Men's College Basketball Top 13 and Sleepers

My Preseason Men’s College Basketball Top 13

1. Pittsburgh- The deepest, best team in the country. I don’t see how any team in the nation will be able to match up against DeJuan Blair this season. Blair was an absolute beast as a freshman last season, and this season I have him and Hansbrough going toe to toe for the top team in the country. While Hansbrough may get all the votes, Blair, without question, will own Tyler in the paint. Blair is a man’s man in the post and other than Blake Griffin is the top college player in the nation in my opinion. Add in a healthy Levance Fields and solid big man Sam Young and you got one heck of a physical team.

2. UNC- This is easily the most talented group of kids in the nation, led by top college player Tyler Hasbrough, this is a make or break season for the Tar Heels. In other words, it will be a massive failure for North Carolina not to win the national championship. Ty Lawson, although I am not a firm believer of this guy, is one of the top college point guards in college. Although he has skills, Lawson is simply too small and doesn’t display enough point guards skills to make it in the NBA, but in college he is a big time play maker and the spark of UNC with his speed and defense. Philly guard Wayne Ellington is ready to explode and become a regular household name in college basketball. Simply put, if UNC wants to cut down the net this year, it is up to Wayne Ellington. He needs to show more than his silky smooth shooting and become a reliable, impact scorer. Either way, this team is a lock for the Elite Eight. Look out for freshman Ed Harris to round out a weaker PF spot on the tar heels.

3. Gonzaga- I like this roster so much I could have easily put them ahead of UNC. Although elite prospect Austin Daye was a massive disaster last season, I expect him to have a stellar season for the Bulldogs. This might be the best starting lineup in college basketball. A healthy Josh Heytvelt, one of the top power forwards in college, will only make this team better. PG Jeremy Pargo is a very underrated leader, and Matt Bouldon and Micah Downs are very, very strong players to make a very, very effective back court. This team will be on easy street all the way to the tournament with such a strong lineup, which could be a bad thing come tourney time as they will not face difficult competition.

4. Michigan State- Raymour Morgan is one of the best players in the country, bar none. Similar to Pitt, this team doesn’t have many top prospects but are very deep with solid guys all the way around. Add in Tom Izzo who is the best coach in college basketball and Michigan State is a lock for the Elite Eight. Look out for top power forward, freshman prospect Delvin Roe who just adds even more talent to an already extremely deep Spartan roster.

5. UCLA- I simply cannot go against tradition. Every year this team simply recruits and performs. Although the Bruins lost Kevin Love to the lottery, they add in another elite prospect guard in Jrue Holiday and top center, freshman prospect J’Mison Morgan. Don’t forget about the top college point guard in the country in Darren Collison, and the Bruins are primed and ready for another tournament run. Youngest, best team in the country? Without a doubt.

6. Texas- This team really surprised me last season. Gary Johnson and especially Connor Atchley showed up to be very solid players last season. Top player Damion Jones makes this Texas team a top 13 team, and AJ Abrams is no slack. Although they lost DJ Augustin to the draft last year, this is another deep Texas team that is deep and solid all the way around.

7. Tennessee- Always an underrated squad, the Vols look to build upon last season with a run to the national championship. The SEC is in for another low season in basketball imo, and Tennessee is the best out of the bunch. JP Morgan and Tyler Smith lead the way for the Vols, while Wayne Chism is no slouch in the paint. Look out for top SF prospect Scotty Hopson to make an instant impact for Tennessee.

8. Oklahoma- Although I think Oklahoma is a bit overrated and playing in a poor conference this year, you can’t put away the team that has the best player in the country. Blake Griffin is a man among boys in college basketball, and should continue to show the same kind of dominance he showed as a true freshman last season. They’re not very deep, but elite freshman shooting guard Willie Warren hopes to make the Sooners an early powerhouse in 2008.

9. Duke- I always believe Duke is one of the most overrated teams in the country. Although they have a budding superstar in Kyle Singler, I don’t think this season will be any different. Greg Paulus is what he is, a decent college point guard who doesn’t do anything great. Philly boy Gerald Henderson has been in Wayne Ellington’s shadow his whole career and better put up more of a fight or this is going to be a long season for the Blue Devils. I have always thought that the ACC has been overrated, and this year is no different, so it will be the Tar Heel/Blue Devil show once again on ESPN. Look out for elite SG prospect Elliott Williams to round out a solid backcourt for the Blue Devils.

10. Arizona State- 2008 Player of the year candidate James Harden was the surprise freshman of the year last season. James Harden is a tall, smooth scorer that can finish, run, jump and score at any point on the court. Harden should put up staggering numbers this season. After last season’s dominance, it is a bit of a down year for the PAC 10 and the Sun Devils should coast into the tournament. Jeff Pendergraph looks to continue his success this season as the second scorer.

11. Notre Dame- Luke Harangody, the country boy who came out of no where last season, but I have a feeling this Notre Dame team is a bit overrated this season. Plus being in the top conference in the country doesn’t help the Fighting Irish. Although they’ll surely make the tournament, I see difficult times for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

12. Villanova- The one team I can see sky rocketing up the charts are the Villanova Wildcats. Although they aren’t nearly as good as Pitt, the Nova backcourt is as good as any in college basketball. Playmaker Scottie Reynolds is one of the most electrifying guards in the country, but needs to work on his shot selection as he had difficulty with his field goal percentage last season. Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes are very good, young guards who should lead Nova into the tournament.

13. Syracuse- I have feeling that Jonny Flynn is going to take the world by storm. Jonny Flynn is more than a dynamic scoring point guard and Paul Harris is the do it all type of forward that should be on a powerhouse team.

Top Sleepers

Al-Farouq Aminu- top freshman in the country imo
Marquette- another year for McNeal and James could be huge
Georgetown- if Greg Monroe puts it together Gtown could make some noise in the Big East