It can't be that time already, can it? The calendar does not lie, it's time. It's time to get your hatred for Duke started up once again. It's time for Billy Packer to kiss some ACC ####. It's time for #### Vitale to share his enthusiasm for college basketabll with all of us.
Now you're saying, already? It's only mid-October. Isn't March Madness in, well, March? It seems I can't sneak that past you, but the Madness is upon us. Midnight Madness is truly a great event to attend, give it a try sometime. The Madness is here.
It is hard to believe that during arguably the most packed sporting month of the year, college basketball is back. I know most people don't pay much attention to this sport until college and pro football are done, but I'm in the mood for some basketball talk. Plus, if you watch from the begining you will know the freshman phenoms like last year's Kevin Durant and Scottie Reynolds before everyone else.
Here are some of my thoughts, leave me yours.
Eric Gordon is the next big thing out of Indianapolis. Following Josh McRoberts, Mike Conley and Greg Oden is a lot of work, but this kid will light up the scoreboard for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Do you know who your school's head coach is? You sure? Billy Donovan couldn't leave the love of his life in Gatorland. Wait, yes he could. Alright Orlando! Give me Darko, Jameer and Dwight! On second thought ,( or third or fourth) Billy found he belonged back at the University of Florida. Is he going to regret this when he sees his young, inexperienced team? We shall see.
So Tubby is in Minnesota, Billy is in Kentucky, Beilein is in Michigan, and Huggins is at West Virginia. Got it? Good.
More questions-Will UConn be back? What will Ohio State look like without Oden and Conley? Who is there left to hate at Duke? Is UCLA the next dynasty? Will Kansas ever reach their potential under Bill Self? How much will D.J. Augustine miss Kevin Durant at Texas? Will Arizona underachieve again? Will Hansbrough and UNC be the team to beat?
Alright, I can't wait for the tip off classics and the Madness to begin.
Good questions, all. So many changes at so many of the college hoops powers. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out during the regular season.
And even then, whatever it is that seems to be known gets turned upside down during the tournament! Great stuff. Bring on the madness!
Right on Nooch, this is my favorite sport of all. Oregon's got a pretty strong team this year, but they're going to have some competition in what I believe is the toughest conference of all-the Pac 10.
I know Midnight Madness is just a glorified practice and people can't understand why UK fans love it so muhc.
Well I am here to tell you that you will never understand the passion of Big Blue Nation. The best way I can explain is to think about it like this. UK will have 24,000 fans at Big Blue Madness, 12 confirmed recruits, had to turn away thousands more for Big Blue Madness.
Most of you (other schools) can't even get 20,000 to show up to a real game.
IU is going to be freakin good this year. UK fans have always respected IU fans because IU fans are the closest thing to UK fans, when it comes to basketball. It is really close between the two and the whoever is 3rd is a distant 3rd. I have been waiting for UK, IU, and UL to all be very good again at the same time. It is time to get the attention of basketball to the region it should be in and that is the Kentuciana region.
I just hope IU isn't putting themself in a possible hole that UL maybe putting themself in. UL will be very good this year but they could lose alot of players after this season due to graduating and leaving early. The same kind of problem Kansas could have after the season is over. Sometimes to many superstars means other recruits may not want to come. Which would be okay until the "stars" you do have leave alot earlier than planned. However, Sampson seems to be making sure he has a good mixture and already has gotten some recruits locked up for a few years down the road. Good Luck IU, see you in December.
Going to buy a few magazines myself. I'll have a preview of each WAC team in the not too distant future. Bring on college hoops!! Hopefully my Fresno State Bulldogs will make it to March Madness this season after a few nightmarish seasons post-Tarkanian.
It'll either be NC or UCLA that is the preseason #1.
I'll be sure to blog about the new Gator squad once I know all their names. he he. Donovan's got talent, but they have some BIG alligator shoes to fill.
I have never stopped hating Duke!! Big Blue Madness was very impressive!! Patterson looked great as did Meeks and many more. I am looking sooooooooo forward to the season. I just hope UK faithful will give BG time to make this his system!
I don't think the quality has fallen Hoff, I like college b-ball because most coaches still teach the basics of the game.
I think they did extend the 3 point line a little this year. I like the rule the NBA has, I wish they would make it like the NFL and have the guy be 3 years removed from high school. It would help both the college and pro game.
Patience? Kentucky? Isn't that what did in Tubby, BGL?
how many years was Tubby coach at UK again? I think we have shown great patience when it came to Tubby. He didn't live up to what UK is all about. Love the man but his time was WAY past due.
Born and raised in the great state of MEE-CHI-GAN. Had a one year stint in Indianapolis where I grew to love all things Hoosier and watched the Colts bring home a Super Bowl trophy. My primary teams remain the Tigers, Pistons, Lions, Red Wings, and Wolverines and I wouldn't trade any of them. Still follow NASCAR, but it's not the same without the black number 3. My favorite sport by far is college basketball. I'll watch pretty much any game between November-Febr uary and March is the pinnacle of it all with the MADNESS. It can't be beat.
