Preseason Top 25: All about Heels and Gators
April 5, 2006
By Gregg Doyel
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Gregg your opinion!

Sometimes do I exaggerate? Maybe a little. Am I exaggerating the following statement? Not a bit:

The 2006-07 college basketball season could be the best we've had in many, many years.

Here's CBS SportsLine.com's first Preseason Top 25, which will be updated later this spring after the NBA Draft pool is set.

1. North Carolina: Other than David Noel, everyone of importance returns from a team that earned a No. 3 seed in the 2006 NCAA Tournament -- and the freshman class is considered by some analysts to be the best in college basketball history. The analysts could be right. Power forward Brandan Wright, shooting guard Wayne Ellington and point guard Tywon Lawson are at least as good as the exalted ex-UNC trio of Sean May, Rashad McCants and Raymond Felton. It would take something extraordinary to unseat defending national champion Florida if every Gator returns. UNC will be extraordinary.

2. Florida: Call me na

i might be a homer but i think DWash and Shawne Williams will both come back...we should be a around 6-8 range in the preseason top 25 next year...i also think with UAB hiring Mike Davis and Houston returning the players they do C-USA should be at least a 2 bid conference next year...and i think the selection committee sent a message that they won't take more than 7 from the Big East. (even though i am stupid and they took 8)

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

gomemphistigers1 Wrote:i think the selection committee sent a message that they won't take more than 7 from the Big East.

By taking 8 this year? How exactly do you figure that?

CollegeCard Wrote:

gomemphistigers1 Wrote:i think the selection committee sent a message that they won't take more than 7 from the Big East.

By taking 8 this year? How exactly do you figure that?

Thats what I was wondering LOL

well i would like to say there is an excuse for that...but there isn't...i just screwed up.

DOH'

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

I wouldn't rule out Mick and UC just yet...there are still several top 10 JUCO players left and if he can snag a couple to go with Williamson and Gentry, we may not be too shabby.


Now, if Downey leaves like it's looking like, yea, we are going to have a tough 2007.....gulp

gomemphistigers1 Wrote:i also think with UAB hiring Mike Davis and Houston returning the players they do C-USA should be at least a 2 bid conference next year

Mike Davis at UAB does nothing for the Blazer's hopes of the NCAA Tournament next year. It probably reduces them. They lose too much of last year's team to think they have a realistic chance of making the Dance. Plus, Mike Davis is no where near the coach that Mike Anderson was there. Memphis and Houston are the only two C-USA teams that have a realistic chance of making the Dance next year. UAB and UTEP lost way too many good players.

Bearcats#1 Wrote:I wouldn't rule out Mick and UC just yet...there are still several top 10 JUCO players left and if he can snag a couple to go with Williamson and Gentry, we may not be too shabby.


Now, if Downey leaves like it's looking like, yea, we are going to have a tough 2007.....gulp

I don't think we'll be hearing UC in the same sentence with "Top 25" even if he gets a few more JUCO's. You guys are seriously limited on players for next season. I think Downey staying/going will determine whether UC maybe makes the NIT vs. very likely to not even make it to NYC for the BE tournament.

CollegeCard Wrote:

Bearcats#1 Wrote:I wouldn't rule out Mick and UC just yet...there are still several top 10 JUCO players left and if he can snag a couple to go with Williamson and Gentry, we may not be too shabby.


Now, if Downey leaves like it's looking like, yea, we are going to have a tough 2007.....gulp

I don't think we'll be hearing UC in the same sentence with "Top 25" even if he gets a few more JUCO's. You guys are seriously limited on players for next season. I think Downey staying/going will determine whether UC maybe makes the NIT vs. very likely to not even make it to NYC for the BE tournament.

I agree. Next year at UC will resemble the Yates era.