4 in a very good SEC and maybe pick up a 4- or 5-seed from the Committee.\u00a0 The NIT might just be a thing of the past for this sleeping giant of a program that landed itself a top-notch head coach.<\/p>\n Given their talent, it probably wouldn’t surprise anyone if Mississippi State won 20+ games this year.\u00a0 Given their history, it probably wouldn’t surprise anyone if they lost 20 games either.\u00a0 There is little reason to believe that this team can’t contend in even a solid SEC, but there is just as little reason to believe that they will because to do so, they will be relying on two of the most unreliable players in the nation.\u00a0 But, as good and underrated of a coach as I think Kevin Stallings is at Vandy, I think just as highly of Rick Stansbury here at MSU.\u00a0 And, if anyone can make this work, it’s Stansbury.<\/p>\n The Guy.<\/em>\u00a0 Renardo Sidney<\/strong>.\u00a0 Just say the name to any avid college hoops fan and you will probably get the same reaction – a slow head shake coupled with either a wry smile or a frown of disappointment.\u00a0 And, to think – there are still several chapters to be written.\u00a0 If things don’t change for the 6’10”, 275-pound junior, he will be this generation’s poster-child for wasted talent.\u00a0 A world of potential (many thought he would end up being called by David Stern as the #1 overall pick) has been completely washed away – up to this point – by immaturity on and off the court.\u00a0 If weight issues were the only thing that derailed what could have been a brilliant career, it might be easier to feel some sympathy for a guy trying to emerge from a rough upbringing, but much of what has brought him down can be blamed on nothing else but immaturity (at best) and an utter lack of personal character (at its worst).\u00a0 To keep the focus on basketball, let us assume, for a minute, that Sidney has realized that he is running out of time before the expiration date on his talent is up, and he dedicates himself to the game.\u00a0 If so, the Bulldogs may have one of the best inside players in America.\u00a0 And, with that, a legit shot to make something of a season that could otherwise follow along the disastrous route that the first two years of the Sidney Era in Starksville have taken.<\/p>\n The Other Guy.<\/em>\u00a0 If not for Sidney’s lightning rod of a college career, we may be spinning similar tales of disappoinment and wasted talent about the brilliantly talented 6’2″ point guard, Dee Bost<\/strong>.\u00a0 Bost, who can score with anyone in the country – you know, when the NCAA academic qualifications don’t swallow him up – is also a very underrated floor general and leader on the court.\u00a0 But, he has also shown signs of immaturity and a complete lack of commitment to the game.\u00a0 If he can focus and put together the senior year that his talents allow, he might even find himself on one of the All-American teams come March, and even an NBA team come April.<\/p>\n The New Guy.<\/em>\u00a0 While Sidney clearly suffers from a distinct lack of “want-to” on the court, at times, Stansbury brought in another big guy to play alongside him that clearly does NOT suffer from the same anti-hustle affliction of his more-talented teammate.\u00a0 6’11” junior Arnett Moultrie<\/strong> is eligible to play for the Bulldogs this year after transferring from UTEP and sitting out last year.\u00a0 Moultrie has great size and athleticism, but was also blessed with a non-stop motor and scrappy will that might be the ignition to light the fire under some otherwise undisciplined teammates.\u00a0 He can score and rebound inside, but he also loves to get after it on the defensive end.\u00a0 He is the quintessential scrapper on which Stansbury built this program up to the level that enabled him to pursue the bigger fish that now threaten to tear down what he built.<\/p>\n The Rest<\/em>.\u00a0 After Sidney, Bost, and Moultrie, this roster is populated with a lot of unproven guys, who may have to learn on the job to develop their roles.\u00a0 Senior Brian Bryant<\/strong> is a steady point guard who doesn’t do anything spectacularly, but is a nice card to play if Stansbury wants Bost to be able to score off the ball.\u00a0 Other backcourt options are a pair of highly-touted freshmen, Deville Smith <\/strong>and Rodney Hood<\/strong>.\u00a0 While Hood,\u00a0last year’s Mississippi\u00a0Mr. Basketball,\u00a0is probably more ready to step in and play right away, Smith may more talented and prove to be the better player down the road.\u00a0 The frontcourt will also exhibit a nice battle of semi-coveted freshmen, Roquez Johnson<\/strong> and Shawn Long<\/strong>, along with a Latvian import, Kris Zeidaks<\/strong>.\u00a0 All in all, after the Big Three, there are a lot more questions than answers on this roster, but if Sidney and Bost can be who they are capable of, Stansbury might not need all that many answers from this bunch.<\/p>\n Strengths.<\/em>\u00a0 It’s pretty clear what MSU needs in order for this season to be a success.\u00a0 They need full buy-in from their mercurial stars.\u00a0 If so, this team can give even the best teams in the country a run for their money because their coach is that good.<\/p>\n Weaknesses.<\/em>\u00a0 These are also pretty clear – they are rather thin all over and the “meat” that they do have is far from reliable.<\/p>\n Their Ceiling.<\/em>\u00a0 All things considered, this team may have the widest range from ceiling to cellar of any team in America.\u00a0 If things go right, this could be a legitimate Sweet 16 team and possible contender for one of the top spots in the SEC.\u00a0 If things fall apart, this team could be a true train wreck…<\/p>\n As good as this league is at the top – and I think it’s one of the two or three best – it is borderline embarrassing how bad it is down bottom.\u00a0 And, after the five teams mentioned above (and maybe two or three more), it’s hard to find any other relevant teams from the SEC this year.<\/p>\n Not sure why I decided to go to the SEC next, but I guess I can pretend it is because we started with the conference with the preseason #1 team in the country, so it’s only logical to move on … Continue reading My Favorite<\/span> – Vanderbilt<\/h2>\n
Elite<\/span> – Florida<\/h2>\n
Contender<\/span> – Alabama<\/h2>\n
Sleeper<\/span> – Mississippi State<\/h2>\n
The Others<\/span><\/h2>\n
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