{"id":3623,"date":"2012-12-19T17:52:31","date_gmt":"2012-12-19T21:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=3623"},"modified":"2012-12-19T17:52:31","modified_gmt":"2012-12-19T21:52:31","slug":"previewing-conference-play-part-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=3623","title":{"rendered":"Previewing Conference Play: Part One"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the conference season right around the corner, it is time to take a look at how these conference races are going to shape up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And, it is also time to check in on a new BSB project we have debuted this year.\u00a0 BSB’s main college basketball contributors – Doogan, Gross, and Bry – have roped in a fellow hoops junkie, Ryan Doc, to participate in our first ever CBB Team Draft<\/em>.\u00a0 Sparing the details for a future post, essentially what we did is the four of us drafted all 344 D-I teams (leaving out the two independents – CS-Bakersfield and New Orleans – and the late entry to D-I, Northern Kentucky) in typical ladder style.\u00a0 The final scores will be decided by where each team finishes in their conference, which is why you see teams like Savannah State and Delaware State picked ahead of teams like Duke and Michigan State.<\/p>\n

In this post, I will try and briefly run down the races in\u00a0the\u00a0eight highest-rated\u00a0conferences with a eye towards our CBB Team Draft<\/em> and how it looks to shape up.\u00a0 Look for Parts Two through Four to complete the preview.<\/p>\n

(Conferences listed in power ranking, based upon the league’s average KenPom ranking)<\/p>\n

Big East<\/h2>\n

Overall<\/em>
\nAmidst all this realignment and disbandment craze, the Big East continues to churn out some of the best basketball in the nation.\u00a0 Personally, I think the Big Ten is actually a far better conference, but they are brought down by Nebraska and Penn State, while the Big East is bolstered by all\u00a0fifteen teams being in the top 100, including three in the top 6.\u00a0 This should be a great year at the top of the Big East, as teams Syracuse, Louisville, Pitt, Notre Dame, Cincy, and G’town all look for real.<\/p>\n

CBB Team Draft<\/em>
\nRDoc went heavy on the Big East, as he took the first 5 BE teams off the board, finishing with 8 teams in this league, so he figures to get the 150-point prize for winning this league, though Bry’s only BE team, Pitt, might be a surprise.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Savvy Picks<\/span>\u00a0– Bry’s nabbing of Pitt<\/strong> at #93 (the 6th BE team off the board) looks mighty good right now, as the Panthers are 10-1 and might have a chance to steal a big number from this conference.\u00a0 Providence<\/strong> has won 6 in a row and making a push up the standings, which looks for Doogan, who took them at #256.\u00a0 Of those first five that RDoc took, it looks like he’s getting the best value out of his 4th and 5th selections of Cincinnati<\/strong> (#39) and Georgetown<\/strong> (#74).<\/li>\n
  • Shaky Picks<\/span> – This whole conference looks good, so it’s hard to say any pick was a “bad” pick, but RDoc’s picks of S.Florida<\/strong> (#210) and St. John’s<\/strong> (#234) look like they may have been reaches.<\/li>\n
  • Most Intriguing Battle<\/span> – Marquette<\/strong> (Doogan – #120) and UConn<\/strong> (Gross – #126) were picked just 6 picks apart and each have a wide range of possible finishes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Picks<\/em><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Louisville – RDoc, #2<\/li>\n
    2. Syracuse – RDoc, #10<\/li>\n
    3. Notre Dame – RDoc, #31<\/li>\n
    4. Cincinnati – RDoc, #39<\/li>\n
    5. Georgetown – RDoc, #74<\/li>\n
    6. Pittsburgh – Bry, #93<\/li>\n
    7. Marquette – Doogan, #120<\/li>\n
    8. UConn – Gross, #126<\/li>\n
    9. South Florida – RDoc, #210<\/li>\n
    10. St. John’s – RDoc, #234<\/li>\n
    11. Providence – Doogan, #256<\/li>\n
    12. Villanova – Doogan, #281<\/li>\n
    13. Seton Hall – Gross, #299<\/li>\n
    14. Rutgers – RDoc, #306<\/li>\n
    15. DePaul – Gross, #342<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Big Ten<\/h2>\n

      Overall<\/em>
      \nRegardless of any power rankings or whatnot, there is not anything that can convince me right now that this is not the best conference in the nation.\u00a0 Particularly with the emergence of 12-0 Illinois and a really solid Iowa team.\u00a0 Granted, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and to some extent, Michigan State have disappointed so far, but do we doubt Bo Ryan or Tom Izzo?\u00a0 I sure don’t.<\/p>\n

      CBB Team Draft<\/em>
      \nThis conference is a war between Doogan and Gross, as they have 5 teams apiece in this brutal conference.\u00a0 RDoc is sitting out the B10 this year, while Bry took the 8th and 10th B10 teams off the board.<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Savvy Picks<\/span> – Doogan took Minnesota<\/strong> at #160, as the 6th B10 team off the board, and the Gophers look like a top-10 team nationally.\u00a0 Bry made nice mid-conf pick, taking\u00a0Illinois<\/strong> at #212, as the 8th B10 team off the board.\u00a0 While they are an impressive 12-0, it should be interesting to see if the undervalued Illini can withstand the B10 schedule.\u00a0 Also, Michigan <\/strong>looks like they might be the best team in the country, so for Gross to nab them at #54 is nice.<\/li>\n
      • Shaky Picks<\/span> – Again, this whole conference is really good, so it is hard to find a “bad” pick, but Doogan may have reached on Northwestern<\/strong> at #216 and possibly even Michigan State<\/strong> at #33, as the 2nd B10 team picked.\u00a0 Gross taking Wisconsin<\/strong> at #107 looks like it could be a reach, but it wasn’t even a top-100 pick, and they still have Bo Ryan.<\/li>\n
      • Most Intriguing Battle<\/span> – Iowa, Illinois<\/strong>, and Northwestern<\/strong> were all picked within 5 picks of each other (#211, 212, 216, respectively), so it should be interesting to see where they end up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Picks<\/em><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Indiana – Doogan, #16<\/li>\n
        2. Michigan State – Doogan, #33<\/li>\n
        3. Michigan – Gross, $54<\/li>\n
        4. Ohio State – Gross, #59<\/li>\n
        5. Wisconsin – Gross, #107<\/li>\n
        6. Minnesota – Doogan, #160<\/li>\n
        7. Iowa – Gross, #211<\/li>\n
        8. Illinois – Bry, #212<\/li>\n
        9. Northwestern – Doogan, #216<\/li>\n
        10. Purdue – Bry, #269<\/li>\n
        11. Nebraska – Doogan, #305<\/li>\n
        12. Penn State – Gross, #339<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          ACC<\/h2>\n

          Overall<\/em>
          \nIt was supposed to be the year of the Wolfpack, but, instead, it looks like just another year of the Blue Devil.\u00a0 The Dukies look like far and away the best team in this conference, especially with UNC struggling so mightily.\u00a0 Va Tech was a huge surprise, but have faltered lately, while Maryland just keeps on rolling.\u00a0 Is it possible that the Terps are the second-best team in this conference?\u00a0 Yes, very possible.<\/p>\n

          CBB Team Draft<\/em>
          \nGross has Duke, UNC, and Maryland, so he’s in good shape here.\u00a0 RDoc has a fleet of 5 solid contenders.\u00a0 Doogan has one team, but it is Miami – a solid contender.\u00a0 Bry is a non-factor, as his only ACC team was his very last pick of the draft.<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Savvy Picks<\/span> – The two most promising picks here both could have been seen as reaches at the time of selection, but\u00a0Gross with\u00a0Maryland<\/strong> at #86 and Doogan with\u00a0Miami<\/strong> at #88 look like really smart selections right now.\u00a0 RDoc also may have a steal with Virginia<\/strong> at #202.\u00a0 While, knowing what we know now, it might not look so impressive, Gross does deserve a lot of credit for making Duke<\/strong> the first ACC team off the board – ahead of N.C. State, who was just about everyone’s pick to win the league.\u00a0 Virginia Tech <\/strong>looked like a steal for Gross at #219 a week ago, but a lot has changed in a week.<\/li>\n
          • Shaky Picks<\/span> – The group did pretty well analyzing the ACC finishes here, as most of the draft looks like it is going to form.\u00a0 RDoc taking N.C. State<\/strong> (#23) and Gross taking UNC<\/strong> (#35) so high might come back to haunt them as there may have been better options in other conference for picks so early.\u00a0 Another\u00a0questionable pick might turn out to be Florida State<\/strong> at #122 for RDoc, as the Seminoles have not lived up to expectations.\u00a0<\/li>\n
          • Most Intriguing Battle<\/span> – There are a lot of intriguing battles here, as there are a lot of team pairs picked closely together – the aforementioned Duke-N.C.State<\/strong> battle should be interesting, as they were picked back-to-back (#22 and 23).\u00a0 Maryland <\/strong>and Miami<\/strong> were two picks apart (#86 and 88), and while not incredibly close to each other, the battle to avoid last-place in this conference between Gross’s Wake Forest<\/strong> (#318) and Bry’s Boston College<\/strong> (#341) could have major point implications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Picks<\/em><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Duke – Gross, #22<\/li>\n
            2. N.C. State – RDoc, #23<\/li>\n
            3. North Carolina – Gross, #35<\/li>\n
            4. Maryland – Gross, #86<\/li>\n
            5. Miami – Doogan, #88<\/li>\n
            6. Florida State – RDoc, #122<\/li>\n
            7. Virginia – RDoc, #202<\/li>\n
            8. Virginia Tech – Gross, #219<\/li>\n
            9. Clemson – RDoc, #255<\/li>\n
            10. Georgia Tech – RDoc, #266<\/li>\n
            11. Wake Forest – Gross, #318<\/li>\n
            12. Boston College – Bry, #341<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Mountain West<\/h2>\n

              Overall<\/em>
              \nIf you are surprised that the top 6 conferences are not the “Power-6,” then you are not paying attention.\u00a0 I will forgive you, though, if you are surprised at just how high the Mountain West is ranked this year.\u00a0 A perennially potent league is having one of its best seasons ever.\u00a0 The league is 71-18 in the non-conference, including four teams at 9-1 or better.\u00a0 The league has beaten it’s Pac-12 “big sisters” Colorado, UCLA, and USC and UW twice.\u00a0 There are also conference wins over Iowa State, UConn, George Mason, Illinois State, and Creighton – all either on neutral courts or true road venues.\u00a0 There is not a single cupcake in this league, and the top three are as good as any conference’s top 3, except maybe the Big East and Big Ten.<\/p>\n

              CBB Team Draft<\/em>
              \nNot surprising in any way is the fact that Bry is all over the MWC, having taken 5 of the 9 teams in this league.\u00a0 Doogan and RDoc each have two, and Gross is sitting this one out.<\/p>\n

                \n
              • Savvy Picks<\/span> – While Bry has some nice-looking picks among his FIVE in this league (Boise State<\/strong> at #229, Colorado State<\/strong> at #157), RDoc’s pick of Wyoming<\/strong> at #250 is in the conversation for best pick of the entire draft, as things stand right now.\u00a0 The Cowboys are 10-0 and looking like a legitimate threat to finish in the top half, if not crack the Big Three.\u00a0 That is a hell of a pick.<\/li>\n
              • Shaky Picks<\/span> – While RDoc had clearly the best pick of the league, he probably also has the worst – as things stand now – with Nevada<\/strong> at #183.\u00a0 The funny thing is that if he just switched those two picks, he would still look savvy, so just taking the total package of Wyoming and Nevada at #183 and #250, it was a nice haul.\u00a0 When you pick a team last in a conference, it is a little optimistic to think that they might give you good value, but Fresno State<\/strong> is clearly<\/em> the worst team in the M-West right now, so Bry probably didn’t need to use pick #308 to take a last-place team, even if he does love this league a little too much.<\/li>\n
              • Most Intriguing Battle<\/span> – It is hard to look at battles here, since Bry has more than half of the league, but it should be real interesting to see where his picks of Colorado State<\/strong> (#157) and Boise State<\/strong> (#229) fall among Doogan’s Air Force<\/strong> (#249) and RDoc’s Wyoming<\/strong> (#250), who were picked later.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Picks<\/em><\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. UNLV – Doogan, #49<\/li>\n
                2. San Diego State – Bry, #76<\/li>\n
                3. New Mexico – Bry, #92<\/li>\n
                4. Colorado State – Bry, #157<\/li>\n
                5. Nevada – RDoc, #183<\/li>\n
                6. Boise State – Bry, #229<\/li>\n
                7. Air Force – Doogan, #249<\/li>\n
                8. Wyoming – RDoc, #250<\/li>\n
                9. Fresno State – Bry, #308<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  \u00a0Pac-12<\/h2>\n

                  Overall<\/em>
                  \nThe Pac-12 is still trying to rebuild its tainted reputation after two of the worst seasons in major conference history.\u00a0 And, the disintegration of UCLA is not helping.\u00a0 What is helping, however, is that Sean Miller seems to have the rebuilding process at Arizona way ahead of schedule, and the ‘Cats look like a clear Top-10 team in the nation – which, as it looks now – should be enough to run away and hide with the Pac-12 title.<\/p>\n

                  CBB Team Draft<\/em>
                  \nThere have definitely been some interesting and surprising happenings in the non-conference for the Pac-12, which has turned this draft upside down.\u00a0 Bry has 5 Pac-12 teams, with a couple nice picks making up for his blunder at the top.\u00a0 Gross has 3 teams here, including the runaway favorite, UA.\u00a0 Doogan and RDoc each have 2 teams, with Doogan’s having much more potential to bring some points than RDoc’s mid- and late-round picks.<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Savvy Picks<\/span> – Doogan grabbing Oregon<\/strong> at #177 might be one of the most promising picks of the entire draft, as things look now.\u00a0 While it is no big stretch to think that the first team off the board is the favorite, the rise of Arizona and the demise of UCLA makes Gross taking Arizona<\/strong> at #11 look really nice right about now.<\/li>\n
                  • Shaky Picks<\/span> – One of the shakier picks of the entire draft was Gross reaching for USC <\/strong>at #91.\u00a0 That being said, they have been better as of late, so it may not be quite the disaster it appeared a couple of weeks ago.\u00a0 RDoc’s #215 pick of Washington<\/strong> looks pretty shaky, as well, but the Huskies have made a habit out of going through terrible non-conference seasons and turning it on in conference play.<\/li>\n
                  • Most Intriguing Battle<\/span> – Bry took California<\/strong> at #100 and Colorado <\/strong>at #132, and the way it looks, those two teams could engage in an interesting two-on-two battle against a pair of Doogan picks – Stanford<\/strong> (#80) and Oregon<\/strong> (#177) for some of those upper-middle positions in the Pac-12 standings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    Picks<\/em><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. Arizona – Gross, #11<\/li>\n
                    2. UCLA – Bry, #21<\/li>\n
                    3. Stanford – Doogan, #80<\/li>\n
                    4. USC – Gross, #91<\/li>\n
                    5. California – Bry, #100<\/li>\n
                    6. Colorado – Bry, #132<\/li>\n
                    7. Oregon – Doogan, #177<\/li>\n
                    8. Washington – RDoc, #215<\/li>\n
                    9. Oregon State – Bry, #228<\/li>\n
                    10. Washington State – Bry, #277<\/li>\n
                    11. Arizona State – Gross, #315<\/li>\n
                    12. Utah – RDoc, #343<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      Big XII<\/h2>\n

                      Overall<\/em>
                      \nThe sun in the morning, that geyser in Yellowstone, and Bill Self’s team winning the Big XII – am I leaving anything out here?\u00a0 Like clockwork, the Jayhawks are poised to roll through the Big XII yet again, even though Jeff Withey might be their best player.\u00a0 It is amazing.\u00a0 KU is good – don’t get me wrong – but they are also aided this year by the potential trainwrecks\u00a0heading towards Austin, Waco, and Morgantown, as\u00a0Texas, Baylor, and West\u00a0Virginia have been among the three most\u00a0disappointing teams in the country\u00a0so far.\u00a0<\/p>\n

                      CBB Team Draft<\/em>
                      \nGross took 60% of the Big XII, including the favored Jayhawks, so he is likely to dominate the bounty of points here.\u00a0 Doogan is pinning his Big XII to K-State, RDoc is riding Texas, and Bry will roll with West Virginia (and, the irrelevant Texas Tech).<\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • Savvy Picks<\/span> – The best pick of this conference appears to be Gross’s nabbing of Iowa State<\/strong> at #187, but he also got more value than it first appeared with Oklahoma State<\/strong> when he stepped up to take them at #78, with the more hyped UT, K-State, and WVU still on the board.\u00a0 Also – and this might sound strange – RDoc’s pick of Texas<\/strong> might actually turn out to be decent value at #159…or it could be a total strikeout, but it was not a bad gamble to take in the mid-rounds.\u00a0 Before last night’s loss to Stephen F. Austin, it looked like Gross’s Oklahoma <\/strong>pick (#267) was one of great value.\u00a0 It is still nice, but that loss is scary.<\/li>\n
                      • Shaky Picks<\/span> – Texas and West Virginia are both in dissarray, but at least they did not go all that early in this draft.\u00a0 Baylor<\/strong> did.\u00a0 With the #46 pick, Gross cannot be happy with the shakiness of that team in Waco.\u00a0 But, they do have talent, so anything is possible.\u00a0 Oh, and let us not forget that, while #173 may not be “early,” the Mountaineers of West Virginia<\/strong> are still sitting in last-place right now for Bry, which could make that a pretty bad pick.<\/li>\n
                      • Most Intriguing Battle<\/span> – Doogan grabbing Kansas State<\/strong> at #112 could be one of huge value, if they can finish ahead of either of Gross’s Baylor<\/strong> (#46) or Oklahoma State<\/strong> (#78) picks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Picks<\/em><\/p>\n

                          \n
                        1. Kansas – Gross, #14<\/li>\n
                        2. Baylor – Gross, #46<\/li>\n
                        3. Oklahoma State – Gross, #78<\/li>\n
                        4. Kansas State – Doogan, #112<\/li>\n
                        5. Texas – RDoc, #159<\/li>\n
                        6. West Virginia – Bry, #173<\/li>\n
                        7. Iowa State – Gross, #187<\/li>\n
                        8. Oklahoma – Gross, #267<\/li>\n
                        9. TCU – Gross, #307<\/li>\n
                        10. Texas Tech – Bry, #332<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                          \u00a0SEC<\/h2>\n

                          Overall<\/em>
                          \nThrough 7 games and about 34 minutes, the Florida Gators looked like they might not only be the best team in the SEC, but quite possibly the best team in the country.\u00a0 Then the wheels fell off at the McHale Center and they gave that game away to Arizona.\u00a0 It was still a great showing for a team that should enter conference play as the clear favorite in the SEC.\u00a0 Our defending champs have a slew of talent but…wait for it…they’re all freshmen, so we have no idea when – if ever – they will come around.\u00a0 The question is will teams like Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, or Alabama make a push toward the top of this conference.\u00a0 And, the other question worth asking:\u00a0 is the bottom of this league really that <\/em>bad?\u00a0 It just might be…<\/p>\n

                          CBB Team Draft<\/em>
                          \nThe SEC is pretty spread out around our four competitors.\u00a0 Bry is the only one with fewer than 3 SEC teams, but his two were the 2nd and 3rd teams off the board, so he will be in play.\u00a0 Doogan took the 1st and 4th teams off the board (plus the last), so he should also be in play here.\u00a0 RDoc and Gross went back and forth for teams 5 through 13, with Gross taking 5 teams and RDoc taking 4.\u00a0<\/p>\n

                            \n
                          • Savvy Picks<\/span> – Ole Miss<\/strong> is another pick on the short list for best of the entire draft, as the Rebels like like true contenders for a top 2 or 3 finish in this 14-team league, and RDoc grabbed them all the way down at #162.\u00a0 He also may have hit on Alabama<\/strong> at #119, as they could finish top 4, if things work out as planned.\u00a0 RDoc continued to shine in this league with his later picks of Texas A&M <\/strong>(#231) and, especially,\u00a0LSU<\/strong> (#271).\u00a0 Gross may have find a real diamond in the rough with Auburn<\/strong> all the way down at the ridiculously low #326.\u00a0 The Tigers may be a middle-of-the-pack team here.<\/li>\n
                          • Shaky Picks<\/span> – It is still hard to get a read of Doogan’s Tennessee<\/strong> (#72) and Gross’s Arkansas <\/strong>(#139) picks.\u00a0 But, I think we can say that Gross’s pick of Georgia<\/strong> at #203 has disaster potential, as the Bulldogs are currently 3-7 and it hasn’t exactly been against the best competition.\u00a0 Gross’s Vanderbilt<\/strong> at #235 also looks a bit high.\u00a0 And, then there is the #1 overall pick in the draft.\u00a0 Doogan went with the defending champs of Kentucky<\/strong> at #1, thinking – quite legitimately – that the ‘Cats should be the clear favorites to win a large (14 teams) league, which would garner the huge 140-point bounty.\u00a0 But, UK is reeling and Florida is rolling, so, while the ‘Cats should still bring a decent haul, it is looking less and less likely that they will return value commensurate with their #1 overall draft spot.<\/li>\n
                          • Most Intriguing Battle<\/span> – This conference has several tiers and probably the most interesting of these tiers is going to be a battle royale between Gross and RDoc for those mid-to-lower SEC positions.\u00a0 Gross is armed with South Carolina, Auburn, Arkansas<\/strong>, and possibly Georgia<\/strong> if they turn it around fighting with RDoc’s Alabama, Texas A&M <\/strong>and LSU<\/strong>.\u00a0 It could go a long way towards how their overall drafts turn out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Picks<\/em><\/p>\n

                              \n
                            1. Kentucky – Doogan, #1<\/li>\n
                            2. Florida – Bry, #20<\/li>\n
                            3. Missouri – Bry, #44<\/li>\n
                            4. Tennessee – Doogan, #72<\/li>\n
                            5. Alabama – RDoc, #119<\/li>\n
                            6. Arkansas – Gross, #139<\/li>\n
                            7. Ole Miss – RDoc, #162<\/li>\n
                            8. Georgia – Gross, #203<\/li>\n
                            9. Texas A&M – RDoc, #231<\/li>\n
                            10. Vanderbilt – Gross, #235<\/li>\n
                            11. LSU – RDoc, #271<\/li>\n
                            12. South Carolina – Gross, #291<\/li>\n
                            13. Auburn – Gross, #326<\/li>\n
                            14. Mississippi State – Doogan, #344<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                              \u00a0Atlantic 10<\/h2>\n

                              Overall<\/em>
                              \nWhile, as\u00a0a Temple fan, the time for bemoaning our lot in this whole conference realignment ordeal will come, I would like to focus on the here and now and keep reminding myself that – if only for one season – the Owls are smack-dab in the middle of an endlessly fascinating A-10.\u00a0 Just looking at the KenPom rankings, after VCU (who is currently in 8th place, mind you) at 10, there are ELEVEN\u00a0A-10 teams ranked between 44 and 103.\u00a0 And, GW sits right on the outside of that at 139.\u00a0 That is incredible!\u00a0 And, this conference season is going to be like none we have ever seen in the A-10.\u00a0 Buckle up, kids!<\/p>\n

                              CBB Team Draft<\/em>
                              \nThe largest single point total in the whole competition (160) will be given to the one who picked the champion in the A-10.\u00a0 But, the incredible depth and parity of the league kept everyone away for almost 4 full rounds, until RDoc grabbed two teams rather quickly.\u00a0 Another two rounds went by before a flurry of three teams (2 for Bry and 1 for Doogan) came off the board in a quick 8-pick span.\u00a0 And, the fear of the unknown kept people away for longer until Gross finally entered the fray at #62.\u00a0 In the end, the league was very balanced – Bry had 5 teams; Doogan and Gross had 4 apiece; RDoc had 3 (including the first two off the\u00a0board) – so, unsurprisingly, this league is going to be wide open all year.<\/p>\n