A Closer Look at the No. 1 Seeds

Tarheels, Panthers, Cardinals, Huskies...Oh My!!!

Connecticut, Louisville, and Pittsburgh helped the Big East, a group originally created for basketball only, become the first conference to put three teams on the top line. North Carolina, regular-season Atlantic Coast conference champions, was the other top seed.

Louisville is the top overall seed in the tournament and will play in the Midwest. The Cardinals will open against the winner of the opening-round play-in game yesterday, Morehead St.

Pitt is on top in the East, Carolina in the South and UConn in the West. The Huskies were in the West when they won their national titles in 1999 and 2004.

Of the four top seeds, coach Rick Pitino's Cardinals are the only team to win their conference tournament. Louisville entered the Big East conference tournament as the top seed, though Pitt and UConn were more highly regarded throughout the regular season, each spending time at No. 1 in The Associated Press poll.

Now that we know who the top seeds are, let's get to know them a little bit better.

Pittsburgh Panthers

-Over the past eight seasons, the Panthers have won 217 games -- but only 10 have come in NCAA tournament action. They haven't beaten a team seeded better than sixth and haven't advanced to a regional final in seven straight NCAA appearances. DeJuan Blair is a monster, top-five in the country with 12 rebounds per game, and Levance Fields distributes the ball better than just about anyone in college hoops today. Then there's Sam Young, averaging close to 19 points a game. This team is as balanced as they come. Anything less than a Final Four appearance will be a disappointment for this team.
CORY'S PREDICTION: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNER-UP

North Carolina Tarheels

-Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green didn't come back to school because they couldn't bear to leave behind precious memories. They came back to win a national title. After being shocked last year by Kansas in the Final Four, only one result will satisfy. The preseason No. 1 sometimes looked indifferent on defense throughout 2009, but three losses can hardly be considered a disappointing season, and the Heels are still the favorite to win it all. They can score on anyone, but beware if they draw an efficient offensive opponent.
CORY'S PREDICTION: FINAL FOUR

Louisville Cardinals

-Cardinals fans have been waiting for a team this good since Pitino became their coach in 2001 and shot expectations into the stratosphere. The 2005 team overachieved to reach the Final Four and the current Cards could win it. Louisville is in the top five in blocks, thanks to Rick Pitino's fierce zone-pressure defense and the inside presence of Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels. If they hold you under 60 points, which they probably will, you're not likely to leave the court with a smile.
CORY'S PREDICTION: NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Connecticut Huskies

-Losing Jerome Dyson certainly put a huge dent in the Huskies' depth, and A.J. Price might have some trouble being essentially the sole outside shooting threat. However, having Hasheem Thabeet (2nd nationally with 4.5 blocks per game) in the paint solves a myriad of problems. UConn has struggled of late showing a lack of depth at the guard position and showing inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball. This team will go deep into the tourney partly on talent, partly on intimidation.
CORY'S PREDICTION: ELITE EIGHT

Justin Hulsey, FS founder/writer

Final Four: Louisville vs Memphis and Pittsburgh vs Gonzaga
National Championship: Louisville vs Pittsburgh

Champ: Pittsburgh Panthers

Cory Guinn, FS writer

Final Four: Louisville vs Memphis and Pittsburgh vs North Carolina

National Championship: Louisville vs Pittsburgh

Champ: Louisville Cardinals

Barack Obama, United States President

Final Four: Louisville vs Memphis and Pittsburgh vs North Carolina

National Championship: Louisville vs North Carolina
Champ: North Carolina Tar Heels

Justin Hulsey / Cory Guinn

StLDieHard24@gmail.com / cryguinn@yahoo.com

FANdemoniumSports.blogspot.com

Midseason Honors

We’re about halfway through the season, and soon the fun will begin. As we approach the final stretch, let’s think as if we are already there. If the season ended today, what would the awards look like? One of my favorite things to do as a sports fan is awarding players, often well before the actual titles are handed out.

Note: These awards have nothing to do with pro-potential and all that mumbo-jumbo. Simply this year’s performance and the impact/value that the player brings to his team.


ALL-AMERICAN 1ST TEAM

G- Stephen Curry, Davidson
The most explosive player in the country just continues to do his thing. Unarguably the best junior in the Nation. Curry leads everyone in points/game, he is 5th in steals/game, 5th in assists/game, and he is making 38% of his threes. I could go on and on with stats but we all know that this guy should be on this list, no questions. He has had some off days when teams get smart and put (usually) two long-armed defenders on him to disrupt his shot, but then he will come out and light up the court again that next game. However, even when he does have an off night, you can still bet on him dropping 30. He is a scoring machine anywhere on the floor.

G- James Harden, Arizona State
This guy, as well as his team, has kind of gone under the radar all season. Before researching for this post, I didn’t even know a ton about him. That surprises me though. He is the leader of the #15 team in the Nation. Averaging 22 PPG, along with six rebounds, and four assists, the best thing about this guy is he is so young. Whether he will be back next year or not I do not know, but this sophomore is dominating the Pac 10. He shoots with a better percentage than Curry does – 54% FG and 42% from beyond the arc. Considering he has a ton of room to improve, he is one of the best that I have seen at the “and 1”. He has it down to a science, and when he goes to the line he knocks it down. He is used to being double or triple teamed and it just shows his maturity, unselfishness, and poise.

F- Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Say hello to the accolades, Mr. Griffin. This guy is just a ridiculous athlete, and will soon hear his name announced as the #1 player picked in the upcoming draft. He is a big, strong guy that dominates the post with his points and rebounds. He should get the rebound title this year, averaging 14/game. His 6’10” 250 lb frame lets him do whatever he wants in the paint. There is nothing wrong with this guy… Perfect low-post size, great hands, very athletic for a near- 7-footer, scrappy kind of player, battles on every play, he is able to get on it and run the floor, good enough ball handling to dribble on fast-break, still a good passer (3 assists per), is there anything else you need???

F- Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Even though “Physco T” was out the first couple games, and got off to a slow start, he has still done plenty to get on this list. Heck, he would make my All-Decade team. He is the heart and soul of the best college basketball team, possibly, we have seen in a while. He is the most intense (borderline insane) player that I have ever witnessed play in the collegiate level. He is a big-time scorer, a big-time rebounder, in a big-time conference. He is the perfect example on why players should hang around in college instead of leaving after their freshman, sophomore, or junior seasons. Due to him staying at Chapel Hill for the full four years, his game is more polished and he is a more mature player than the good majority of the Country. He is very experienced and comes through in the clutch better than most, which can also have to do with hanging around. North Carolina has had one of the toughest schedules of all the #25 teams, but still Hansbrough puts in 23 & 8 every night.

C- Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
Thabeet is arguably the best pure center in the NCAA and has undoubtedly the coolest name. Thabeet is averaging a double-double and is an anchor in the third ranked Huskies squad. Thabeet better be looking over his shoulder because Arizona State’s Jordan Hill is gaining on him at the center position. He is improving constantly and still has plenty of room to grow. He does exactly what any team would ask of somebody like Hasheem. He clogs up the paint, takes care of the boards, and drills the hook shot. Teams do not go into the paint when playing UCONN because of this dude. If you drive, it is inevitable, he will block you. He averages 13 points/game, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, and makes his shot at a 67% rate. Last year’s Roy Hibbert is the closest that I can compare him to… but Thabeet is much better.

2ND TEAM

G- Darren Collison
G- Ty Lawson
F- Luke Harangody
F- Sam Young
C- Jordan Hill


PLAYER OF THE YEAR

F- Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Say hello to the accolades, Mr. Griffin. This guy is just a ridiculous athlete, and will soon hear his name announced as the #1 player picked in the upcoming draft. He is a big, strong guy that dominates the post with his points and rebounds. He should get the rebound title this year, averaging 14/game. His 6’10” 250 lb frame lets him do whatever he wants in the paint. There is nothing wrong with this guy… Perfect low-post size, great hands, very athletic for a near- 7-footer, scrappy kind of player, battles on every play, he is able to get on it and run the floor, good enough ball handling to dribble on fast-break, still a good passer (3 assists per), is there anything else you need???

Honorable Mention:
G- Steph Curry, Davidson


FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

C- Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Considering the way he has played, what he offers to Georgetown, it is no stretch to call Monroe the best freshman in the Nation thus far. Greg has stepped up and contributed consistently for the Hoyas since day one, filling the Hibbert void. He has established himself as arguably the most important piece to the #12 Hoyas’ puzzle, and erasing any doubts that people had of him coming out of high school. In the game against UCONN, he owned the game that I put on the All-American team in Monroe’s position. On both ends of the floor, he showed everyone that he has the versatility, skill-set, and feel for the game better than most college vets. I have him as the #3 big-man in the NCAA, behind Thabeet and Hill.

Honorable Mention:
G- Willie Warren, Oklahoma


MAJOR CONFERENCE WINNERS

ACC- North Carolina Tar Heels
Big 12- Oklahoma Sooners
Big East- Pittsburgh Panthers
Big Ten- Minnesota Golden Gophers
Pac 10- Arizona State Sun Devils
SEC- Florida Gators


FINAL FOUR PREDICTION

I will leave the rest for you, but here will be the final four teams remaining. I hate to just pick the favorites so do not hate me if I go on a limb on some or all of these four.

Midwest- Clemson Tigers
West- North Carolina Tar Heels
East- Syracuse Orange
South- Wake Forest



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Justin Hulsey
StLDieHard24@gmail.com
www.thejaystick.blogspot.com